We were off on this day. No official appointments and no Mr. Li, so we had to figure out something to do. Elora is far too busy to sit in this hotel room all day. We had heard great things about the Guangzhou Chimelong Resort Safari Park, but it is about 45 minutes away by taxi. Ever since the ride from the airport, we hadn't had to mess with any taxis again. We knew the hotel could arrange a taxi there for us, but we didn't want to get there and be stuck with no way to return. Mr. Li was kind enough to offer us a ride back if we had trouble getting a taxi back, so we took his phone number in case we needed to call him from the park.
When we went to leave, we asked the bellboy to get us a taxi there. Few people, especially the taxi drivers it seems, speak or read English. After some slow conversation at the front desk, an employee there figured out what we wanted and wrote it in Chinese characters on a business card to give to the bellboy and taxi driver. By the way, China does make me speak slower, so maybe I should come here once a year to work on that.
After eating breakfast, we went to the street and the bellboy told us he could get a taxi in five minutes. A taxi came, the bellboy talked to him. We couldn't understand them, but the taxi left. Another taxi came, same result. We were feeling really good about how this might go. Finally, a third taxi came and said he'd take us. The bellboy also expressed concern as to how we would get back, but ultimately had no solutions for us. Oh well, we figured we'd make it back somehow and got in the taxi.
Still amazing watching people drive around here. Like nothing I've ever seen in the states. So many people. We made it to the Safari Park! It was a long walk in through the parking lot and it was not busy at all. We figured we would just stay a little while, as it was worth it just to break up the day and see what Elora would think of such a place. Experiences like this really make you wonder what she has done in the past. Has she ever been to a zoo? Our best guess is no, but there is no way to know for sure. We went straight to the Safari on Wheels, because we knew Elora wouldn't want to walk all day.
We loaded into the tram and it had automatic doors on the sides that opened and we loaded in. We put Elora in the middle. As we waited to leave, Elora was freaking out about the doors being open. She seemed really concerned about Mom falling out. She was relieved when they finally shut by themselves.
We then took off on a safari to see the animals. Elora was pretty quiet about it all at first. She didn't seem scared, but she didn't seem happy either. She just sat there taking it all in. The brakes on the tram were very loud. Every time we got to another animal section Elora would cover her ears because she knew the tram would stopping and making that awful screeching noise.
The park was really amazing though. It was designed with the ditches between us and the animals and fences that were not really noticeable. You really felt like you were right there with the animals, even the predators. Two things really amazed us about the park: they had many of each of the animal types, not just one or two of them, and people were out feeding all of the animals so the animals were all up and around for some great pictures.
About halfway into the safari, Elora started warming up to all of it and pointing to the animals and commenting. After we got off the tram, we walked through a dinosaur park and a snake park there. We carried her through those. We were reluctant about the dinosaurs, but we just smiled and laughed about them to keep her upbeat. That seemed to work. The snakes were really cool. They had many of them, and they were underneath glass that we walked on, on the sides and above us on glass ceilings. Cool, but kind of creepy. I just kept thinking how I hope none of them got out, because they were everywhere. Elora seemed to like those well enough, too.
We got some ice cream for each of us. It was very good, and it was another fun thing to watch Elora eat. :) On the way out, I felt like we should get some souvenir of the place because we won't see many sites here and it was pretty cool. I decided it would be neat to get Elora a stuffed animal of a white tiger. We hadn't given her a stuffed animal yet, and I thought it would make a neat souvenir. Heidi is rarely thrilled with "stuff", but allowed it anyway. Elora liked it somewhat, but hasn't really fallen in love with it or anything. It has basically become a ball for her to throw around, which is a sign she will like playing Asher's toss the pig game when we get home.
It was a sticky, humid day outside. After walking around the park, Heidi's hair had gotten pretty wild and began to curl itself. It was pretty funny :)
We were so blessed on the way out to find a taxi. He was a little more expensive than the one that took us there, but still very reasonable. We made it back to the hotel safely, and were happy we went ahead and ventured out. For those who read about our previous cab ride, we were able to go to the Safari Park, pay our admissions, buy ice cream and a souvenir and get back to the hotel for the same price we paid for our taxi ride from the airport...lol.
We then went out and walked around the area some and the ladies had their food at some Kung Fu place we see around here. I went to KFC and tried their popcorn chicken. Yuck. I only ate a couple pieces and just couldn't do it. Even Heidi and Elora didn't like it, so you know it was bad. The fries were really good though.
We got back to the hotel that night and Heidi painted some clear coat on their nails. Elora enjoyed it and sat very still for her. Later on that night, though, we knew Elora had gotten pretty tired. She came to get the remote and I took it and asked her for a hug. Bad idea...she seriously thought I wasn't going to give it to her and made the most terrible face and...cried :( I felt awful. I was just playing around with her for some loving. She really wanted the remote. I quickly gave it back to her and apologized, but she still stomped off to sit with Mommy. Heidi went to sleep early on me again, and Elora was watching TV in Heidi's bed. I just let her. I wasn't about to make her mad again. I went to sleep around 9 and Heidi said she woke up at around 11 and Elora was still watching TV...lol...little stinker. Heidi shut the TV off and they went to sleep.
So sweet...sounds like a great but exhausting day...I love you guys
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