Front Page News

Yibin Newstand

Today in Yibin, we returned to the huge food market outside the gate of the orphanage. All kinds of meat-dead and alive :) - as well as fruits, vegetables, assorted spices, and Yibin fire water. Lots of spicy Sichuan peppers.

We watched as two women rubbed the local fire water on a screaming baby trying to break the baby's fever. The orphanage director was pulling into the gate as we we walked through and seemed happy that we returned to explore more of Yibin. As we were meandering through the market taking it all in, we were approached by a local with a copy of the Yibin Evening News. The reporter that followed us yesterday posted our picture on the front page and again inside with an article about our visit to China. Our guide translated some of it - very positive words about how we were bringing our girls back to their hometown and how well our Chinese pronunciation of Ni Hao was. They were being very kind!

So, we were famous for the day, smiles everywhere we went from those that recognized us in the paper, and special discounts in the stores we visited. We strolled along the street and went in and out of shops. Kiara and Emily were thrilled there were so many stores with fancy shoes. Some day they will be wearing those like all the other Chinese women we see. The girls found a Claires-like store with lots of cool hair things and store clerks that were very cute and happy to see the famous Westerners. They had a very hard time choosing what pretty hair things to buy. Poor Terry, our guide, was being very patient as we went in and out of all the stores. We stopped at a grocery store to get drinks and snacks. Barbara and Emily picked out some candy. When they got to the cashier, she said they did not get enough to register on the scale so back they went for more. In an alley, we discovered pool tables and the girls played a game as the curious, friendly locals stopped and watched and chickens wandered around. Earlier in the day, we visited a bi-lingual kindergarten that was fun to visit. The children sang and played with their teachers while we watched and clapped. Oliver, one of the teachers, was there for a few months and then was headed back to the UK to study for his masters in international business. The school was brightly decorated and the children were so well behaved. Even the little one with a t-shirt that said "Scream if you want to go faster"...and scream he did every once in a while. Kiara and Em were very happy that the teachers let them play in the playground before we left-lots of fun on the trampoline!

We went back to the hotel mid-afternoon and then out to a hot pot dinner at a restaurant that Oliver recommended - everyone enjoyed that experience. We declined to order the real Chinese foods - pigs throat, fish heads, pig brain - and stuck to beef, meatballs, mushrooms. Lotus root was the closest we got to food that locals would eat. Debbie was very happy to eat white rice for dinner as she has had just about her fill of Chinese food - though it was still fun to watch! Went in search of a bank to exchange some money for Barbara. Finally found one that could but the teller refused to exchange it because she would need to charge a service charge because it was under $500 and that would not be "good thinking." Very thoughtful but..... All in all, Yibin has been a very positive experience. The girls (and the adults) have enjoyed their time here, but it is time to leave tomorrow morning for the 4.5 hour drive back to Chengdu for another overnight stay before we head to Shanghai and then home.

Pedicabs in Yibin

Baby In A Basket

Overlooking The City Of Yibin

Yibin Bridge Over Yangtze River