Day 8 - Chen Zhou Orphanage

I woke later than usual this morning. I think that I have finally adjusted to the time change, but then it may be that I actually slept in a bed for the first time in eight days. The window from my room looks out on the central square. At 7:00am they were people running races around the circle, practising Tai Chi in the centre, exercising and sitting. A few minutes later the square was filled with soldiers all practising their precision marching. They painstakingly slowly lift there straight leg, pause in the air, slam it down and then repeat with the next leg. It was quite a sight. Today we are going to Sophie's orphanage.

She has put on her Chinese silk dress that I bought for her at the embroidery museum in Chang Sha. She looks like a miniature Geisha girl (wrong country I know). We drive slowly through moderately heavy traffic - clear sailing compared to all of our other drives. Our driver confidently drives up a steep narrow road with less than a hand's width of space on either side of our vehicle. Pedestrian dive into narrow alleys as we make our way up. He turns sharply and I hold my breath, but it was unnecessary as we have entered the courtyard of the orphanage. It is lovely filled with date palms and other sub-tropical plants waiting until spring to flower. The balconies around the courtyard are filled with Nannies.

Our visit was singularly wonderful. We were shown freely throughout the orphanage where we met many happy, playing children and their nannies. The ratio of Nanny to child looked to be about one to two or possibly one to three. There were special needs children but they were integrated with the "normal" children and were all engaged in some form of stimulation. Unlike the other orphanage we were allowed, no invited to take pictures and film everything. Sophie found the bed that she had slept in and was thrilled. The girls played with the children. It was a most positive experience and I found myself thinking about adopting a child from this orphanage as they were so clearly well loved and cared for.

After our tour and exchange of gifts we were taken to a lovely lake park for lunch by the directors and office staff. There was a steep bridge, easily 150 stairs high that the office boys cheerfully carried Marg up and over, not once but twice, so that we could see the beautiful park and lake on the other side. The girls and I braved the squat toilets out of desperation - actually we are becoming quite practised at it. And then, it was time for lunch.

The restaurant was tiny and basic. Our room had a Ma Jong table which we just had to try. Marg, Sophie, Isabelle and I sat around the table with a partnered Chinese teacher and began to play. Marg won the first game and I the second and our teachers laughed and shouted and full participated in the game. It was thrilling. The twelve of us were then squashed around a tiny table and treated to the most delicious food that I have ever tasted. Spicey duck, pork with Tarot, tongue numbingly hot green beans, chinese vegetable, and many other mouth watering dishes. The men drank chinese whisky and the women orange pop and tea. Both Marg and I tried the whisky which was fragrant with herbs. Tasty! Toasts were made and it was a thoroughly enjoyable and friendly experience. China may not be a pretty place but the people are wonderfully charming and excellent hosts.

Outside of the restaurant I went to buy some sugar cane for the girls but one of the men beat me to it. The old woman hacked off the course outside with a machete and deftly snapped in two for the girls. After a brief demonstration they were chewing and sucking the sweet juice all the way home. Now they rest and later we will walk through the city. We are the only "round eye, big noses" in town. I look forward to our next adventure.