Shamian Island and a River Cruise

So we had to go back to Shamian Island to get Caleb's TB test checked. He was fine but started crying as soon as we entered the clinic. Ted was carrying him so Robby and I waited outside. The clinic is so incredibly crowded I figured 2 less bodies would be a good thing. It only took a few minutes and then we were free to explore for a few hours before our bus took us back to the hotel.

We decided to leave the island and went to the Qing Ping market as the guidebooks say it is a must see. Ted took a few pictures (that I can't seem to find right now) but pictures couldn't do this justice. There were buckets of dried starfish, seahorses, and other marine life. Huge Buckets. There were also people who were sorting worms of some sort. The whole experience was very interesting. We also determined that Caleb is afraid of cats. There were cats running around the market and he wanted me to hold him.

We went back to the island and did some souvenir shopping. I spent some money but am comfortable being done now. Caleb is far more exploratory than Robby so you really have to watch him in stores. He is also more daring and will launch himself off the bed. I hope he doesn't jump off the loft! We were thinking of putting up the baby gate but he is crafty enough to escape so we don't know if it is worth the effort.


That evening we went on a 70 minute riverboat cruise on the Pearl River. Our group had Papa Johns pizza delivered so we ate some pizza then enjoyed the scenery. Robby had fun running around with the other kids.

They had lots of lights lighting up bridges, buildings, and towers. They had some lighting project before Guangzhou hosted the 2010 Asian games.

Below is the tallest building in all of China. It is a television tower with a rotating restuarant on the top. It has only been completed for about a year. The lights kept changing colors and it was really fascinating to watch. After the cruise it was back to the hotel and to bed. Everyone has been sleeping pretty well but the hotel walls are beginning to close in on us. We are really ready to come home.