Olympic Torch

If you look back to one of my early October postings, I mentioned a park we wandered through that held a lot of recreational activities. The name is Yiu Xiu Park (which I misspelled - the correct spelling is Yue Xiu Park which sounds like 'you shoe'). Anyway, I posted a few pictures you haven't seen yet below. One of the most striking buildings in the park was under renovation at the time. It housed a museum of Guangzhou history that was 5 stories tall. We wandered through it, even though it was encased in bamboo scaffolding.

I discovered last week when I turned my television on why it was being renovated. The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing. Last Wednesday, the Chinese began the running of the torch for their Olympics. Their starting point was in Guangzhou in front of this museum! It was exciting for me to be able to say that I had been there shortly before. What a small world!

Friday night Ryan and I went to a big shopping mall and wandered around before enjoying coffee out on the promade, watching children rollerblading. While in the mall, we went up to the seventh floor where we found a video arcade, a haunted house, and an Indiana Jones thrill ride. I still claim victory on the air hockey table, 7-5. Ryan thinks I mis-read the score! The haunted house was a treat because we got to enjoy a little bit of Halloween. Speaking of which, who won the office costume contest this year??

Oh - and of course the latest dinner update - Candy took us out for traditional Cantonese food again last night. Ryan and I got to share a duck's foot. We were provided with plastic gloves so we were able to keep our hands clean.
After dinner we stopped at 2 night clubs. The first one featured a band from the Philippines singing Abba, Richard Marx, and other ballads. A few drunk men got up to sing a Taiwanese rock song, although it wasn't really supposed to be a Karaoke Bar... then we went to a dance club called Tang which had a band playing latin music. The ambiance had a bit of Indian or oriental flair. It also reminded me of the club in one of the early scenes of the movie XXX, set in Prague.

I ventured out alone on Sunday for the first time since I got here (one month). I went to a church where I was told there was a Catholic mass in English. I left the hotel and had one of the valets tell the taxi driver where to take me. The taxi took me through some back roads as a short cut, and there were a few times where I got pretty worried about my safety. I didn't see anyone that looked remotely like me. Being a minority is a very uncomfortable feeling! As I searched my wallet for the fare, I found my St. Christopher medal which Grandma Joan gave me many many years ago to protect me during my travels. What a comfort that was...

So I found the church well enough, but the mass in English had been moved to 3:30 in the afternoon. So I spent a few minutes talking with someone who turned out to be a deacon (being ordained next month) who was leaving soon for South Africa. He was very friendly and helpful. Then I stayed for the Chinese mass.

Another eventful weekend in Guangzhou! :) Julie (a friend) and Dave (a coworker) both arrive this week, so I'm really looking forward to that.

Also, congratulations to cousins Kim and Carl for their second family addition, Clay! Big sister Madeline must be so excited... I can't wait to meet him!