It always works out in the end

Friday

4-5-13

Well last night was a doozey, we went to bed laughing and high five-ing this is the coolest thing ever! So happy that our hotel was never found and that we were directed over here! It was raining outside but its all good because it was warm and dry in our tent! We fell asleep with grins on our faces and woke up about 3 hours later with chattering teeth and a humid air in our tent... that’s okay we can make it through the night. This is China we are in a tent on the roof of a hostel we can do this! We slept for another 3 or 4 hours and woke up a little wet and a little colder than before. Crista had to go to the bathroom so she went inside and came back out with another blanket. There were rumors that the others who were also sleeping in tents had thrown in the towel and gone inside and slept in the common room. Nu uh! Not me I am gonna stay out here in a tent on the roof in the rain. Crista stuck it out with me and we spent the whole night outside in the rain. We did it! I woke up this morning and picked up my back pack with a prayer in my heart that it wasn’t soaked. I felt the bottom and it was hardly even damp! Oh thank goodness! I put my hand where my backpack was and felt the water underneath the floor of the tent evade my hand and spread out in between my fingers.. I was laying on a water bed... or a puddle. Take your pick I am just so happy our shoes were inside and the tent didn't leak!

We went inside to change and get ready for the day. I didn’t shower because I didn’t see it as very productive since it was still raining. Besides I knew we didn’t have enough towels for everyone so I thought I would let those itching to shower have their shower time and I would just get warm and eat my breakfast.

When the bus for our tour came at 8:30 we braved the rain and went out to meet the tour bus full of people with just the perfect amount of 11 seats left. We were worried that we were too late to do the tour but it always works out. We are watched over for sure. I think that people stress too much about things. We are in China, even if I wasn't able to go see everything I wanted or I missed a bus or taxi I can't complain. I am so lucky to be here and I feel so blessed that no matter what happens I am just happy to be here right now. Soaking it all up (no pun intended)

We rode the bus for about an hour and met 4 people from Spain who were staying in our hostel as well. They were lucky because one of the people in their group knows Chinese but we were all back in the bus just chilling and happy to have a ride to the Shaolin Temple we really didn't care about the fact that we had a tour guide. She didn’t even speak hardly any English anyways so it wouldn't do us any good. Apparently, she was telling the whole bus about how we are stupid for going on the tour because we can't understand her and saying things that were rude enough to make the girl who was in the group of Spaniards who understood what she was saying to raise her hand and stand up for us and then refuse to be a part of the tour guides tour. Too bad the joke is on her and we couldn't care less about what she had to tell us in Chinese. We decided we would meet the group of Chinese people at the bus at 12:15 and then went our separate ways.

This Temple was really cool for me because its reputation is from their Tai chi. I was able to see a show put on by the monks there and see them practicing and I loved it! Too bad my uncle mike wasn't there because I’m sure he would have been into all of it! It was raining pretty bad and way cold at the beginning of the morning but towards the middle of our day it stopped raining and we were just fine. One time we saw a mass of Chinese people so we thought why not see what’s going on! So we got in this line and headed up into this building once I got to the entrance, me and Sarah squeezed through the doors before they shut the rest of our group out in the rain. We figured we got inside so why not go take a look around? We went over to see this monk sitting around incense and people getting a bead and tying it around their wrists so I thought it looked cool and we went for it! I dunno what I did or what it meant but Sarah and I got a bead on a string! That’s pretty cool right?? We walked around and found that the big rush was a show put on by the monks.

They did a little Demonstration and then the building cleared out. We realized what was going on so we saved seats for our group and then had them all ready for when they opened the doors and our group came in.

After the show we went to go see the pagoda forest. That was really cool so we wanted a group picture!

We got someone to take a picture of us and then the flood gates opened... the sky was clear and it wasn’t raining I mean Asians with Cameras. One picture after another. We could have sat in front of a garbage can and made it an exhibit! It was insane! We were running out of time and had to meet at the bus soon so we literally had to count to three and then run away! Now I know why celebrities punch out reporters and paparazzi. That would definitely get annoying after a while for sure!

After we ran from our fans we met up at the bus and piled in. I got so muddy today which blows cuz I have done a pretty good job of keeping my shoes clean. Especially since im in china which feels like the dirtiest place on earth! After stopping at an extremely expensive ceramic place, (I love you matt but not $200) we got back to our hostel and we never have to see that not so friendly tour guide again. Its interesting though because as far as I know she is the only Chinese person who has not been willing to help or kind to us. But lets face it. Someone could come right up to me and say I hate you and I would probably smile, wave and say hello and keep walking. So who knows but she is the first to directly target us as far as I know. Which considering I have been here a little over a month, I can deal with those odds!

