HATTIESBURG - It’s hard to believe, but on Wednesday we will have had Camryn with us for one month.
And it’s hard to believe that you are letting me continue to bore you with these photos from our trip to China to get Camryn.
But until I have time to take some interesting new photos, I guess you’ll just have to make do with what I post.
And, you have to admit, these photos are interesting and fascinating - just like our trip was. Maybe I’ll be able to post a few fresh shots later this week.
Until then, I hope you enjoy these 10 photos in a look back at the China trip.
- Terry R. Cassreino
PHOTO 1
This is from our own personal excursion to Beijing. Thursday, March 30, 2006, I believe. Pam and I took a taxi into the city near the Forbidden City and we just walked and walked and walked. We came across an entire store that only sells chop sticks. That’s it. Nothing else. Just chop sticks. Porcelain chop sticks. Metal chop sticks. Wooden chop sticks. It was a veritable Chop Sticks R Us. The Chop Sticks SuperCenter. Chop Stick Express. I couldn’t believe it. So I snapped this picture.
PHOTO 2
Later that day, Pam and I got hungry. Our hunger only grew as we passed restaurant after restaurant in town. Many served the Beijing specialty: Roasted duck. We passed by this restaurant and admired its menu; for some reason I can’t remember, though, we skipped eating there. I think, maybe, it seemed too touristy.
PHOTO 3
In front of the restaurant was this huge sign highlighting the major dishes served. I thought this was rather neat. Why can’t restaurants in the United States do something similar? I’d love to see photos of the dishes I’ve ordered so I know when to send it back if it looks wretched. Oh, yeah, take a look at the crispy crab and the roasted duck. I’m getting hungry just looking at this photo.
PHOTO 4
Friday, March 31, 2006. Speaking of food, we visited the Summer Palace on this day with other families in China with Holt International Children’s Service. And part of our tour included lunch at this restaurant on a hill overlooking the lake. Unfortunately, the view of the lake was obstructed by construction. But the food inside was excellent.
PHOTO 5
And here it is: Our lunch. Like in most Chinese restaurants, lunch was served on a Lazy Susan or a revolving table. Each dish was placed on the table; diners take a little here and a litte there. While the food was good, it was a bit Americanized and not quite the real Chinese experience you find in a neighborhood restaurant.
PHOTO 6
Outside, we noticed the incredible detail on the exterior and ceilings of the ancient, classic Chinese buildings. And while at first it looked like intricate paintings, I later discovered this is intricately detailed fabric. Over years, the fabric rots and the colors fade. Workers are now restoring just that at the Forbidden City and other area attractions.
PHOTO 7
Sunday, April 1, 2006. This was Pam’s idea. She and I, along with other Holt families, had just spent the afternoon touring the Forbidden City. We were across the street when Pam wanted a shot of the four bald guys on the adoption trip. Now, I have to admit I found it interesting that three other guys also shaved their heads. Pam did too. She laughed her butt off at the photo. I, by the way, am the good-looking bald guy second from right.
PHOTO 8
Here it is Monday, April 2, 2006. We are in Nanchang. We just got Camryn a few hours ago. And she is fast asleep in the crib. What a bizarre, surreal day. We started with Pam and me and ended with Pam, Camryn and me. After all that crying she did, Camryn just exhausted herself. Looking back at the photo, it’s easy to see how much she has changed in just a few short weeks.
PHOTO 9
Wednesday, April 5, 2006. Pam, far right, me and Camryn take a few minutes to relax in the Gloria Plaza Hotel before joining a few other Holt families for dinner at the East Restaurant. This also was Camryn’s birthday. And you can tell from the photo how genuinely excited she is to celebrate her first birthday.
PHOTO 10
Here we are about an hour later at the East Restaurant. We had just finished dinner when the folks from Holt surprised us - more than Camryn - with a birthday cake for the baby. The cake was incredible. The food, by the way, was one of the best meals we had in China.
Photos and text copyright 2006 by Terry R. Cassreino.
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