A little about Mississippi, a little about Louisiana, a little about New Orleans and A LOT about our adoption story. This blog and our adoption story is dedicated to Camryn and Matthew Cassreino so that you both will know. Copyright 2021 by Terry R. Cassreino
GUANGZHOU, China (Monday, Dec. 16, 2008, 8:35 a.m.) – It’s a chilly day today as Pam, Matthew and I head to the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees in Guangzhou, one of the four best Buddhist temples in the city.
I don’t know how long we’ll be able to stay there because Matthew is battling a rather nasty cold and wet cough. I am, too.
Look for another post and photos later today.
Copyright 2008 by TerryR. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
GUANGZHOU, China (Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, 10:35 p.m.) – I couldn’t think of a nicer way to end a hectic day than stopping at Starbucks on Sunday night for a Caramel Frappuccino.
So that’s exactly what Pam, Matthew and I did. I bought a Frappuccino, Pam had an iced tea and Matthew had a little of both. He seemed to like the iced tea better than my Frappuccino.
Today is another busy day as we join a couple of other families for a visit to the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees in Guangzhou, one of the four best Buddhist temples in the city.
Originally built in 537, the temple has been redone several times. The name also has changed from the Changshou Temple to the Jinghui Temple and, finally, to its current name.
Buddhist monks are expected to give a blessing to Chinese children who are being adopted by American families. We visited the temple last time with our daughter; we plan to do it again on Monday.
I’ll have photos and a story to share on Monday. Until then, you can visit our latest photo gallery at the bottom of this blog post. Enjoy.
Copyright 2008 by TerryR. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
DIRECTIONS: Click photo to enlarge. Toggle photo captions with button in left-hand corner of photo gallery slide show.
GUANGZHOU, China (Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, 6:45 p.m.) – A severe shortage of diapers – we ran out – set off a mad dash through the streets of this city of 7 million on one of the busiest shopping days of the week.
After three hours of attempting to hail taxis to haul Pam, Matthew and me; dodging bumper-to-bumper traffic; and squeezing our way through wall-to-wall people downtown, we had more than enough.
We started the afternoon buying a Chinese scroll and chop for Matthew and a $10 suitcase for me. A few doors down, at a nearby restaurant, we had an inexpensive lunch of sandwiches that took forever to prepare.
Then the fun began.
About 2 p.m.: We took a $2 taxi ride to Beijing Street in Guangzhou and quite possibly the largest crowd of people we’ve seen since we arrived in China.
This apparently is one of the most popular shopping areas in town with large department stores lining both sides of a wide street that was converted into a pedestrian mall.
Beijing Street was home to at least three separate McDonald’s locations as well as a multiplex theatre that had patrons lined up to buy tickets to latest movies.
The crowds along Beijing Street were literally wall-to-wall in a scene that reminded me of the crowds on Bourbon Street and Canal Street in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
Pam and I were the only Americans around. While the whole area was safe and teeming with police, it was one of the few times since we’ve been in China when I felt out of my element.
That’s when we decided to head for Carrefour, the French-based discount stores we’ve visited in China. Since we couldn’t find a grocery store on Beijing Street, we knew new could find what we needed at Carrefour.
About 3 p.m.: We hailed a taxi, asked him to take us to Carrefour and proceeded to break down the stroller. Then he sped off without us – the only time we have been jilted by a taxi driver in China. I was a little annoyed.
About 3:05 p.m.: We hailed a second taxi, whose driver helped us pile into his car and took us to Carrefour.
About 3:30 p.m.: Another $2 taxi ride found us outside Carrefour’s two-level store. For some strange reason, the heat inside was turned up to at least 85 degrees during our entire visit.
Pam and I felt like we were in a sauna as we searched frantically for diapers.
About 3:45 p.m.: We found the diapers – a large pack of Pampers. We grabbed the Pampers, tossed them in the basket and headed to the grocery section, where we picked up a few boxes of noodles for Matthew.
Speaking of noodles, I’ve never seen so many in my life. Chicken-flavored noodles. Beef-flavored noodles. Spicy-flavored noodles. And tons of soy sauce. Carrefour had an entire aisle with any kind and brand of soy sauce you could imagine.
And then, of course, we visited the meat and produce section were we saw fresh seafood for sale including octopus, squid, whole fish and fish heads.
About 4:30 p.m.: I was dripping in sweat from the heat in the store. Pam, Matthew and I checked out and then maneuvered through hordes of people who pushed their way onto the escalator to street-level.
About 4:45 p.m.: We walked to the street and tried to hail a taxi, but had little luck. We tried again. Nothing. Finally, after the third try, we got a taxi and wound our way back to the White Swan in another $2 cab ride.
About 5 p.m.: We arrived back at the hotel, exhausted.
Copyright 2008 by TerryR. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
