http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , China , Shanghai en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:23:16 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:23:16 +0000 We have celebrated New Years Eve in France Spain and other US destinations but last night really was one of the greatest evenings we have had We had the most amazing view from the skydeck We will always remember celebrating the arrival of 2010 and Mike's early 21st birthdayThe boys were going to wake up early at 300 amto watch the Stanford game but no one could actually do it We all slept http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-464092.html Today we started off at the Shanghai Museum just a short walk from our hotel. We viewed some coins from Genghis Kahn era and some jade that was 5000 years old Then we toured the Shanghai planning museum where they had a model of the city that you could view from the floor above. It was interesting to see the location of our hotel and the areas we walked through. After a quick lunch at the under http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-463463.html Yesterday we had a relaxing slow morning so we could sleep in and pack up. We had a driver take us to the Beijing International School to see a play called ldquoThe Trial of Ebenezer Scroogerdquo with our new friend Yuanyuan as one of the cast members. Kirsty her mom gave us free tickets to attend and it sounded like a fun way to spend our last afternoon. The play was a comedy and we enjoye http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-463200.html Well as you probably know i have been in china for a little while now i have decided i am going to make a few observations about the Chinese and China itself...First of all let me say that the Chinese are without doubt some of the most friendly helpful people i have had the great pleasure to meet... And the place is truly spotless and i thought jersey was clean However there are some ldquos http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-462056.html After reviewing the Shanghai Nanjing itinerary with my Shanghai Gurus HQ and SS last Saturday it was time for me to share my first travel resolution for 2010. This was going to be yet another short trip for me and my first and possibly my final trip to China. I'm not sure how well I'm going to respond to the Culture Shock but as a Chinese China is one place I should visit at least once in my http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-462050.html Phew. We are all officially exhausted It has to be said we are quite relieved to be staying put this Christmas and not trekking half way around the world today We are really very sad not be spending it with our nearest and dearest in England but at the same time we have had such a busy period over the past few weeks we all need to rest.We finished school on Friday lunchtime after an eventful http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-461613.html Fanbang street had been recommended to us as Christmas street so we ventured there but to Laura's disapointment there wasnt a Santa in sight Swedish obviously meant they got presents there not that it was actually Christmas street Was pretty cool though loads of stalls and shops selling dragons and buddha's throw in a few dresses and fake Gucci bags and jobs a good'n Later we went to a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/Huangpu/blog-461105.html My roommate and I decided to have our Chinese coteachers over for a dinner...as an early Christmas celebration to just be friendly. So after school last Thursday Ivy and her son Matthew Yolanda...and Sophie Cici Genelle's coteachers came over. We decided to cook butter chickenone of my favourite things to cook because it's simple tasty it's an entire meal in one dish since it http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-460985.html Last week we thought it would be a nice gesture to invite our Chinese coteachers over for dinner. We cooked something simple butter chicken which turned out nice and they brought a Christmas cake for dessert.Everything went well although we had to quickly wash the dinner dishes before we could serve dessert not enough platesforkes etc. I'm sure they could understand that we don't have the http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-460957.html Some random photos and videos from when I first got here.......mostly in August and September. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-460120.html I am packing frantically but the record would not be complete if I didn't share the following bits from our December in Shanghai.Nathan took his first Kung Fu test about a week ago and passed it...the whole thing was quite intense. They made the kids do a lot of work and demonstrate their skills in front of an audience of parents and a panel of Kung Fu Masters. Nathan had a serious look on his fac http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-459841.html Deck the halls with boughs of holly Fa la la la la la la la la. Tis the season to be jolly Fa la la la la la la la la I am pleasantly surprised that there are lots of signs of Christmas even here in Shanghai Well I am missing snow though Its been rather cold here and that is our winter weather...just coldness the damp kind of coldAnyway but it makes me happy to see the streets and t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-459092.html I don know where the time has gone but December has crept up on me. It doesn feel like a regular December...1 because of the damp cold 2 because until you go into the storesmalls it doesn feel like Christmas. On the weekend I went to Tai kang Lu a shopping area in Shanghai that is many old streets filled with shops and restaurants. Myself and some girlfriends walked around the shops befor http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-459076.html ldquoLet me take you somewhere special todayrdquo beamed Jin Jin. I was rather exhausted from the previous days in the people packed Shanghai streets and was hoping for a restful Sunday afternoon but not wanting to disappoint Jin Jin I agreed.Catching the bus at Wanli estate we wound through the suburbs of Shanghai traveling North West. We finally arrived at Nanxiang Town at Jiading. We got http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-459044.html There have been a few things that have happened places I have been to that deserve a photo and explanation. We have a saying around here that goes a little something like this TIC.........This is China. This is said a lot. Just a side note for the fireworks video fireworks happen ALL the time and ANY time here. The week day morning afternoon weekend morning afternoon evening....you name it. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-457936.html I actually like Shanghai a lot more than I thought I would. I'm staying at my uncle's house which is lovely and very close to the Underground. The shower here is the best I have had in China and I spent way too long in there this morning taking advantage Shanghai is much cleaner than I thought it would be and not so busy although it is ginormous. Most things are written in English as well as Ch http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-457624.html I haven't added an entry for a couple weeks now...so I have a nice little collection of videos and photos from November to post about. Video 1 Because of the upcoming Expo Shanghai is in a frenzy to beautify the city. So that means LOTS of construction noise dust traffic jams more than usual I suppose dangerous streets....I took this video during our walk from the fabric market to Huai http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-457411.html Thanksgiving 2009 Shanghai ChinaLast year I triumphantly concocted a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday and it involved some odd substitutions. It was quite memorable quite enjoyable but it was not quite the same.This year after much soul searching and much consternation over the budgetary implications I decided that I just had to do it. I had to buy the 100 bird technically more like 130 bu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-457396.html Well I have to say I have had a truly wonderful weekend. Yesterday we experienced our first ever Thanksgiving and my friend Suzanne explained to us how before we started to eat our dinner we had to go around the table saying what we are thankful for. I know all the adults present were surprised to hear my say how thankful I am for the adventure I am having our here and that this time last year http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-456910.html A couple weekends ago the girls decided we would ditch the guys and have a Girl's Night Best ideawhy did we not think of this earlier. SeriouslyWe went to Barbarossa for dinner......a Mediterraean restaurant equivalent to the Keg at home but the atmosphere was really nice.Food and drinks were both great especially the Happy Hour until 8pm......I may have had more than one drink lined http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-456860.html