These are all pictures from today. Jade factory and Great Wall. Enjoy
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Day 3 in China - Beijing
Hello All,
We enjoyed day 3 of Beijing today. The weather was great today. Beautiful and a cool breeze. We started this morning at the International church service. I enjoyed it very much. We had to show our passports to get in. It was a very interesting service. A lot of different nationalities. We had an Australian speaker, Tazanian Pastor, and American Singers all of which where Christians. After the church service we went to lunch. Guess what we had?? If you guessed Chinese you would be correct!! More Chinese for lunch. Although it was very good, we are a little tired of Chinese food already. It is very different here in China. All resturants are Chinese. So it is just a given that it will be Chinese, just which of the billion ones will you go to. Bryan and I play guess what that is. One time I have to try it first and the next time he has to. It is way more fair that way.
After lunch we went to the Jade Factory. That was very interesting. They make everything there out of one piece of Jade. I made many pictures there. It was really neat to see where and how they made all the jewelry.
After this we went to the Great Wall of China. WOW...now that is something to see. I did walk a little ways up the wall (moma I thought of you the whole time), Bryan went very far up the Wall but I did not join him. We got some great pictures. It was so beautiful there.
Sometimes it really does get crazy here and Bryan has been so sweet. He makes sure that I am ok, and that nothing happens to me. He really is taking good care of me. He holds my hand the whole time as so we do not get separated in the large crowd of people. There seems to be a lot of stairs here everywhere. He makes sure that I do not fall. (we all know I am not good on stairs)
After this we went to dinner. It was a duck dinner. Not sure if i had any or not. I can never tell what I am eating. Bryan and I both where not to crazy about tonights dinner. Everything had bones in it. Yep..I said bones.
I made another successful day of NO squatty potty. Yeh!
Tomorrow's Intenary:. We where told just today that effective May 1st that all domestic flights in China have changed. Well aren't we lucky. We are now only allowed to carry one carry on with us, and all other must be checked. Now remember that we put all the heavy stuff in our carry on's as to not be over weight. Well look out, now...we have 4 bags to check, and we are so going to be over weight. The question is now, how much will this cost us. We have changed over more US money to Yuan just in case it gets expensive. If we have to make hard choices on what to keep at the airport, I guess that is just what we will do. I may be wearing the same outfit from now until 5/16...lol
We must be ready in the morning at 4:30AM China time. We will leave for the airport by 5AM. We have a 1 hour flight from Bejing to Shenyang, Liaoning.
Blessings,
We love you
Joy and Bryan
We enjoyed day 3 of Beijing today. The weather was great today. Beautiful and a cool breeze. We started this morning at the International church service. I enjoyed it very much. We had to show our passports to get in. It was a very interesting service. A lot of different nationalities. We had an Australian speaker, Tazanian Pastor, and American Singers all of which where Christians. After the church service we went to lunch. Guess what we had?? If you guessed Chinese you would be correct!! More Chinese for lunch. Although it was very good, we are a little tired of Chinese food already. It is very different here in China. All resturants are Chinese. So it is just a given that it will be Chinese, just which of the billion ones will you go to. Bryan and I play guess what that is. One time I have to try it first and the next time he has to. It is way more fair that way.
After lunch we went to the Jade Factory. That was very interesting. They make everything there out of one piece of Jade. I made many pictures there. It was really neat to see where and how they made all the jewelry.
After this we went to the Great Wall of China. WOW...now that is something to see. I did walk a little ways up the wall (moma I thought of you the whole time), Bryan went very far up the Wall but I did not join him. We got some great pictures. It was so beautiful there.
Sometimes it really does get crazy here and Bryan has been so sweet. He makes sure that I am ok, and that nothing happens to me. He really is taking good care of me. He holds my hand the whole time as so we do not get separated in the large crowd of people. There seems to be a lot of stairs here everywhere. He makes sure that I do not fall. (we all know I am not good on stairs)
After this we went to dinner. It was a duck dinner. Not sure if i had any or not. I can never tell what I am eating. Bryan and I both where not to crazy about tonights dinner. Everything had bones in it. Yep..I said bones.
I made another successful day of NO squatty potty. Yeh!
