Shopping and medical exams . . .

Pretty easy day today. Breakfast at the hotel's truly spectacular buffet, then to a Chinese department store by taxi. It's weird being in cars with kids and babies not strapped in to the gills in baby seats, in crazy traffic no less. We cross our fingers and make a few signs of the cross every time we venture out by vehicle. The department store was pretty much like American ones, just more crowded and under air-conditioned. Got a small fold-up stroller and some other stuff, including a toy for Henry, who's been a real trooper throughout this whole adventure. Later, out on the crazy pedestrian street while the locals kept a close eye on us, Melissa bought soft drinks from MacDonalds for herself, Henry and Val, then shortly afterwards realized that each of them had ice in them. Scrunchy faces were made by all. So, the drinks got tossed out after one or two sips, and cans of cold soda were purchased shortly after. They say to beware of drinking the water here, which includes staying away from the ice. Later in the afternoon, walked 10 minutes or so with part of the group in the very hot sun to bring the babies to their scheduled medical exams, and had to wake Mae up from a deep slumber in her stroller for hers. She passed with flying colors, including the ENT part where nurse Grizabella squeezed a sqeaky toy in different directions, choked Mae with a tongue depresser and flashed the light strapped to her head in Mae's eyes. Good Japanese food for dinner in one of the hotel's restaurants, then back to the room.

Here are the day's shots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caira/sets/742031/

R