Blogs from Hangzhou , China, Asia - page 26

I go out for lunch or shopping or many more things with my friends here but it is always a lot of fun to hang out with other families or with other couples. We seem to have been doing that a lot just lately and it has been a blast!!! Karaoke…. Well it was Friday night and Kevin was going out with the “boys” and Liz’s husband was out of town on business so she invited the girls and I over to her apartment for a karaoke night with her and her boys. It sounded like fun although I am not one for singing in public. Sure I have belted out a few tunes with my sisters at family gatherings and like most people I have imagined pop stardom as I sing in the privacy of ... read more

Sunday evening, our hosts drove us from Shanghai to Hangzhuo. The freeways were very modern, and not too busy, but the countryside was almost constant with cities and towns. Shanghai went on forever, of course, with its nearly 30 million population! We arrived in Hangzhuo (a smaller provincial city of ONLY 6 million!) at around 6pm. Our hotel in Hangzhuo is a resort hotel on the edge of the famous West Lake. The area is a favorite holiday destination for honeymooners, because of its beauty and tranquility. The area around Hangzhuo is beginning to become mountainous - foothills mainly, nothing really tall. On the hill above the Xizi Hotel is the Lie-Feng Tower, which is a beautiful landmark, light up at night. Immediately after arriving and a short rest (which seems to mean only enough time ... read more

I thought that I had published this 2 weeks ago .....sorry! So what happened in the Wilson household for the rest of the week?? Well, first let me tell you about our visitor. Our friends and neighbors were going on vacation and so we offered to look after their dog Sugar for them while they were away. We miss our dog Charlie so much so we decided it would be nice to have a dog roaming around the apartment for a while!! Kevin was a little unsure but agreed and actually loved having her lying on the end of our bed like Charlie does and snuggling up on the couch. Of course all of you that know Charlie know that he is a 25lb Cocker Spaniel that doesn’t really take up a lot of space.. Sugar ... read more

Well we have lived here in Hangzhou for 5 1/2 weeks now and OK, it isn't a long time, but the first month was always a milestone in my mind so I thought I would give you an update on all the day to day happenings that have been going on and my impressions so far. Life is certainly different!! We are settling in very well and there are good days and there are days when things are difficult. I am happy to report though that it has been a long time now since we have had a "bad day". The girls are happy at school. Sophie's teacher says she is working hard and is a great help in the class in promoting the English language. She is the only child with English as her native ... read more

Pagodas and temples abound in the Hangzhou are, Buddism is very much alive and well in some parts of China. One of the most famous must sees right in Hangzhou is the LeiFeng Pagoda and surrounding temples. This is a short walk from the hostel and can be seen towering in the sky day and night. It has been rebuilt numerous times, with the last rebuilding in the 1950’s with only the original 977 foundations and bricks left on display. This 6-storey pagoda is climbable with a series of escalators, stairs and lifts to take you to the top, for a fee of 30Yuan. You get an excellent view of the lake and the scenery around it, and each storey has the history of the pagoda carefully carved, painted or written, a different style for each ... read more