Last day in Lanzhou

Our last day in Lanzhou has been quite interesting. Again, we have not seen one foreigner at all and it has been a week now. Not even one at our hotels. We just cannot get over the way people stare at us everywhere-I got some good video of it today.

The employees here now know what we want after 3 nights when we ask for ice or salt. Belle had to draw a photo for about 4 people one night to explain that we would like some ice (i sometimes forget to bring my little translation booklet). None of the Chinese use ice. They drink warm water, warm tea, warm coke, and even warm beer!

Today we had our usual buffet at the hotel. We have been sticking to toast and fried eggs. The veggies do not seem very appetizing for breakfast. I had beef noodle soup to change it up this morning though! I got a great little video clip of the way they make their noodles-it is very fascinating!

Our guide picked us at 9:30 and we headed to the zoo. It is at the base of their mountain range and the weather was good today after several days of rain. People here everywhere have umbrellas. We heard a large group of people singing Buddhist songs before we entered. We spent about 2 hours in the zoo looking at all the animals. It felt good to walk. Belle likes to be on her daddy in the Baby Bjorn. Thankful he has a strong back. It is difficult here to use the umbrella stroller we bought because the sidewalks are so bad... even the sidewalks at the zoo. All of the Chinese kids wanted their photos with us and wanted to see the baby. Belle Johnson and I decided to be adventuresome and take a camel ride for 10 Yuan(roughly $1.50). My favorite animal may have been the panda.

We left the zoo and moved to the Waterpark Area that shows the history of the old water wheels. It is down by the Yellow River. There is so much history there with the silk road and the river. There was an opportunity to float down the Yellow River with Muslim men on a sheepskin raft. (I truly cannot wait to see these photos!) Our guide encouraged us to "take the 15 minute trip" so she held our baby and cameras while we ventured out! We put on life jackets and the three of us hopped on this tiny vessel made up of about 20 hard blown sheep skins that were tied together. This is from a tradition that the Muslims started 400 years ago on the Yellow River. Belle got some great video too! It floated us down at a fairly rapid pace (water extremely muddy but we did not get too wet!) and then a small motor boat took us back. This was a great chance to say that "we floated down such a historical river!"

Next, our guide took us to a neat place to buy some souvenirs. I am trying to collect some things to give baby belle each year from her province. I got a really neat piece of art for her nursery that I can frame when we return. Also, bought some local tea and dried painted gourds that have scenes of the town on them. Last, we went to get Pizza! We were so excited to eat something different than Chinese Food for a change! Belle and Tim thoroughly enjoyed having some coke on ice too! By that time baby belle was pooped and it was time to go back to hotel for her nap! She seems to like her crib OK and we are beginning to pack a little for our flight in the morning.

We will be sad to say goodbye to our dear friend Belle Johnson but so thankful for the fond memories and laughs we have shared. She will head back to Nashville and we will head southeast to Ghaungoux. Supposedly, it is VERY hot and humid there right now (Tim's favorite combination!) We hear that it is a neat city to explore- we will have more paperwork there to do and a doctor's check-up. We will also reunite with the other 4 AMerica World Families we met the first night in Beijing.

We will hold those amazing memories of Gansu close to our heart. We hope that someday we can bring baby Belle back to her roots with the other kids. Again, please pray for our continued safety and that all the little details on her paperwork will go as planned. Will post photos soon!

Love each and every one of you!

Carissa