Traction

I already knew what my New Year's resolution would be before I got here. But this confirmed it. Shamian Island is like a mini-California of China in that like my old home state (hi all!) people are outdoors a lot. The park area and the open space next to it, also the open space behind Lucy's next to the river is full every morning with adults exercising. Many of them are elderly. See the one photo of Breeda on the monkey bars next to a man who had to have been at least 70. He was pulling his entire body up on the bars. So, while they might be breathing in contaminates and while the water even in the bathroom of the White Swan is a bit yellow from the Pearl River (yes, we brush our teeth w/ bottled water) the folks on this island must have great back traction! This morning we watched a group of women do a dance-like routine that was a cross between Tai Chi and dance. It was beautiful to watch and how refreshed they must have felt afterwards.