Tomorrow's Intenary:. We where told just today that effective May 1st that all domestic flights in China have changed. Well aren't we lucky. We are now only allowed to carry one carry on with us, and all other must be checked. Now remember that we put all the heavy stuff in our carry on's as to not be over weight. Well look out, now...we have 4 bags to check, and we are so going to be over weight. The question is now, how much will this cost us. We have changed over more US money to Yuan just in case it gets expensive. If we have to make hard choices on what to keep at the airport, I guess that is just what we will do. I may be wearing the same outfit from now until 5/16...lol
We must be ready in the morning at 4:30AM China time. We will leave for the airport by 5AM. We have a 1 hour flight from Bejing to Shenyang, Liaoning.
Blessings,
We love you
Joy and Bryan
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Crazy Signs
One thing that we have noticed is the crazy Chinese to English translations that are going up everywhere due to the Olympics. Here are a few that we have seen so far:
Day 2 in Beijing
Hello All,
Today has been an adventure. We started off this morning sight seeing. We got off the bus at Tiananmen Square, and the bottom fell out. It rained all day long. We have been wet for going on 12 hours now. We just got back to the room. One thing about the Chinese, when you start a plan you finish it....NOT MATTER WHAT! We of course, as well as everyone else in our group had no rain gear. Not to worry though, the rain started and the street vendors came out with Umbrellas for sale from every corner. One Chinese lady came over to me and she opened one and held it over my head, and said 30 yuan, but before I could pay her, the police came and took her and all her umbrella's away. Not to worry she found me later for her money. The second one we bought was 20 yuan. Bryan got that one because he is a good barter. The guy took it and run off. So all in all we paid $7.00 US for the 2. And if you could see the rain and the storm that we made it through you would have paid $700.00 US for them. The rain got so bad at one time, the guide took us underground, with about 1 billion other Chinese people (it was dark down there by the way). Everyone was pushing and it was crazy. Everyone here likes to stare at westerners. They like Bryan's Georgia hat, that he of course wears everywhere. After we got out of the monsoon, we went back up top and continued our tour wet and cold. It was too funny. We laughed just about all day about it.
We movd on from there to, the Forbidden City. We walked around and took more pictures when we could, because of more rain. Nothing like standing in the middle of a thunderstorm in the middle of no where. After we left we went to lunch. A local Chinese restuarant. The food here is not the food you get back home. You sit 8 people to a table and the food comes out,you do not order. They just bring out several dishes and everyone shares, with chop sticks. It is so funny to watch all of us try and use them. I have stopped trying and just spear my food,otherwise I would starve. Bryan also can NOT do use them.
After lunch, back on the bus for a visit to the Pearl Factory, and then the Silk Factory. Both of those where very intersting. I have lots to tell you all about those. Also both where inside...no rain..lol
At the silk factory we got Bella Kate a really cute 2 peace suit. I can not wait to try it on her. Is is pink. I have a feeling that pink is going to be her favorite color.
We ended the day going to dinner. Same Chinese food as for lunch. I am missing steak and fries already. The drinks here are way differnt than at home. Nothing comes cold and you never get ice. Everything is room temperature. When you go to a resturant you can only have hot tea (unsweeten), or sprite (which is really 7up, they just call it Sprite, or Coke) there are no diet drinks available in resturants. If you want them you have to bring them with you. I have drank 2 "Sprites" today, both no ice, and room temperture. Daddy I fear, this place would be too much for your system to handle. lol
We took a group photo today, at the Square. I will show it to you all when we get home.
Well this is all for today. We love and miss you all. Kady love on my Sadie for me!! We miss her too! I will post pictures from today soon.
Blessing from China,
Joy and Bryan
Today has been an adventure. We started off this morning sight seeing. We got off the bus at Tiananmen Square, and the bottom fell out. It rained all day long. We have been wet for going on 12 hours now. We just got back to the room. One thing about the Chinese, when you start a plan you finish it....NOT MATTER WHAT! We of course, as well as everyone else in our group had no rain gear. Not to worry though, the rain started and the street vendors came out with Umbrellas for sale from every corner. One Chinese lady came over to me and she opened one and held it over my head, and said 30 yuan, but before I could pay her, the police came and took her and all her umbrella's away. Not to worry she found me later for her money. The second one we bought was 20 yuan. Bryan got that one because he is a good barter. The guy took it and run off. So all in all we paid $7.00 US for the 2. And if you could see the rain and the storm that we made it through you would have paid $700.00 US for them. The rain got so bad at one time, the guide took us underground, with about 1 billion other Chinese people (it was dark down there by the way). Everyone was pushing and it was crazy. Everyone here likes to stare at westerners. They like Bryan's Georgia hat, that he of course wears everywhere. After we got out of the monsoon, we went back up top and continued our tour wet and cold. It was too funny. We laughed just about all day about it.
