This morning mom and I woke up to sore legs and heavy rain. We decided to keep to our original plan of visiting the Linyin Temple, since the weather forecast doesn't look any better for the rest of the week. Mom is way better at not letting the rain get to her than I am, I keep lamenting how I want her to see Hangzhou at it's finest, while she happily grabs an umbrella and tells me that we can't control the weather. Mom's - always right.
Thankfully, the weather ended up being perfect for an afternoon as tourists at the Buddhist temple.
Mom ended up being a celebrity. I enjoyed taking several pictures as 3 seperate families took the opportunity to take a picture with this beautiful foreign woman. I just stood at the bottom of the steps laughing while mom sweat bullets and smiled at people whom she did not understand. It was hilarious. One woman told her husband to stand next to the, "pretty girl," and have his picture taken. These people would freak if they knew mom's real age! No one believes she is my mom - good for her, bad for me.
We spent several hours touring the main temple and surrounding monasteries.
After a stop for a snack and some coffee for me and tea for mom, we were picked up by Lin for a dinner with some friends! I was so, so excited for Lin and Mom to meet.
She took us to a fancy dinner and I did my best to eat my share and my mom's. When my pants don't fit next week, smack me.
I snapped this photo when the waitor placed the fish heads pointing right at mom after the duck head was already facing her. We laughed and laughed and no one knew what we were laughing at. Poor mom, being stared at by her dinner.
Michael and Judy were invited by Lin and it was a table of some of my favorite people on earth.
My people. And my mom. Whooohooo.
After dinner, Michael insisted we go to KTV - Chin.ese karoake rooms you rent by the hour. Mom was tired, and everyone but me and Mom has to work tomorrow, but everyone seemed game, so we went and sang our hearts out.
Mom was a champ, singing some Beatles and Abba and Britney Spears.
Yesterday we were hiking down Yellow Mountain, today we were in a karaoke room. I'm so proud of mom for embracing every experience - come rain or shine.
walk slow. xoxo.
