I keep waking up early so it gives me lots of time to ramble on in these posts. Wish we could add pictures but that will have to wait. Charlie did attempt to send one email last night with 6 photos from the wedding. He made several attempts but he is not sure it went out.

The performance on the grassland got cancelled last night because of rain but we will see it another night minus those that are leaving this morning. The Leary’s and Andrew leave at 9:00 AM this morning–we will miss having them all here. The Leary’s will continue straight home and Andrew will spend one night on his own in Beijing and fly out the next day.

We had the BEST dinner last night–Jimmy took us to the local grocery store last night and we bought all the fixings for peanut butter (Skippy!) and honey sandwiches, ham sandwiches, and Pringles! We sat in the hotel lobby, made our sandwiches and had a feast! I think everyone was ready for a break from Chinese food and it helped those whose stomachs were still a bit off. Actually, everyone seems to be feeling better. It was lots of fun seeing a Chinese grocery store!

Since Kareoke seems to be the only other night time activity in Hailar, (which requires a lot of drinking!) we just hung out in our hotel rooms for the rest of the evening. It was really nice just sitting and recounting all the events of the wedding and trip.

On our first day in Hailar, Anne admired one of Jiao Jiao’s Aunts necklaces. It is a beautiful pearl necklace with 2 rings of jade and diamonds? in the middle. She asked Jimmy and Jiao Jiao if they could please get one for her when they get back to Beijing as they are much cheaper in Beijing. Apparently Jiao Jiao’s brother has gone to retrieve the necklace and it is going to be given to Anne before she leaves this morning!!!! Amazing!! I wish I had admired it a little more! It is really beautiful. Jimmy says this is very common in China.

I have not bought anything for myself on the trip so far–am hoping to pick up something fun when we go to the Russian border town. Apparently there is a fun market with lots of Russian stuff. I may have a little time also the day we have in Beijing before we go back. I found the silk market in Beijing so crazy that it was hard to think. It is a large 6 story building CRAMMED FULL with stalls of everything you can imagine. All the merchants are shouting as you walk by to try and get you to buy. Not the best shopping experience in my opinion!

Anne had a beautiful silk jacket made for her in Beijing and one for Marty in the same fabric–Marty, wait until you see it–it is really beautiful!

The kids have bought all sorts of fun things including wolf furs from Mongolia, jade bracelets and lots of other assorted things.

Today we have the lunch at Jiao Jiao’s house and there is also a celebration in her town commemorating the town’s 99 year history–I think. Parades, fireworks, etc. Sounds like a lot of fun. Tomorrow we go to the Russian border town which I guess is only a couple hours away.

I still can’t believe we are all here–I keep pinching myself. I cannot describe how friendly the Mongolian people are. Big smiles all the time and everyone bends over backwards to make everyone comfortable. The focus seems to be on making everyone around you happy, not yourself. There is a lot to be said for that. Very rich traditions going back thousands of years. The juxtaposition of old and new here is seen everywhere. Modern technology versus scenes that make you think you have stepped back in time 200 hundred years–Carts peddled by bicycles carrying big loads, animals roaming free everywhere, poverty, very simple lifestyle. Everyone seems incredibly happy.

Time to get going…….I hope everyone is enjoying our thoughts on the trip! We look forward to comments!