You really have a sense of where the food comes from that ends up on your plate here.
Aside from the markets (that I'm yet to take Alex through) there are the aquariums in the restaurants and supermarkets that Alex still thinks are for entertainment (well, perhaps they are too) so I am not in a hurry to disabuse her of her thinking.
This evening, on a usually uneventful trip to get dinner just down the street, a lady had just slit the throat of a chicken and was bleeding it into a small bucket in the gutter out the front of a shop we passed. Alex craned her neck trying to see what was happening, "Momma, what's that chicken doing?" "I'm not sure Alex - look, there's the restaurant. What do you want to choose tonight?"
Then, we had to walk back * gulp* and I wasn't sure the best appoach. What state would we find the chicken in...
As we walked past, there was now a large bucket in the gutter and the chicken was being plucked (actually it had been half plucked already) into it so all you saw was the yellow skin and the feathered legs and back. Alex again checked it out (as I tried to steer her past as fast as possible) and asked "What are they doing?" I'm not sure whether she realised it was the chicken and what was happening but after everything else I was in no mood to discuss life and death with a 3 and a half year old. The rest of our trip was pretty uneventful.
**Now those of you who knew me as a child will remember that it was my job to feed our chickens in Armidale, and that I had one or two favourites whom eventually were taken by the fox. But you might also remember when we had roosters...and killed them for the table...and my recollection is that I refused to eat it having fed them and then seen the headless birds running around earlier.**
Monday 29 September 2008
Empowerment
Although the Monday of "Golden Week" public holiday, Brett had to work interviewing 50 prospective WISE students - which was a full day of work (leaving before 7.30am and not getting home until after we were all in bed). So I had both kids plus two cleaners coming in the afternoon.
After a reasonable day, it was time to venture to our usual hole-in-the-wall "restaurant" to get dinner. First the security guards at the entrance to the complex wanted to say hello to Alex and Sebastien, as they always do, though tonight if I'd had long skirts on Alex would have had her face well and truly hidden. As it was, she scooted around behind me faster than anything I've seen and as I turned around to make sure she wouldn't get hit by a car, I tripped over her and almost fell to the ground - I was able to stay somewhat upright (lucky for Sebastien) but Alex was prostrate. We continued on our merry way around the block to get dinner.
Tonight we had every man and his dog wanted to talk to us, say Alex's name (I'm wondering how they knew that - Brett??) and that we were Australian. Alex's discomfit was exceedingly obvious so I thought that it was time to let her know a key phrase - "Bu yao" or "I don't want" - which, as soon as I said it smilingly to the people, they nodded and withdrew a little repeating it. We'd been understood. We chose dinner and Alex was happy to get the hell away - though she was full of questions about what they were saying, doing etc. So I emphasised to her that if she was uncomfortable with people approaching her, she should say "Bu yao" and shake her head. She was keen to try it out with the guards on the way back into the complex - and did so. They didn't hear her well, but once I repeated it with a smile, they nodded and smilingly waved her on - "bu yao, bu yao".
Progress...
After a reasonable day, it was time to venture to our usual hole-in-the-wall "restaurant" to get dinner. First the security guards at the entrance to the complex wanted to say hello to Alex and Sebastien, as they always do, though tonight if I'd had long skirts on Alex would have had her face well and truly hidden. As it was, she scooted around behind me faster than anything I've seen and as I turned around to make sure she wouldn't get hit by a car, I tripped over her and almost fell to the ground - I was able to stay somewhat upright (lucky for Sebastien) but Alex was prostrate. We continued on our merry way around the block to get dinner.
Tonight we had every man and his dog wanted to talk to us, say Alex's name (I'm wondering how they knew that - Brett??) and that we were Australian. Alex's discomfit was exceedingly obvious so I thought that it was time to let her know a key phrase - "Bu yao" or "I don't want" - which, as soon as I said it smilingly to the people, they nodded and withdrew a little repeating it. We'd been understood. We chose dinner and Alex was happy to get the hell away - though she was full of questions about what they were saying, doing etc. So I emphasised to her that if she was uncomfortable with people approaching her, she should say "Bu yao" and shake her head. She was keen to try it out with the guards on the way back into the complex - and did so. They didn't hear her well, but once I repeated it with a smile, they nodded and smilingly waved her on - "bu yao, bu yao".
