Last Look Around Before Heading Home

As my trip is nearly over and I am looking forward to going home and seeing my family I make the most of my free time and  head off out for a last look around the area.

Walking down the road the locals are not shy at having a good stare and many like to try out their English and beam at me when I say 'hello' back.

These two lovely boys were on their way back to school, they had been home for lunch.  They said in English, "Hello, how are you ?" they were thrilled that I replied and went off laughing.

These two workmen were covered up so they could continue their work in the rain.

These were a couple of the options for the locals to eat at.  

Stopped for lunch and sheltering from the rain under the arch in Daoist Center.

Workmen heading off to the local restaurants .  Next to this street they are building brand new shops and housing, the builders flock here for lunch and the street gets very busy with mopeds and trucks. This is where I also shop for biscuits, mainly breakfast tea, tuc biscuits, tomato flavour and Oreos. Just a little snack to keep me going in between the meals provided.  Some of the volunteers also found chocolate in one of the shops but it was well passed the sell by date and white spots all over it. 

The last day working with the pandas was sad but at the same time I was ready to go home, a few last photos.

This was not a problem, I could of watched the Panda's all day!

This is Chi Chi the Panda my son bought for me when going to China was just a dream, I took this with Ya Ya in the background on a last walk around the enclosure. 

So many lovely colours of nature surrounding the enclosures.

This is me putting the final touches to my blog.

 What will I miss about being in China? Well of course these! 

A truly wonderful experience and a privilege to work with China's national treasure. The Panda is a captivating animal but also endangered with estimates at just 1600 in the wild.  The Chinese are allowing volunteers into the research centers to help with public awareness. I will miss the little bleating noise that the Pandas would make as they came up to see me and the intense stare while I cleaned up the poo, swept , mopped and prepared food. 

 Saying goodbye was sad but I was ready for a comfy bed, cheese, a cup of tea, a sandwich and a hug from my wonderful supportive family who made it all possible.

Thank you for reading and sharing my experience

Jo 

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Training the pandas

When I arrived at the panda enclosure Ya Ya was waiting for her food.  The keeper chopped up apple and carrot. The keeper raised a finger and Ya Ya opened her mouth for the carrot to be popped in.  I watched Ya Ya before the keeper let me have a go with Xing Xing.  This is quite scary as you have to get the carrot or apple in the wide open mouth before she shuts it without getting too close.  I missed a couple as Xing Xing shut her mouth just as I was throwing them in.

I then had apple on a stick and got Xing Xing to stand up, sit down and then lay across the bars her paws flat against them.  This is so the vets can do their checks .  I was thrilled when I got a well done from my keeper when I got her to lay beautifully .
Walking around the enclosure was beautiful today, the trees and the mountains are changing colour. It is a shame you cannot pick out the colours of the mountains with the camera , it is so relaxing just walking around being able to look at them all day.

Ya Ya was playing in the tree today, I took a few photos of her as she kept falling out and quickly getting back up and having another go.

 Afternoon training was done outside with a long piece of bamboo and chopped carrots and apples.  First the keeper called the pandas to the bottom of the enclosure.  We stood on the wall and dangled the food in making the pandas stand up and walk along before letting them take the food off the end of the bamboo.  I asked the keeper if this was exercise.  She did not understand me at first but once I started bending my knees and waving my arms around she laughed and said "yes ,exercise" .
After nearly three weeks of being with these lovely animals I get to see their different characters , no two pandas are the same and its easy to fall in love with them.