Love Internationale

We have poop! I forgot to mention that yesterday. She’s been doing pretty good in that department since we started plying her with prunes (hates), apple juice (hates) and water (hates). She likes her bottle. We’re lucky on that score.

Sophie changes every day…. It’s amazing to watch the transformation. The first couple days she didn’t cry at all and, while she did laugh and smile, I realize now that she was employing some kind of baby survival tactic. She is still the joyous, laughing, cuddly child she was in the beginning but she’s also crying and fussing more. This is a good thing. Now she’s expressing the full range of emotions and that’s healthy. I think more of the real Sophie is starting to shine through. Either that or she’s grieving a bit. I’m not sure.

Sophie Fu Duo sleeping on me the first day.

She’s getting a lot clingier too. She doesn’t like to be put down. In the beginning she could lie on a blanket and amuse herself for hours without fussing. Now she wants our attention all the time. And we have to cuddle with her until she falls asleep for naps or at night, otherwise she fights it and fights it and then cries because she’s so tired. Sophie is like a sponge, soaking up all the one-on-one attention she never received in the first 9 months of her life. Luckily she takes lots of naps! She’s also a great sleeper at night.

Developmentally she’s made leaps and bounds just in the last few days. We’ve been exercising her, trying to help her learn to sit up on her own, reach out and take toys. At first she was like an infant, all floppy noodle like. As of today she’s trying to sit up on her own and holds her head up a lot better. She’s not too crazy about touching things other than herself, us, or her bottle. She likes to scratch things with her little fingers, but she pulls her hands away from toys for the most part. But this morning she reached out, grabbed her ball and rolled it. So she’s making steady progress. I think it will be pretty fast.

Pretty, good luck baby… One reason (according to our guides) people want to touch Sophie Fu Duo is that they think she’s “good luck”. She’s going to the
U.S. to live in a “rich” family (we’re not rich by American standards, but we are by Chinese standards). So people touch her for luck. It’s true most people touch her cheek or chin when they notice her (which is like all the time. Damn, we’re a walking freak show around here). They also all say “beautiful” or “pretty baby” when they see Sophie. We think she’s gorgeous, of course, but I think Sophie has some characteristics that the Chinese find especially attractive. I know her ears and her very fair complexion are two things. She has gorgeous eyes! She has big doe eyes, our little Sophie, and gorgeous long dark lashes.

Sophie is the biggest baby in our group. She actually does fit into 9 month clothes, but it won’t be long at all until she’s out of them. James and I feel very fortunate to have been matched with Sophie Fu Duo. I can’t imagine having any other daughter (I’m sure all the families are saying that). The CCAA matching department did well. Thank you CCAA matching department! You found our daughter for us, the perfect fit for James and I. She’s like a puzzle piece we didn’t know was missing and now that she’s here it’s like she was never absent from our lives. James…I’ve never seen James like this. He’s well and thoroughly in love with her, just like I am.

My back hurts! Dude, I’m using muscles never before exercised. Tomorrow we’re taking shifts with Sophie. First my mom and I are going down to soak in the sauna and have a massage. Then I’ll take care of Sophie Fu Duo and James and his mom will go do the same. The beds are hard here to boot. It’s like sleeping on a box spring. My arms keep falling asleep at night. Mostly we’re so tired we don’t notice it much, though.

Yesterday James and Colette went to the zoo. I stayed behind for fear it would be depressing, but apparently it’s a large, nice zoo. Very clean and with large enclosures. Not depressing. (Well, *all* zoos are kind of depressing, but apparently this one isn’t any worse than most. Never take me to the circus, man, I cry it’s so sad.)

Panda at the zoo (I don’t know why I title these. They’re pretty self-explanatory, aren’t they? Where else would the panda be?)

James at the zoo.

One of the famous “squatty potties”. I didn’t encounter this one, Colette (my MIL) did. Lucky her!

Last night we ate the best meal we’ve had so far at a hibachi restaurant (and it’s all been good…er, except for the chicken leg swimming in the viscous unidentifiable yellow fluid). Dinner here? Very cheap, like most things. Last night’s delicious, plentiful dinner cooked right in front of us (dinner and entertainment!) was only $7 per person. Today I bought baby shoes for three bucks a pair.

At the hibachi restaurant. Sophie was sacked out and sleeping in the Ergo. Riding in the Ergo usually puts her to sleep.

