China Journal 5/27/06

1. Approaching Yonghegong Temple
2. Visitors lighting joss sticks
3. Xiao Jing with lilies.
4. The priest and me.
5. The priest, Michael & Xiao Jing.
6. Xiao Jing and I. Note the ornate roof edges
7. Yet another massive statue.
8. Michael & Xiao Jing by an ancient tree.

Checked out of the Sunny Hotel at noon. Xiao Yu took us to a Buddhist temple. Here, Xiao Jing learned of the significance of a Buddha that she's been carrying for years never knowing which Buddha it was. She showed it to a Buddhist priest and was told its meaning. The priest said some prayers and then Xiao Jing placed it around Michael's neck to keep him safe during the year of the rat (his birth year) since he will be vulnerable that year-2008. Took pictures with them and with the Buddhist priest. The priest gave me permission. Finished the third roll of film at that temple.
Dinner that eve with Xiao Yu and her husband and with Xiao Mae. Chinese food is so good! Did well with the chop sticks.
Second experience with squatting to pee ...Thank heaven for the healthy knees!
Xiao Yu's husband drove us to the train station. Much jostling with crowd but finally to our train and we're off to Xian. We share a compartment with a girl from Germany. I'm writing and listening to Beethoven over my ipod. Too much tea for dinner and coffee this afternoon. It's now 12:50 and I'm wide awake. The stars very bright in China.(So far the weather's been cool to cold and some rain. When we left Beijing the rain had cleaned everything of its dirt and the trees now have clean healthy leaves.
At dinner Xiao Jing asked for chicken for me. A whole chicken had been fried crisp and then cut into small pieces. The head had been left on!! Xiao Jing has taken a picture!