China Pictures

Here we go, some pictures from my time in China. Hope you enjoy...or at least aren't too bored.

Our team at the Calgary airport before leaving.
Back row (l-r): Clare, Jim, Me, Roland
Front row (l-r): Debbi, Mimi, Diane, Janet

At the Vancouver airport, praying for our trip.

On the box at the KFC in the Hong Kong airport. Apparently they serve cat...?

The airport at Jinghong, which is the city. Xishuang Banna is the area in Yunnan province. I think. These sorts of things are done differently there than here.

A friendly little salamander from our lodgings. He disappeared after the second day.

The playground was to be built on the balcony of the orphanage, which was on the second floor of an apartment building. These two pictures are the two sides of the balcony before we began. The sand was to mix with the cement. By hand.

Here is the sand for the sandbox, which we had to build.

And this is the sandbox, mostly finished.

Here is some cement in the middle of being mixed.

Milk in a bag. But not in the fridge...on purpose. I just can't get used to that.

The guys doing some work. I worked too, except when I was taking pictures.

One of the many cool little cars we saw on the roads.

The bird in Jinghong. And when I say the bird, I mean the only bird. I guess when times were really tough in the past, people ate all of the wild birds and they haven't come back yet.

A giant Buddhist statue near our lodging.

We visited a traditional Dai village (the Dai people being a Chinese minority). This is the typical Dai house, built on stilts. I never heard an explanation why.

These guys kinda creeped me out.

The Dai village put on their ancient water throwing festival every year. It used to be a sacred ritual, but now it is just an excuse for a water fight.

It was Chinese New Year's while we were there. They celebrate by trying to blow up the country.

Ooh, pretty.

How to tell a good restaurant: they wrap their plates and glasses in plastic. That means they've been sanitised.

You have to go to China to find something made in America.

Another shot of the sand. How I loathe thee...

Cars would go on whatever side of the road they darn well pleased.

Our finished sandbox with more sand in it.

Who needs a bus when you can cram your entire workforce into the back of a truck?

The English translations weren't always great.

My favourite Chinese characters - a dead owl and Screamy Lad!

The end of stage one - the cement floor is laid. Now we have to put down some tile.

But first, attack of the giant statue!

We visited the Buddhist temple. It was interesting.

The Buddhist statue overlooks the city. Kinda freaky.

In the spirit of the New Year's celebrations, we blew some stuff up too.

We visited a tea farm. These are some tea bushes that are a few hundred years old.

They would pick the leaves, dry them, shred them, crush them, and then sell them.

Our first tile. Shortly after this picture was taken, we removed the tile and made some adjustments.

Some of the tools we used.

The 'completed' job. We weren't actually done, but this was as far as our team got. The next team finished the job.

Our team at...

THE END

So sleepy

I am now back from China, all safe and sound. It is hard to find words for an experience like that, and since I came back I have been busy and not able to reflect well or feel too rested, so a report is still coming, along with pictures. Soon, though. Very soon.
Also, Fools of us All is on hiatus for a while, probably until the summer. I am taking an International Development class and that is taking the time that Fools could fit in to for the moment. Don't despair, though, it shall return.
And, like I said, an update on China is coming soon.