Tanzhe Temple

First day of December was a Sunday.  Onions and I saw an late morning filming of the second Hunger Games movie and then took the subway and bus to Tanzhe Temple.

The temple is older than Beijing itself having been established in the 3rd century A.D.  It's the largest Buddhist complex in the Beijing area and is 30km west of central Beijing.

Lots of candles and incense....here's a picture of all the different ones I saw, there are probably more!

I always see these medallions and have always wondered what they signified.

According to Onions, you pick a wish (such as I hope the things I want come to me) and then write your name on the medallion and hang it.

This looks like the Temple of Heaven, but I'm secretly trying to get a photo of the Buddha inside!

My favorite picture of Onions!

"Luck comes to those who hit the golden bell."

10 RMB for 10 metal coins

Wow, it's a small target.  Each of us threw five coins....

Onions got one hit of the bell!

Guess who hit it twice!

Sunset and clean air!

The Year of Three Thankgiving Turkey Dinners

Turkey dinner #1 was actually a turkey lunch!  School hosted a thanksgiving lunch in a newly renovated room at the school canteen.

A tub of the best mashed potatoes I've ever tasted.  The secret ingredient?  Cream cheese.

The sides were provided by the dining hall.  Yams, corn, broccoli and kung pao shrimp (?).

The highlight?  No duck this year, but actual turkey!

Cranberry sauce, potatoes, and as if we needed, more starch....rice!

Apple and Pumpkin Pies for everyone!

And to make it China...thanksgiving eaten with chopsticks!

My leftovers haul!!  And yes, an entire pie.

Thanksgiving night dinner was turkey #2.  Hosted by ex-colleague Barbara C.

The adults table.

Barbara, Mr. P-C and Mrs. Placht enjoying a fantastic dinner in an adult setting.

Turkey dinner #3 was two days later on Saturday.  No pictures of food or the table, but Onions got to eat his first Thanksgiving dinner and met Micah!