| Panda House is a Hong Kong based establishment set near an ocean marina (for Padley's plane) which is not just a hostel for visitors, and a running workhouse for orphans, but it's also the home of the base camp of the Sword Knights. I started this idea about Panda House as a line Tubby would say during the trip to Hong Kong: "China's efforts to control the population growth has created an unintended consequence of orphaned children. In order to address this problem with compassion and honor, I formed a charity I call 'The Bamboo Forest Foundation for Orphans,' where I support various orphanages and adoption centers to give these children the families they need. While I do take donations, most of my income come from a series of movies staring Hong Mao here. I was thinking that you two could team up for a movie or two. Get you some added experience and see more of the world around ya. But now I not only have Brother Red here with one of China's legendary seven swords, but you have another as well. Who'd'a thunk it? Heh. It seems that you're not the only one who became a part of something larger than himself unexpectedly, my friend." It does address a topic that is touchy for some, although I won't discuss the 'One Child Rule' or any of the heavier topics here. Tubby just states that China's efforts to keep the country from overpopulation, an unintended side effect, and his own efforts to address it in a face-retaining manner. It isn't the first time I scratched into controversial territory and it's probably the only place where I do so in the whole series, but if there's any way I can improve on this, let me know. While Tubby's 'Bamboo Forest Foundation' is working all over China, with recent operations in troubled sites such as Sichuan Province after the earthquake, it's China headquarters was settled into Hong Kong, which takes place in a multi-story hostel maintained by Tubby, Sally, Pugsy, Jumpy, and an assortment of orphaned adult children who live and work there. Income from the location comes from foreign visitors who need a place to stay and a good meal. About a quarter of the visitors at any time is looking for a Chinese child to adopt, with which Panda House assists.  The picture on right is an alpha sketch of Panda House, and it consists of three buildings and a basement garage. A short and wide building faces the street, and it contains the hostel and cafe for the tourists. The tower behind it is for the orphans working there as well as places for the Sword Knights, with a penthouse for Tubby and his family. (He lives with a wife and child son.) Hidden behind the tower, surrounded by a small bamboo grove is a Buddhist Shrine for meditation purposes. On the other side of the building is a grassy area for the orphans to run around in and play. While they don't have the latest playground tech outside of a basketball court, the kids do know how to make their own games. (And some of them even earn enough money to have their own toys.) They used to have space for Tubby's Hybird SUV and an electric cart, but Pudgy needed the space for his hobby. Tubby had to begrudgingly make do with a makeshift awning on a side lot. Fortunately the cart that can take people around for nearby shopping as well as the marina where Padley keeps his plane doesn't use much space. He usually parks it next to the shrine. |
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