5 am, Sunday, April 5: Everyone is starting to wake up. We spent the night at Sim's Cozy Garden Hostel, a surprising and sweet little place in the heart of the busy city of Chengdu. Had a great dinner here last night and the children enjoyed some much needed down time in the hostel's very family oriented games room and play spaces. They are all in the same room, an 8-bed dorm (or as Josh said, "dome") while the adults each had their own room. The place is full of international travelers and other families just like us. We met some people who gave us great advice for today, which will focus mostly on a trip to the Panda breeding station. After that, we plan to spend the afternoon exploring a little bit of Chengdu before we get on the overnight train to Xi-an (Sien). We're all getting comfortable with the people and the travel. Ni-hao (hello) and see-ya-see-ya (thank you) win us smiles and good wishes. If anyone Chinese happens to be reading this, forgive the spelling. :)

Time to get in the shower and on the go for the day.

Luggage update - still none, but the very attentive proprietor of this hostel, Sim, is working hard to get it here for me today. Apparently, it arrived in Beijing last night. Air Canada, if you're reading, you suck. 

I'll write more later. 

g