Lap Dance

Today was mostly a free day for us. We enjoyed a late breakfast at the first floor buffet next to the two story waterfall and huge koi pond.


Craig stayed in the room from 10 - noon waiting to see if Rui had any questions or concerns with our paper work. She was at the American Consulate getting all our stuff ready for our appointment tomorrow at 2:45. There were none, so Craig had a fun time bonding with baby Sarah in the hotel room.


What did Mikel do all this time? SHOP of course! She met Meg and Patti at the boutique just outside the White Swan hotel after she dropped off a last load of laundry at the Ladybug Corner just across the street from the hotel. This shop came highly recommended by families who had been here before. Most shops here do laundry and it comes back in cute clear packages perfect for packing. The Ladybug corner has a nice selection of clothes and shoes as well as strollers to 'rent' for free (most shops have strollers to borrow, too) If you do use Ladybug Corner ask for the VIP card that gives you an additional discount on laundry and all other purchases.


A word regarding the famous 'squeaky' shoes - they are not sized the same every where! Some come in sizes from 13 to 18, others are marked 140/23 or some other combination, still others have different markings. It was very confusing trying to find some sort of common element! Bring your baby with you to try them on! Most stores are happy to exchange, but you end up buying even more stuff!

This place also had a nice selection of baby shoes and tights. And for those of you planning on coming to China at any time of the year - bring tights! The old lady ankle police will come after you in any city if they think your baby's hands or legs get cold. So we have given up with socks (unless they are over the knee) and gone with tights.


For lunch Craig, Sarah and Mikel went for a stroll with Meg and her son Alex to Blenz Coffee (also highly recommended, it is just down the way from Starbucks - did Craig mention there is a Starbucks INSIDE the Forbidden City? Yes, we have photos!) The above photo is of Sarah boogieing to Shania Twain on daddy's lap. She is really turning on the cute factor! A couple of students on a field trip from Germany kept offering her their chocolate wafer candy!


Mikel has to give big props to the doctor and nurse at the White Swan Hotel. Baby Sarah is fine other than a few patches of dry skin and some monster-sized Mongolian spots. Mikel, on the other hand, has had too much smog in the past two weeks and has come down with a nasty sinus infection! Good thing we brought most of our medicine cabinet!


Anyway, at 7 PM yesterday she went to the 3rd floor clinic and rang the bell. There was no one there besides the nurse and doctor. Mikel sat down next to the doc, a few questions were asked and a temperature taken (under the arm) as well and a nose and throat inspection (never had that nose flashlight thingy shoved up so far - ouch!) The friendly, elderly Chinese doctor gave Mikel some antiboitics - all in under 15 minutes and for 150 Yuan (less than $20.00 USD!) They were both very caring and nice, too!


Another tip for those traveling here soon - most of the shops have a corner packed with medicines donated by families. They are in their original packages, in ENGLISH, both OTC and Rx, and treat most anything from lice to scabies to who knows what.


Tonights dinner was Thai. It is call the "Cow and Bridge" and was probably the best food we've eaten in Guangzhou. Steer clear of some of the crazy seafood dishes (no, we've not tried fish head soup or anything else many American's deem 'crazy') but the vegetables were superb (not had much greenery this trip) and Mikel enjoyed the Patai and Craig the vegi spring rolls. Other families orders delicious, spicy dishes that Craig enjoyed sampling. We ordered Sarah the usual chichen congi and some weird-looking apple juice (looked more like Guinness Stout)


Not many pictures taken today, but tomorrow we plan to explore what Craig calls the 'gutted goat market' so there should be lots of photo ops!