Sunday

Sunday in Space-literally
I write this from some number of thousand feet in the air as we fly from Yichang to Shanghai. I started to type “Chengdu” instead of “Shanghai.” Tells you where my mind is. According to Emily, our guide in Chengdu, the airport is open but flights are often delayed and people have had to spend the night in the airport. More importantly she says that hotels are not accepting any new guests. I am not sure if that is because they are full with displaced persons or to protect from liability. I really wish I could phone hotels, airlines, myself and get direct information myself. I am reading a novel which says in China speak on 30% of the truth. I want more.  I have emailed Emily to suggest maybe I could fly the foster parents to Shanghai for a day or two.  I will  try and speak to her once we get to Shanghai.

The cruise was fairly relaxing with beautiful scenery. Children are not known for their appreciation of scenery. Nonetheless, we prevailed. Yesterday we got onto a smaller ferry, headed up a smaller river to the three small gorges. We then took a saipan a little further up. In case you think this is authentic, at various points on the journey they have people stationed up the cliffs. One group plays what sounds like bagpipes. Another stands in a little boat and sings  a folk song.  Whatever the benefits of the dam, so much has been lost and so much is yet to go.  As for the dam itself, it was a cloudy, foggy day and we could not see much. Nor were we all that interested in the mechanics of a dam. (Sorry Dad.)

Last night there was a cabaret on the ship. Various crew members perform and passengers can also sign up. Well, guess who decided to perform. And no, it was not me. Kang Kang went down to the front desk on his own and signed up. He gave them his name, room number, act and about how long it would be. He decided to do a magic trick, He has a little finger puppet of a black top hat with a rabbit inside. You can then poke the rabbit out of the hat. We had the children dressed in their Chinese silks last night. Kang Kang was in a burgundy suit with yellow dragons and yellow trim. You can only imagine.  He got up in front of the audience and was a natural.   For some reason he thought he had done badly but of course he was a hit. IN general, our kids were very well behaved and except for one grouchy set of Europeans, were well received. One American couple, originally from South Africa really took a shine to them and the husband played with them. Even the folks next door to us were pleasantly surprised their sleep was not interrupted.   Mine was on occasion. The ship had some odd points. One was an uneven, metal riveted floor. It buckled in a number of places and every time someone would walk over one of these sport there would be a loud retort.  There was carpeting over the floor but still… The food on the cruise was excellent, certainly the best I have had on the trip both Western and Chinese.  They had a chef who knew how to cook Western food unlike many places that do a Chinese inspired version of Western food.  I ate well. No loosing weight on this trip.

The children have been remarkably good travelers, We knew that from past years but this trip is a little more involved. We have enough toys and they are along for the ride. Only Kang Kang is really interested in what we see, at least some of the time.  Whether that reflects his age or his personality I am not sure. Perhaps a bit of both. Today the three children are dressed in matching red tee shirts with pandas on them. At the dam site we had them in strollers, side by side, eating ice cream. As you might imagine, they attracted a fair amount of attention. Actually, until you experience the attention and curiosity I do not think you can imagine it. Last evening, even on the ship, with the children dressed up in their silks, everyone wanted to take a picture of them. Chloe and KK obliged with the arms around each other’s shoulders. For awhile at least. Finally Kang Kang announced that this was the last picture in which he was going to look happy. And when he sets his limits he means it.

And now we are on to Shanghai. We expect to be met by someone from the torch relay and there is an orientation where you get the uniform etc and then a dinner. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly.

Remember the part where we are way overweight in luggage? Apparently the driver we had going to the ship explained this. We were met by a guide who introduced us to a “luggage lady.’ This person took our luggage, gave us our baggage tags and then headed off. We got into the van with just our carry ons. Our guide explained that if we paid her 80 yuan (maybe 10-12 dollars) she would arrange it so there was no problem with our excess baggage. Okay. And we did not have to touch the bags. We paid almost 400 yuan in excess weight on our last flight so this was a deal!. We checked 8 bags, 2 box and 2 strollers. Believe it or not,  Nancy and I can manage all this plus 5 carry-ons alone as long as we get two luggage carts. The kids push the strollers with the carry ons.

Shanghai-Day 1
Well, I know in the grand scheme of things it all means nothing but it is very hard on Kang Kang. Tonight he had a few crying fits. Partially out of exhaustion but also because of the disappointment of not getting to Chengdu and then also, again disappointing news tonight. We arrived at the hotel (magnificent by the way) around 7. We made it to dinner around 8. While we were at dinner, (way too much food, course after course, none of it stuff I would chose and certainly not edible by kids) the people from Samsung were called away. They came back and announced that the Olympic committee had just decided to halt the torch relay for three days in respect of the earthquake.  We were due to run tomorrow morning.  They have no idea what it means yet so we will see.  It is not just a matter of halting it and then resuming as the three days are missed. They do not yet know where it will resume or how it will work. So, day by day.

It seems pretty clear we will not get to Chengdu. Kang Kang is very disappointed, I told him we will go back again soon and he replied that it had to be within the month.  Well, clearly that will not happen but I think it is important that he get back soon and so even if it is just for a few days to Chengdu I will try to swing it in the not too distant future.

Ellen