At the Zoo and Baba's turn with naptime

Anita and Mr. Lee took us to the Chongqing Zoo this morning, which started out a little cool and foggy, ending up partly sunny and warm by lunchtime. Through the long entrance at the zoo, lined with life-sized statues of animals, Pei Pei was questioning whether we were going to see any real animals. The first animals we saw were the lesser pandas (resembling a cross between a raccoon and a small panda, which were reddish-brown and black in color. Next, we saw the seven giant pandas (considered national treasures) eating their bamboo brunch. We also saw some folks, in colorful outfits, performing tai chi with swords. The woman in red is the laoshi (teacher).

Wen Pei asked baba to carry her, as she has done numerous times during this trip; but we challenged her to walk, after which we would buy her a treat/souvenir. She rose to the occasion, so at the end of our zoo trip, we bought some panda-themed tee shirts, toy, and pocketbook.

At one point at the zoo, Lydia Grace said that when we get back home to NC, she would like a play date with Charlotte without the mei meis. I told her that Charlotte might like that too, and that we could probably arrange the play date.

After getting back to the district, one of seven in Chongqing, (population approx. 30 million!), we had a repeat lunch at the Teppenyaki Japanese restaurant, where the food is grilled at the tables. Very yummy (hao chi): honey glazed chicken with pineapple; local green sauteed vegetables; garlic fried rice; local beer (pi jiu) and watermelon juice. Mama cut up little pieces of the greens and chicken, and Baba fed them to Talia An on his lap, which is about where the food ended up after mei mei decided to return the offering...if you know what I mean. Luckily this restaurant, like some of the others that we've gone to, provide hot, damp wash cloths at the beginning of the meals. So, we quickly utilized them. Mei wen xi (no problem).

After lunch, Mama and jie jie had a special Mama and jie jie journey to get ice cream and do some shopping. I took mei mei back to the hotel, fed her some yogurt, and diluted apple juice; and put her to bed without any problems.....well, not really. I left her naked on the bed while searching for some baby powder, only to hear her starting to fuss. When I got back to her, I discovered that she was peeing right there on the changing pad on top of the bed. I guess she gave me a warning by her fussing, but I didn't catch on quickly enough. Other than that she went to sleep in my arms as I sang a couple of Chinese songs, which we learned in Penny's Chinese class.

Lydia and Mama came back to the room (probably to check on Baba!), after paying way too much for Haagen-Daz ice cream and buying a pair of "jelly" sandals and hair bows for Lydia, and then went out again to the underground ("sleepless city") --- more shopping, I'm sure.
Our afternoon is unscheduled. Tomorrow morning, we head off to the "old town" of Chongqing, which is another souvenir-buying opportunity.