changsha

ruby's home town of changsha is in hunan province. now known as changsha city, it is a metropolis of about 8 million people. the changes i noted in bejing calmer traffic and cleaner streets, less spitting etc are not present here. changsha is china at its grittiest.hunan is known for its beautiful women, spicy food and being the home of chairman mao.

driving in from the airport the view of the farms and farm collective buildings brought back memories of being here to get ruby in 2003. people working in the fields, rice paddies, and animals soon gave way to the city.

when you get into the heart of the city the skyline of large interesting buildings contrasts against a sky of thick grey-yellow smog. the streets are lined with little shops and people are riding and driving contraptions of every kind imaginable- trucks, buses, vans, bikes, motorcycles , golf cart like vehicles. you name it and its on the street here. traffic moves like a school of swimming fish. pedestrians take life in hand when they cross the street.

we're staying at a 5 star hotel- very fancy. after we settled in to our rooms we went for a swim. the girls of course love to splash and play and it was a welcome relief from the sticky heat. three chinese girls and two big nose mom's created quite a stir. after a dinner of yummy hunan food i fell into bed exausted.

today we visit the orphanage. i have no idea what to expect there. i imagine that the reception will be somewhat generic. according to our guide there are 200 babies there right now. the guide told me that the orphanage has lost contact with the foster mother since it has bee a long time. we have an address for her, but she never replied to the letter michael sent to her. he called last night to check and see how things are going and said we go there to see if we can find her.

we'll see what the day brings here in changsha city.