We movd on from there to, the Forbidden City. We walked around and took more pictures when we could, because of more rain. Nothing like standing in the middle of a thunderstorm in the middle of no where. After we left we went to lunch. A local Chinese restuarant. The food here is not the food you get back home. You sit 8 people to a table and the food comes out,you do not order. They just bring out several dishes and everyone shares, with chop sticks. It is so funny to watch all of us try and use them. I have stopped trying and just spear my food,otherwise I would starve. Bryan also can NOT do use them.
After lunch, back on the bus for a visit to the Pearl Factory, and then the Silk Factory. Both of those where very intersting. I have lots to tell you all about those. Also both where inside...no rain..lol
At the silk factory we got Bella Kate a really cute 2 peace suit. I can not wait to try it on her. Is is pink. I have a feeling that pink is going to be her favorite color.
We ended the day going to dinner. Same Chinese food as for lunch. I am missing steak and fries already. The drinks here are way differnt than at home. Nothing comes cold and you never get ice. Everything is room temperature. When you go to a resturant you can only have hot tea (unsweeten), or sprite (which is really 7up, they just call it Sprite, or Coke) there are no diet drinks available in resturants. If you want them you have to bring them with you. I have drank 2 "Sprites" today, both no ice, and room temperture. Daddy I fear, this place would be too much for your system to handle. lol
We took a group photo today, at the Square. I will show it to you all when we get home.
Well this is all for today. We love and miss you all. Kady love on my Sadie for me!! We miss her too! I will post pictures from today soon.
Blessing from China,
Joy and Bryan
Friday, May 2, 2008
Our Luggage
Just a quick post about our luggage. All the way here Bryan has been carrying a Pink and Green pokadot suitcase. Every guy that he came in contact and woman too made fun of him and his luggage. We took it really well. When we got to the airport in Beijing, it was really hot in there. Not to mention that we where all exhausted. Keep in mind that the flight was HUGH, and hundred of people with tons of luggage. Bryan walked through all the men and got all of our bags off without even looking, and then we walked over to the a/c bus to wait. It was priceless. He was praising me for wanting this luggage.
Well it is 8:00Am Saturday here and we are off to sightsee.
Blessings,
Joy and Bryan
Well it is 8:00Am Saturday here and we are off to sightsee.
Blessings,
Joy and Bryan
Day 1 China Pictures
The 1st picture of us is when we came through customs at the Beijing International Airport. The others are from our hotel room of the city. They look blurry, but they are not, the gray look is real. That is really what it looks like here. Very smokey, and foggy. Enjoy!
We are in China
Hello From China,
We finally made it. It sure did take a long time. Lets start at the beginning. We left the house this morning at 4AM Georgia time, and after a very long flight (30+ hours), I am now sitting in my hotel room in Beijing.
Our flight from Atlanta to Washington was completely uneventful. We made it in plenty of time to catch the next flight to Beijing. As many of you already know, Bryan and I were not seated together for the flight over. But when we got to Washington, I talked to the guy at the ticket counter and told him that I was afraid to fly and needed to sit by my husband (heh..heh...wink..wink). He said no problem mama. Let me see what I can do. ..HOW..how would you like exit room. Wait...What? Exit room...are you kidding?? I of course jumped on it and gave him a big "bless you". We had great seats compared to everyone else in our group. We where also just beside the gally, so we always got served first. I have to say the flight to Beijing was a bear. I thought it would never end. I took 4 Tylenal PM's, and only slept for 4 hours. As most of you are thinking, yes, Bryan slept almost the whole flight, he only woke up to eat, and he was right back out again. I swear he can sleep anywhere.
Ok, I know I am rambling. Back to the flight to Beijing.
