Today was a bit slower placed from the touring standpoint. We had a relatively late breakfast then we hit the pool. The pool was beautiful and surrounded by lush greenery and tropical flowers, but it was FREEZING COLD! The kids were fine with the water temperature, though. When we first got to the pool, I asked Hadji to watch Christa Lan for about 2 seconds and I turned around to find her face first in 3 feet of water. So, I sent him to buy her water wings and decided life guarding wasn't in his retirement future! She seems to love swimming and put her face in the water repeatedly. She probably would have gotten in again, but I don't get in over my knees unless the water is at least 80 degrees! (Ok, 90 degrees!)
After the morning swim, we headed to the medical center for the required medical check up for all persons leaving China. Christa Lan weighs 30.5lbs and other than her respiratory infection, she seems fine. She was super sweet to all the doctors who examined her...unlike Jaiden who became outraged during her exam in January 2007, and ripped off all her clothes and threw them at the Chinese people! After the exam, we went to the park, then back to the pool.
We went to the Riverside Grill at our hotel for dinner. It was lovely, and we had steak and baked potatoes. We were in Heaven!! There was a fun little band who sang at each table and my mom, all the girls, and I danced. It was really fun. Erin asked if we could please stay five more days in China because she's not ready to leave. I promised her we'd be back. Maybe just for a visit, as three kids is actually feeling like the right amount, but I'm not ready to sign any documents to that effect!!
I asked our guide what we could do for fun tomorrow, and she laughed and said, "I thought you guys didn't like to go places on your last trip, but I think I'm seeing the real you on this trip!" She told us we could go to the fish market because it's "filthy, crowded and chaotic," and she thought we'd like it! I'm sure we will! We're also going to ride on a river boat for Chinese people crossing the Pearl River to get home after work because she knows we like to see "real stuff." She's a lot of fun and super sweet, we'll miss her a lot when we go home!!
