Safari Park & Fever...

Today began with our typical routine…showers, breakfast and making call to the kids. So happy that they are all doing well and enjoying themselves. I am pretty sure that everyone that is caring for them at home is spoiling them. They may not want us to come home! Rodney and I are both so grateful that our family is so willing to help us. Taking care of kids for an extended period of time is a lot to ask…we are fortunate to have such a supportive family….we love you guys!

A look from outside our bedroom window

We met our guide in the lobby to go to the Safari Park zoo. Safari Park is one of, if not the most famous zoo in China. It was only about a 30 minute drive from the hotel and amazingly, we never left the city. We crossed the Pearl River several times as it winds around and through the city in various locations.

China seems to take advantage of any possible "garden" spot. In the midst of a very populated area, there will be a well manicured garden area.

There will be 6 maybe 7 of the buildings side by side, then a few blocks away another set of 6 or 7.

You can see the very modern buildings overshadowing the older apartment buildings.

Sitting on Daddy's lap, headed to the zoo

When we arrived at the zoo, there was an overcast and we were afraid that rain may start…again. But it soon passed, with no rain, and the glorious heat was beaming down on us. We boarded a “train” to take the Safari Park tour. There were various animals in different sections that freely roamed. They were quite accustomed to vehicles and didn’t pay an attention to the approaching cars, vans and trains.

Welcome to Safari Park

A near bamboo tunnel leading the way to the "Train"

Ever seen a Mercedes Benz train before??

We pointed out animals to QiaoQiao, but she wasn’t very interested. We know that she is scared of birds. I guess she and her Aunt Nan have something in common ;-) She was soon lying on my chest and nearly falling sleep.

After the ride around the park, we got off the train and headed for the Koala and Panda Houses. In the Koala House, there resides the only twin Koalas in the world; or at least that is the claim. Seems hard to verify that one to me, but they were cute nonetheless. We approached the Panda House and I was excited to see a Panda bear for the first time. Connie has been to the zoo numerous times with other families so she sat out in a concession type area while we went inside the complex.



The “twin” Koalas. I am not disputing it, I just don’t know how they know they are the only ones in the world…yes, I am very argumentative.

QiaoQiao was so quiet and so uninterested in any of the sights. We entered the house and of course, like any zoo, there is that undeniable smell. We stopped to take a few pictures and Rodney told me that she was gagging. I felt of her head and she was “clammy”. We quickly tried to get through the crowd to leave the house and the smell. We barely made it past the first exhibit before….it happened. All over her dress, shoes, stroller. Rodney started grabbing the wipes, and it happened again. People started coming through and I was telling them to stop and go around…we were quite the spectacle I am sure.

Since Elli hasn’t had any accidents in a few days, I decided, in my infinite wisdom, that I wouldn’t take the big backpack with extra clothes…just the small one with some snacks for her. The only day I have EVER not taken extra clothes. She was totally covered. I began to undress her, take off her shoes which were…well, if you have kids you know what her shoes were like. I had to throw away her shoes and dress. So there she sat in the stroller just in her undies.

Now, if you have ever been to China, you know that you are, at times, the center of attention….especially after you have gotten your child. People look, check you over and seem to examine the child. So when we go out, I always try to make sure that she looks acceptable; nice clothes, shoes, hair fixed, etc. You just want the people to know that you will take good care of your child. Now imagine seeing foreigners with a local baby, in a park, that is naked…yes, the looks were coming and even some neck breaking double and triple takes….I can only imagine the thoughts, “stupid Americans”.

I had on a tank top under a shirt, so I took off my shirt and put it on Elli so that she wouldn’t appear totally nude…just poorly dressed now. An adult t-shirt on a toddler…it was a sight. When we finally got out of the whole Panda place and was approaching Connie, she had a very puzzled look on her face. She later told me that she knew I was hot, and thought that I just took off my top shirt. We were sooo ready to leave.

We gave Elli some Sprite and then some water, because she doesn’t like the carbonated feel in her mouth of sodas. We got the van and headed back to the hotel. She laid her head on my chest and started falling asleep. It wasn’t long until I could tell she had a fever.

We got in the hotel room and I took her temperature. It is about 101. Giving her acetaminophen was quite an ordeal. She kept spitting it out and got very upset with me. I got her cleaned up and in some pjs. She went back to sleep and I put her in the crib. She is still sleeping and sweating. Hopefully the fever will break and she will get to feeling better soon….I don’t want any of my kids to be sick, but especially not here, not now. There is sooo much concern of the swine flu. Please pray that she will get better soon. I don’t know that they will allow us to board a plane with a sick child. I am just praying it is something very minor and she will be better very, very soon.

Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna,

You all would have loved the zoo. However, I don’t know that you would have liked the heat ;-) The Lions and Pandas were probably the neatest to see because I don’t recall seeing Lions and Pandas “in real life” before. I also saw a Tapir, which made me think of Parker and his Diego Dominos game. Hope you all have a good day today…we love you all!

Sending love & hugs to Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna,
Rodney, Marcy & Elli