The LaCroix Family: Last Post from China

The last few days have been full of adventure. Yesterday, five families decided against the planned city tour with our group and deciced to visit the Safari Park. Another family had visited previously and said how wonderful it was. So we rented a van without a guide and headed to the park.
Our first attraction was the Safari on Wheels. We boarded a tram that took us around to numerous exotic animals and it felt like we were viewing them in their environment rather than a cage. It was quite the sight, and Jack was very interested. We had to stop for an ostrich that was crossing the street. The tram was in one lane and there was another lane where people drove their cars. Kids were standing and looking through the moon roofs. We saw many different types of animals. Elephants, giraffes, tigers, white tigers, bears, camels and many more that we weren't familiar with. It was a great way to see the park. We then got off the tram and walked around the park. It was huge! We enjoyed seeing the animal kindergarten (baby animals). One monkey was dressed in baby clothes, very cute! We saw sleepy koala bears and giant panda bears. One panda was sleeping and pooping at the same time. Quite the sight. As we were heading for the exit a show was starting. The dancing characters were all very different, girls with coconuts, santa girls and boys, and others dressed as Indians. The best was the monkey dressed as a panda. A very strange and eclectic group, but very entertaining. We had a great time and were very glad we made the decision to visit the Safari Park.

Today (Monday), we had our U.S. Consulate appointment. We took an oath and gave all our necessary paperwork to receive Jack's visa to enter the U.S. and receive U.S. citzenship as we land in San Francisco.
After our Consulate appt. we visited the pearl market. It was very interesting. We walked through shop after shop of different jewelry stores, mostly bead-type jewelry. Some shops had pearls too. We however did not know what was fake and what was genuine. I was wondering if that is where all our cheap jewelry comes from.

Our instructions were to grab a taxi back to the hotel before 2:30. Apparently there is a shift change with the drivers, followed by rush hour. We made it out a few minutes after 2:30. We stood out on the curb for 15 min before finding a cab. Either they were not taking customers or a more aggressive local got in before we had a chance. One local had mercy on us and allowed us to get in. Thank you Lord!!!

The last thing we did tonight was take a dinner cruise down the Pearl River with our travel group. The dinner was traditional Chinese (as the pics below will show) buffet, and in China you don't really line up to go through the buffet, you kind of box-out your competition as if contending for a rebound in basketball. The key is to get low and use your posterior for position. After dinner on the boat we spent the rest of the evening enjoying the beautiful skyline of Guangzhou.

This will most likely be our last post from China. Tomorrow we will get Jack's visa and probably spend the rest of the day cruising around beautiful Shamian Island and then packing. The following morning we will be up very early to board the first of 3 consecutive flights to get home. We are so anxious to be reunited with Casey and Grace. Please pray for the long flight home. Our 2 hour flight with Jack was not fun so we are praying that he will do better on the long flight.

The Lord's blessing has already been abundantly evident in the short time we have had Jack, and we anxiously await the future blessing that awaits. God is so good

Signing off from Guangzhou, China

The LaCroixs