We have one more day to kill here in
Chongqing. There’s a tour, but we’re not taking it, opting to stay here, rest and have massages instead. Sophie is still a little ill with congestion in her chest. We have her on antibiotics and cough meds. Once we get home we’ll be taking her to the ped pretty much right away.

I am a little homesick for my family and for my furbabies and all the people here (people, people, people EVERYWHERE, all staring at us) are a little wearing on my nerves. Plus, it’s very polluted here and I can feel it a bit in my lungs when we’re outside. All that said, it will be sad to leave
Chongqing.
Chongqing will remain forever a very special place for us because it’s Sophie Fu Duo’s original home and it’s where she first came to us. I might shed a tear or two when the plane takes off on Monday.  Uhm…that is if I’m not busy dealing with a screaming baby.

Click the link to see a Video of James and Sophie laughing!

She’s finally crying and fussing. As much as I don’t like to see her cry, I’m relieved because it’s normal for a baby to cry, you know? Mostly she’s crying when she’s tired. This afternoon she cries when I lay her down. She’ll only stop when I pick her back up. (James went to the zoo with the group. I wasn’t too crazy about seeing a Chinese zoo, so I stayed behind with Sophie.) It’s good she’s crying to be held, good she’s learning that when she cries she gets stuff.

As I write this, she’s in the Ergo. She likes the carrier a lot and sleeps in it often. I have a feeling that at home I might be doing this a lot. At least it makes us both happy. She’s close to me and I have my hands free to write

Sophie in the Ergo.

Motherhood… wow. It feels so natural. It feels like she’s been a part of our family forever. It feels right to me and I’ve been amazed at how my mommy instinct just kind of took over.  With other people’s children I’m always a little apprehensive, but Sophie is my child and I feel that to the center of me. I have been apprehensive at all and I already feel a deep I-would-die-for-you sort of love. I’m amazed at the protective daddyness that has come out in James too. Fatherhood agrees with him. J 

I’m leaving room in my mind for the possibility of depression and/or doubts. I know they’re normal to have after a birth or an adoption. It’s okay if I or James feels that sometime soon. With such a huge change in our lives, it’s to be expected. Right we don’t have any of that, though.

Yesterday we went to Old Town. To get there we traveled thirty minutes through Chongqing. James got video of it. When we get back to the states I’ll edit it and post some of it. The size of the city is absolutely mind-boggling and it’s very, very poor. Lots and lots of torn down buildings and rubble. Lots of makeshift shelters on top of the rubble. The area where the hotel is the richest part of the city.

Old Town was a few streets of small shops here you can buy lots of folk art…which we did. We bought some gifts and some things for our house, like our family name in Chinese characters and calligraphy to frame. Stuff like that.

Later today we’re going to a nearby department store to buy Sophie some shoes. We can get very good quality baby shoes for about $12. Hopefully before then Sophie will take a nap!

Mostly we’re just waiting around until Monday, when we head to Guanzhou. Today we get some official paperwork back. On Monday morning it will be finalized and we’ll head out for the last part of this journey. I can’t wait to get home and back to the (new) normal. I can’t wait to get Sophie on a proper schedule too.

Nai Nai (paternal grandmother) and Sophie

And here’s Poe Poe again!

Anyone know how to get a baby to stop grinding her teeth! Yikes! She won’t take a pacifier or a teething ring yet (I keep trying!) She won’t put anything in her mouth but her bottle and her thumb.

Here’s the fire map on the back of the hotel room door:

Here’s what it says. It’s a little blurry, but make the effort to read it. It’s hilarious. God, I hope there’s no fire.

I have never talked about poop so often in my life! Sophie hasn’t yet and that’s an issue. I’m going to do a happy dance when I see a poopy diaper! Other than that she’s doing remarkably, incredibly well. I never dreamed she would be so easy, so happy and content. I braced myself for a rough time. Thus far she’s been a breeze. I keep waiting for the storm to descend, (because I’m always waiting for the storm, me), but so far there’s not a cloud in sight.

I’m a little worried about attachment because, actually, this was my worst case scenario. It seems Sophie has not attached to anyone very well before because she’s not grieving anyone. It appears that way, in any case. However it’s too soon to be too concerned about that. Time will tell if we have a problem we need to address or not. If there is one, we will. She is getting a little fussier. She will complain sometimes and when one of us holds her and consoles her, she quiets. She likes to grab and hold onto our fingers. She loves to be kissed and have her cheeks caressed. She loves to be cuddled.

