Tomb Sweeping Day

Today was a traditional holiday in China called Ching Ming or Tomb Sweeping Day. The people are supposed to go and visit the graves of their ancestors, cleaning them up, leaving decorations and setting food out for their ancestors to enjoy. Many families will picnic at the grave sites. Today on our bike ride we encountered a small cemetery and recognized the streamers on the graves as part of the tradition. Everyone had the day off of school or work so we made plans with our friends the Liptaks to take a family bike ride out to the ocean. It was a beautiful day and everyone made the long trek without complaint. Wade did just great, staying at the front of the pack most of the time.

At our destination we snacked and chilled out on the wall facing the sea. So many ships were coming and going and the airport was close by as well. Lots of locals were there watching us more than the ships. There is no beach anywhere in sight but I am not sure that you would want to swim in that water anyway.

The long trip to the sea and back was lined by many flowering plants and trees. People were out working in the many gardens we saw. We were quite a group and the cause of numerous, long stares by local people. For one, we all had helmets on and the locals don't wear bike helmets. They get a kick out of seeing foreigners in out of the way places - but who are those three Chinese children with them? They truly must wonder.....

As I mentioned previously, Wade is a big Spiderman fan. Today we put up some things in his room that we had purchased months ago for him. He was absolutely delighted! I couldn't be happier that my purchases for him would be so well received.