Now that we're Texan we're far more sensible, and things like that scare the cattle and vote Democrat so we give them a wide berth. But this is still America, which means you don't have to go far to find someone who came up with a crazy idea and starting charging people to see it. Which is why today we went to Lucky Land.
Lucky Land is a pure and simple slice of China in the middle of Houston. They have pandas! They have terracotta warriors! They have Buddhas! They have kung fu masters! None of it is real, of course, given away by the fact that it's all made out of concrete. But that doesn't stop them. It's like a theme park built by someone who only heard about theme parks from their second cousin. And it's glorious.
I knew I would love the place when the ticket guy gave us a free return visit because it was raining, and then handed us complimentary umbrellas. Once inside and enclosed by tall walls of green bamboo, you might actually be in China. If China's made from concrete and fake plants; I don't know, I've never been. We sauntered at our leisure, worrying (in a completely British fashion) that as we were the only ones there it might seem rude to leave.
Yet, after two hours of concrete enjoyment, we did drag ourselves away from this piece of genuinely breathtaking Sino-Americana, wondering why we haven't brought every single one of our guests here. Probably because most of them are far less easily impressed than us.
Welcome to China!
Panda! Think how dangerous it would be if it wasn't tied to that tree.
A fine vantage point to overlook the whole sweep of the park.
More pandas * * not real
Protecting an endangered species.
Lucky Village (Great Wall of China in background). Hannah for scale.
Reluctant warrior.
Less reluctant warrior.
Entertaining a little emperor.
Yin and yang.
Through a bamboo forest.
Terracotta army. Hannah for scale (again).
No idea.
I too have the body of a god.
Everybody was kung fu fighting.
Including us.
The koi (not concrete) were extremely pleased to see us and our fish food, which is included in admission!
Optimus Prime.
Iron Man. And now we don't need to go to China because we've seen it all.
