China - Day 9, Thursday

Today we were suppose to go to a new family meet and greet sponsored by the PTO. Amy, Daniel and I went to the office to ask them to translate the address into Chinese to show the taxi driver. I showed the taxi driver the address and he called someone to find the address. We started driving and he still doesn't know where he is going. Finally he pulls over to the side of the road and has me speak to a person who can speak a little English. It ends up they have no idea where the address or the restaurant is. So the driver took us back to the apartment. I had to pay the 23 RMB (about $4) to ride around and end up back at the apartment! What a frustrating morning. Later I found out it was right near the grocery store I shop at!

So then we decided to go to Century Park. Actually we were heading to the Fake Market at the end of Century Park (I will talk about this on another day). It is not far from us, but it did require a taxi ride. This time we did get to Century Park. Not the end I wanted but we got there! Century Park is huge!

It would have been more enjoyable had the humidity been at about 900% The park will be much more enjoyable in the fall!

There are workers everywhere. She is sweeping the grass with a straw broom.

They have this beautiful Bonsai section. These are some of the Bonsai. They are huge.

I took the picture a little to late and missed a good shot of the worker, but you can still make it out a little. He is carrying 2 buckets of water/fertilizer attached to a pole on his shoulders .

Amy and Daniel are standing in front of one of the Bonsai trees. So cool.

Same worker fertilizing the plants. He is using a bucket on a long handle to pour the fertilizer into the plants. We tried to get upwind of this process as quickly as possible. The smell was awful. I believe they were using a manure mixture. Smelled awful but apparently the plants like it.

Walked by this section of the park, It is amazing how many people are working in one area. I guess with billions of people they have to have them do something.

Another view in the park

Along the walk way they have hundreds of trees like this one. The odd thing is that they are all strapped like this one to a cement pole. No idea why.

A wall carved with animals

A water area where you can rent a boat and go around the pond.

It decided to start thundering so we had to cut our visit short. But we will visit again because the place is huge. There is a small amusement park here. Daniel wants to come back and ride the rides. You can rent a 4 wheeled "bike" that 4 people can ride in. Plus the boats I mentions and who knows what else.
The metal going across the front is an electronic fence. The whole things works like an accordion to open when a care wants to pass by.

Clock at the entrance of the Park.

This is just one of the rides in the amusement park.