Chinese Herb Stands and Market-Last Post from China

Lily in her Chinese dragon headdress.

Enjoying a coffee and bottle after the walking tour. Sorry I put the photos in backwards. The beginning of the Herb market is at the bottom.
7-up anyone?
Noodles
Kittens and puppies for sale





The old with the new


Scorpions anyone? They eat these!
Dried frogs for some ailment.
Chinese herb store. There were dozens of little shops like these on this block.



Shamian Island, the location of the White Swan Hotel, use to be a collections port so many westerners use to come here to import and export goods. The island has a western/European feel and is very clean and beautiful. It feels like New Orleans. The White Swan Hotel is a 5 star hotel and has hosted many presidents and even the Queen of England. When you cross the bridge and go into Guangzhou, just a short 15 minute walk from the White Swan, you are back in "real China" again as Cindy tells us. We experienced that yesterday afternoon.

Cindy took us on a walking Chinese Herbal market tour. The Chinese boil the herbs and make them into a soup to relieve whatever ailment is occurring. We even saw dried seastars which is suppose to help with sore throats. After the block of herb shops we went by a pet market on teh next block where they sell all sorts of pets including dogs and cats. She told they are pets and not for eating purposes. At the end, she took us to a farmers type market which is pretty much the standard for grocery shopping in China. That was quite an experience. The vegetables and fruit were beautifully displayed and so fresh. It was so interesting and I am really glad I went until we got to the back of the market. I saw one thing that I refused to take a photo of it and you can ask me about it later. I had trouble going to sleep seeing this image in my head and unfortunately Jack also saw it. He has not mentioned it and I think it was too horrible for him that he has erased it from his mind. You can see from the pictures above some of the other weird things we saw.

After the walking tour of Guangzhou, we came back to our beautiful island and had a civilized cup of coffee and Jack had a 7-up. Jack and I then went to the park and Tim and Lily did some shopping. We went out for dinner last night with the group for some Cantonese food. It was good, but I much prefer the spicy food from the north.

Lily is feeling better and slept very well last night. Her chest cold is loosening up and her fever seems to be gone. I now have the cold and don't feel that great. At least Jack and Tim are not sick.

This afternoon we go to the US Consulate to get her US passport and swear her in as a US citizen. When she gets off the plane in San Francisco she will be an American. In the past I have thanked China for letting me adopt this beautiful girl. I feel like we are sneaking home a secret Chinese princess. However, I really should thank our country, the good ole' USA! I am so glad to be an American where I have so many opportunities and freedoms including the ability to adopt Lily!

We are so ready to come home. I will miss China, but know I will come back some day to show Lily her place of birth and her beautiful culture. We bought some really cool things to help her embrace China and I plan to print out my "blog" so she can read our journey to bringing her home to her forever family.

She has brought the perfect balance into our family with her sweetness and laughter. We love her so and know you will too, if not already.

Thank you so much for following our trip of a lifetime. We love you all and could feel your love and support all the way in China! Please sign the comments page if you haven't already so we know who has been tuning in. Don't be shy!

With Love from China!
Tim, Lisa, Jack and Lily

>I will do one more follow up post at home and then delete my blog from the internet for the privacy of our family.