Travels to Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou

It's great to be home after a week of traveling in China. It is amazing how much you can do in a week, espically in China. Not so much of a typical vacation, but a wonderful learning experience. We traveled with three other couples who know a lot more about China then we do, so that was much to our advantage. We first flew from Dalian to Shanghai, then by train to Suzhou for a couple of days, then again by train to Hangzhou. Each city was amazing in its own way. In Shanghai we did a few touristy events, this included a ride under the canel in a box-like creation with colourful lights (not really worth our money), and then of course to the 88th floor of a famous building called the Jinma Observatory, (worth our money). It was beautiful in Shanghai, as you will see in the pictures. While we were there we had our first real shopping experience, it really is quite something. After finally finding the market, we walked in to the 'Mall' and before we knew it, store owners were coming up to us left, right and center, "you need watch? I give you good price, very good price for you". It was so over whelming and if it wasn't for the satisfying breakfast and awakening 3 cups of fresh ground coffee, we all would have stormed out, but this is China, this is how they do it. Anyway, we were happy they spoke English and learnt very quickly that the good price they offered was like robbery! We learned how to bargan pretty quick, and managed to get prices from 1200 RMB to 50, that was for a wallet I got, about 7.00 Can. I could have got it lower, but you do feel a little crule. Chris surprisingly did more shopping then I did, he walked out with I think 7 or 8 golf shirts and 2 sweaters. After enjoying Shanghai, with a population of over 18 million, we were headed to Suzhou, just a small town of only 5 million. It finally felt more like China, we saw our first Pagoda here, and enjoyed a small riverboat cruise down the canel along with real Chinese food for meals. Hangzhou was much the same, but maybe more beautiful. Many large hills, mountains, trees everywhere, and of course what it is famous for "West Lake". We did a lot of walking and weaving in and out of people. The National holiday had begun, and so had the real crouds! At one point, Chris and I did a little hike on our own to escape the chaos. Over all, we saw so much, learned a lot, and our Chinese has really improved since then. On the other hand, we both feel that we have seen enough of China, and are looking forward to traveling elsewhere next trip.

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