The Devil Went Down to...

...Suzhou...or Georgia. Rumor has it they both get fairly hot!

Along the lake (of fire) there are a few small booths and many peddlers (pictured) that sell items like these. Often you see little children wearing them as well as adults, even grandparents. Once, I saw an entire family of devils. Oh and just the other night, five scooters passed by and yes, they all were wearing these. If I only had my camera!

Apparently I don’t need a pair ‘cause Klynt told me I already have my own! Well ain’t that nice? What a swell guy!

Lessons-Learned

1. Just because the brochure states the tour guide speaks English, doesn’t really guarantee that you will, in any way, be able to understand what he is saying. These are the five words I was able to salvage from the day; Buddha, temple, pagoda, dragon and phoenix.

2. While the road may look like your normal, run-of-the-mill, two-lane highway, in China it is more like four…maybe even closer to five. Of course, if you factor in the occasional scooter or bicycle weaving their way through traffic, the possibilities are endless.

3. The Koi in Hangzhou look eerily similar to the Koi in Suzhou.

4. Holding someone’s baby with a bare bottom NEVER gets any easier!

5. The price of tea in China is outrageous! Forty-five USD for 250 grams of Green Tea! I must have had a stamp somewhere on my forehead that I forgot about!

6. Riding in a bus all day that was built for tiny people can be difficult. C’mon, we all know where Yao Ming came from!

7. A day shared with someone you love, is a good day indeed.

Photo Booth

This photo was taken at a bus stop, downtown Suzhou.

One Fine Day

We went out in search of a Ferris wheel, roller coaster

and a merry-go-round...

...but found that Mr. Ferris and company were not

properly fit to entertain friends just yet. How sad.

There were many, many of these happy little marigolds.

We paused for a quick bite at a bright and cheery diner.

And from the looks of it...autumn will be here soon.

Photo Booth

For you. Have a great weekend!

*****

Henry and Frances

This past weekend one of Klynt's co-workers, Henry, tied the knot, and we were invited to help them celebrate. I thought that I would post a few of the photos we snapped. Please, have a look.

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Mr. & Mrs. Sun

A little angel

The Grand Ball Room - ooh la la, pretty swanky

Two hundred guests, two laowai (foreigners)

Fellow co-workers; Cindy, Kelly and Gloria...along with me

No, you can not find this at your local supermarket

One of my personal favorites: duck tongue

Set in stone

I'm not sure if that was a knife or a machete

Bubbles in the air, bubbles everywhere

Hee, hee, we made our guests eat snake, squid and chicken feet

The happy couple...with the bride and groom

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Good Morning Suzhou

It isn't often you get a morning like this and it isn't often that either Klynt or I are out of bed to witness it, let alone take a photo! It was 5 o'clock a.m.! I'm deadly serious! (A friend of ours, from Bosnia, says that all the time) I am not naturally an early riser, definitely more of a night owl, but on days like today I can't help but wonder why! It was great to be able to sit back and watch the city wake up over a cup of coffee. Yes, indeed it was.

Well, I am sure that everyone will be glad to know the weather has finally cooled down! I am insanely happy about it too! The past few days have been absolutely perfect, sunny with temps in the mid seventies! I just love it! And in case you didn't hear me the first time, I love it!