The journey to Joshua is here!

11/1/12

The journey to Joshua is here!  We arrived in Beijing on time and without a hitch.  It was a very long flight with the last four hours dragging on for much longer than the first twelve but all so much quicker than the last hour.  We eyed our Beijing contact in the array of varies sizes and colors of signs quite quickly.   In the very first conversation with Amy we found our hotel reservations were changed and the Panda Phone (china rental phone/cell phone for all of china journey) that we ordered was now sitting at the wrong hotel. Our new hotel was also now further from the airport by one hour IF no traffic jams but can be up to two hours (Amy's words).  Turned out NO traffic jams and I don’t even think it took an hour and the new accommodations were larger and Mikayla had her own room and we actually had a living room and small dining area.,  Amy works near the original hotel so getting our panda phone was also a non-issue.  At this point we had some issues but all were resolved and we are still ten times better than last time with a night spent at the airport and no luggage for four days. 

Arriving at our room very tired and a bit hungry at about 6-7 pm Central time sleep won the battle. Up at 5:30 am with a 6:30 am wake up call expected just gave us all time to relax and take our time moving and getting down to breakfast.  This is the day to begin our site-seeing journey....We headed out at 9 am (China time from here on out unless noted) and became amazed by the Wonderful Temple of Heaven.  Our group consisted of us and two other families and our guide Tim, nine people in all.  Interesting as I write this is that the meaning that revolved around the Temple of Heaven was the number nine, the three levels are reached by a set of nine stairs each and the walk ways and rails are all multiplies of nine depending on the level the number nine is repeated throughout,  The three levels of the temple were created with meaning starting at the lower level or ground level was Hell, the middle was humans and the top Heaven,  This temple is also colored with meaning such as blue for the sky and Heaven.  All things China have a meaning of some sort so when you look at China know that everything you see and everything they do has some kind of meaning.  Watch how you put your chopsticks or you can show death or move your hand in what you might think is friendly can be a rude jester and be sure your clear in your words or you might get something you don’t expect, like try asking for toilet paper and see what you get....you might be surprised. :-)

Back to the Temple it was very interesting, very high and quite the great distance in length as well as width.  We walked to the top (the length) but not the width or entire grounds and yet so worth every second and every step.  We took a rickshaw ride and made our driver get a great work out but hey we got ours too.  We visited the home of a gentleman (I forget if he was a general or what special title) which is built in a square.  The entrance to the home was a large French type door leading into a patio area where each room has its own door to enter from and there is no way to enter one room from the other.  The patio is where day time socializing took place when the weather is nice.  It was also where the fruit and vegetables were grown along with other plants.  While we were there two men played a game of what looked like checkers but I think was a game of chess as each piece had some sort of writing on it and by the deep thinking they were involved in for every move.  With time to spare on our adventure we journeyed to the Sun Temple.  This temple was not as elaborate as the first but was just as interesting and had just as much meaning.  I have learned that at least in China if you have seen one Temple you HAVE NOT seen them all.
After the Sun Temple we went to see the Acrobats of China.  This is a show I have seen many times in many places but in China trust me it was so much more than what you see in the states.

This morning after much rest from all our walking we woke again this time almost 2 hours before our wake up call.  We went down to breakfast and met the other family that arrived late last night,  We also found out the last family to join us missed their flight and were going to try to make it here later today.  We all pray and hope they do because if they can not make it here today they will have to wait for the next adoption group to be schedule to come to China before then can journey to there new family member....I so feel for them and hope they arrive soon.

The temperature is much cooler this time around and so much more enjoyable but I think I am going to have to say that I do not do well traveling abroad.  As I once again did not feel up to the second journey.  Once again missing the trip to the Great Wall.  Greg the trooper that he is traveled on carry with him my heavy heart.  Mikayla my beautiful understanding daughter promised to take care of Daddy and take many pictures for Mommy bringing tears to my eyes.  So with sadness I think of them as they traveled to Tiamen Square, The Forbidden City and The Great Wall not just without me but in the rain.  The last family’s prayers were answered and arrived in time to also do this tour. They say we might get snow tonight....I hope not as we are to leave in the early morning to go to our baby boys province.  Until then....Zài Jiàn