The day that we spent at the Puningsi Temple in Chengde was probably the longest and most exhausting for Lynne since we arrived in China - if you don't count the 34 hour day that included our flight and crossing the International Date Line.
All told, she probably walked a total of four miles or more today, including some extremely steep steps and staircases at the temple. That - combined with an afternoon of walking the streets in Chengde and shopping with Bu - just about wore her out.
The experience at the temple was very educational and while there we purchased a hand-painted glass bottle from an artisan for Lynne. This is a really cool bottle. It is clear glass with a cork stopper that has a family of Pandas painted on the INSIDE of the glass. The artist also added Lynne's name to the inside (writing backwards) so that it comes through correctly when you look at it.
As you look at the pictures of the temple, you will notice a couple of photos that feature 'prayer locks'. These are brass locks that patrons and visitors to the temple buy. Their names are then engraved upon the locks and the locks are attached to the handrailings, etc. These locks serve as a vicarious prayer of sorts on behalf of the buyers when they aren't at the temple. In other words, their prayers are offered by others for them and they also receive the personal prayers offered by all others at the temple.
When we left the temple, we went to McDonald's for a quick lunch, to catch our breath and to meet up with Bu. She then took us to the equivalent of a Chinese Dollar Store. Freakin' awesome. After that, I basically followed Lynne and Bu around the city and carried their shopping bags.
Lynne was a trooper today. Proud of her.
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