Today we drove to see the Pandas! On our way coming in we saw many Panda stuffed animals at the street vendors. When we walked in we had to wait a few minutes to get a tram. Then we went to go see the Pandas. There was construction around there because they are building a hotel, and they’re making the Panda park bigger.
The first Giant Panda I saw was eating lots of bamboo and was sitting at the bottom of the exhibit it was in. They live in big natural areas with wooden forts, piles of bamboo and some shading trees. He was fat, and eating like crazy. There were a bunch of people there, and we took lots of pictures. One man looked like he was old and western, and had a really nice camera and was taking lots of pictures too.
The second and third panda’s I saw in the same exhibit and were laying down. One was rubbing it’s belly, it must have eaten a lot.
We saw another one just a little while later. He was alone. Most of the Panda’s like to be alone, after they are a year and half old. We only got a couple of pictures of him before they called him in for a meal.
We then walked over to where the youngest Panda was. There are no babies there right now. The smallest one is only about 8 or 9 months old. You can take a picture with him, but they charge a LOT of money. There was only one other group taking pictures with him. They had three kids posing with the Panda. They only do pictures for a very short time each day. The guide said early in the morning was the best time, and he was right. They stopped taking pictures with the panda right after us.
I sat on a bench and they brought the Panda over. I had to wear a doctors robe and plastic gloves. They don’t want the Panda’s to get sick. The Panda was called Lingling and he was eating apples and different types of fruit. He was also eating some bamboo. The fur was really soft but he smelled. He smelled like a dog that just had gotten wet. He touched my face with his paw. When the guy carried him in, it looked like he was carrying a very heavy teddy bear. It was surprising how did I end up holding a Panda? Almost nobody else get’s to. I felt lucky.
We saw the red panda’s after that. They are not endangered, there are lots of them. They look like a mix of a fox, panda and raccoon. They are much smaller, smaller than Sunny.
Visiting the Panda’s was one of the best things I ever did. Wow!! I think I’m a Pandaphile now.
After the Panda’s we had hotpot lunch. You sit around a big pot of hot water, some spicy, some not. This kind is called YingYang hot pot. You take your food, and cook it in the hot water. I ate “mi fan”, white rice. Then we went to a typical tea house for rest. We were the only western people there.
Then we went to the silk brocade factory and I got to see how they made silk designs. We bought a couple. I got a really great panda one.
This was such a busy day. We went to the hotel and rested for about an hour, and then we went to dinner. I got chicken at Dico’s which is like a Chinese KFC. We took the chicken to our dinner. It was more Si-chuan food which is really hot. Dad likes it a lot. We ate it in a typical local restaurant, and had a lot of food before our Chinese opera show.
The Sichuan Opera is lots of different shows. There is singing, acrobats, Chinese yo-yo, balancing, and the famous ‘changing faces’ act where the actors change their face masks really fast. You can’t even tell how they do it, but one guy did mess up right at the end. One man played a Chinese violin, which only has 2 strings. They did a shadow puppet show, and some fire breathing. They also did some big puppet dancing. It was all so different and fun!
This was one of the busiest and funnest days ever!!!
Jensen,
You are so beautiful and so is the panda. I am really enjoying your site and all the exciting things you are doing. Do say Happy Birthday to Aunt Carolyn and Melissa from me. The weather here is Newfoundland is good and we are getting ready for a big party. I wish you and your Mom and Dad were coming as well but we can’t have it all. Say hello to all and do enjoy your wonderful trip.
Virginia in Newfoundland
hEY jENSEN
aRE YOU BRINGING HOME YOUR NEW FRIEND?
sUNNY SAYS BARK BARK AND RUFF RUFF
tELL MOM, THE JOB HAS STARTED 06-26-06
Hey Jensen, I love the picture. Can’t you bring one home with you?
di
Wow! Jensen, that is so awesome. Is the Panda trying to learn how to use chopsticks? I so miss you three and am happy we will be seeing you again soon. You are absolutely gorgeous as always. I will talk to you soon.
Aunt Carolyn
WOW!! You and the Panda so cute!!!
Jensen,
It looks like you are having a great time. I can’t wait to hear all about it. Please tell your mom and dad I said hi.
Love,
Mrs. Wattenbarger
so glad you had an awesome adventure in Chengdu!! Also, so happy to have met you and your mom and dad in Beijing. You are a brave girl and I wish you all the best! Sandee
Hello to everyone who has replied- Glad everyone is enjoying website and ahs received their postcards. We made it back from our Tibet trip and Chengdu trip-we flew back last night and our safe and sound in Beijing. Both trips were amazing! We are leaving Beijing on Friday, June 30th and taking a soft sleeper car via train Friday night from beijing to Shanghai. Will check into hotel in Shanghai Sat. morning and sightsee Sat. and Sunday their. Will fly abck to states on Sun. July 2nd. Love to all, The Pratts
Our computers are up and running. The lightning blew out something. Grandpa says he doesn’t know who is more beautful, you or the Panda. It must be you. What an adorable picture. It was good to talk to you today. Love, Grandma
STEVE, TRICIA AND JENSEN:
THIS IS THE LATEST MESSAGE I GOT FROM CAROLYN
YOU PROBABLYALREADY KNOW OFIT.
Subject: (no subject)
Date: 6/28/2006 2:00:17 A.M. Central Daylight Time
Hey everyone!
Please let Steve and Tricia know that we are finally in Virginia. I hope they made it in okay and everyone is fine. \
We were delayed in Chicago got in around midnight got the car made it to the hotel and were told the room was unavailable.
They put us in another hotel over in Alexandria with no suites and one room with a rollaway bed.
It is 2:54 am and I am very tired. We will try to call sometime tomorrow.
Love to all,
Carolyn
It was nice to see the pictures of Jensen and the Pandas and the family picture at the hop pot meal. I hope that Jensen got a good view of the Panda’s eye. Love, Anna and Jim
Well, well, I had a great week. I returned from a trip to San Diego this week to receive TWO postcards from your wonderful trip. I can’t believe how lucky you were, to interact with pandas the way you did! I’m jealous!
Guess what–I went to the San Diego Zoo and saw two pandas with a new baby. The baby was sleeping in the treetop. I thought of you, but unfortunately I couldn’t pet the pandas like you did.
Thanks again for thinking of me. I love getting mail!
Love, Mrs. Norton