The children were quiet this morning because they were unable to play in the school yard below our window as it had been raining since last night and showed no sign of stopping. We were toasty snuggled under our big comforter, but the bathroom was cold due to the fact that the exhaust fan opened to the outside without any kind of a cover. I could see the trees and the chilly wind could find me. Last night we had gotten a space heater from the hotel owner which had warmed the bathroom while we showered, but we certainly didn't leave it on all night long.
G- This is the perfect day to stay in. I'll write blogs and you can research China in the Lonely Plant and on the hotel computer. Read Genelle's & Ray's blog and Hannah's & Mike's for tips.
P- We do need to take the rest of the souvenirs to the post office and buy those Columbia socks we saw yesterday, but I'll go run those errands and pick us up some lunch while you blog.
G- Sounds like a good plan. I don't want to have to leave this room. You know, G & Ray are in Japan right now snow skiing. I wonder if they're planning to get the hell out of there.
G- I will. She put up a post that said they were pretty far from the devastation, but no place on that island is far enough away if one, or more, of those nuclear reactors blows up.
At some point during the afternoon we went to the lobby to confirm that our bus reservations had been arranged, paid our hotel bill, and drank some hot tea.
P- Hannah & Mike wrote, in their blog, that China was the most difficult country they visited. Hannah was really annoyed by the staring. Ray & Genelle didn't have any problems.
G- Ray & Genelle love every place. If the staring is too excessive, I think we should just stare back. That usually freaks people out and forces them to stop staring. I do wish it was possible for us to snap our fingers, like Bewitched, & spend a few weeks at home, before we go to China.
P- Well, that's not possible.
G- I know. I just said I wish it were possible. I'd like to be able to stay home and go nowhere for a solid week, or two.
P- When we get to China we can stay in one spot for a week.
P- What have they been saying on TV about Japan? Maybe, after China, we can go to Japan to volunteer.
G- It's so terrible! My heart just breaks for those poor people. It makes me think of Katrina. When your whole city is wiped out, you have no one to turn to for physical or emotional help because all of your family and friends are in the same shape.
P- The death toll is so much higher in Japan and the cities are just gone. It's terrible.
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| pedi at the grave stone marker store |
P- I agree. Even the Japanese people they interview talk of being calm and patient. The reporters aren't going in search of the dumbest, most hysterical, people to interview.
G- I wish we could get news in America like this.
P- Yeah, well, you'll never see that again.
Around 6:00 pm Phyl went to the tailor and picked up her pants which fit her perfectly. Then we went around the corner to a Spanish restaurant where we ate the most delicious food. We had no idea what we'd be able to find in China and we were fortifying ourselves with every type of non Asian foods we could find. Before bed we packed up our stuff so we'd be ready to catch the bus to China at 8:00 AM. We had read that there was a risk that our Lonely Planet travel guide might be confiscated at the border, so we buried it at the bottom of one of our backpacks.
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| Momma says to wear clean drawers when you're crossing international borders |
P- I don't think so. All the other buses we've been on have stopped somewhere and we always end up buying something there because it's hot.
G- You're right, and we do have pretzels and a couple of cookies just in case we get into a bind. I think we're ready for China!
P- Is China ready for us?
G- We'll soon see. Good night, Gladys.
P- Good night, Agnes.
