Pearl shopping and Temple of Heaven

These next 5 pictures really should be last but I uploaded them after I wrote everything below, so you should really read from the middle down and then go back to the top. It is now 11:00 p.m. I am very tired and I won't even get to the train ride tonight which means I am still way behind. But let me tell you about these few pictures then i will sign off. Ben ran all over the Temple of Heaven and it was very hot. It seems there is a unspoken rule for Chinese men that Ben picked up on. All the men, young and old, when they are hot, roll up their shirt from the waist up as high as above their chest. Now, there are just not that many men, young old here that should really be showing those abs. But Ben though it was hilarious and was doing it frequently and finally he saw one man here at the Temple of Heaven that had no shirt and he decided that it was time that he could go with no shirt - so he did!

Hannah and Celia above, walking together. We were taken to a mediocre restaurant for dinner that same night fairly early because we had to head to the train station to catch our sleeper train to Xian, our next stop! This was the first night that the kids decided that they were eating on their own - no parents allowed at the table - they loved it and the adults enjoyed a couple of cold beers at our table as well! They had a lady all dressed up come out and do a short traditional dance. Off to the train station!

After lunch we went to the famous pearl shop - this one was more upscale then the ones we visited when we came to China the 2nd time for Hannah's adoption. these are all Government run with complete certifications for the pearls. I am happy to say that I am bringing home a spectacular new string of pearls :) The little girls enjoyed it as well - they all got to go learn how to "string pearls" and make their own necklaces and bracelets while the "Moms" got to enjoy the real thing! if you look closely at the girls, they are all wearing the necklaces they made. After that we headed to the Temple of Heaven where the kids could fly the kites, and we enjoyed the sights - not only the temple, but all the people there enjoying the park.

This elderly lady was dancing - actually there were many people dancing - The people would come to the park, there would be music and many groups of people would dance and enjoy.

Ben has decided that he is a great photographer and he is insisting each day to take more and more pictures - I thought he did a great job on this picture!