Nurse Jona and I were able to get out of the orphanage for a few hours today to visit the Longmen Caves. Over the course of 200 years starting in about 494AD, 100,000 images and statues of Buddha and his disciples were carved into the cliffs. Unfortunately, a lot of damage has been done to the sculptures by western souvenir hunters and by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. I noticed that most of the heads of the Buddhas were missing. Here are a few pics of the day. Enjoy!!
Big Buddha, Big Buddha, Big Buddha..Uh Huh...Big Buddha
This is that same Buddha in the earlier picture from across the river. The rain/pollution makes it hazy - but it is sitting on top of the staircase if you can make it out.
This is a Buddha with a thousand hands...if you look closely you can see them carved in the stone.
Some smaller caves up close
HALT!!!!
Awe-inspiring... (not me, but the caves in the background)
Big Buddha, Big Buddha, Big Buddha..Uh Huh...Big Buddha
This is a Buddha with a thousand hands...if you look closely you can see them carved in the stone.
Some smaller caves up close
HALT!!!! 
These buddhas and caves are amazing, dude!
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