More China Pictures

While climbing the Taoist holy site mountain. L-R:  Wes, son Luke, daughter Lydia, daughter Hannah, new tutor David, previous tutor Meghan

 These girls wouldn't leave us white people alone (and we loved every minute of it).

 Chinese stranger #1, David, Hannah, Chinese stranger #2

 A rare "state-sponsored" Catholic Church

 Another rare sign of any Christian influence, posted at an open-front restaurant downtown.

 Bought these harnesses to strap us in the airplane for the return home.

 Our last big meal at a nice restaurant. Was quite delicious!

 As a Western Kentucky University alumnus, I of course had to get the traditional "red towel picture at an exotic place." Thrilled to assist, as you can see, was a lady dressed in local traditional attire who was walking around the airport.  We think this is traditional dress of the Miao people (pronounced like cat's "meow."  Learn more.)  As I walked away, she yelled, "Tzi Jen!" which, I believe in her local tongue means "Go Tops!"

Couple More Videos

Duyun in Guizhou province. Every Sunday all the vendors come to town to sell their stuff along one long, busy street. Start to play, then double click for best viewing.

 Here's how the locals responded when we told them we were finally leaving.

Saturday: Temple Hill (Not Kentucky)

Saturday we climbed up a mountain to a Taoist holy site. (Read more about Taoism.) Experienced a lot:  David buys fedora and looks like swanky Euro-dude. Chinese kids swamp us like pigeons around a cracker, wanting to take pictures with us. Wes becomes one with nature, letting out his call of the wild from atop the great mountain. Start to play, then double click for best viewing.

Saturday: River Walk

We walked along the city's river on Saturday.

Luke

"Hmmm. How would he take it if I pushed him into the river right now?"

Ezra

These blue-necks came for the UK game.

Meghan:  "Who are these people?"

Hannah and friend:  What has obviously maintained mutual respect and cooperation between our two countries is the continual, spontaneous flashing of this sign.

Lydia

Meghan

Micah (Can't figure out what's under that grate.)

Hannah (after eating magic Chinese candy)

No one in China can tell us who this famous Chinese person is.

"Sure you wanna play that card now?  No take backs!"

Decided to go out for Chinese.

Walk with your head down a lot? Still can't escape the hounds of advertising!

Farm Trip Video

Took forever to upload this video, so you'd better watch it!  I think you'll find it's worth it.  HD quality of the farm trip the other day.  Amazing landscapes and local village flavor. For best view, click play button below, then double click the video while it's playing.

Friday Downtown and High School

What a great day!  The warm sun actually came out all day!  We placed ourselves at the cunning wits of Hannah and Meghan to get us around town.  It's like skiing; just hang onto the rope and trust that the person driving the boat knows what they're doing and where they're dragging you to.

Below are pictures of the city, which included an extremely enjoyable trip to the city's most prestigious high school.  We got to teach them by hanging out at the basketball court and answering their gazillion questions. Good English; some bashful, many very inquisitive.  Amazing, vibrant kids.  I began to tell them my favorite story that most of us back home are familiar with.  They didn't seem to understand much, but some day some of them will.  Some day they'll remember us, how the words we said in English translate into their heart language, and the story will touch them.

This girl's English name is Mary.  She gave me a Chinese name, Xi Zu Long. The Long part means "dragon," which made me feel extra cool.

Old school desks and chairs piled outside.  Just like our kids, they scribble who knows what on them.

 

A Christmas merchandise shop.  I must tell you that it is very red.  To the Chinese, Christmas is an enigma wrapped in a mystery, but they kinda like it anyway.  Just like back home, it gives stores another angle for selling us stuff.

Below pics are from a local park.

 Above tower has some kind of dragon story behind it. Something about one being trapped in it to this very day! They're big on dragons in China, you know.

Meghan, Hannah, and David mixing with the local dignitaries.