April 8, 2012 B-George, Chauncey and John in Beijing

Chauncey and John arrived in Beijing. We have a weeks worth of sight-seeing and shopping to do. 

This is the tree where Elder David O. McKay
stood when he dedicated China for missionary
work. The tree stand in Zhongshan Park
in the Forbidden City. We have come to
Love China and all of its millions and millions of
people. We join our prayers with Elder McKay.

The Forbidden City

The stairs leading up to the
Drum Tower

Inside the Drum Tower

The Bell Tower

Temple of Heaven

The Brown Door
A Chinese Restaurant with American Characteristics.

The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu

Dragon Gorge

The Summer Palace

 The Night Market on Wangfujing Street

Scorpions anyone?

Fruit can be a safe choice.

The Olympic Park

It's been a great week. The culture, architecture and people of China are great. We've enjoy showing Chauncey, John and B-George some of our favorite places. 

March 30, 2012 B-George Visits Beijing

B-George in Beijing

World traveler that he is, B-George wanted to see Beijing and get a feel for what our life here is like. Chauncey and friend John are coming next week to see the sights on the "Top Ten Best" list so we will visit the places on the "next to the best" list. 

Shopping on QianMen street.
Actually, we were looking for the entrance to
the Underground City that was built in the 1960's
as a bomb shelter. We could not find it.

We love circle doors--although they makes us feel
 like Hobbits--rather than Chinese.

Ancient Observatory
There is an azimuth theodolite and an armillary sphere???

CCTV Tower (space needle)

How many people will fit into one park?

February 29 - March 2, 2012 Singapore

We are at a phase in life where we have the freedom to travel. We thought it would be good to go to Spain to pick up our youngest child from his mission. March 17th is our 35 wedding anniversary, so we thought we make a few stops on our way to Spain in celebration of our marriage. From Spain we will travel back to the United States with George, leaving him in North Carolina with his brother Chauncey. On the way back to Beijing we will stop over in Provo for two days to meet James & Charity's new baby, our 12th grandchild, Violet. 

Singapore

We stayed at the Marina Bay Sands hotel.
On top of the hotel (55 stories high) is a SkyPark with an infinity pool down the whole length of the park. There are trees, lounging chairs, restaurants, and look out points. Included in this complex is a shopping mall, two theaters, an art & science museum. A wonderful place for an anniversary trip.

Lounging away

George at the edge of the infinity pool over-looking the city.

We took a ride on the Singapore Flyer

The Marina Bay Sands at night. The structure looking like a lotus flower is the art & science museum, which had a exhibition on the Titanic. 

We have wanted to see "Wicked" forever. We were so excited to discover it was playing at the Marina Bay Sands theater. It was wonderful!

March 3-4, 2012 Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur   

The Petronas Twin Towers and the reason we came to Kuala Lumpur. George loves tall buildings!

This picture is at the Bird Park.
Kuala Lumpur has a high Muslim population.

March 5-6, 2012 Istanbul

From Kuala Lumpur we flew to Istanbul. The Haghia Sophia (the church of holy wisdom) was what we wanted most to see. Quite possibly one of the oldest churches of Christiandom.

Istanbul

George in front of the Haghia Sophia 

The Blue Mosque

Lunch in a roof-top restaurant over looking both
the Haghia Sophia and the Blue Mosque

Mosaics from inside Haghia Sophia

Inside the enormous underground cistern

Theodosian Wall

Next Stop Spain