Progress...
Sunday 28 September 2008
Xiada Kindergarten - Life in Small First Class
Alex has started "performing" some of the songs and dances that she's learnt at school at home - and I hope to get some video soon - but, well we haven't yet seen the class in action - something we plan to do in the coming weeks.
In honour of Alex having class on Saturday and Sunday this week (due to "Golden Week" public holidays- can you imagine the uproar in the US or Australia "Sure, have a public holiday, but go to work/school on Saturday and Sunday to make up the time.") I thought I'd post some photos from the class website.
Playing outside in one of the play areas.
Watching the older kids perform for your class.
Music time.
Drawing.
Finger play.
Typical lunch
And the all important snack time (now I know she was telling me the truth when she told me she had cake - someone's birthday cake - for snack one day...)!
In honour of Alex having class on Saturday and Sunday this week (due to "Golden Week" public holidays- can you imagine the uproar in the US or Australia "Sure, have a public holiday, but go to work/school on Saturday and Sunday to make up the time.") I thought I'd post some photos from the class website.
Playing outside in one of the play areas.
Watching the older kids perform for your class.
Music time.
Drawing.
Finger play.
Typical lunch
And the all important snack time (now I know she was telling me the truth when she told me she had cake - someone's birthday cake - for snack one day...)!
Saturday 27 September 2008
Finessing Squat Toilets
Can it be done? (I came across this blog post as I researched online - and thought it both hilarious and perilously close to the truth. Plus the photo is accurate of the majority of squats I've come across thus far.)
I can't claim to be an expert because, quite frankly, I endeavour to do my business at home where we have a "western toilet". The few times I have ventured into a squat have been because Alex needed to go - though every time she has changed her mind upon seeing the available toilet selection. It started off ok, though - Hong Kong Airport was the first encounter with a squat potty. Very clean, Alex had no qualms. Our next exposure was at the hospital where Brett and I had to have our Entry Healthcheck - quite disgustingly dirty, the more so because it was a hospital (no matter which hospital we've been to - and so far it's four - we've always been told by someone with us not to put our bags etc on the ground or allow Sebastien to crawl around as it's dirty). The next time was at a restaurant that had only the one toilet, occupied for some time by one male employee. Alex baulked when she saw him finally coming out and stated that those toilets are for boys...
Apparently some progress has been made though as Alex has told us that she's been to the potty (trench) at school once or twice - all other days of the past month have involved "holding it" until she got home.
I still haven't gotten used to carrying tissues around with me as no toilet paper is provided. But if I do find myself needing to use a squat - I've read my instructions!
Oh, and if you do come across a western toilet, likely as not it's been squatted on as many people don't know how westerners use it.
I can't claim to be an expert because, quite frankly, I endeavour to do my business at home where we have a "western toilet". The few times I have ventured into a squat have been because Alex needed to go - though every time she has changed her mind upon seeing the available toilet selection. It started off ok, though - Hong Kong Airport was the first encounter with a squat potty. Very clean, Alex had no qualms. Our next exposure was at the hospital where Brett and I had to have our Entry Healthcheck - quite disgustingly dirty, the more so because it was a hospital (no matter which hospital we've been to - and so far it's four - we've always been told by someone with us not to put our bags etc on the ground or allow Sebastien to crawl around as it's dirty). The next time was at a restaurant that had only the one toilet, occupied for some time by one male employee. Alex baulked when she saw him finally coming out and stated that those toilets are for boys...
Apparently some progress has been made though as Alex has told us that she's been to the potty (trench) at school once or twice - all other days of the past month have involved "holding it" until she got home.
I still haven't gotten used to carrying tissues around with me as no toilet paper is provided. But if I do find myself needing to use a squat - I've read my instructions!