She takes multiple naps during the day (like she is right now) and sleeps through the night. I sleep too, but very deeply because I’m concerned about her. Will she wake up and just lay in the crib? Is she hungry? Is she wet? But I’m mostly well rested.

Yesterday we went to the grocery store. Wow, what an experience! People crowded around me and Sophie, whom I had in the Ergo. They were all playing with her and asking me things in Mandarin. We have a little card that explains in Mandarin that we’re here adopting a baby girl and that we love her very much, ect. I flash that thing a lot. When I’m approached I hold it up instantly. Multipass! Lots of people give me the thumbs up when they read the sign. The old women give me two thumbs up and big smile. You’d think they’d be more antagonistic since we’re taking their little girls away, but they seem happy the babies are getting good homes. Anyway, for a while it was nearly impossible for me to navigate the store because of the curious people. James hangs around close like the watchful and protective new papa he is.

Last night we went to a restaurant with some of the other families. We chose a very nice restaurant and filled up two tables. The menu was not in English so we let the waiter and waitresses order things for us. As a result we ended up with about 10 local dishes to try. Waaaaay too much food. Most everything I tried was delicious, but when they put a whole chicken foot swimming in an unidentifiable viscous yellow fluid down in front of me I kind of lost my appetite.

Sophie is feeling a little better, so today we’re taking a trip down to the “old city”. Then tonight there’s a dinner with the entire travel group. Here are some pictures!

Last night in the restaurant.

View from the hotel room. Oh, I figured out why they honk so much. They don’t respect the lanes at all. Cars crossing here and there, cutting other vehicles off. Pedestrians just walk right out into the middle of the street and cross at their leisure. I keep expecting to see someone hit.

James in front of the hotel in
Chongqing. That’s a decoration celebrating the year of the pig.

James giving Sophie her bottle

Awww.

CA Y EST.... JAMES EST ENFIN PAPA !!!!!!!!!!!!

YAOUUUUUUUUH !!!!!

ELLE EST SUPERBE ET ADORABLE. ELLE REGARDE TOUT LE MONDE, ELLE EST TRES 

REVEILLEE ET ELLE SUCE SON POUCE A SON AISE.

ELLE N'A PAS L'AIR D'AVOIR TROP PEUR. ENFIN POUR LE MOMENT.

JOANNA EST COUCHEE SUR LE LIT. SOPHIE EST DANS SES BRAS, ENDORMIE.

MOI, JE LUI PARLE EN FRANCAIS ET J'ESSAYE DE LUI FAIRE DIRE: 'PAPA', 

'FRITE', 'FRICANDELLE' , 'CHIPITO' ET 'MON PAPA EST LE MEILLEUR'....

ELLE ME REGARDE PLUTOT AVEC UN DROLE D'AIR MAIS CA L'A FAIT RIGOLER...

ET NOUS AUSSI.

C'EST UN PEU LA COURSE CONTRE LA MONTRE ICI MAIS DANS QUELQUES HEURES,

JE VOUS BOMBARDE AVEC DES PHOTOS.

KISS

JAMES... UN PAPA HEUREUX.

MARDI 5H00 DU MAT….

OUI, 5H00 DU MAT ! IMPOSSIBLE DE DORMIR. JE ME DEMANDE POURQUOI… PEUT-ETRE C’EST DU AU FAIT QU’A
MIDI, SOPHIE SERA DANS NOS BRAS…. MMMMH, JE
NE SAIS PAS…. MMMH, PEUT-ETRE ! J

NOUS SOMMES ARRIVE A
CHONGQING HIER SOIR VERS 21H00. BON VOL (2 HEURES). DOMMAGE QU’IL FAISAIT NUIT, ON A RIEN VU.

EN 15 MINUTES, NOUS ETIONS PASSE LE CENTRE DE SANTE, L’IMMIGRATION ET LES DOUANES. ILS SONT TOUS EN UNIFORME VERT IMPECCABLE ET PERSONNE N’A LE SOURIRE.

DEUX DAMES CHINOISES, MARIE ET AMANDA,  DU CENTRE D’ADOPTION AMERICAIN (CCAI) NOUS Y ATTENDAIENT. NOUS VOYAGEONS MAINTENANT AVEC DIX AUTRE FAMILLES. CERTAINS ONT AMENE LEURS ENFANTS OU PARENTS.

