Today is another relaxing day!
We Skype called everyone (G, Papa, Cohen, YaYa, and Papa) and ate breakfast. We tried to confirm and work out our flight issues for the way back home. No luck! You know our trip has gone so smoothly. The only issue we really have had is booking our flights and confirming them. We did however sign up for Skymiles with United and Delta so that we could earn some free flights in the future.
Today we went to the mall. It was huge...I lost track to how many floors it had. There were dancing waters set to music and a play gym where kids could play. Many of the kids had the huge water squirters and were squirting the kids across the walkway. There were tons of food locations and tons of clothing stores. There was one entire floor dedicated to kids items. The prices in the mall were VERY reasonable compared to the US. We have decided that when we come back for the next China trip where Melanie can see where she is from, we are going to set aside some money for a new wardrobe. We could seriously change out our entire wardrobe in China for the same price as four outfits here in the US. Clothing is so much cheaper, however, housing is so much more expensive.
We picked up McDonald's and headed back to the hotel.
Denise met us at 3:00 and took us to a traditional Chinese garden. The city where Melanie was born (where her orphanage is located) is famous for their gardens. The one we saw today was from the Ming Dynasty. Very pretty! Everything has a purpose and meaning - from the carvings in the wall and bricks, stone designs on the ground, to the type of trees, bushes and plants they have. This area of China is very spiritual in everything they do...from the evil dispellers at the front of businesses to the curvy walkways, to the numbers. They have curvy walkways to keep the evil spirits from getting to them...so they would get lost. The number 8 is the luckiest number, while the 4 is very unlucky. Many people will pay extra just to have the number 8 in the license plate, street address, or number on their employee badge. The particular garden we went to today was famous for their picture of this dragon. The person that made it did it in one stroke. See the Chinese language is written by "strokes" You learn strokes when you are in Kindergarten and First Grade. This dragon was done in one stroke and was famous.
We then left the garden and went shopping for Jason...he wanted some red blossom tea. Today we were able to see up close and personal the living conditions and environment of the real Chinese people. My parents had lived in Taiwan for two years when they first married. My mother warned me about the lack of cleanliness around the living areas. She was correct. The restaurants and hotel were VERY clean...not the living conditions around the city.
Another thing that was funny to me was their driving. There really are no rules when driving in Nanjing. I have never seen cars, scooters, and buses get so close to each other in my life. They also LOVE honking their horns. New York and Puerto Rico are the most patient drivers compared to Nanjing. But...we never saw a wreak and no one yells at each other. They just accept the fact that they will get cut off, they lay on their horn, and move on. The majority of people drive scooters...with no helmets. They put their kids in the laps with no helmets as they drive very fast down the road. When it rains they have these special rain jackets that cover their hands and arms while they drive in the rain. Also...they are very creative in how they transport items. It is amazing how many items they can strap down to a scooter and still drive.
While in China, the sun really does not shine due to pollution/smog. You see it is out there behind a fog...you just cannot see it. Women like to keep their skin white, so they carry around umbrellas to protect themselves from UV rays and to keep from getting burned.
Today was the first day my stomach did not feel well. We stayed in for the night.
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