January 26th - Visa appointment day & River Cruise

We made it to Tuesday!  Only 2 more days til we are HOME!!!!!!

Luckily our visa appointment at the consulate was a little later so we didn't have to depart until 8:40 am.  We had time to grab breakfast but the little guy didn't seem so keen on pancakes as he has in the past.

They had very strict rules regarding what you could bring in.  We were told everything had to be placed in a ziploc bag.  They never said how many so I brought 3:  1 for food (and bottle), 1 for toys, and 1 for diaper change plus passports.  The process was conducted in a new building, different from 2012.  They did not permit phones nor photos so we don't have any of this experience.

It consisted of a 3 part process:  intake, oath, and interview.  All went smoothly for us.  They gave a disclaimer that they could not guarantee the visas would be ready tomorrow....but typically they are.  We are planning to meet our Holt guide at 4:30 for it so we can leave tomorrow evening for Hong Kong.  Unfortunately one of the families in our group encountered an unfortunate paperwork issue.  This resulted in us staying a very long time at the consulate.  Even though I was teased about my 3 bags, they came in very handy for this long delay.

After lunch we relaxed (for kids' naps) while I attended the parent meeting.

We geared up for the River boat cruise this evening.  Here's a cute shot of Drew snuggling with Derek.  He still prefers him to me.  As Derek says, "what's there not to like?"

To very simply capture our feelings on this evening, I'll just say that it would be a wonderful trip during the summer.  We experienced it in cold and rainy conditions.  One thing that sold us on the trip was the ability for Papa John's to deliver pizza directly to the boat so we could eat it on the cruise.  If it wasn't ice cold, it would have been delicious.  Anyway, here are some shots that would be better if it was the summer....

Elise with the delicious cold pizza and the boat in the background (before the experience).

Eating the yummy pizza on the boat.  So happy our little guy likes western food!

Cruising under the largest suspension bridge in Asia.

For the most part, we stayed indoors in the unheated boat to try to maintain some sense of warm.  Elise enjoying the pretty lights of the buildings as we pass them.  Some were very elaborate and beautiful.

 We spent the time taking photos indoors....here's an action shot of Drew from the front....

 and from the back.  He walks like Frankenstein but he gets it done.

More pictures.  Elise was a very good sport.  She was willing to pose.  She's wearing Drew's panda hat.  

Derek was less happy but said he would do it to make me happy.

and here's what the majority of the pictures I take look like but don't post.  

Raymond, our guide, said we MUST go outside to see the highlight of the trip:  The television tower.  It was pretty cool especially as it changed colors.

 Here's a bad picture (but typical of our view the entire time)...but needed to try to capture another highlight.  The tallest building in the city was 147 stories.  They call it the father (tall, dark unlit bldg in picture).  Next to it (on left, colorfully lit) is the "mother" building.  The tv tower is tall and skinny and consider the beautiful daughter.

Happy picture when we were finally off and headed to the warm bus.  Lit bridge in the background.

As usual, he was pretty good.  We had to give him a bottle on the way back.  He didn't finish it before we arrived back at the hotel....so here is what it looks like to carry the little one (all bundled) with the death grip on the bottle.

and death grip up close...