TRAJET DE 35 MINUTES EN CAR JUSQU’A L’HOTEL. MARIE  AVAIT PREPARE UNE ENVELOPPE: CLEFS DE LA CHAMBRE, CARTE DE LA VILLE, CONSEILS POUR CECI OU CELA, HORAIRE PRECIS DU SEJOUR, UN COMPTE-RENDU DE LA VISITE MEDICALE QUE SOPHIE A EU LA SEMAINE PASSEE (TOUT EST OK!), ETC ETC…

QUELLE ORGANISATION !! EXCELLENTE !!

JE PENSE QUE L’HOTEL SE SITUE EN VILLE (…. IL FAIT TOUJOURS NOIR !!).

JE
SAIS QUE JE SUIS EN CHINE, UNE VILLE AU MILIEU DU PAYS ET C’EST TOUT. JE ME SENS TOUT PETIT.

L’HOTEL EST IMMENSE ET SUPERBE. UN

VRAI
PALACE, DU MARBRE PARTOUT, ETC,.. ON A EU BEAUCOUP DE CHANCE CAR IL Y RESTAIT TROIS BUSINESS SUITES DE DISPONIBLE. ON EN A EU DEUX: UNE POUR JOANNA ET MOI, L’AUTRE POUR  COLETTE ET ROCHELLE.

NOUS N’AVONS RIEN DU PAYER EN SUPPLEMENT.

LA TROISIEME FUT DONNEE A L’AUTRE FAMILLE (PARENTS+2 PETITES FILLES).

LES CHAMBRES SONT SUPERBES ET TRES GRANDES. NOUS SOMMES AU 29eme ETAGE. LA VUE DE LA VILLE A L’AIR SYMPA ET J’AI L’IMPRESSION QU’ILS ADORENT KLAXONNER. CELA N’ARRETE PAS. IL Y A BEAUCOUP DE BROUILLARD ET IL FAIT BON.

LORSQUE NOUS AVONS OUVERT
LA PORTE DE LA SUITE. SURPRISE….

….  UN LIT POUR BEBE Y ETAIT DEJA INSTALLE. WAW…. LE
CHOC, LA SURPRISE. LE RETOUR A LA REALITE. SOPHIE SERA BIENTOT DANS NOS BRAS. UNE NUIT DE SOMMEIL ET UNE NOUVELLE AVENTURE COMMENCERA.

LE LIT EST DECORE AVEC LE THEME DES “101 DALMATIENS”. C’EST MIGNON. DU COUP, ON A SORTI LES JOUETS ET PELUCHES POUR SOPHIE. ON EST PRET !!

A 9H00, NOUS AVONS UN MEETING POUR SIGNER D’AUTRES DOCUMENTS. ET A
MIDI,…. LE MOMENT TANT ATTENDU.

JE FILE PRENDRE MA DOUCHE ET AVALER UN ‘P’TIT DEJ’ GEANT…. J’AI BESOIN DE RESTER OCCUPE CAR POUR JOANNA ET MOI, NOUS SOMMES COMME DEUX LIONS EN CAGE.

A DANS QUELQUES HEURES.

JAMES

Sophie Fu Duo is doing fantastic so far. Her measurements were right on. She’s a big girl, very loooong! She’s fitting into 12 month clothes, so we did well to take back the 9 month stuff and get bigger.

She has only been fussy twice so far. Once when we wiped her nose (yeah, she doesn’t like that) and once during breakfast this morning as she sat in the high chair. I took her out, held her and she was fine. She liked her bath, loves to be touched and talked to. Loves to be dressed, loves having her diaper changed. She’s a very happy and easy baby so far. She even slept through the night like an angel! We are actually well rested. Amazing.

Daddy and daughter.

Yesterday the babies had their very first car ride and it was a doozy. It’s six hours from Yunyang county (where she was found and where the SWI is) to Chongqing city. Because of that and the temperature change, most the babies have a little cold, Sophie Fu Duo included. The doc took a look at her last night and recommended that we start her on antibiotics before the bug takes a firmer hold.

