Trip to Chengdu

We're finally back from our vacation, and we have plenty of pictures to show you! Here are just a few (6 out of 350!) for you to enjoy. We left for Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province, on Saturday and after a 4 hour bus ride and 3 hour plane ride we finally got to this wonderful city at 1:00 in the morning (we definitely did not pick a centrally located place to live!).

Despite our late night we got up early that morning to see the city. And what better way than making use of their wonderful bike taxis! Despite the over-charging, risk-you- life in the streets battling cars, taxis, buses and bikes, it was a delightful little ride. We got to calm our nerves in the beautiful parks that China offers. Those Chinese really know how to make a park! We strolled through the many trees and flowers, along with small ponds and large monuments- who would have thought we were in the middle of a large metropolis! We thought we would do some shopping but found that a million other people thought the same thing and by looking at the picture that is no exaggeration! I have never been so crowded as I was on this street (and I have been to NYC!).

The next morning we went to see the national treasure of China...the pandas! We were able to take a look at these magnificent creatures as they engaged in what they do best...sleep, eat and excrete (and then repeat all day, every day). As you can see we were able to catch a nice picture of the daily life of the panda, lounging around while eating.

Finally, we left Chengdu to visit Leshan and see the Giant Buddha. A very long time ago, they built a large monastery out of the side of a mountain. Caves were full of Buddha statues of all sizes. It is the Giant Buddha, however, that catches everyone's attention. Being 71 meters high its a no wonder everyone wants to see it -to give you an idea of how big he is, his ear lobe is taller than Josh! There is a stairway that goes all the way to the bottom of the mountain but as we all know China has a lot of people and while they are used to waiting in line for hours we are not quite as patient (and definitely not to see a huge Buddha). We opted to just see his head and not wait the remaining four hours to start going down the stairwell.

China has centuries upon centuries of history and its amazing to step through such time tables and see the buildings and feats of those before. Yet it burdened our hearts to see such dedication and worship of such things that have been built by man's hands. Crowds form around different statues and people climb over each other just to touch them. Adults young and old kneel before these pieces of stone pleading that their requests be met or giving praise to that which cannot hear, see or do anything. Children follow their parents and are picked up high above the crowds in order that they may touch these stones. Followers dedicate their lives to tend to these statues and continue to renovate when the wind and weather has broken the statues down. Can they not see that these statues are unable to even protect themselves from such erosion? To believe in something that you can see may be easier than believing in something that you cannot but how much more wonderful is believing and knowing Someone who has control of everything and gives us protection rather than requiring it from us.

Our trip back home was only slighted by a simple flat tire, yet in no time our taxi driver had it fixed and we were back on our way to the bus station. When we got home our city was going through a power outage and we had to live by homemade candlelight for a bit. But now all is well and we have much to be thankful for as we are safe at home . We can very well say home, for when we arrived we were relieved to be back to our city, in our apartment, and eating our food. We hope home for all of you us just as warm and welcoming, and may He bless yours as He has ours.