Sorry that I have not been a good blogger over the last couple of days--there has been A lot going on and the pics were not uploading correctly, so I took a couple of days off. This is the pagoda that I was speaking about in the other post. Amazing. Now everytime that I venture into the city I look toward the square and find it and think about how beautiful it is as you get closer. Red marble stairs going to the top of the pagoda, a beautiful site, simply amazing.

Again, I am the first westerner to enter its walls--all because I refused to listen to the locals advisement not to go up there--that I would be questioned.





This is the inside of the buliding(click on the image for greater detail). Simply amazing lattace work.













The hazy view of Chenzhou from the top of the temple.
Notice the new developments and some of the old slums. Try to pay attention to the design of the arches on the side of the picture as well.













The top room ceiling design.

















I bought a new guitar to ease some of the times when amazing things dont happen. Its a rather nice electic acoustic that I managed to get for $68.00 US and I am so impressed with it--even if I do manage to outgrow the piece or never get really good, the price was right--as most everything in China is.









A picture of all of us hanging out together at the top of the pagoda. Vecila from Bulgaria, the coolest woman in Chenzhou, Our cute guide and intrepreter (but terrible negotiatior) and Mary's boyfriend who is in a Master's program at University in North England.











What I consider the China's most prized possession-their children. SO CUTE! I also bought a basketball on that day and we were walking around woling square, enjoying the summer night and children like these would come running over to play and laugh at the American, English and Bulgarians!!! It was a hoot.
Note:
The philipino's dont get anything close to the attention that we do--he was told today that he looks like a goofy chinese man. I spit out a piece of dumpling.

NOTE: Something that is very expensive here: We went to eat at Harry Potter resturant (yes, I got you something Mom and Brookie) and it is (I shit you not $22.50 USD for a pint of Haggan Daaz--and they are out of Chocolate.

Anyway, tommorow is the day I have been waiting for-- Mid Autumn Day--MOONCAKE MADNESS, HERE I AM!!
UPDATE ON MOONCAKES: I bought a gift box of these treats to send to the family --and when we took them to China Post, the woman said that Mooncakes are forbidden to leave the mainland of China, except Hong Kong and Mackaw!!!!
So my boss got a nice gift.
I was also going to send a very nice dish set to them that I bargained for at the market--and it was going to cost more than 100usd to ship it and have it arrive withing 16 days.
AMAZING.
It will be interesting to see what I take home next time...
Okay--I promise to give more eloborate details sooon, but my eyes are burning--its time for bed--big day tommorow.

Hope all is well wherever you are. Things are nothing short of awesome here in the PRC.
PS==they are moving me into a brand new flat next week!!!!