There is a quote: "LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORMS TO PASS.... IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN."
With 12 children and 5 adopted from Russia, we have had challenges and trials along with our joys. We have decided that we must
learn how to "dance in the rain." We must notice and acknowledge the joys and miracles in our lives.
They exist daily -- we just need to make sure we do not miss them!! This blog is to remind us of these miracles and joys!

Sunday, June 22, 2014

MAY 17, 2014: FAMILY OUTING TO MUDU

FAMILY OUTING TO MUDU
MAY 17, 2014

Dad wanted to go explore a place called "Mudu" which is the very last stop on the subway line.  We walked to a bus stop to catch Bus 2.  On the way, we passed all of these uprooted trees!  We cannot figure out why they are taking up all these beautiful trees!  They are beautiful, large trees!  They have all been dug up by and by men and women with shovels and then hauled off.

Once there was a tree.

Imitating a sculpture on the way to the bus station.

Construction on "The Gate of the Orient" or "The Pants Building" 
as everyone else calls it.

We do love pineapple here!!!  Bethany and Amy were so excited!
The subway stop near our home -- Dongfang zhimen

The crane lifting all the beautiful trees!  I wish they could 
take them to our house in Arkansas!!

A man filling up his water bottle????








The pants building!

These straw brooms are used everywhere by city workers.
These balls keep car traffic out.
We found it interesting that all the glass panels were put in backwards.




Suzhou has many canals

We made it to bus #2 bus stop!  Yahoo! 


We thought it would take us to Mudu, but we ended up at the Shanghai Railway Station instead.  That was OK because we found a map of Suzhou from a lady and we saw this sign that is doing a countdown to the World Ping Pong Tournament in May 2015.  Hyrum -- you will be here by then!!!  
We have to go!!!
Flowers outside the train station




It is always cool to see how Chinese pack for travel.



Dad took the kids to see the train platform area.

Chinese police.  This is one large armored truck with men with large guns!

So .... plan B was to take the subway to Mudu!!





We arrived at the end of the subway line and walked out to 
find some baozi for lunch.  It took us 4-5 tries to finally get the pork baozi.
We don't know "Suzho-ese."  This lady was really nice.
We see a lot of platform shoes!
Some sights as we walked to the bus stop




On the bus to Mudu -- some military.



We found this cart and wanted to try this for a snack but no one 
was around to sell it to us.  Oh well.

Rebecca


Signs at the entrance to the gardens in Mudu






Mudu Gardens were beautiful












I would love to learn to play this game!













































This looked like a dragon boat graveyard




































































"Chinese Gothic?"



















The signs say warnings -- and our boys are climbing on the rocks!




























TURTLES!!!!  But not for dinner.



Bethany steps over a tall threshold.
We were told that the tall doorways keep out the evil spirits.




Overpass outside of the garden







 Mom decided we all needed drinks.


 
 We met a lady with a cute little baby!!
We found the snack truck again!!!  We bought 2 different types of snacks!








The twisted snacks were nasty -- tasted like rancid oil.
A "no" from Amy

Bus stop to head back home.  Hopefully Bus #2 will take us back 
where we want to go this time!

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