homeland tour: chinaBEIJING
On June 26th, Hank, Marilou and I departed for a 2-week trip to China. At the airport in Beijing, we were greeted by a wonderful tour guide Julia and transferred to the Radisson Blu hotel. The next morning, Julia picked us up for an outing in Beijing. First we climbed the Great Wall in the morning. After a great lunch at a local restaurant, we visited and played with the children for a couple hours at Alenah's Home orphanage. There were more than 20 children and several of them recently came back from surgeries. Some children had minor conditions such as cleft lip, other had Down’s syndrome or cerebral palsy. Babies continue to be abandoned if they need surgeries, or other treatments that families can’t afford. The next morning, we visited the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. We were ready to take a 4 hour train in the afternoon to our next adventure. |
XI’AN
We arrived at Xi’an (“chee-an”) train station. We were welcomed by our tour guide named Sherry. Xi’an is much smaller than Beijing with only 9 million people! We stayed at a beautiful Wyndham Hotel. We visited the very impressive Terracotta Warriors Museum in the next morning, and had lunch at a local restaurant. We promenaded at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda park in the afternoon. We saw Tang Dynasty Show and had dumplings in the evening. The next day, we visited the old city wall and the Muslim Market before heading off to the airport for another excursion.
We arrived at Xi’an (“chee-an”) train station. We were welcomed by our tour guide named Sherry. Xi’an is much smaller than Beijing with only 9 million people! We stayed at a beautiful Wyndham Hotel. We visited the very impressive Terracotta Warriors Museum in the next morning, and had lunch at a local restaurant. We promenaded at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda park in the afternoon. We saw Tang Dynasty Show and had dumplings in the evening. The next day, we visited the old city wall and the Muslim Market before heading off to the airport for another excursion.
CHENGDU
Chengdu was our next destination. We were greeted at the airport by Kevin. A site that Marilou has been waiting for was the Panda Base! There are only about 1000 giant pandas in the world, 90% of which live in Sichuan Province. Of the 1000, about 60% live in the wild and 40% live in captivity. The Chengdu Panda Base is not only a tourist attraction, but it is also a research facility and breeding program. We were lucky to see a new born. It is actually not very cute, it looks like a mouse. But they grow very fast, at one month old, they look like cute little pandas that you just want to snuggle. We also saw red pandas, which are actually in the raccoon family.
Chengdu was our next destination. We were greeted at the airport by Kevin. A site that Marilou has been waiting for was the Panda Base! There are only about 1000 giant pandas in the world, 90% of which live in Sichuan Province. Of the 1000, about 60% live in the wild and 40% live in captivity. The Chengdu Panda Base is not only a tourist attraction, but it is also a research facility and breeding program. We were lucky to see a new born. It is actually not very cute, it looks like a mouse. But they grow very fast, at one month old, they look like cute little pandas that you just want to snuggle. We also saw red pandas, which are actually in the raccoon family.
After the Panda Base, we returned to the city for a famous Sichuan hot pot lunch. It was one of my favorite and was quite an experience as well. The boiling pot of chicken and vegetable broth is in the middle of the table and ingredients are brought to you for cooking. Kevin selected our ingredients – so we won’t get any weird food like innards of various animals!! We stuck with veggies like bean sprouts, mushrooms, potatoes, and lettuce, and meats like sliced beef, pork meatballs, and shrimps.
After this good meal, we decided to take a little time to rest at the hotel and cool off at the pool on the roof. What a view! We went out for the evening starting with a traditional Chinese dinner. We enjoyed rolling roast duck, dumplings and little pancakes. We also tried Kung Pao chicken, but we didn’t enjoy the “numb” peppers. They literally numb your tongue. After dinner, we went to a Sichuan Opera variety show, including the famous changing masks, which Kevin said only a few people know how to do as the government keeps it a secret.
After this good meal, we decided to take a little time to rest at the hotel and cool off at the pool on the roof. What a view! We went out for the evening starting with a traditional Chinese dinner. We enjoyed rolling roast duck, dumplings and little pancakes. We also tried Kung Pao chicken, but we didn’t enjoy the “numb” peppers. They literally numb your tongue. After dinner, we went to a Sichuan Opera variety show, including the famous changing masks, which Kevin said only a few people know how to do as the government keeps it a secret.
WUHAN
The next day, we flew to our next city with anticipation. We were welcomed by another wonderful tour guide Christine. Absolutely nothing looked familiar on the way! I think it was due to a combination of being distracted by a ‘very active new toddler’ the first time coming to Wuhan, not to mention the enormous development in roads and infrastructure in the past 13 years. We walked by East Lake Tsingtao park that afternoon where the lotus grow abundantly. We stayed at a Marriott Renaissance hotel which made us feel a little bit at home with their American style breakfast.
