Super Angie CHINA Day 2....Baby its cold outside.

This morning, Dallin and I both woke around 3:30am, after going to be at 7pm. We slept really good though. Dallin did some homework and then we went down for Breakfast. We enjoyed the wide variety of western and eastern foods. There was a guy there from Austria that I had fun speaking German with.

Afterwards, we got ready to go on the bus...but BRRRRR. it was -2 celcius outside and man oh man...I haven't been this cold since my time at Ricks College--seriously, even ice climbing isn't as cold as today was. Windy, Beijing fridig weather.

We drove straight to the Temple of Heaven. I did not get to go there last year and it was so much fun. There were many people there, singing, dancing, doing TaiChi exercises, playing cards and a game similar to hacky sack. It was SOOOO cold...thats just how everything was today. I even bought some hot chocolate and went it spilt all over my cold hands, I didn't even notice that it was hot. Dallin had so much fun taking pictures and talking to people in Chinese. He is so outgoing.

OH I FORGOT! Before we left to go this morning, Dallin and I were in the hotel lobby when he noticed that the fountain there actually had coi fish swimming in it! So, we walked around into the next room and saw that there were fish ponds all over and there were even fish water ways that went under the floors--with glass ontop so we could see down to them. It was so cool. Anything one of the front desk guys took an interest in Dallin and the fish and started showing him around. (everyone has been so kind to Dallin) Dallin spoke some chinese to the guy and asked him what his name was. Allen was so excited and then offered to give Dallin a chinese name. When he found out Dallin was born in the year of the dragon, he just had to name Dallin Lee Shalon (after Bruce Lee--tough as a dragon). Dallin was thrilled and so were all the girls at the front desk too! :)

Next we went to the Silk Market where we got to learn about how they make silk. Dallin was given a coccoon and a chance to try stetching the silk. I bought my mom some fans and Dallin picked out a pretty gift for his teacher.

Then off to the funniest resturant. The bathroom sinks were the legs and butt of a maniquin...too hard to explain. It was hillarious too that the interesting mirror we noticed while going up the stairs was actually the window of the bathroom stalls. While using the bathroom, you can see out, but no one can see in.

We noticed that Jordan had bought a fur Chinese military hat and suddenly everyone wanted one, so while walking back to our bus, he bought 7 from a street vendor. It was great fun watching him bicker back and forth with the guy. Dallin is now the proud owner of a new hat. :) And in perfect timing too, since the wind was still blowing and it was mighty cold. We headed down to the Hutong area for our Ricksha ride. BRRRR>>>>> But Dallin and I had so much fun. He took after me from last year, by saying Nei Ho to everyone he saw. He was loving it and got a good kick out of the peddlers selling bags and scarfs and fake Gucci bags to us. It was really fun and extremely cold.

We got to go to a Porcelin museum and see so many cool things. I bought some Christmas gifts there. I'm excited about them. :)

After that, we came home but many of us were still wanting to go out, so Jordan, his dad Brad, his grandpa and us all took taxis to McDonalds. It was hillarious. We were like super movie stars--the only "white" folks at a McDonalds. They had a play land that Dallin played at (and got "beat" up by a little Chinese girl). A little Chinese boy waved to us and we had fun interacting with him. Dallin and I had happy meals, plus a chocolate shake (yum!). Our taxi trip back to the hotel was awesome. We had no idea how to get a taxi, so grandpa talked to the manager at McDonals. After some thinking, she got one of the employees to come outside with us and hail us a cab. This girl was SOOOO sweet, hailed us a cab and I got to speak a bit of Chinese with her. So sweet!!! I love China!!

Its little experieces like these--a taxi ride, ordering a happy meal, talking to small children....I could come back to China a 100 times and never get tired of how friendly and awesome these people are. They are so willing to help others. It was so freaking cold outside and yet this wonderful girl from McDonalds came outside to help us.