Some Busy Days Since The Last Post

We had two shopping days. We rode the bus into Shenzen where there are probably several thousand shops under one roof selling everything made on the planet. Completely overwhelming with the sights, sounds and choices. The price is NOT the price. Bargaining is expected. Our exchange organizer, Kate Budge, gave us a brief tutorial on the basics and the fine points of bargaining and how to play the "game". It is definitely a competitive sport. Gus really got into the spirit and into the role. He acted as buyer's agent for the team. Great theatre!!! We came with one carry-on and 1 checked bag. We may need an ocean going cargo vessel for the return....



The first shopping day included a foray into a Chinese restaurant for Janna and I. Holy moly! Again the sights, sounds and choices were all new and amazing. We knew two words of Chinese. (Thank you). Not extremely useful when viewing a menu of Chinese characters. So once again we fell back on acting and miming skills previously untried. It was hilarious and all the patrons of the restaurant were entertained. We thought we ordered some kind of fish and eggplant. And lo and behold that is what we got. We again entertained the other patrons with our choice of utensils and crockery. We put our food on the small plate provided, did not use the bowl (as we had not ordered soup). During the Chinese cooking lesson we had the next day, I learned that the plate was for bones and trash and the bowl was meant for the food we intended to eat. In China it is expected that you will lift the bowl close to your mouth when eating. Something my mother and grandmother would have smacked me for doing when I was growing up. I am proud to report that we used our chopsticks. Janna's side of the table was much cleaner than mine. Again local custom saved me, I learned that a messy area around your plate is a complement to the cook!

The second shopping day was fun filled and action packed. A tale best told by one of the others. Check back for that adventure.

Now about the bus trip...

As Janna said, driving is a full contact sport. Bicycles do not hesitate to take on a 30 passenger bus. The number of lanes drawn on the pavement is merely a suggestion. Miss your turn at the intersection of two roads of 3-4 lanes each? No problem! Back up and turn right across those lanes, it's all good! Traffic travels soooo close together that you could reach out an touch the vehicle next to you. The really amazing thing? In 10 days and lots of hours traveling to see incredible things, we have seen only 1 fender bender and it was so minor I wondered why they stopped. We did see two bus drivers dismount and duke it out at one point.

The Kangaroo Cup was hilarious and everyone had a superior time. There were 4 teams of six with a team member from each country and one of the resort's Chinese instructors. The Cup included mounted games, a bicycle race, a game of hoops, a climbing wall, and a swim meet of sorts. The mounted games included a baton race, egg and spoon, a leading relay and an apple bobbing. I have blackmail quality video of Gus being bucked off 3 times in 50 meters by a sassy 11 hand pony. I have no idea about the results of this competition because I was laughing too hard.







I love the little Mongolian ponies they have here. Phillip, the manager of Camelot Riding Club breeds them for the school. They are the size of Shetlands but with a ground covering stride. However, a pony is a pony is a pony. Refer to paragraph above about the fate of Gus in the first race.

We visited the fortifications built during the Opium Wars along the Pearl River. Then traveled across an impressive suspension bridge to Chimealong Circus. The circus is performed in a huge amusement park. The sets were elaborate and beautiful (similar to a Cirque de Soleil performance). The aerial performances were Highly entertaining (get it? highly?) and the diving act was brilliant.



Yesterday was a laze around the pool day. The pool at this resort/riding club is absolutely beautiful. The pictures on the website don't do it justice. We drew horses for the Nation's Cup and got acquainted with them in the first of two training sessions last night. The Nation's Cup will consist of 4 jumping rounds. Two will be ridden on Monday and the final two on Tuesday. We have another training session this evening (under the lights). We are seriously excited about the jumping Monday night in the arena by the lake under the lights. A very dramatic setting. We should get some great pictures.

We have learned a lot about horse keeping in a challenging environment. The heat and humidity are unlike anything we experience even in our gulf coast. We will all come home and be newly appreciative of our home bases.

Alicia