Oh, and if you do come across a western toilet, likely as not it's been squatted on as many people don't know how westerners use it.
Friday 26 September 2008
Sebastien at TWELVE months
Sebastien will be having his 12 month check up when we visit Australia so I don't have any vital statistics for him. But the unofficial (stand on the scales with and without him) count is that he weighs 21 pounds.
Here is his sister at 12 months with her Council of Friends:
Here he is with his Council of Friends:
Here they are both together:
At twelve months he has twice taken a few steps on his own, but is really uninterested in walking and we haven't seen a repeat. He prefers to crawl or cruise and has developed a crawl with straight legs so his knees don't get scraped on the ground or spikey grass in China. He can stand up without holding onto anything and stand there for a minute holding things he is inspecting.
He babbles a lot and can say "Mama" and "Dada" but that's about it. Is resistant to learning "more" in sign language but does appear to sign "milk" when he wants more (this is in the high chair for banana or whatever is for food). He has eight teeth, four top and four bottom and is currently drooling a puddle so we expect more teeth soon.
A big fan of his older sister, he loves playing with her toys though "Piggie" is a favourite.
Routine is his middle name (his first is Maintenance) as he goes to bed at night at 7pm and wakes at 5am (within 5 minutes) ready to face the day. He has a morning nap of about 1.5 hours at 8.30-9am and usually an afternoon nap of an hour at 1-1.30pm. An oral child, just about everything eventually finds its way into his mouth. He loves books
and prefers his sister's paper books to his board books the majority of the time with one exception: "Baby Faces" which I see runs in the family as I've dug out this photo of his sister:
He still has next to no hair, though the little he does have is slightly longer at the back these days and developing a little curl; it's still reddish-blond. His eyes have darkened slightly but are still very much blue so it seems we'll have a blue-eyed boy for sure.
A huge "Mamma's boy", he will usually only tolerate being held by someone other than Daddy if Mummy is out of sight. Even then, he has circled the apartment crawling looking for Mummy, crying for her when she hasn't been there. So his attachment hasn't been to "Koala" or "cloth" but to "Mamma" - let's hope we don't lose her.
Here is his sister at 12 months with her Council of Friends:
Here he is with his Council of Friends:
Here they are both together:
At twelve months he has twice taken a few steps on his own, but is really uninterested in walking and we haven't seen a repeat. He prefers to crawl or cruise and has developed a crawl with straight legs so his knees don't get scraped on the ground or spikey grass in China. He can stand up without holding onto anything and stand there for a minute holding things he is inspecting.
He babbles a lot and can say "Mama" and "Dada" but that's about it. Is resistant to learning "more" in sign language but does appear to sign "milk" when he wants more (this is in the high chair for banana or whatever is for food). He has eight teeth, four top and four bottom and is currently drooling a puddle so we expect more teeth soon.
A big fan of his older sister, he loves playing with her toys though "Piggie" is a favourite.
Routine is his middle name (his first is Maintenance) as he goes to bed at night at 7pm and wakes at 5am (within 5 minutes) ready to face the day. He has a morning nap of about 1.5 hours at 8.30-9am and usually an afternoon nap of an hour at 1-1.30pm. An oral child, just about everything eventually finds its way into his mouth. He loves books
and prefers his sister's paper books to his board books the majority of the time with one exception: "Baby Faces" which I see runs in the family as I've dug out this photo of his sister:
He still has next to no hair, though the little he does have is slightly longer at the back these days and developing a little curl; it's still reddish-blond. His eyes have darkened slightly but are still very much blue so it seems we'll have a blue-eyed boy for sure.
A huge "Mamma's boy", he will usually only tolerate being held by someone other than Daddy if Mummy is out of sight. Even then, he has circled the apartment crawling looking for Mummy, crying for her when she hasn't been there. So his attachment hasn't been to "Koala" or "cloth" but to "Mamma" - let's hope we don't lose her.
Tuesday 23 September 2008
Snippets from China
We're going to break that May 39 post record for sure this month! That's what comes of moving I guess.
