Around on our own...

Hey guys... glad you stopped by to check out the happenings today.

Yesterday was a good day. I felt better, we were able to do some exploring on our own, and even shopping as Beth had mentioned. JP and I walked down the road about a block and found an alley to get Beth some authentic sichuan cuisine. I found it. I saw a crowd of locals in a line to get some food from a sidewalk setup ran by 5 ladies. They had these tables set up with burners and a HUGE wicker basket full of steamed rice. It was 7.5 yuan, which is about $1.05 for lunch, you just get your styrofoam plate, get the rice and point to what you want. I got two plates and got some of all 6 dishes. It was definately good eating, unfortunately, Amie thought it might be a good thing to NOT nap while momma was eating and so she did not get toeat it all, it got cold during the napping crisis.

Jordan and I meanwhile made a venture down the shopping district and decided to do Pizza Hut.

WOW. That was different, food was good but it was a whole different way of doing pizza hut and i will let Jordan post about that later.

After lunch, JP and I went shopping for laundry soap, some snack stuff and the infamous bottles of "water". The store was quite interesting. More of a downtown quick mart, it had basic stuff you needed, and of course a whole liquor and cigarette section. The store stunk though, the entry you passed dried meats (looked like Dick Howards jerky but smelled like .... a yak barn needing cleaning.) The back of the store had a variety of dried "things" I recognized the dried sea skates, the intestines, the stomach linings, cracked bones with dried marrow, varios other dried parts of animals and I am sure they were both male and female reporductive organs!

In the afternoon, as Beth mentioned, we got out for a while leaving the two kids together. We had a good time shopping for a coat for AJ, BIG SALES in prep for Chinese new year!, had starbucks, and then went back for more bottled water and diapers. Back in the room, we sat for a while, I read, not sure what else was happening :) until it was time for dinner. At about 7 pm, we hopped a taxi, and went to a place recommended in the Lost Planet China travel Guide. Touted as a TEX-MEX that was very good, we decided togive it a try. Taxi ride took about 12-15 minutes and cost about $3 with the tip. Driver was not the best or the friendliest. When we finally got to this street with a TON of brightly lit restaurants, there was Peters "hacienda" style store front. The place was packed with a company party... 40 minute wait. We stood out front deciding what to do and after about 5 minutes, a couple of other white folk, (a man from scotland and his business companion, a man from houston texas)> Had a fun conversation with the scot while standing out front and after only about 15 minutes, there were tables for both parties. We sat upstairs and had a great view of the happenings. Nice place. Menus were great, steaks, mexican, general american, milkshakes. We ended up with a Beth having shreddded beef enchiladas, I had shredded beef hard shell tacos, and JP had a BLT!

We had a great dinner and enjoyed much. JP again will be rating these, but I will show you the pictures!

Getting back to the room about 10 pm, it was definately time for bed. New day in about 8 hours by AJ'sclock!