Pandas

hey folks!... my current location is in the city - chengdu, in the province of sichuan. it's four thirty in the afternoon... and lisa and i are beat!... today we headed to the panda facility - about ten km out of chengdu - such beautiful creatures!!... and to only think that there is only about one thousand pandas left... devastating..!! then we went back to our hotel so we could both go to the bathroom... and let me tell you our bathrooms are not that much better!!!... lisa and i arrived in chengdu yesterday... and when our driver took us to our hotel - it was such a tease!... he initially slowed down in front of the internationally known sofitel hotel in chengdu... and i was amazed!... seriously no complaints right... but he doesn't stop in front of the sofitel but STOPS in front of this three star dump beside the sofitel!... and let me clarify this is a three star in china - but on an international level it is about a one star!!... our bedsheets are stained with unknown substances... the walls are also stained not to mention paper thin - so everything that goes on across the room... actually across the hallway we can hear!!... lisa and i obviously did not book this hotel... the fellow that arranged our tibetian permit had booked this hotel for us... he totally lied when he told us it was going to be nice... cause i don't see anything nice about it... or maybe he just doesn't have any standards... or maybe lisa and i are just being spoiled brats...

holy fack! can you say gigantic ten legged bug beside me right now... ewwww!!! ahhhh!!...

okay! seriously enough complaining! if anything, this trip makes me appreciate what i have back home so much more!... lisa and i also started our diamox today - in hopes of preventing altitude sickness in tibet... so far i have experienced slight numbness in my feet... lisa on the other hands feels like she's a drunk hahah...

today lisa and i also tried out some sichuan cruisine!... one of the street vendors here... and boy! it was really good!!... i don't know why i am so surprised... well maybe cause i am - it was that good!... seriously though if it weren't for lisa's encouragment i would be eating at kfc again! hahahah.... look people, i am just afraid to suffer from some serious diarrhea issues!

later gaters! eva...



Ah...Eva....you gotta love her! So funny :) We've been pretty good with one another so far. My complaint really is the smoking like holy! The guys here like smoke everywhere even at the Panda conservation when it clearly stated no smoking! Or on the plane going to Chengdu...someone tried to smoke...there's an international law about not smoking on the plance with some serious reprecussions but one thing we've noticed...the people here don't really like to obey the rules. To each his own. But the smoking and pollution is the only thing as I am allergic and it sucks to be around it. About 90% or more men smoke. Blah! My complaint for the day...that I still have to pee...but going to wait it out til we're done here in 40 min and then head back to the hotel. No worries folks, me have a big bladder :) Not that you want to know...anyways...

Chengu is interesting. We're situated in an interesting area. Good to get snacks and stuff. But getting used to the new surrounding every time we go to a new city. Eva has been great. Without her mandarin, I would be crying right now. I rely on her way too much I know but I totally appreciate what she does. Like we were shopping around before coming to the cafe for flights from Shanghai to HK and she was asking the travel agents (who spoke little English) to help us out. So far we found one but too bad the visa transaction thingy did not work so we'll be going back tomorrow so cross your fingers!

Ya those drugs were taking...making me a little um...I would say b****** but let's just say pretty irritable than usual. I guess like PMS lol Sensitive to everything and nauseated and want sugar...I think the sugar thing is just me and not the drugs lol

Anyways...not much to write I know but just to let you know...I totally appreciate Edmonton and what we have. The spitting here gets to be way too much! lol

Have a good one guys!

Oh...for those who don't have facebook...here's the links to our photos:

• Beijing
• Xi'an
• Guilin
• Longsheng