Wow, can't believe we've been home for so long already... it is starting to feel like China was just a dream! Just to wrap things up in China, here are our top ten 'Most Memorable Moments'(not I did not say BEST moments) in no particular order:
1. Seeing the Great Wall
for the first time. Epic. That's basically all. It was freaking hot and quite the hike, but since we met some nice workers at the top, we have ultimate bragging rights. How many people do you know that have helped rebuild the Great Wall?
2. Laying in our FREEZING bed, cuddling under a blanket that was hardly big enough to cover us in a horrible hostel in
Fenghuang(oh, and don't forget the loud, off key karaoke parties going on all around us). One of those few moments when you are so past crying that you laugh about the awfulness.
3. Our super early morning hike in Zhangjiajie(another trip made memorable by the beauty of the place, and horribleness of the trip). What a surreal place.
4. When Mr. Beard came to retrieve us from Changsha. The first thing he said to Matt was: 'You are much fatter than your picture'. He also gave us a puzzled look when we asked why his name was Mr. Beard when he did not in fact, have a beard. When we piled all our suitcases into the trunk, we still had one medium sized one that we put in the back seat between Matt and I, which would have worked out fine if not for the random Chinese lady that we were giving a lift back to Dong'an. Matt spent the five hour ride with a suitcase between his knees and I spent it trying not to slide into the stranger next to me. The last thing I wanted to mention was the place we ate dinner. If you have ever watched the 'Christy' series, just think of the O'teals cabin when you think of where we ate. Mr. Beard highly recommended the fish at that place, because they were 'not as polluted as in Dong'an.' That place was creepy.
*I don't have any pictures due to my emotional instability at this point in history, so here is a picture I never posted of a mummy we saw in Changsha*
5. Enjoying one of the VERY FEW sunsets we ever saw in China on a beach in Sanya. Just chillin', people watching and eating fried rice.
6. The train ride from Guilin to Dong'an when our parents came to visit us. I don't know why I didn't blog about this when it happened. This train was INSANE. Since it was smack in the middle of the largest migration of people in the world(practically all of China's billion citizens travel for Chinese New Year), they add extra trains to accommodate the madness. We still ended up with standing tickets(meaning that we stood in the aisle with the other unfortunate souls who could not procure seated tickets), and that car was packed
tight. One of the train conductors noticed our white skin-ness and told us he could give us some seats. Ten cars down. I *think* both of our moms were in tears by the time we had pushed and squeezed through seemingly impassible aisles to get to our seats. I just laughed the whole time and thought, 'Welcome to China!' But seriously folks, this was crazy madness. This picture isn't from this trip, but it will give you an idea of how crowded the trains can get. Try navigating through that with your backpack, suitcases and sword case tucked under your arms.
7. The haunted Pagoda we visited for Halloween. It was funny to sit at the top and think "this building is older than the United States!" and then realize that it's not even very old for China.
8. Going to the Temple in Hong Kong. Super cool.
9. Freezing our bums off while visiting the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an. Winter in China is pretty miserable.
10. The Worlds Fair in Shanghai. Seriously one of the coolest things ever! It was built in a huge area, and each country that wants to comes and builds a 'pavilion' showcasing their culture, people, etc. I heard it once described as the Olympics of Economics. The Eiffel Tower was built for the Worlds Fair in Paris, and the Ferris Wheel was invented when the fair was in Chicago(I think). Sooo glad we went, and I wish we could have stayed for longer. My favorite was definitely the Africa pavilion(all the little countries got together, built a huge building and each one had a little area inside) but there were definitely some awesome pavilions.
