Today we had a delayed start as lots in the group still not feeling too well. Everyone (except Anne and Annie) rallied and off we went to a nearby forest park with springs. Jiao Jiao’s Dad’s best friend (who is the local chief of police) led the caravan in his car, with his driver, with lights flashing the whole way. No money was taken at the gate and we all drove right in. The scenery was again very beautiful. Jimmy has described it all very well. Vast vistas of green rolling hills for as far as the eye can see. Cows grazing everywhere along the roadsides and several times we had to stop to let the herd cross the street. Lots of men with very wide carts all along the roads carrying all sorts of things. When we got to the forest, there are all these natural springs–people were taking drinks of water, cooling their watermelon in them, and washing themselves. It was a beautiful day with a very nice breeze. Jiao Jiao and I opted not to climb the short, but very steep steps to get to the top. There was a gazebo where we waited for the group and had a very nice talk recounting all the events surrounding the wedding day. The pictures everyone took were really beautiful.
Jiao Jiao said the wedding day could not have been more perfect and everything went off without a hitch–I’m so glad. Her Mom stayed at home today entertaining all her relatives.
After the group finished with the climb we were treated to lunch in a yurt by Jiao Jiao’s Dad’s friend. More of the same food, with boiled lamb being the specialty. All Charlie could stomach was the watermelon and blueberry juice. I don’t think Andrew ate too much either. It was a lot of fun being in a yurt!
We are all taking an afternoon break in our rooms, will meet for dinner and after that will head out to Jiao Jiao’s town for some sort of really big celebration that only happens every three years. Not sure exactly what we will be seeing, but it involves wrestling, Mongols on horses (hundreds) and fireworks. Jiao Jiao said it will be the highlight of the trip! Not sure it will top the wedding, but we shall see!!
Anne and Annie are feeling better but ready to head home tomorrow. I can’t tell you how much fun we have all had together! We are so touched that the three of them came I know it meant an awful lot to Jimmy. I am especially happy that the cousins will forever have these memories together. We have started the process of downloading photos so we can all share and hope to finish this tonight. Tom has promised to put something together since he will be arriving before us and promises to send to everyone, so stay tuned! We have some amazing photos Between all of us!!!
Update on Deb–she is alive and well. She even managed to get a cab back to her hotel in the middle of the night–not sure how she did that without speaking the language!
Jimmy, Adam and Deb are downstairs now working out the details of the rest of their trip. When we depart on Thursday, the two of them also leave to do a week of traveling on their own–they are really looking forward to that.
Tomorrow we are going to Jiao Jiao’s house where her Mother will prepare lunch for us. I believe a lot of the relatives will still be there also. We have so many pictures from the wedding with her family members, but not sure who some of them are. It will be nice to talk with more of them tomorrow. I especially want to talk with her Grandparents more. I forget what is on the rest of the agenda for the day. On the day of the wedding, when we went to her house, we BRIEFLY got to see the the professional photos that Jimmy and Jiao Jiao had taken before they got married. Can’t wait to look at them more closely. They are NOT like wedding photos here–many different outfits in very unusual poses. Jimmy and Jiao Jiao not that crazy about the photos–would like some done with more natural poses. Let’s just say Jimmy’s friends think these are GREAT bribing material!
That’s all for now. Will try and write later about this evenings events.