2nd bedroom...

our bedroom, still inhabited by the old renters...

the boys' bathrm...

many newer places in south china have these exercise features...


the game area...



while we're gone this summer, we've ordered this room to be painted lt.blue & brown...
these girls were specially chosen (& 3 boys unseen) to be "rock stars" during "dancin' in the streets". for obvious reasons!


elliot's special prop part at a line in the song- "there's cake on the window & gum on the wall"


our gym before a concert...

a day of modeling winter coats in 80 degree weather!

elliot's teacher is from indiana, w/ 3 boys of her own. this is also a great class.




now that's just plain adorable. his teacher/i bribed him before pics to get a nice smile w/o clowning around!

8's on recorders-what a learning experience!


"rattlin bog"

my good, best friend here at our school-carla, & her art teacher/musician hubby who teaches luke drums. she could be the music teacher too!


celebrating their mexico unit in cultural studies-yummm!!!

luke's amazingly great class of 9 girls & 3 boys!
and his teacher is from denver-b/c a friend of mine thro' the year:)


elliot's class during science


this guy saw us, ran in to pull out whatever he could sell...we bought $3 worth of junk just to improve his situation:( these villagers work so hard w/ so little comfort or pleasure.
was truly an experience to be here.


climbing up this stone path, who'd think we'd have to shoo off cows?


another worker dwelling...


i snuck a pic of this worker dwelling.


some marked scenic spot-truly great place to spend a day-caves, paths to climb,
village to puruse...

the cave that MOM found...(see the bike in there?)

& the glory of the lord was revealed...:) (camera trick)

the cave that elliot found:)


speaking of snails, the pink bowl had several for dinner!

can you find us in these pics?
elliot wishes this was our daily lifestyle

to luke-pets or friends. to the locals: food!

Tracy & girlfriend Emma (her 1st day on the job). they went to college together & are now working at this super yummy Hostel International cafe (great pesto, homemade yogurt...)
to mingle w/ foreigners. we ate here like 4 times! so many young people dream of being "international", so they feel lucky. ian gave him a track booklet & dual-language new testament. he says he's very curious.

this is the 12th (we believe) life-long chinese connection we've made in 9 months.
they look at us like we have it all: successful careers (if they only knew the real story!), happy family (again...), international travelers (& again!...). we try to tell as often as we can the real reason for satisfaction & contentment: just passing through here on our way to our eternal home, telling others as we go...

our yangshuo friend, Tracy. (& luke w/ his newly self-purchased hat!)

finding snails while i shop...



not sure what he's doing or what the water is for...

a great breakfast at Kelly's Cafe. Typical western food feeding 3 adult + 1 child bodies for about $10US. we loved this town for food-1/2 as much as shekou!

entering the center of town from our hostel-west street.

2 brms-3 single+1dbl. for (get this) $15US/night!
only in inner china-where we live is much higher.


boy, are we thankful for a real toilet here! this is as good as it gets at most hostels...

at Pizza Kitchen for mediocre pizza, w/ my lovely head topper!

elliot on the right...we're pros on bikes after 9 months!

they also have 4* hotels:)

we entered this cave on 1 of these rafts, ducking our heads for much of the way-
never in america!


elliot loved these green-tea, taro-filled things. very chewy & sweet.
he had 3 & wanted more! only 1Yuan (like 10 cents)



friends?
the catch is made...

the chase begins...

huh?

"moon hill"




old next to new, & see that satellite dish?!


how they build the rafts we rented

just to show the difference b/n the rich & poor dwellings.
love to know what this one does for a living!

old ladies were constantly selling these flower crowns.





all images from our bikes...