Yunyang County is far to the west, near the border of Sichuan province. According to the nannies who came with the babies, Yunyang Social Welfare Institute is a new facility, open since 2001. The old one will be flooded by the Yangtze River when the Three Gorge Dam project is completed. Indeed, most of Yunyang will be flooded, including Sophie’s finding place. They’ve relocated around 1 million people in anticipation of this flooding. We can’t visit the SWI or Sophie’s finding place because, like I said, Yunyang is 6 hours away in the mountains with treacherous roads in between. I’m sad about this.

The nannies called Sophie “Doe Doe”. Doe is how Duo is pronounced. I had it wrong. They seemed very fond of her. My MIL got precious footage of the nannies playing with her while she was in my Ergo at the government offices yesterday. They did a wonderful job taking care of her!!! There are only 8 nannies for 60 babies at Yunyang (for the record, they’re all young babies. This group was the oldest in the SWI, and all the babies in this group are very young, under 1 year the lot of them. They have two special needs children and two toddlers. One toddler is soon to be adopted.) Sophie seems to be in robust health. She’s big and strong and her fingernails and toenails are carefully clipped. The level of care under such a ratio of nannies to babies astounds me.

The nannies talking to Duo Duo at the government offices yesterday.

Sophie sucks her thumb to self-soothe. Yesterday she was so stressed her thumb was an angry red. She has four teeth which she grinds, much to James’ dismay. He hates that sound. LOL. I’m trying her on pacifiers and teething rings, but she keeps spitting them out. It will take some time.

She doesn’t understand that if she cries she gets stuff. So we never know when she’s wet or when she’s hungry. If she’s in her crib and wakes up in the middle of the night, she’ll just lay there patiently. This is all a result of being in the SWI. I think it won’t take her long to figure out that we’ll meet her needs if she asks, but it will take time.

She is a bit delayed. She’s nine months old, but is more like a 6 month old, really. This will quickly correct itself. We’re starting to help her learn to sit up by herself. With constant attention focuses just on her, she should catch up pretty quick. Oh, and she loves attention! Loves to be touched and kissed. She smiles and laughs! She’s got the best smile. I’ll try to get a video of it. Adorable.

Sophie’s smile. (Here’s a little taste. I’ll try and get a better picture.)

Chongqing is the REAL China. Hong Kong was just Disney Land. Hong Kong was Chicago’s
Chinatown on steroids. Correct, this is the real *urban* China. And it’s huge.

Chongqing has 30 million people. Dude. There are people everywhere, all the time. All. The. Time. It’s like my worst nightmare. I have no idea where they’re all going, walking all over the place. And the honking, it never stops. There is constant freaking honking on the roads. Wow. What they could be honking about all the time, I don’t know. Maybe it’s just fun.

The hotel is fantastic. The room we have is huge. There’s a doorbell, man. A separate shower and a super deep soaking tub. Everyone is awed to see all the Americans carrying Chinese babies. When we go outside as a group, people stop and stare, and then form a big group and surround us. There are two little blonde American girls in our travel group and they’re like stars. Everyone wants to have their picture taken with them and the Chinese always make a V with their first two fingers in the photo. Like the sign for peace. *shrug* I dunno.  But everyone we meet is very nice and very curious. The Chinese women always touch the babies, pat their chins, talk to them. It’s cute.

In general people are fascinated by us, with or without the babies. They stop, stare and listen to us talk. It’s amusing. When the poor people try and beg from us, the other Chinese yell them to go away. Marie, our guide, says they don’t want to give a bad impression of Chongqing and China to the Americans.

Right now my mom is taking a nap right along with Sophie Fu Duo. James and my MIL are out doing reconnaissance, scouting out stores to buy supplies and restaurants to eat at. Later we’ll go out to buy some things we need for the baby. I’ll try and get some pictures of the area. It’s fascinating. Last night, after such a long day, we ate Pizza Hut. Horrible, huh? Come to China, eat Pizza Hut and drink Pepsi. We don’t want to get too adventurous with the food, though. It would suck to get sick right now.

“Poe poe” — that’s the word for maternal grandmother, holding Sophie.

Chongqing doesn’t like WordPress! We can get to all the major sites, but not the smaller ones and none of the blogging sites. They’re all blocked by the censors. Our friend Kim was nice enough to agree to make updates for us. We can still receive comments because I can get into my email, but we can’t get to the blog at all.

