Day Nineteen

Today was quite eventful. Unfortunately, as dad and mom forecasted, it rained for the better part of the day but not enough to stop us from having fun. We left the hotel at nine o'clock to go to the Chengdu Panda Sanctuary. The panda base is one of the most famous sanctuaries for pandas in the world and boasts a panda population of just over 60. Supposedly there are only 1600 pandas left on earth! We walked around the base and viewed giant pandas, giant panda cubs, and red pandas (similar size and look as raccoon). My friend Jen was extremely excited to hold a panda, however, the activity cost about $130 so she opted out.

On our way back from the panda base we stopped at a dumpling house near our hotel. No unique foods, just dumplings, it was delicious. After lunch we came back and read for awhile. Our guide Huyen came to pick us up at four o'clock. She took us to a saloon called 1983 to get haircuts. Only three of us went. Huyen is a very lively gal, she convinced me to get some crazy hair treatment that you all may see through the rest of my trips pictures. Essentially, they straightened and fried my hair with some stuff they use to do perms.

We were are the barbershop for a good while and had to rush back towards our hotel to get to our show on time. Tonight we went to a Changing of the Faces performance. The show is basically a type of Chinese Opera that Chengdu is famous for. There were various vocal and instrumental songs. There were also situational comedies, acrobatic, hand puppet, and fire blowing skits! We grabbed some McDonald's on our way back and now I'm going to go to sleep, night!