Our Adoption Journey: Shaolin Temple

First I should update you on the camera... So last night Dan had the front desk write a note that said "My camera is broken" in chinese, he took the note to some booths that sell electronics under the Walmart we shop at. The guy took the camera, and immediately knew what to do. He changed the lens, and like magic it worked! I was slightly confused by it because I brought two lens and I did try switching them which it didn't work... but its fine by me. We bought a new lens, and now the camera works. I am so happy to have a camera again.
The weather here is quite cool. Not snowing like Michigan, but cool. Neither Dan nor I packed clothes that were warm enough. And we dont have a coat for Alliot either. Alliot woke up pretty unhappy and with a fever so we debated on whether or not to take him. We decided that he would be pretty warm in the ergo, so we gave him so medicine and decided to go. He slept most of the time we were there. We aren't sure if he was sick or if that is just the way that he wakes up. He wakes up every morning sweating hot.

Sick baby this morning

We weren't planing on needing hats and gloves. Today it was especially cool because we were in the mountains visiting the Shaolin Temple. We got to see the grave yard where they bury the monks. They build these tall things on top of the bodies in the ground called "pagotas" which are similar to head stones in the united states.

Us in front of a pagota

Then we went to see the temple, it was very interesting. People come there to burn incense, bow, pray, kneel... its very different from our culture.

Insense burning

After we visited the temple we had lunch and it was VERY yummy! But the building was FREEZING cold! They don't have heat in the buildings, so it is very cold inside. Poor Alliot, he is warm in the ergo, but when we take him out he is freezing because we don't have a coat for him, and he isn't a fan of being wrapped in his blanket. The chinese people are always hollering at us that he isn't dressed warm enough. Its slightly annoying that they all keep talking about it. Chinese people also really like to have their picture taken with Americans. Every once and awhile we will notice them posing next to us.
The last thing we did at the temple was watch a Fungfu show. At the temple there is a boarding school for boys, some as young as 5, these boys did a show for us on stage. It was really fun and entertaining to watch.

Dan and Alliot at the temple

Alliot was very wiggly on the bus ride back to the hotel. He seemed to be feeling better later in the day. He really enjoyed eating sweet and sour pork with daddy tonight. He always has to have something in his hands. When we got back to the hotel today he had a toothbrush in his hand and refused to let it go. He took a bath with the toothbrush tonight. which he HATED, he screamed the entire time. As soon as I got him out the tears immediately stopped. After bath I got his pjs on and gave him a bottle. Then we cuddled before we went to bed. But of course the toothbrush was still in his hand. He had it in his left hand, but he realized that was a problem when he wanted to suck his thumb (He only sucks his left thumb), so he put the toothbrush in his right hand, sucked his thumb and fell asleep. I guess hes sleeping with the toothbrush tonight. :)

We got his passport today, and tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou! Its the last leg of our journey here in China! Very excited for some warmer weather, more adoptive families, and shopping! Guangzhou has lots of stores with very unique gifts special to China. We are enjoying our time here, but very ready to be home with our sweet little munchkins! We can't wait to kiss and hug them!!