Midsummer Chiner with a New Camera

I would like to first say, awesome pics Bob! I know it took a long time to get those up and there are some keepers. We had a great time with you all and it has been really hard getting into the second and last year of service without everyone... next summer will be filled with joyous reunions.

With that said, some new things have happened here in Luzhou, Sichuan. The most important being, ASHLEY MOVED IN WITH ME! We live together now and it has been wonderful. We are both excited and relieved to be spending this second year together, you have no idea... seriously.

For my birthday, Ash bought me a really nice new camera. Again, we are both really excited about it because we now can take some really cool pics of the stuff around us. We thought we would like to share a few with you all. Here are some of our attempts to get (f)artsy around Alcohol City (Luzhou)...

 A couple doing something on the Tou River.

 My beautiful wife at dinner. This was the spiciest dish of bullfrog stew I have ever eaten.

 Overlooking the flooded Tou River.

 The China famous Luzhou Laiojao Wine Carrying Dog... or something.

 View from our roof.

 Paint being saved on the roof.

 A strange plant.

 Downtown Luzhou, the White Tower.

 He is afraid of foreigners.

 Night shot of a Tea Boat on the Yangtze.

 Public bus heading for a head on collision. Actually, it stopped in time.

 Ashley teaching a student to shoot.

 Our beautifully kept soccer field.

 Old woman sweeping walnuts.

 Peppers drying in the sun.

 Lay up.

 There is a large military base in Luzhou near our school. The soldiers often march in the road and block traffic. This guy decided to take the easy way out...

 Boats.

Ash walking along the #1 bridge.