So, some snippets from China (at least the very small part I've seen). The bits and pieces that don't quite fit into any other blog post will appear here.
So when we first got to China, we dutifully went out and purchased our drinking water (we were staying in a hotel that first week until we found a more permanent place to stay) and this is what the bottles had around their necks:
Just so you could confirm for yourself that the pH of the water was appropriate - not so funny now we've been through this milk scandal.
We don't have a car in China - simply isn't worth the effort to get a licence and, well, to be honest we'd probably not survive the traffic! So we walk, take taxis or the bus. It took us a while to find out that the signs at the bus stops:
were not telling us the times that the buses would get there, but the stops that the bus made - and we still don't know what the bus frequency is, only that they are frequent enough for us not to care (and taxis are cheap enough to be a reasonable option if we're in a hurry).
Now that we've opened a Chinese bank account this probably won't happen again, but the first payday arrived so fast that they paid Brett in cash - the secretary from the office had it there, it was a Friday, and Brett wasn't intending on heading back into the office but relented - here is what 80% of a month's pay looks like in cash:
Although there will be a post on apartment hunting, I wanted to talk about the kitchens - they all seem to be closed off from the rest of the apartment with glass doors, they are all pretty small and don't have ovens
(though this one has a toaster-oven on top of the microwave) plus the benches only come up to underneath my hips.
And airconditioning, when available, is provided by tower units in the main room and smaller wall units near the ceiling in the bedrooms - nothing is built in - the outlet hose goes through a (often not neat) hole in the wall.
So, some snippets from China (at least the very small part I've seen). The bits and pieces that don't quite fit into any other blog post will appear here.
So when we first got to China, we dutifully went out and purchased our drinking water (we were staying in a hotel that first week until we found a more permanent place to stay) and this is what the bottles had around their necks:
Just so you could confirm for yourself that the pH of the water was appropriate - not so funny now we've been through this milk scandal.
We don't have a car in China - simply isn't worth the effort to get a licence and, well, to be honest we'd probably not survive the traffic! So we walk, take taxis or the bus. It took us a while to find out that the signs at the bus stops:
were not telling us the times that the buses would get there, but the stops that the bus made - and we still don't know what the bus frequency is, only that they are frequent enough for us not to care (and taxis are cheap enough to be a reasonable option if we're in a hurry).
Now that we've opened a Chinese bank account this probably won't happen again, but the first payday arrived so fast that they paid Brett in cash - the secretary from the office had it there, it was a Friday, and Brett wasn't intending on heading back into the office but relented - here is what 80% of a month's pay looks like in cash:
Although there will be a post on apartment hunting, I wanted to talk about the kitchens - they all seem to be closed off from the rest of the apartment with glass doors, they are all pretty small and don't have ovens
(though this one has a toaster-oven on top of the microwave) plus the benches only come up to underneath my hips.
And airconditioning, when available, is provided by tower units in the main room and smaller wall units near the ceiling in the bedrooms - nothing is built in - the outlet hose goes through a (often not neat) hole in the wall.
Sunday 21 September 2008
More restrospective - I'm leaving on a jet plane
***WARNING - this post is long so whilst it looked beautiful in the preview, Blogger has a tendancy to screw with the format once I publish and everything goes pear-shaped. If that happens I'm too tired to go back and try to re-jig it so I warn you in advance. Oh, and sorry for any spelling/grammar errors - tiredness***
So back to the departure from the States. After packing up the apartment, we packed what we were taking to China into the car (and on the ro
of) - here's a photo in the carpark at O'Hare -
and headed to Chicago in the early hours of Sunday 10th August. We were all very tired having spent a non-too-restful night in the hotel. At least the kids slept part of the three hour drive to O'Hare. Thanks to a friend, Paul, we would be able to drive the car to the airport, leaving it there for him to collect and drive back to C-U.
We were heading to LA - staying with Josh's mum - and seeing Disneyland before heading off to China. Had to get in one photo of the seating arrangements with a toddler and "lap" infant.
