Blogs from Shanghai, China, Asia - page 269

Morning bloggers. Actually it is about 10:30 and we have just returned from the Chinese pub down the road from the hotel. Dire Straits on the juke box and Tiger beer on draft.I could live here. The day started with the sounds of what from my bed sounded like a good old fashioned demonstration.My CUPW blood started to stir and I was ready to hit the streets to battle injustice and the supression of farmers and the mal treatment of pandas.Actually I just rolled over and slept a while longer. It is amazing what foreign travel does for one's realities. We did get up, though not at the sound of the people. Breakfast was the now expected buffet. Dumplings were steaming and yogourt was cool and refreshing. After breakfast I blogged for a bit while Ann ... read more

We do not meet Kelly until 9:30 and enjoy breakfast and the BBC world service on TV. Terrible news from Pakistan.We walk across Peoples square to visit the Shanghaii museum first off.Kelly leaves us to wander on our own and we enjoy the jade galleries as well as the porceline and some calligraphy.The museum is beautiful and modern with some stunningly beautiful things to see, After the museum we are off by taxi to walk along the 'Bund', a mile long boardwalk running along the Huangpu river. The busy river on one side and a street of large ex financial neo classical 1930's New York style buildings. Kelly tells us of the city stories,history. From the Bund we are off to the French Concession.Apparently no french lived here mostly chinese and russians.The area is one of ... read more

Hangzhou is left behind and we find ourselves again on the train travelling back along track we rode coming from Nanjing days before.WE have decided that the train and bus travel is geting to us and decide to change the schedule.We have underestimated the distances between places and while the travel agents have done everything we asked of them we asked for a bit much.We are off to Suzhou the 'venice of the east'.Again we are met by a smileing Speak sign attached to George a great guide with a warm and engaging smile and personality as well as an excellent command of english.We are spirited to a Tourist restaurant which sems to serve tours exclusively.While we eat we discuss the changes to our schedule with George.A woman passes by with a large jar of snake ... read more

Up early and breakfast in the hotel.It is paid for and waiting for us all at the appointed hour.Large bowl of a bland tasting rice porrage,unknown vegetable of a pale palour,cooked greens served at room temperature and fermented bean curd.Mushy taste and foul odor.A couple of kinds of steamed buns,noodles and broth and hot soy milk.The familiar boiled egg to round off the beige meal...yum yum. The culinary delights are punctuated by the cleaning of the fish tanks and tubs lying around the floor.:Lots of noise and activity. Off we go then to visit the Puji Temple a beautiful Buddist temple set on the side of a small lake with huge lotus plants growing We have come to appreciate the lotus and were lucky to find a couple of them still in bloom though we have ... read more

Shanghai After the tour ended in Shanghai, we decided to stay an extra 2 days just to explore the city a little more. The first night we stayed in another motel called MOTEL 168. It was actually the nicest motel we stay for the very first during our tour….. and here goes a story: In China, the hotel or motel have to input your passport data into there system so the know exactly who is staying where. Well, while I waited for the receptionist to finish up copying our information down, my roommate, Trey, took our luggage to our room. After Trey put the luggage into the room, he came back down for me. I asked him, “how’s the room?” Trey: It’s nice, but kind of weird Me: What do you mean it’s nice but kind ... read more