The next day, we flew to our next city with anticipation. We were welcomed by another wonderful tour guide Christine. Absolutely nothing looked familiar on the way! I think it was due to a combination of being distracted by a ‘very active new toddler’ the first time coming to Wuhan, not to mention the enormous development in roads and infrastructure in the past 13 years. We walked by East Lake Tsingtao park that afternoon where the lotus grow abundantly. We stayed at a Marriott Renaissance hotel which made us feel a little bit at home with their American style breakfast.
THE REUNION
The next morning, we drove 2 hours to Da Ye City. The director of Da Ye Orphanage was waiting for us. This is where Marilou spent her first two years. However, the orphanage had moved to a new location about 5 years ago. The new place was very spacious, clean and modern. Then, we met another women who was Marilou's caretaker when she was little. She immediately remembered her. She proudly greeted her and kept holding Marilou’s arm. She was saying ‘what a beautiful girl she has become.” It was a very emotional reunion! We had the chance to see about 20 children from babies to teenagers. They were so happy to see us and they even sang a song for us. The staff at the orphanage had prepared the most delicious lunch for us and we ate in their dining room with the largest lazy Susan in the middle of the table! We were treated like royalty. We had nice conversations with the translation help of our guide Christine.
The next morning, we drove 2 hours to Da Ye City. The director of Da Ye Orphanage was waiting for us. This is where Marilou spent her first two years. However, the orphanage had moved to a new location about 5 years ago. The new place was very spacious, clean and modern. Then, we met another women who was Marilou's caretaker when she was little. She immediately remembered her. She proudly greeted her and kept holding Marilou’s arm. She was saying ‘what a beautiful girl she has become.” It was a very emotional reunion! We had the chance to see about 20 children from babies to teenagers. They were so happy to see us and they even sang a song for us. The staff at the orphanage had prepared the most delicious lunch for us and we ate in their dining room with the largest lazy Susan in the middle of the table! We were treated like royalty. We had nice conversations with the translation help of our guide Christine.
After lunch, we went to a near by park where I spotted a big stone (with a hole) that I recognized from a picture that was taken 13 years ago by someone at the orphanage. I looked at Marilou and I saw joy on her face. Joy in experiencing this place as her own story, her heritage. Then it was time to go to the ‘finding site’. I was worry for Marilou to go there. But surprisingly, it was not sad. I was watching her walking the alley of this small village seeing another joy in her eyes. She knew that this was her beginning but she did not belong there. She must realized that she has a great family in the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee. She looked at peace. She knew that God was watching over her and He had a good plan for her.
The next morning, before leaving Wuhan, we visited the Yellow Crane Tower and Guinean Temple. Then, we were on our way to the airport for a final destination.
The next morning, before leaving Wuhan, we visited the Yellow Crane Tower and Guinean Temple. Then, we were on our way to the airport for a final destination.
BACK TO BEIJING
We flew back to Beijing and met our wonderful Julia waiting for us at the airport and back to our hotel for some rest. We were ready for our final day. Julia and our guide, Lee, collected us at 9am. We first went for a Hutong tour, which is an old town with narrow streets. In the Hutong we rode on a rickshaw which was a lot of fun! We explored the neighborhood, and there was a beautiful lake. Next we went to the Temple of Heaven and walked among its many gates and temples. It was lunchtime and we were really in for a treat at Pekin Duck restaurant! After lunch, we did some bargaining at Hong Qiao market. To close the day, we went see an amazing acrobat show.
It’s was good to return home after sharing this amazing experience with Marilou. We are very thankful for CHI (Children’s Hope International) to have organized this extraordinary trip for us.
We flew back to Beijing and met our wonderful Julia waiting for us at the airport and back to our hotel for some rest. We were ready for our final day. Julia and our guide, Lee, collected us at 9am. We first went for a Hutong tour, which is an old town with narrow streets. In the Hutong we rode on a rickshaw which was a lot of fun! We explored the neighborhood, and there was a beautiful lake. Next we went to the Temple of Heaven and walked among its many gates and temples. It was lunchtime and we were really in for a treat at Pekin Duck restaurant! After lunch, we did some bargaining at Hong Qiao market. To close the day, we went see an amazing acrobat show.
It’s was good to return home after sharing this amazing experience with Marilou. We are very thankful for CHI (Children’s Hope International) to have organized this extraordinary trip for us.