Stone Forest

Today we drove about 2 hours south of Kunming to visit China's Stone Forest National Park. It took at least an hour to get out of the urban environment. The cities here are huge in a way we just don't see in America.

The drive was a little painful, but so worth it. First of all, we got to see something closer to the "real" China. Beautiful countryside, terrace farms, poverty blending into intermittant prosperity. This is the type of environment Weifeng has been in with his farming foster family. We found out today that he did not have oxes or pigs at his farm. He wouldn't tell us what they grow there.

---Chris

When Chris says terrace farms, what he really means is people farm on the side of these huge mountains. It is done by hand, we even saw an ox pulling a plow, what hard work to make a living. We saw men on bikes with baskets full of chickens attached to the back, men and women with basket yokes hauling their produce around town to sell.

Stone Forest was worth every bit of the long drive, all around you were these huge rocks growing out of the ground. At least some of the area is used to farm, as we went down the hillside at one point we were surrounded by fruit trees and rice paddies on either side of us. My words can not do this place any justice. The pictures will have to speak for themselves.

Of course no day trip would be complete if it wasn't done Harding style. At one point the boys all followed this path up the hill that twisted and turned through rock caves and outcroppings. After the adults all caught up with the kids we turned back around. Josh decided to climb a rock and surprise Chris, so as Chris passed by, Josh jumped. Jumped right into another huge rock and kacked his head. It was a tiny wound, but the deep red blood running down his head was enough to freak him out. Chris being the nice daddy offered to carry Josh down the rest of the way. As our merry little troop lead the way back to the cart Chris missed a step, turned his ankle, dropped Josh and was left lying on his back, all four limbs in the air like a dead bug. Oh yes, my friends, those loud Americans are in town. Josh got more scrapes on his elbows and knees and Chris hobbled back to the cart we were using to tour the park.

After convincing everyone we didn't need the doctor, we headed to a local restaurant. This place had adventure written all over it. The first room they took us to smelled like a men's room, no thanks, next room had hay all over the floor. This was good, it hid the dead flies littering the floor and the smell of the hay masked any other smells. We had a hard time eating the feast that was presented to us, but at least a few of us went for it to be polite. I just kept telling myself not to think about the lack of atmosphere and went for it with gusto, I even used my chopsticks for the whole meal. Zach and Mitch both threatened the possiblity of throwing up, but it never happened. The duck with the head still on it as part of the serving presentation was the coup de grace of the meal.

Back on the bus to a tiny village that was famous for needlepoint work. We saw some of the most beautiful embordiery pictures ever, they looked just like paintings. Every one in our group bought something from this shop. It will be a nice momento for Weifeng as something from his province.

Bus torture continued as we headed back to the hotel. All the adults were ready to jump off of the bus by the time we got back to the hotel, sweet relief. As we all headed out to dinner together we reflected on what a nice day we had had. That all went down the pot when we whipped out that Harding flavor as we paid for our dinner check and Josh vomited on the floor of the restaurant. Kunming never saw us coming, but they might be glad we are going today!

We leave for Guangzhou tonight at 6:30pm. I have heard that it is more western and I am looking forward to that!

Till tomorrow-Susanne