Day 243 School wide field trip!

Our three day holiday weekend actually got a one day head start
as on Thursday, BNDS took a school-wide field trip to the
Beijing Botanical Gardens.  What a beautiful and relaxing way
to start the holiday.  I decided to do a 'staycation' in Beijing
as there are many sites I have yet to see here in our capital city.
Every bit of time off and I am usually hopping a plane or a
train to somewhere.  Anywhere.  Doesn't matter. :)

Many flowering trees and plants are still in
full bloom, so I was in seventh heaven :)

Have you seen enough flowers, yet?!  I was just testing you ;)
I am my mother's daughter, afterall- I love flowers. They make
me happy.  Yet, the cottonwood was flying in the air just like it
does back home in Indiana this time of year.  I couldn't help
but think of my Elliebug if she was with me today. She would
have been a sneezing, wheezing, watery-eyed mess!
It was blowing across the sidewalks like snowballs- crazy.

As we made our way to the center of the park
to the tropical arboretum, the PE department
gathered the kids for some fun and games
before we all dispersed on our own for lunch
and exploration in the afternoon.  I was
impressed with Eric's hacky sack skills!

There were some seriously competitive games of tug of war-
between International teachers and Chinese teachers,
teachers against students, grade level students against
each other- I chose to sit out- it looked dangerous!

I love everything about this picture!  Edwin, my
best man on the ground in China, Frank, Chase, and
look at Ms. Betty, the headmaster's face!  Lolllzzz

And on the other end of the rope?  Also some of my favorite people-
Duong, Kathy, Ray, Carlos, Hank, Eric, Nate, Rob :)))  PULL!!!!!!
Nothing like a little friendly competition between West and East :)

Me and Ms. Betty...isn't she adorable?!

After the fun and games, Ms. Duong (my Vietnamese beauty)
and I went and found a quiet shady spot for our picnic lunch.  

Many of the kids had the same idea :)

It was a good thing we fortified ourselves at lunch,
we had serious business to tend to- we saved a turtle!
We thought he was dead, on his back and not moving.
He was just exhausted from trying to right himself.
Duong spied a long piece of bamboo, and I flipped
him right side up. His world improved immensely :)

Judging by the 'activity' of the turtles on the raft, we could
make an educated guess how he flipped himself over.
Love will get you Every. Single. Time. 

We no sooner did our good deed for the day then
we promptly got yelled at for grabbing the most
awesome silk flower wreath to pose for a photo.
Oh Chinese philosophy, it's that yin and yang- also
Every. Single. Time. It's how the world works, people :)

We escaped the madness of the crowd and headed
to the Wofo Temple and various halls. It seemed like
every school in Beijing must have decided to take
a field trip to the Botanical Gardens today.

I love all the colors...it reminds me of my Fiestaware dishes :)

Ahhh, that peaceful, easy feeling.

Sanshifo Hall contained the three lifetime Buddhas.

Sakyamuni Buddha was in the center, flanked
by eighteen painted clay figures of arhats.

Wofo Temple

Wofo Temple held the sleeping Buddha.

Not the most flattering picture- this pose
makes him look 'a little too hefty'.  It's no
wonder; cast in bronze, he's a mere 54 tons.
Actually, I was just trying to sneak a
pic of him without getting yelled
at for a second time that day.

The Temple and grounds were so peaceful :)

As we left the Temple, we stumbled upon a hotel!  I know
where I want to sneak away for a night with a certain someone :)
The rooms look like an old hutong. It would be a lovely place to stay.

We circled back around the park in search of the lake....

FOUND IT!!!  Water, trees, and flowers?!
Happiest girl in China right there :)

This beautiful park and gardens are just a twenty minute
drive from BNDS.  Beijing really does have beauty to it;
if you can look past the pollution, congestion, and noise.

As we bid the water goodbye, and headed back to meet up
with the group, we stumbled upon a group of Chinese
all looking up and snapping photos....of what?!

A shaggy squirrel!  It was the first squirrel I have seen in
China- he kind of made me miss home :)  and my Emily Tess.

So I snapped a pic of him, then turned around and snapped a
pic of the crowd snapping a pic of him, lol.

And with that, Duong and I dang near missed our bus back to the school- oops.

It was a beautiful way to spend a school day, and to kick off a three day 

'staycation' in Beijing.  I have three day trips planned for myself. Tomorrow

I am heading south to Peking Man- more on that later.

G'nite, y'all!