Guangzhou City Tour

The best part for Dez is the shopping, best part for Jim all the down time, and ahh sleeping for the first time with Kendall in our bed all night. Since we leave in a few days it is time to get all the squeaky shoes, etchings, and art work! The hard part is to remember what you can fit in your luggage. I think I will be throwing some of my clothes out to get some of Kendall's SHOES home.

We went to a very nice department store where you could get your fine China set made, they design and paint it right there for you, the artists on the island all go to art school here to learn the trade, however the ones in this upscale department store had the title of Master Craftsman who have been doing this for 20 years or more at a minimum. We watched one artist painting the China in the store. Here is a video of an artist painting the inside of a glass globe. The artist used a hook paint brush, it really was amazing to see!



We were amazed out how talented these artist are. We also found a guy that paints everything without a brush, he just uses his fingers and palms.


Here is a Jade carving of a pirate ship, hey Chandler what do you think of that.

This morning we went to a active temple, this temple is still in use by monks, and worshipers, we gave offerings to the God of good fortune, the God of Women who was the God of Mercy. We did the traditional incense burnings at several of the Gods, very neat!

One of the top things was the blessing of the babies, here you see the monk blessed Kendall and Dez. He dipped a leaf in water and sprinkled it on them, What an amazing thing to watch and be part of.

And as always Kendall and Dez get mobbed. I think Kendall is going to think she is a movie star, she better learn to write her name first.

We also visited the Chen Family Temple, also known as Guangdong Folk Art Museum, it is a temple for the Chen family only, which Cyndi explained this last name is as common as Smith is in the U.S.

It is not an active temple it was built in the 1890s and has nine halls and six courtyards. Its windows, door frames, and pavilions are lavishly decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures. It is now the largest and best preserved and decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province. The decoration combines wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, clay sculpture, ash sculpture, brass and iron, it also had traditional new year painting, and other art forms. The special historical, artistic, and scientific aspects of the temple have made it an important attraction in Guangzhou. Cyndi also explained that the brick carving seen above is very hard to work with because the material is so soft.

Part of the group at the entrance to the Chen Temple.

Jim wants to get this shipped home for our front door and the sculpture for the yard!

Cyndi our WONDERFUL guide and Kendall, we just love to see pretty girl laugh!

Here is a picture of our group at Lucia's official Birthday party last night at one of the best Thai food restaurants we have ever eaten at! That is it for today, tomorrow we take the traditional red couch photo of all the babies on our group and shopping at Quing Ping Chinese herbal market. We can not believe we are almost on our way home, we love it here, but miss Chandler sooooo much, and all of you! We can not wait for you all to fall in love with Kendall even more then you already have :)