Birthday-Dongguan Style!!!

Hello to all-

Thanks to those of you who sent b-day wishes, and if you didn't that's ok too-I'm terrible about remembering birthdays including my own.

This morning I received a call from the hotel manager wishing me a happy birthday. I honestly did not recall that it was Oct 5th, and the greeting caught me off guard. (Apparently they pulled the date off my passport) In addition, his sales manager, Jackie-(It's what I call him, no way to prononuce Chinese name) wanted to take me to dinner tonight as I was alone, and he would not take no for an answer.

This evening, we spent at a 3 hour dinner with 2 other Americans from Virginia. Had a great time, and food was varied and fantastic. We were overlooking lagoon, with red globes everywhere. Food was multi-course, and kept coming. Waiters would bring skewers of meat, chicken, several things I didn't recognize, and scrape them on your plate once you were done with the portion preceding it.

Upon retrun to my hotel room, there was a birthday cake waiting in my room. As I didn't plan to gain another 15 pounds, I decided to pack it up and take to the "karoke bar" downstairs.
I shared cake with the staff at the bar, and the band that was on stage. (This one was different band, who actually sang pretty good english tunes.) They were from the Philipines, and are pictured here. Had a great time-band, and room sang happy birthday, and they dedicated "Hotel Califmimfornia to Me"

Wishing so many of you were here.