Preparing for the big jump

Thursday, November 2, was mostly a day for resting, reading, packing and overall preparing for the big jump tomorrow to Edmonton.  Rick, Bo and Marj went to the Taijiang Ecological Cultural Zone by taxi.  They went on the boat ride through the mangrove "green tunnel".  They then mentioned to the taxi driver that they would like to visit a sandy beach.  The driver took them to one, but he told them that it would be difficult-to-impossible to find a taxi there to get back to the hotel.  He offered to come back for them an hour or so later if they wished.

We had supper together - most had pepper rice topped with corn and green onions and ringed with pork or beef or chicken, served in blistering hot cast-iron dishes which finished the cooking of the meat.  Marj had steamed dumplings.

There was a message for Christine and Rick when they returned to their room.  Maylee's birth parents were coming at 9:00 PM to pay a visit and bringing food.  The visit lasted about three hours, and in the absence of Holly and Debra, language barriers were overcome by a translation app on Christine's phone.  The phone was passed to each person as she/he took a turn speaking and the group listened to what hopefully was an accurate rendition of what was said.  Christine and Rick said that it was an enjoyable time.