We took both carseats because we were hiring a car in LA to get around and back to the airport and I must say that, having not travelled with carseats on planes before, I found it to be a good idea and would do it again. Here is the car we eventually ended up with - after Brett had upgraded, we ended up with an SUV - a fitting end to our stay in the States!
Josh's mum was lovely (every now and then she'd say something that would stop me in my tracks as though Josh was right there) and made us a lovely home-cooked dinner. We were able to get up in the morning early and leave to ensure we'd be at the park for it's opening. Here the kids are waiting for Daddy to buy the tickets.
We had decided ahead of time to tackle the park at Alex's pace - after all, it was principally for her that we were there (though I was excited to see what Disneyland was all about). Of course the part of the park where we spent most of our time was the Princess area - and quite possibly we may have spent all day there had that been a choice open to "us";)
We planned to walk all the way to the back and then move forward so that we'd end the day near the entrance to the park. On the way through the first section, we saw some rides. It was here that I realised that it was unlikely that Alex would be on any rides today - after lining up with Daddy for the little train, she refused to board and they climbed over the fence to get out of line.
This is the closest we got to the spinning teacup ride for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party - the one I'd seen on the Sunday night Disney movie promo growing up as a child - sigh.
And this is the closest we got to the Dumbo ride (near the first little train ride) which is in the background.
Then we came across the princess area on the way through to Toontown. Alex was in heaven. If only I'd realised that she could have worn a dress-up, then I would have had a strong impulse to bring hers. As it was they had a little princess shop there where children could buy costumes etc, have their hair and face paint done. So we opted for the cheapie facepaint option of around $15 and Alex was happy - though she did point out these lovely princess "gowns" for around $85...gulp!
Alex got to choose the style of facepaint she wanted ("sparkles" was the request) and she got to sit in her own beauty chair.
The masterpiece takes shape.
Final result.
Then we spent some time around the "castle" stage area
as there were some performances we could watch. Alex had a great time - though she wouldn't join the princesses when they asked people to come and join them to dance - and even now dancing (including bowing and curtseying) is her preferred playtime with Daddy.
We were also treated to a story told by Aurora.
We got to sit on little carpet circles - here are some of the children who dressed up.
We headed onto Toontown - but not before Daddy had a chance to "dance" a maypole dance! (you can just see his head above the lady in the brown shirt - click on the photo to enlarge it)
- and came across Minnie Mouse in our walk.
By now it was late morning so we thought that we'd get an early lunch to beat the crowd - though Alex and Sebastien didn't argue.
Onto Goofey, Minnie and Mickey's houses. Alex and Daddy went into Mickey's house and lined up to see him - Mummy was looking after a sleeping Sebastien in the shade outside.
Alex playing the "piano" in Goofey's house.
It would have been nice to take Alex on some of the rides - however she was too scared to go on any and we couldn't talk her into going on any with either of us with her. Family photo time in Toontown - just to prove we were all there!
Eventually we headed onto Critter Country which was where Winnie the Pooh and his friends hung out. Brett took Sebastien in the stroller over whilst I managed to get Alex onto the train that did the circuit of Disneyland. Of course, I wasn't expecting for it to go through a tunnel atone stage and have some Dinosaur panoramas that included thunderstorms (Alex is not a fan of thunderstorms - to put it mildly). But we made it in one piece - and if you ask her about it now she will matter of factly say that it was a little scary.
Here she is waiting patiently for the train.
On one of our walks, we came across this wagon foodvan selling...
fries, fries and more fries (oh, and drinks if you're thirsty).
So having found Pooh's friends - so we had to get more photos:
And then I conned (there is no other word for it) Alex into checking out Pooh's house (knowing full well it was a ride...). Boy did I feel bad when I realised that it was in the dark, and it was representative of Pooh's psychedelic nightmare after having stuffed himself full of honey and dreaming of Heffalumps...Alex nearly peed her pants and my hand still hasn't recovered. Thankfully it ends with all the friends celebrating Pooh's birthday - phew! Here are some shots taken in the dark of the nightmare ride (you better check whether Alex has forgiven me).
