We love to chat with our kids after a trip and discover what their favorite things were. Here are each of their top 3 faves.
Becca
1. People's Park
2. Big Buddha at Leshan
3. Pandas
Josh
1. Fountain Park
2. Pandas
3. People's Park
Tori
1. Pandas
2. Marley
3. People's Park
Hmm, anyone else noting a theme here? We expected that the Pandas would be a highlight (and I will blog about that next), but it is funny how sometimes the unexpected things you stumble across can be the most fun. We had read about People's Park, but I did not realize how big it was. It is located in the middle of Chengdu and is home to several teahouses that Chengdu is so famous for. We discovered several really fun things in the park (and this is obviously why it was a favorite for all of the kids).
This man was "painting" Chinese characters with water. I think there is such beauty in the just the writing of the characters.
Helicopters & New Friends
While at viewing the pandas in the morning, we met another family who we found to be kindred spirits. They are taking a gap year as a family volunteering and traveling about Asia (and you people thought we were adventurous!). After talking with them for a while at the pandas, we exchanged phone numbers and planned to meet up later.
Here we purchased "helicopters" that kids had a blast flying in the park.
Tori had trouble figuring out how to do it at first, but before long. . .
she was a pro!
Tori and Marley became fast friends.
Enjoying time together at a tea house in the park.
Being Interviewed
There was a group of 4 junior high age girls who were "interviewing" people in the park using English. I am not sure if this was a class assignment or just something they were doing for fun. They were super sweet and we enjoyed talking with them (and their questions were funny: What animal do you like? Why? How old are you? Where are you from?)
As they interviewed us, a crowd formed to see what was going on.
Unusual Candy
We had seen people walking around with these. So when we found a woman making them in the park, the kids all wanted a try. It taste a bit like honey. Watching her make these were amazing. She would quickly pour the hot candy solution out onto a marble table making an animal. Can you tell what she is making? She quickly adds a stick as it hardens. Then you spin the spinner (in the background) and it determines which animal you get.
Our kids with a dragonfly (Josh's), bird (Becca's) and butterfly (Tori's).
Renting boats
There is a small lake in the middle of the park where you can rent both paddle and motor boats. Becca was telling everyone how to row, where to go. As we teased her about it, she kept giving me this look:
Imagine that. . . people are taking our picture!
I started out rowing with Andy to get us from the shore. But the kids were enjoying rowing so much that I moved to the front. It humored me that I was being rowed around by my little people. Joking with the kids, I declared myself Queen of the Boat. I told B that it was my job as Queen of the Boat to direct where we should go (and that prompted another look so I quickly took her picture).
My minions doing my bidding. They had SO much fun rowing. Josh and Tori were particularly skillful at making us go in perfect circles. It was hilarious!
Me and my fellow Queen of the Boat
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