Travel to Guangzhou and the First Couple Days

We left Nanchang on Friday afternoon after spending the morning playing, bathing, napping, and packing. The Rooster said that her stomach hurt and didn't eat any lunch and on the way to the airport, she was sick in the bus. By the time we got to the airport and checking in and to the gate, she was seeming to be getting better. We drove around the New Town, as James calls it, and it is really new - the buildings are new apartment buildings, new roads, etc. Compared to the Old Town where we were, there was hardly no traffic at all. It seemed like a totally different town.
The Horse's first airplane ride (Feiji in Chinese) was pretty good with the exception of the seat belt. He did not want it on and had a total fit including kicking the lady's seat in front of him really hard. Daddy had to hold his legs so that he would quit it. We asked the flight attendant to explain to him that he had to wear the seat belt and she did, but he really didn't care. The flight to Beijing on the 24th is longer and I will have to have several activities to do both on the plane and for the layover in Beijing that is about 4 hours - I wish we were flying straight to LA from here . . . .
We were met by Jason and it was nice to see him again. He was our CCAI guide in 2006 and we saw him in 2007 at the picnic. We went to the hotel via mini-van and checked in just fine. By the time the roll-away beds arrived and I found the pajamas, it was time for bed.
Saturday morning (20th of December) we took the Horse for his Visa photo and the physical examination. We met up with the other families who came Chongqing and from Nanning and it was nice to see them all again. One other 5 year old and the rest small girls (babies). The photo session and physical went well. The Horse did really good on the eye exam which was a relief. We had lunch and then naps. During nap time, I went with some others to the market to see the sights (dried snakes, frogs, live scorpions, chickens and ducks, etc). Most of the market is Chinese herbs and other items for medicinal purposes. Then there was the pet section; dogs, cats, birds, fish, etc. I am glad the Rooster was not with me because it was stinky.
We all went to the Cow and Bridge for dinner (Thai restaurant) and it was good. The Horse picked what he wanted by the picture in the menu (sauteed lettuce, but it was Bok choy, I think) and he ate about 1/2 plate full. He loves greens, but not meat so much. He shared my Pad Thai and had a great time at the restaurant. The Rooster didn't eat more than 1 bite as I think that she is still a little weary of food even though she hasn't been sick since the bus ride to the airport in Nanchang.
After dinner we came back to the room and watched a little TV and Grandaddy and Grandma played and visited too. I think they are having a good time and they both got massages during the afternoon yesterday.
Sunday morning, we opted to not go on the optional city tour (Granddaddy and Grandma did go) and decided to have a later breakfast and walk a little and go swimming. The pool water was really cold but it was nice outside. There was a couple of people swimming laps in the lap pool, but no one else in the other pool where we were where it is a wader pool. Everyone had fun and after swimming we came back to the room and the Rooster and Dad fell asleep and me and the Horse ate leftover Pad Thai and garlic pork ribs (me only) and watched Chinese cartoons.
Since the Horse hadn't napped and the Rooster hadn't eaten, we decided that Daddy would take her for lunch and I would stay with him. They left and the Horse got really upset. He just didn't understand and got really mad at me. He cried for a long time and then finally fell asleep in my arms (from exhaustion) after he would let me hold him. I think he was really tired in the first place and he felt like mei mei got to do something and he didn't. I wish I was totally fluent in Mandarin so that I could really communicate with him. Everyone said that he will pick up English quickly, and I think he will, but for now, it is really hard on him. We will try to keep the separate activities to a minimum for the next few days while we are still in China. He is sleeping now while I type and we have the Red Couch photo at 4:00 so I will have to wake him for that and hope that he is OK.
Tonight we will probably go to dinner somewhere like Lucy's? ot the Italian restaurant and then just hang out. Tomorrow is our consulate appointment so we will have to stay in the room between 10 and 11 just in case, and then in the afternoon, I am going to try to go shopping with Grandma and Granddaddy while the others nap.