We had decided to try for the early parade (one at 3pm the other at 6 pm) to allow us time to head to the airport, return the car and make our flight - unfortunately there would not be time for us to see the nightly fireworks over the castle.
So having seen Pooh and his friends, it was time to try to make it to the grand parade. Of course, we arrived in time and staked out a good spot - in some shade - and this happens:
I saw the parade and got some shots, but because the "main lady" missed it we stayed for the second parade - which everyone was awake for.
The parade started with the good fairies who visited Sleeping Beauty at her birth
then came Peter Pan and Tinkerbell riding a train (Alex didn't know who they were).
They were followed by Aurora (Beauty) and the Beast (Alex was a little taken aback by the beast but bounced back quickly as she loves the story).
Then came Ariel and Sebastien ("the crab")
followed by Ursula the Seawitch (someone who's glossed over a little in the Little Mermaid story Alex remembers so she was extremely scared by Ursula's float - especially as she moves and "talks")
Finally was Simba and the dancers were spectacular - with acrobats on assorted springy pogos and stilts. Quite visually impressive.
But the finale to the parade was...
wait for it...
Mickey and Minnie and their friends - and the princesses! Alex was in heaven because the float stopped just in front of us and the princesses are very good at interacting with the crowd from their places on the float - Alex was convinced that they were waving and blowing kisses just for her!
To prove that they were awake this time!
Phew - what a finale! We made our way back to the car by getting taken on the people mover which each must take around 150-200 people at a time, and they were constantly shuttling back and forth.
Now the fun didn't stop because we left Disneyland - oh no...stay with me for the next post which continues our departure from LAX.
So back to the departure from the States. After packing up the apartment, we packed what we were taking to China into the car (and on the ro
of) - here's a photo in the carpark at O'Hare -and headed to Chicago in the early hours of Sunday 10th August. We were all very tired having spent a non-too-restful night in the hotel. At least the kids slept part of the three hour drive to O'Hare. Thanks to a friend, Paul, we would be able to drive the car to the airport, leaving it there for him to collect and drive back to C-U.
We were heading to LA - staying with Josh's mum - and seeing Disneyland before heading off to China. Had to get in one photo of the seating arrangements with a toddler and "lap" infant.
We took both carseats because we were hiring a car in LA to get around and back to the airport and I must say that, having not travelled with carseats on planes before, I found it to be a good idea and would do it again. Here is the car we eventually ended up with - after Brett had upgraded, we ended up with an SUV - a fitting end to our stay in the States!
Josh's mum was lovely (every now and then she'd say something that would stop me in my tracks as though Josh was right there) and made us a lovely home-cooked dinner. We were able to get up in the morning early and leave to ensure we'd be at the park for it's opening. Here the kids are waiting for Daddy to buy the tickets.
We had decided ahead of time to tackle the park at Alex's pace - after all, it was principally for her that we were there (though I was excited to see what Disneyland was all about). Of course the part of the park where we spent most of our time was the Princess area - and quite possibly we may have spent all day there had that been a choice open to "us";)
We planned to walk all the way to the back and then move forward so that we'd end the day near the entrance to the park. On the way through the first section, we saw some rides. It was here that I realised that it was unlikely that Alex would be on any rides today - after lining up with Daddy for the little train, she refused to board and they climbed over the fence to get out of line.
This is the closest we got to the spinning teacup ride for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party - the one I'd seen on the Sunday night Disney movie promo growing up as a child - sigh.
And this is the closest we got to the Dumbo ride (near the first little train ride) which is in the background.
Then we came across the princess area on the way through to Toontown. Alex was in heaven. If only I'd realised that she could have worn a dress-up, then I would have had a strong impulse to bring hers. As it was they had a little princess shop there where children could buy costumes etc, have their hair and face paint done. So we opted for the cheapie facepaint option of around $15 and Alex was happy - though she did point out these lovely princess "gowns" for around $85...gulp!
