Old Dams and Panda Bottoms
We are teaching in the evenings so that it would free up our Saturdays for traveling (which freed up our Sundays for rest and worship). Each Saturday we have plans to explore the history and natural splendor of Sichuan. The first Saturday we went out to a 2000 year old irrigation system that is still in use today. We had the chance to wander through temples and wilderness – we even watched a traditional Hip Hop Tibetan dance troupe!!

In the afternoon we travel to the Panda research centre to see…you guessed it Pandas – of both the Giant and Red varieties. When we arrive we wander through extensive bambooed sections to see Pandas sleeping in air conditioned enclosures. As a side note (and it may be a point of further study for some zoology student looking to do his or her doctoral work on Giant Pandas) sleeping Pandas NEVER face the windows – so if you come over and I ask if you want to see my collection of Panda photos say, 'No.' – once you've seen one Panda bottom you've seen them all.

But I really don't blame them – the climate is incredibly hot and humid. I really have not ranted and railed about the heat enough – I almost dehydrated the other day while trying drinking a bottle of water – I felt like one of those cartoon cowboys that takes a drink after a gunfight and leaks out from all his bullet holes. Humidity is no friend of a fat man!
If I could find a way into the climate controlled cage I would join them. I really feel sorry for them – I am only growing a beard and contending with ample back hair – they have a full length fur coat on.

Somewhere there is a website that lists the ten dumbest places to grow facial hair and Chengdu is listed eighth.