Hi all,

It turns out gmail is blocked in China, so the Veneklasens have created a new blog that they can update for everyone to follow: trvene.blog.com

posted by Takara Tatum (assistant at Thomas Veneklasen Photography)

Sunday

Almost ready to go. posted by Tom

Countdown: 12 more days!

We leave for China in less than 2 weeks - YIKES!  I just booked our train tickets yesterday morning and wired money to our guide in Changsha (the city XiMei is from).  We're visiting 5 cities in two weeks: Beijing, Dengfeng, Zhangjiajie, Changsha, Hong Kong.  Here's a link to Google Maps so you can see where we'll be starting and ending (we'll be traveling mainly by train while in country): 

https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=Beijing,+China&daddr=Dengfeng,+Zhengzhou,+Henan,+China+to:Zhangjiajie,+Hunan,+China+to:Changsha,+Hunan, +China+to:Hong+Kong&hl=en&sll=30.836238,113.700405&sspn=37.65747,41.000977&geocode=FR7jYAId5jzwBim5LBTnllLwNTGKqQ-vIFZiuQ%3BFaO4DQIdfAO9Bikhpa546rXXNTFhjODK7-XBIg%3BFahKvAEdV8eVBimZVbaDIQabNjFWkMIgXYuQYQ%3BFXG6rgEdPk-7BinFZBye8zUnNDGApvGhnLvlsQ%3BFQy-VQEdOSzNBikPmDKj7eIDNDF8yerburOK8A&mra=ls&t=m&z=5

One of the places we'll be visiting is Wulingyuan Scenic Area, located in Zhangjiajie:  
Wulingyuan, China, which resides inside the Zhangjiaji National Forest, is truly one of the most remarkable and interesting places in the world. It's unique sandstone pillars, standing around 2,500 feet tall, and deep jungle forest were the inspiration behind the visually stunning film Avatar. One of the more famous pillars has even been renamed to "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" in honor of the film depiction. Wulingyuan is one of those places that truly is like nothing else on the planet. Lucky for us, we don't need computer animated graphics to witness it's sheer beauty. 

bendavisphotography.blogspot.com

We have a lot packed into this trip...here's what our itinerary currently looks like:

Nov 20-23 

Beijing: Xiao Yuan Alley Courtyard Hotel

Wangfujing Street/Donghuamen Night Market

Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace)

Beijing Shadow Puppet Drama Troupe

Hutong Rickshaw Tour (Drum and Bell Tower, Shichahai Night Market at Houhai Lake)

Beijing night tour

Mutianyu Great Wall (Toboggan)

Explore local villages near Great Wall

Summer Palace

Tiananman Square

Imperial Granary (Chinese Opera)

Nov 23-24 

Dengfeng: Kungfu Hostel

Shaolin Temple

Nov 25-27

Wulingyuan: Tu Niu Hostel
Wulingyuan Scenic Area/Baofeng Lake

Nov 27-30 

Changsha: Gold Source Hotel

Pozi street

Visit Countryside

Taiping Historical and Cultural Block

Tianxin Pavilion

Xiangjiang River at Night

Changsha #1 SWI

Martyr’s Park/Hunan Folk Culture Village
Tianxin Pavilion

Nov 30-Dec 3

Hong Kong: Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay

Stanley Market/Beach?

Night tour - Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade, Avenue of Stars, Symphony of Lights

Lan Tao Island - Ngong Ping Plateau (Tian Tan Buddha)

Tai O Fishing Village

Victoria Peak

Ocean Park

Stroll down memory lane...

After ten years and almost nine months, we are finally making our way back to XiMei's homeland.  Here's a little stroll down memory lane... 

 

After seeing this image, Rose couldn't resist falling in love with XiMei...

Shortly after arriving at the Dolton Hotel in Changsha, 
the orphanage staff brought XiMei to our room.

We got to hold our daughter for the very first time.

Trip to the countryside - hitching a ride with Dad

Up close and personal with a water buffalo

Hamming it up for Mom

Lots to learn

and what better way than reading Eric Carle's "Brown Bear, Brown Bear"...

Hmmm...that bib definitely coordinates with your denim GAP cap, Nolan...

Only the 2nd experience for XiMei in a swimming pool.

Brother-sister bonding time.  Nolan learned quickly that food 
was the best way to get XiMei to warm up to him.

More sibling bonding time (and Jackson hamming it up again).

XiMei's turn to do the hamming...

Learning to use modern technology.  
(OK, so she's talking on a TV remote, 
but it's the same principle...)

Look at that POUT!

All better....was it the tiger boots?