We received Sophie Fu Duo today! She didn’t cry at all. Very happy baby. She’s extremely inquisitive and very calm. She smiles and laughs and babytalks. After we got back to the room she fell asleep on my chest for about an hour. We’ll see how she is a few days from now, after it sinks in that she’s not going back to the SWIs and her nannies.

Anyway, we’re all exhausted over here so this is a short post. It’s been an emotional, happy day. But here are a few pictures!

Right after she was placed in our arms!

New daddy and daughter.

Asleep in the hotel room.

ZAO-SHANG HAO, BONJOUR, HELLO,

SAMEDI — CA Y EST ! NOUS SOMMES DONC ARRIVE A HONG KONG… JE N’AURAIS JAMAIS IMAGINE QU’UN JOUR JE VISITERAIS L’ASIE.

EN FAIT, LE MONDE N’EST PAS SI GRAND… HONG KONG (HK) EST A 7 HEURES DE DECALAGE AVEC LA BELGIQUE ET A 12 HEURES DE NOTRE MAISON AUX STATES. 

NOUS AVIONS DES SIEGES ‘PREMIUM’. NOS 15 HEURES DE VOL SONT VITE PASSEES. L’IDEAL POUR DES LONG VOLS. 

ON A ATTERRI SUR LE NOUVEL AEROPORT DE HK. DONC ON NE SURVOLE PLUS LES HABITATIONS DE LA VILLE…. MAIS LA MER. LA PISTE COMMENCE SUR LA PLAGE… ASSEZ IMPRESSIONANT !

TU REGARDES PAR LE HUBLOT, TU ES A UNE DIZAINE DE METRES AU-DESSUS DU SOL… MAIS EN FAIT, TU NE VOIS QUE DE L’EAU…. TU SERRES UN PEU PLUS TA CEINTURE, TU FINIS TON WHIKY CUL-SEC ET TU TE DEMANDES SI TU VAS FAIRE LES TITRES SUR CNN. 

IL RESTE 1 METRE…. TOUJOURS DE L’EAU. OK, MAINTENANT, TU TRANSPIRES ET T’AS VRAIMENT CHAUD…. ET TOUT D’UN COUP, VOILA LE SOL, LE BITUME, LA PISTE, LE SON DES PNEUS QUI TOUCHENT…. YAOUUUHH. JE SUIS A HONG KONG….

LES BAGAGES, L’IMMIGRATION ET LES DOUANES N’ONT PRIS QUE QUELQUES MINUTES. PAS DE PROBLEMES.

DANS LE HALL D’ARRIVEE. UNE JEUNE DAME ASIATIQUE (BIEN SUR!) NOUS ATTENDAIT AVEC UN SIGNE (CCAI) (C’EST LE NOM DE NOTRE AGENCE D’ADOPTION).

SUPER SYMPA. EN ROUTE POUR LE BUS. NOUS AVONS 30 MINUTES DE TRAJET JUSQU’A L’HOTEL.

ELLE A DEJA RESERVE NOS CHAMBRES ET NOUS DONNE NOS CLEFS DANS LE BUS. GENIAL.

UNE BONNE DOUCHE ET UNE SIESTE AU PROGRAMME.

DIMANCHE–

TOUTES LES FAMILLES SONT DEBOUT ET NOUS SOMMES TOUS A 7H DU MAT AU RESTO DE L’HOTEL POUR LE PETIT-DEJEUNER. ILS VIENNENT D’OUVRIR, LES SERVEURS SE REVEILLENT A PEINE…. ET LA SALLE EST PLEINE….

C’EST CE QU’ON APPELE LE ‘JETLAG’… ON EST DEBOUT ET ON A FAIM.

BUFFET IMMENSE. TOUT CE QUE TU PEUX IMAGINER EST LA… MEME DES CROISSANTS ET DES ‘COUQUES SUISSES’ (POUR LES BRUSSELERS)

 
A 8H30, ON PART TOUS EN CAR POUR VISITER LA VILLE QUI SE REPARTIT SUR PLUSIEURS ILES.

INCROYABLE. UNE VERITABLE METROPOLIS !! J’AI L’IMPRESSION D’ETRE UN ACTEUR DANS UN DE CES  FILMS ‘AKIRA’, ‘BLADE RUNNER’ OU LE ‘5eme ELEMENT’ .

DES GRATTES-CIEL, DES MILLIONS DE GENS, TOUS LES PANNEAUX EN CHINOIS,…. WAW, JE SUIS DE L’AUTRE COTE DE LA PLANETE. MOI, QUI ADORE  REGARDER AUTOUR DE MOI, JE N’EN PERDS PAS UNE GOUTTE.

