It was off to the zoo by mid-morning today. Mommy and daddy had some initial reluctance visiting the zoo (as many of you know, Willow's parents do not like to see intelligent beings locked behind cages), but ... it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. Some of the cages were too small ... but, then again, isn't any cage too small?
In fact, the grounds were extremely well cared for (about the best we've seen in a zoo anywhere).
This was an occasion to wear her zoo shirt. Look at those precious chubby fingers (with dimples on her knuckles)!
Willow was awake for half the time and enjoyed seeing some of the larger animals (like the bears and elephants). There were numerous species of bear (including the Sun Bear species, endemic to Asia).
And, of course, the fish. Willow seems to love fish ... just like her mommy. This zoo had a special area called "The Goldfish Garden", where all types of uniquely-bred goldfish were on display (example: the kind with huge googly bug eyes).
Willow (when awake) was VERY quiet; she just quietly watched the animals (stared at them, actually). Here, she is looking at a Brown (Grizzly) Bear. She slept through quite a bit of the zoo (she had a reaction to strawberries this morning--broke out in hives all over her neck, tummy, and back--so we gave her benedryl). The medicine got rid of the reaction in about 15-30 minutes, but she did get cranky and tired before conking out in the papoose for a long nap in the sun.
We were dropped off at the hotel and said goodbye to guide/translator Sara for the day. After the zoo, we spent some "run around" time in the hotel room and hotel hallway -- also attempting to get Willow used to the idea of using a stroller instead of someone's back, so -- we'll see how the afternoon jaunt goes? The BIG question for the day is, "Will the wee one use a stroller today" so we can venture far and wide off of Shamian Island? Meryl's hips are much better, miraculously ... but it would be nice to at least try a stroller.
After about an hour of no real success in trying to persuade Willow to be interested in riding in a stroller (we do this by putting Willow's teddy bears in the stroller and showing her how much fun they are having), we decided to venture off Shamian Island with Willow on mommy's back. Oh well. We walked to the very active commercial district about a 15 minute walk from the east end of Shamian Island (the same commercial area that has the statue of the horse on a globe). The walk to the shopping district was as much fun as the shopping district itself. Frankly, the shops never seem to end. Daddy is in pursuit of another suitcase because "the parents" have purchased so much stuff for the precious one that they can not fit everything in the suitcases that they brought with them. He thinks he found one that will work. We'll plan on returning in a vehicle.
So, we make it to the swarming commercial district and who does mommy run in to??? -- Aunt Sara (our guide). In a city of eight+ million people where we know exactly one person ... Sara ... who do we run in to? Sara! Unbelievable. Sara takes mommy to look for a jade bracelet for The Little One (it will be bestowed on her on the anniversary of her adoption, when she is older). Of course, it isn't very expensive (only about 3 or 4 dollars), so Mommy buys a bracelet for Willow and herself. Daddy takes photos, especially of a nearby historic structure that served the Silk Guild in the Ching Dynasty (sometime in the 1700s). After saying goodbye to Sara (after all, she's not "on duty" anymore and we do not want to make her suffer through the doting parents anymore than she has to...actually, we can tell that Sara really likes Willow!), we are hungry so we venture back to the Mall in the commercial district where we ate a couple of days before, execpt this time we try a different restaurant. Willow acts like a natural restaurant goer ... tries new things and eats everything we give her. Again, not a fluke, she really likes broccoli.
Fried rice (chicken, egg, and vegetable) and baked broccoli with cheese. Delicious! Dad had a steak (which Willow relished as well).
Since it is getting dark outside (the neon lights have been turned on), we finish dinner and walk home. Neon. Neon. Neon, everywhere. On our way, we pass by a koi pond where kids are feeding the fish with baby bottles (see below)! We make it back to Shamian Island and end the day with a nice bath for the wee one.
Children line up to feed the koi with baby bottles (not sure what is in the bottle; there is a woman who has a small cart where she provides the bottles and liquid for a small fee). The kids "LOVE" it (the koi pool is in the middle of the shopping plaza).
After the evening bath, we wind down by playing a little on the bed. She wriggles and giggles now, as I attempt to put on corn starch and her diaper. She made a beeline for my reading glasses and tried to put them on. She also put them on teddy, and me. She is such a great little girl ... she is so much fun to be with. Now its off to bed, after her bottle. Goodnight, sleep tight.
1 comment:
I'm so enjoying your journey, even these two years later! So glad we are able to catch up. (You are still the Meryl I remember!)
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