The dogs are barking...

Day 29 - 02/11/09 - Chengdu (China)

Our sleeper train finally arrived in Chengdu at about 11:30am, and we met our new guide Wulf. Wulf bought us to our new hotel, helped us check in and pointed us in the direction of some food.

Wulf informed us that Chengdu only see about 80 days a year where the sun is out and it is not cloudy. The locals do not say the sun is out, but that "the dogs are barking", as the sun confuses dogs and causes them to bark - the dogs normally don't see the sun for days after they are born.

After finding a nice room awaiting us on the 18th floor, we wandered down the street for some lunch. It was then back to the hotel to do some much needed laundry and watch a movie (in English!) while we waited.

We found some dinner in the hotel restaurant which was quite tasty (and spicy). After dinner was more relaxing as the sleeper train has taken its toll on us and sleep on the train isn't the best.

Day 30 - 03/11/09 - Chengdu (China)

This morning was an early start - Wulf picked us up at 8:30 for our big day. Our first stop was Wolong Nature Reserve where we got to see Giant Pandas!! First was a grandmother Panda who is 18 years old. Next was a few "teenager" Pandas who are 3 years old, and then on to see the nursery where cubs only months old were being cared for. We continued to visit the ever-playful and cute 1 year olds. It was then off to see the Red Pandas - these are very different to the Giant Pandas.

Our favourite part of the day was when Erica, Jess, and Scotty each got to enter the enclosure and pat a 2 year old Giant Panda (in exchange for a donation to the centre). We each had to wear blue plastic shoe covers and a glove, which was very attractive! Due to the glove, we were unable to feel the Pandas fur, but what we could feel under the gloves was quite corse - we were expecting it to be quite soft. We were stars once more as the locals didn't only get to see panda's, but got to see foreigners with the pandas! - truely a rarity...

We then drove to Sanxingdui Museum where we enjoyed a lunch before viewing the museum. The museum was filled with rare and precious relics such as bronze human head figures, masks with protruding eyes, and a large bronze bird tree.

We found dinner at Shamrocks, and were pleased to find parmagianas.

Take care - Jess & Scotty