We get on the plane to take off. This is a hugh plane. I have never seen anything like it. So many people. We get to the end of the run way, and started slowing down. The pilot does a uey, an we are headed back to the gate. He says we have a problem with the plane. Not what you want to hear when you are fixing to fly 7,000 miles over the ocean. Well 2 hours later they had us going, and we left Washington at 2PM est. We landed in Beijing at 3PM est on Friday. This would be 3AM Friday morning for you all in Georgia. Needless to say we are very jet lagged.
We went to Carefour (you would know as Walmart), to get some diet coke and water all by ourselves. We where so proud. You know I had to find me a Walmart. It was not what we thought it would be. The store smelled funny. We had a time making change, but there was a lady in line with us that spoke English, so she translated for us. She was very nice. The air is really polluted here. Looks and smells like they are buring something all the time.
We had Chinese Cheese burgers for supper tonight. $40.00 US dollars worth (2 burgers/fries). Daddy, I thought of you when they brought me my one Diet Coke (no ice). I made sure not to spill it. lol.....We had dinner with another family from AWAA the Businda Family. They are from Tennessee, and very nice. Everyone in our group is too. Sherry is our Chinese guide and she is great. They did however get our name tags messed up. Bryan's says David Owens, and mine says Jay Owens.
I did take some pictures. Will post them soon. The internet service here is much slower than at home. It could take a while to upload. We are headed to bed for now. We have to meet the group at 6:30 AM (China time, 6:30PM Georgia time)for breakfast, and 8:30AM sight seeing(8:30PM GA).
Please pray that Bella will be with us soon, and that she takes to us easily. We love and miss you all.
Blessings From China,
Joy and Bryan
We finally made it. It sure did take a long time. Lets start at the beginning. We left the house this morning at 4AM Georgia time, and after a very long flight (30+ hours), I am now sitting in my hotel room in Beijing.
Our flight from Atlanta to Washington was completely uneventful. We made it in plenty of time to catch the next flight to Beijing. As many of you already know, Bryan and I were not seated together for the flight over. But when we got to Washington, I talked to the guy at the ticket counter and told him that I was afraid to fly and needed to sit by my husband (heh..heh...wink..wink). He said no problem mama. Let me see what I can do. ..HOW..how would you like exit room. Wait...What? Exit room...are you kidding?? I of course jumped on it and gave him a big "bless you". We had great seats compared to everyone else in our group. We where also just beside the gally, so we always got served first. I have to say the flight to Beijing was a bear. I thought it would never end. I took 4 Tylenal PM's, and only slept for 4 hours. As most of you are thinking, yes, Bryan slept almost the whole flight, he only woke up to eat, and he was right back out again. I swear he can sleep anywhere.
Ok, I know I am rambling. Back to the flight to Beijing.
We get on the plane to take off. This is a hugh plane. I have never seen anything like it. So many people. We get to the end of the run way, and started slowing down. The pilot does a uey, an we are headed back to the gate. He says we have a problem with the plane. Not what you want to hear when you are fixing to fly 7,000 miles over the ocean. Well 2 hours later they had us going, and we left Washington at 2PM est. We landed in Beijing at 3PM est on Friday. This would be 3AM Friday morning for you all in Georgia. Needless to say we are very jet lagged.
We went to Carefour (you would know as Walmart), to get some diet coke and water all by ourselves. We where so proud. You know I had to find me a Walmart. It was not what we thought it would be. The store smelled funny. We had a time making change, but there was a lady in line with us that spoke English, so she translated for us. She was very nice. The air is really polluted here. Looks and smells like they are buring something all the time.
We had Chinese Cheese burgers for supper tonight. $40.00 US dollars worth (2 burgers/fries). Daddy, I thought of you when they brought me my one Diet Coke (no ice). I made sure not to spill it. lol.....We had dinner with another family from AWAA the Businda Family. They are from Tennessee, and very nice. Everyone in our group is too. Sherry is our Chinese guide and she is great. They did however get our name tags messed up. Bryan's says David Owens, and mine says Jay Owens.
I did take some pictures. Will post them soon. The internet service here is much slower than at home. It could take a while to upload. We are headed to bed for now. We have to meet the group at 6:30 AM (China time, 6:30PM Georgia time)for breakfast, and 8:30AM sight seeing(8:30PM GA).
Please pray that Bella will be with us soon, and that she takes to us easily. We love and miss you all.
Blessings From China,
Joy and Bryan
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