Warning: lots of pictures!!

OK, so our internet is actually being really fast today so I have uploaded a ton of pictures! I'm trying to play catch up on the last couple weeks. But don't get burned out on all the pictures because you'll love the video of Marian doing "push-ups" at the end!

To get started, here is the Great Wall of China!! It's kind of crazy to me that we've really been there. And yes, it's all that it's cracked up to be. Things don't just get named one of the 7 wonders of the world for nothing. Seriously, it's amazing how they built it--not only is it incredibly long but is built along the mountain ridges.


I don't know if you can tell, but it got really steep in some places. Marian did a good job climbing and we got her an outfit that says "I climbed on the great wall of China." Kind of cheesy, but how many one year olds can boast that?


A couple more random China pictures. This one if from the place we ate lunch at on our way to the Wall. It was all about deer and the health benefits of eating all parts of deer. Maybe it's too small, but if you can, try reading this sign. Adam and I had to laugh because of the horrible translation! My favorite is this sentence (repeated twice for...emphasis?): "Currently, people's minds were there a wrong concept that is not the hospital, no medicine do not need hospital treatment, it means good health!"


And we had to laugh at this as well. No car bombs? C'mon China, where's your sense of adventure?

This is at the Summer Palace which we went to our last day. I really like the cool temple behind us but really really like Marian picking her nose.


Well, hooray for our great time in Beijing!! We've done some fun things in Hong Kong since being home. We went with some friends (yes, we actually do have some friends now) to the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Walking up the steep path to the temple which was lined with golden buddhas, we noticed we had a friend...


There were quite a few monkeys on the trail! One girl we were with posed by this monkey then turned and looked at it. The monkey got really aggressive. It hissed and jumped forward at her. We were all a little freaked out after! We learned you can't look them in the eye or they take it as a threat.

Anyway, here is inside the temple. Those little things are all buddhas and each one is different.


These were a bunch of buddhas outside the temple and here are some of our favorites:
Long Arm Buddha

Long Eyebrow Buddha

Buddha With Hands Instead of Eyes (gives new meaning to the saying "Look with your eyes, not your hands")


After the temple we went to Monkey Mountain where there are wild monkeys (our hike to the temple was just a warm-up).


There are a bunch of monkeys in the tree behind us.


I just thought this one was really cute, with his puppy-dog eyes.


And finally, here is the hotel I wrote about awhile ago with a hole in it for the dragon to come through. We went swimming at the beach just below it and got great pictures. I don't know why, it's just so fascinating to me!


And finally, Marian's push-ups. You're going to love this. She does this when she sees Adam doing push-ups and we think it is hilarious. I also love her "yeah" after she steps down from the briefcase she's standing on. (She's never shy to take a moment to applaud herself.) And this will give you an idea of our new, bigger apartment. The door is right by Marian. I'm sitting on the bed, which is at the other end of the apartment (room, closet, whatever you want to call it). Our kitchenette is on the left and our bathroom is behind the glass.



Well, that's all for now. Our Hong Kong adventure ends Thursday. It's crazy that we're already headed home. But we are excited to get back to our mansion apartment in Utah as well as our family and friends there. Thank you to all my blogging buddies who have helped me feel in touch with the world during the last 7 weeks!!