So this is what it’s come to – noodles in a cup for tonight’s dinner, after a long afternoon of packing.  Lots and lots of strategic packing – what could we possibly need between 6:15 tonight and 11 a.m. tomorrow morning, when we head to the airport for our flight to Beijing?   I don’t have enough space here to list it all but let’s just say we’re just thankful we brought two empty duffle bags with us.  Our two wheeled suitcases were full before we reached China and with what we’ve bought since we got here, we’ve already filled one of the extra bags.  Of course we didn’t expect to have to buy diapers and formula and baby cereal.  I know, I know, we thought we were prepared for everything but to be frightfully honest, some of the things we anticipated that have come true, were, shall we say, poo-poohed by those for whose advice we paid for and relied on.  Nevertheless, we’re laden down with stuff in case of any and all scenarios.

The flight to Beijing is roughly 3 hours from here so how bad can it be?

We spent the morning walking to the Carrefour department store (where quality is guaranteed!) for supplies and it was relatively uneventful, except I was chastised by the old Chinese grannies for leaving my backpack in the shopping cart (though not unattended).  Never question the wisdom of old Chinese grannies – they know all there is to know, and I appreciated the advice and hung my head low in a suitable demonstration of my appreciation and humility.  It was a strange walk, though.  Roughly three kilometres from our hotel, we saw no other westerners (which is what we’re called by our Chinese guides), on the way or on our return, much like our experience in the Liuhua Park the other day.  For such a business centre, and for the fact that the twice annual International Export Trade Fair is taking place as we speak, it’s a bit of a surprise that we don’t see more foreigners.  Let’s just say we were noticed, the man, the boy, the woman with the stroller and all the backward glances to see who was sitting in the stroller.  Why, a Chinese orphan of course!  It feels too much like shopping some times.

On to Beijing tomorrow and we’re really looking forward to it.  It’s described as a cultural centre, where Guangzhou is all about commerce.  Where our hotel lobby in Hong Kong was a mix of tourists, business people and the hippest hipsters, our hotel lobby here is full of white business men.  Really – the only women you see are hotel staff and the newly adoptive mothers.  It’s been a strange experience.  We come as a three-person family, and we leave as a four. Surreal.

Zài jiàn Guangzhou!