Alex got to choose the style of facepaint she wanted ("sparkles" was the request) and she got to sit in her own beauty chair.
The masterpiece takes shape.
Final result.
Then we spent some time around the "castle" stage area
as there were some performances we could watch. Alex had a great time - though she wouldn't join the princesses when they asked people to come and join them to dance - and even now dancing (including bowing and curtseying) is her preferred playtime with Daddy.
We were also treated to a story told by Aurora.
We got to sit on little carpet circles - here are some of the children who dressed up.
We headed onto Toontown - but not before Daddy had a chance to "dance" a maypole dance! (you can just see his head above the lady in the brown shirt - click on the photo to enlarge it)
- and came across Minnie Mouse in our walk.
By now it was late morning so we thought that we'd get an early lunch to beat the crowd - though Alex and Sebastien didn't argue.
Onto Goofey, Minnie and Mickey's houses. Alex and Daddy went into Mickey's house and lined up to see him - Mummy was looking after a sleeping Sebastien in the shade outside.
Alex playing the "piano" in Goofey's house.
It would have been nice to take Alex on some of the rides - however she was too scared to go on any and we couldn't talk her into going on any with either of us with her. Family photo time in Toontown - just to prove we were all there!
Eventually we headed onto Critter Country which was where Winnie the Pooh and his friends hung out. Brett took Sebastien in the stroller over whilst I managed to get Alex onto the train that did the circuit of Disneyland. Of course, I wasn't expecting for it to go through a tunnel atone stage and have some Dinosaur panoramas that included thunderstorms (Alex is not a fan of thunderstorms - to put it mildly). But we made it in one piece - and if you ask her about it now she will matter of factly say that it was a little scary.
Here she is waiting patiently for the train.
On one of our walks, we came across this wagon foodvan selling...
fries, fries and more fries (oh, and drinks if you're thirsty).
So having found Pooh's friends - so we had to get more photos:
And then I conned (there is no other word for it) Alex into checking out Pooh's house (knowing full well it was a ride...). Boy did I feel bad when I realised that it was in the dark, and it was representative of Pooh's psychedelic nightmare after having stuffed himself full of honey and dreaming of Heffalumps...Alex nearly peed her pants and my hand still hasn't recovered. Thankfully it ends with all the friends celebrating Pooh's birthday - phew! Here are some shots taken in the dark of the nightmare ride (you better check whether Alex has forgiven me).
We had decided to try for the early parade (one at 3pm the other at 6 pm) to allow us time to head to the airport, return the car and make our flight - unfortunately there would not be time for us to see the nightly fireworks over the castle.
So having seen Pooh and his friends, it was time to try to make it to the grand parade. Of course, we arrived in time and staked out a good spot - in some shade - and this happens:
I saw the parade and got some shots, but because the "main lady" missed it we stayed for the second parade - which everyone was awake for.
The parade started with the good fairies who visited Sleeping Beauty at her birth
then came Peter Pan and Tinkerbell riding a train (Alex didn't know who they were).
They were followed by Aurora (Beauty) and the Beast (Alex was a little taken aback by the beast but bounced back quickly as she loves the story).
Then came Ariel and Sebastien ("the crab")
followed by Ursula the Seawitch (someone who's glossed over a little in the Little Mermaid story Alex remembers so she was extremely scared by Ursula's float - especially as she moves and "talks")
Finally was Simba and the dancers were spectacular - with acrobats on assorted springy pogos and stilts. Quite visually impressive.
But the finale to the parade was...
wait for it...
Mickey and Minnie and their friends - and the princesses! Alex was in heaven because the float stopped just in front of us and the princesses are very good at interacting with the crowd from their places on the float - Alex was convinced that they were waving and blowing kisses just for her!
To prove that they were awake this time!
Phew - what a finale! We made our way back to the car by getting taken on the people mover which each must take around 150-200 people at a time, and they were constantly shuttling back and forth.
Now the fun didn't stop because we left Disneyland - oh no...stay with me for the next post which continues our departure from LAX.
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Xiamen University, China
Our home away from Australia