Xin Nian Kuai Le: Photos 21 to 27

Or, in other words, happy new year!

As you read this, Carly and Craig are safely enscounced back in their Georgetown home in Washington, D. C. and Roel and I are hunkering down for a spell of reality (i.e. back to work) before we take off again for two weeks for Chinese New Years holiday.

Carly and Craig's flight home was much smoother than their extra long trip to Shanghai...and before they flew out on New Year's Day we watched the New Year come in, accompanied by the requisite fireworks both on T.V. and in the surrounding neighbourhood. On the day of their flight, before going to the airport we were able to watch the New Year arrive at Times Square in New York City, live on CNN...so we felt as if we'd welcomed in 2009 twice.

Prior to that we got in a day trip to Nanjing, where we visited the Sun Yatsen Mausoleum. Considered ''the father of modern China'', Sun Yatsen is fascinating since he led China's one and only republic...one of those 'what if's' of history has to be what if that unstable republic hadn't floundered after his death? In any case, his wish to

Full Text Entry: Xin Nian Kuai Le

Hi Amy & Roel- Just finished reading your latest entry, and it's official, I want to go to China! Looks like you had a fantastic time- I'm especially intrigued by this secret-password-type bar. Our holiday here was great- filled with stuff, but also lots of down time. I too go back to reality/work tomorrow, but I'm working extra hard not to let it get me down. Hope your return goes well, and I'll look forward to more news and pictures later. Happy New Year! Love Johanna

Hey guys! Craig and I did indeed make it home safely, but I think we've really managed to reverse (insert unprintable word here) ourselves really good this time. Without your slave driving ways, Craig and I have no reason to try make it through the day. So, on Saturday I took a 4 hour nap, we stayed up until 3am that night, and woke up at 3pm the next day. Reverse (unprintable). It's all worth it though - Craig and I had a fantastic time! Maybe it's in the cards to do it again. Love Car

Hey Johanna...That's wonderful news...if you guys come to Shanghai we'll have a blast!! :-) And I've been back at work one whole day, and as usual, it's as if I've never had a holiday :-( Oh well, now at least we can start planning the next one....hope your first day goes smoothly. All the best, Amy & Roel

Hey Car!! What the duck!? We searched Shanghai after you left for that duck stand, and came up empty. Let's start shuffling those cards! Miss you guys...love, Amy & Roel

Maybe you could walk down Jianguo to the Wet Market, then head up to the Technology Mall. A reverse duck hunt if you will...slowly climbing out of reverse duckedness myself. I don't know if it's the dark dreary days or what, but this lag's been impossible to shake. With that said, however, I'd do it all again in a second. Just for the royal treatment we received while in your care, I'm going to see to it that Roel's bedpan is emptied daily. Way to invest in your future Roel!

Hey Craig! We'll go back on the duck hunt, but if our experience in Shanghai has taught us anything it's that we'll trip over that great deep-fried duck stand you found when we least expect it...in fact, there's probably a chain of them! Sorry to hear about your bad case of the lag...on our part Shanghai is awfully dark and cold since you guys left :-) Love, Amy P.S. Roel wants twice daily bedpans...and a room with a view. Preferably, the Riviera.

Carly and Craig still have that starry-eyed, cozy look of newlyweds. Love the photo of Xian Tin Di. And the balcony with the clean undies. I also can't believe that you were up so high, looking down on the Pearl Tower! Furthermore I can't believe that a year has passed since I was looking forward to my trip. Take care, Carrie:)

Dear Carrie, I know it's hard to believe...despite appearances to the contrary Carly and Craig are no longer newlyweds, your trip is an entire year ago, and, yes, I was up high enough to look down on Shanghai's highest buildings! I still can't believe all of these amazing facts...but they're true :-) Life in China continues to astound...and I guess it's true -- time flies when you're having fun!It's great to hear from someone who's visited and knows. Love, Amy & Roel

Hi Amy & Roel- Just finished reading your latest entry, and it's official, I want to go to China! Looks like you had a fantastic time- I'm especially intrigued by this secret-password-type bar. Our holiday here was great- filled with stuff, but also lots of down time. I too go back to reality/work tomorrow, but I'm working extra hard not to let it get me down. Hope your return goes well, and I'll look forward to more news and pictures later. Happy New Year! Love Johanna

Hey guys! Craig and I did indeed make it home safely, but I think we've really managed to reverse (insert unprintable word here) ourselves really good this time. Without your slave driving ways, Craig and I have no reason to try make it through the day. So, on Saturday I took a 4 hour nap, we stayed up until 3am that night, and woke up at 3pm the next day. Reverse (unprintable). It's all worth it though - Craig and I had a fantastic time! Maybe it's in the cards to do it again. Love Car

Hey Johanna...That's wonderful news...if you guys come to Shanghai we'll have a blast!! :-) And I've been back at work one whole day, and as usual, it's as if I've never had a holiday :-( Oh well, now at least we can start planning the next one....hope your first day goes smoothly. All the best, Amy & Roel

Hey Car!! What the duck!? We searched Shanghai after you left for that duck stand, and came up empty. Let's start shuffling those cards! Miss you guys...love, Amy & Roel

Maybe you could walk down Jianguo to the Wet Market, then head up to the Technology Mall. A reverse duck hunt if you will...slowly climbing out of reverse duckedness myself. I don't know if it's the dark dreary days or what, but this lag's been impossible to shake. With that said, however, I'd do it all again in a second. Just for the royal treatment we received while in your care, I'm going to see to it that Roel's bedpan is emptied daily. Way to invest in your future Roel!

Hey Craig! We'll go back on the duck hunt, but if our experience in Shanghai has taught us anything it's that we'll trip over that great deep-fried duck stand you found when we least expect it...in fact, there's probably a chain of them! Sorry to hear about your bad case of the lag...on our part Shanghai is awfully dark and cold since you guys left :-) Love, Amy P.S. Roel wants twice daily bedpans...and a room with a view. Preferably, the Riviera.

Carly and Craig still have that starry-eyed, cozy look of newlyweds. Love the photo of Xian Tin Di. And the balcony with the clean undies. I also can't believe that you were up so high, looking down on the Pearl Tower! Furthermore I can't believe that a year has passed since I was looking forward to my trip. Take care, Carrie:)

Dear Carrie, I know it's hard to believe...despite appearances to the contrary Carly and Craig are no longer newlyweds, your trip is an entire year ago, and, yes, I was up high enough to look down on Shanghai's highest buildings! I still can't believe all of these amazing facts...but they're true :-) Life in China continues to astound...and I guess it's true -- time flies when you're having fun!It's great to hear from someone who's visited and knows. Love, Amy & Roel