LE TEMPS EST CHAUD (25 DEGRES) MAIS UN PEU HUMIDE. JE PENSE QUE C’EST LA SAISON DES PLUIES CAR IL Y A DU BROUILLARD AU SOMMET DES MONTAGNES. HONG KONG EST NICKEL. IL N’Y A PAS UN PAPIER, UNE CRASSE OU UN MEGOT SUR LE SOL !!! LA VILLE EST NON-SMOKING. MEME DEHORS. IL Y A QUELQUES PETITS PARCS OU LES GENS PEUVENT Y FUMER ET C’EST TOUT. WAW.

LES GENS SONT AIMABLES ET TRES POLIS. POUR LUNCH, NOUS SOMMES ALLE DANS UN EXCELLENT RESTO CHINOIS. QUELLE DIFFERENCE. LE GOUT ETAIT DELICIEUX. NOUS ETIONS LES SEULS BLANCS. MAIS LA CUISINE ETAIT TYPIQUE ET PAS TROP EPICEE.

A 2OH, NOUS ETIONS SUR LA ‘PROMENADE DES STARS’ (STYLE HOLLYWOOD: DES PLAQUES AU SOL AVEC LE NOM ET LES EMPREINTES DES MAINS DES ACTEURS). J’Y AI VU BRUCE LEE, JACKIE CHAN ET JET LI.

COOL. VERY COOL.

 
C’EST UN PEU COMME LA DIGUE A LA COTE EN BELGIQUE. LES GENS MARCHENT AU BORD DE LA MER ENTRE LES ILES. TRES TOURISTIQUE.

LA VUE EST SUPERBE.

DE L’AUTRE COTE DU CANAL/MER, SE TROUVE LE QUARTIER DES BUREAUX, DES MILLIERS DE GRATTES-CIEL. A 20H, UN SHOW LUMIERE ET SON COMMENCE.

TOUS LES BUILDINGS S’ILLUMINENT, SPOTS GEANT SUR LES TOITS, JEU LASER, MUSIQUE…. INCROYABLE. C’EST TOUTE LA VILLE QUI DEVIENT UN IMMENSE CONCERT DE SON ET DE LUMIERE.

PENDANT 15 MINUTES, TU RESTES BOUCHE OUVERTE. C’EST UN PEU DU STYLE UN SHOW A LA JEAN-MICHEL JARRE MAIS AU LIEU D’UTILISER 3 BUILDINGS, ON EN UTILISE UN MILLIER…..

 
QUAND LE SHOW EST FINI, TOUT LE MONDE (DES MILLIERS DE PERSONNES) RETOURNE CHEZ SOI OU A L’HOTEL. TOUT LE MONDE EST A PIED. ON NE SE SENT PAS DU TOUT EN DANGER.

 
VOUS DEVEZ VISITER LE BLOG POUR VOIR QUELQUES PHOTOS.

DANS QUELQUES HEURES, DEPART POUR L’AEROPORT CAR, ENFIN, NOUS PARTONS POUR CHONGQING. ENCORE UNE NUIT D’HOTEL ET DEMAIN A MIDI…. SOPHIE SERA DANS NOS BRAS.

 
ET VOILA, LE TEMPS DE BOUCLER LES VALISES ET JE VOUS ECRIRAI DE CHONGQING.

 
ZAI-JIAN, AU REVOIR,

JAMES

My final impression…this is a very, very clean city with a lot of residual English influence. I would not hesitate to travel here as a tourist who didn’t know the language. Hong Kong is probably easier to navigate not knowing the language than Paris is…by far. There are a whole lot of white folk here too. (Oh, and Dad you were right about the EVA captain being an Aussie. I like to think he was sober, however).

View from our hotel room

Another view from our hotel room.

We went to the harbor to watch the touristic laser show last night. Here are a few pics:

You know how I lurves my camera….

In a few hours we leave for Chongqing. I’ll update when we get settled…if I can. If not, think of us if you’re awake at 12:30am eastern on Tuesday morning. That’s when Sophie will be put into our arms. Poor little peanut. She has no idea her world is about to be turned on its ear once more. It’s the best thing for her, but it will take her a little while to figure that out, I’m sure. She turned nine months today!