By the time we got back to the hostel, we were starving! We were going to go back to the same street as before but that is never fun. We got another suggestion from the lady at the front where to eat and the first half of our group piled onto the full bus when the second half of the group (including me) saw the same bus coming up behind this one but had a substantially lower amount of people on it. We hopped on that one and let the chips fall. Eventually the group in front of us got off because they weren’t sure which stop to get off and they didn’t want to end up going on till the end and being totally lost. It’s a totally valid worry but let’s face it, even us on the second bus didn’t know where we were headed and we had the address! Ha-ha so we got off with them and we walked around looking for a place to eat when we found one of the coolest night markets that I have seen yet.

 

We walked up and down and all around. I know I say this more than I probably should but I have no other way to describe it other than it’s just like the movies!

Its absolutely amazing and I love it!

The culture and the tradition is so rich I am captivated by my surroundings and found myself trying to engrave the whole place into my memory so I will never forget it. Its one of those times like at the Grottoes where a pictures just really doesn't do it justice! We found a place to eat and I ordered the first dish I honestly could NOT finish but it was okay because there were street venders up and

down selling pineapple, bread and treats. We actually found a few places to get some treasures for people at home. We found a calligraphy place that sold practice mats. So you get a brush and if the brush is wet, it turns the mat black as if you have ink on your brush but once it dries it goes away! As Brindy might say, its just like tom riddles diary :)

After that we kept walking and came across the “animal” street... It was heart wrenching. I am not sure if it was an animal store or a meat market.. There were a million turtles put in a bucket of water. Fish without room to swim and puppies in boxes. I wanted to buy them so bad!!! we then found the street of all street food. Every vendor was selling food. We bounced from place to place trying ice cream and fruits and anything that looked good. I know they say don't eat the fruit or your left hand but we have given up and have decided if we get sick, lets hope it was worth it! We were on the look out for good sushi because Sarah really wanted some. I was and always will be in the mood for sushi so I was all for helping look for some. Mark saw a sushi stand so me mark and Sam decided to check it out. We asked a group of Chinese people who looked about our age if the sushi they just got was good and they quickly let us know it was not good haha they offered us some so we tried it and it wasn't bad but it wasn't that great either. After we let them know we agreed they took pictures with us and I let one of them know I liked his hat (a cheap goofy cowboy hat) without hesitation, he took off his hat and put it on my head insisting that I keep it! Haha well then! We spent the rest of the night walking up and down the market. Again, I am in awe that I am here. I am in love with China. I ate so much food tonight. Probably gained a million pounds but you know what? Ill probably burn it off with the stairs at the school so its all good my friends!

We were ready to call it a night so we went to the bus stop and waited for our bus.. wow. The bus did come. It was jammed packed and we tired to get on but it was seriously like sardines in a can. While we were standing there a girl started talk to us and told us she is majoring in English and eventually told us that that bus is always full... ahhh. Great. What now? Fight back. We decided the next bus is going to be overrun by 11 well fed Americans. The bus came and we held our own! All 11 of us crammed onto that bus and we owned it! I wish I could describe how full the bus was. Everyone was touching everyone. People were so jammed packed that the door almost couldn't shut! It was insane!! I’ve never experienced anything quite like it!

We ended up passing our hostel by one stop but it wasn't a far walk. We got in and all sat in the common room. Sam pulled out his calligraphy practice mat and started practicing when we hear in great English “i can write” and we looked up to see our soon to be new friend Lisa.

She sat down and was not kidding. She was really really good! She asked us what we were doing here and we told her we are going to the flower festival tomorrow and she said she was too! She asked if she could come with us and we were more than happy to let her come along because we had no clue how to really get there. We were just going to wing it but once again. It all works out in the end! We told her we would meet at 8:30 so we can all go together! I am really excited to make another friend! We were pretty scared to go up and see our tents.

Sure that we were going to be sleeping on damp cloths etc. we walked up the stairs scared of the unknown yet predictable situation we were sure to find ourselves in but to our surprise we found our tents dry with more blankets and sheets!! wow! This is great! Its not raining and we have more warmth!?

 It all works out in the end, it really really does. If your expectations are next to nothing you can find joy in the smallest of blankets, a token of warmth is all you will need for a good night’s rest. While Crista and I were arranging our bedding we realized we had a visitor... unwelcome visitor the size of a pea clinging to the wall of the tent... with many squeals and failed attempts Crista was the hero of the day and got the bug out of our tent! After zipping the tent tight and checking all 4 corners of our two man tent we cuddled up real close to endure our second night in a tent on the roof of our hostel.