Blogs from Jing'an, Shanghai, China, Asia - page 4

So my first experience of an overnight train turned out to be really good =) 6 passengers per cabin which isn't as cramped as it sounds. I was sharing with the Australian couple from my tour group (Glen & Lisa) and a Chinese family, including a little old lady who kept trying to start a conversation with me in Mandarin which was good fun =) I slept through most of the 11 or so hour journey, much nicer to be able to lie down than be jammed upright in a plane seat, mind you my experience on the bottom bunk was quite different to Clare's on the top. She could barely sit up and got very sleep and is currently zonked out in our Shanghai hotel room as a result. As before the hotel is lovely, ... read more

Shanghai is oft described as New York City on crack. It is a whirling feverish parade of parties and clubs, events and engagements. An absolute playground of adult delights. Intense, exciting, head-spinning wonderment. Buzzing around the center of this gigantic hive is a small ex-pat community and an ever-crossing web of acquaintance and intrigue. It is easy to get lost in the ceaseless activity and I am no exception. In Shanghai, I am an elementary school teacher, occasional burlesque dancer, performance artist, jiujitsu/MMA student, expert drinker, and connoisseur of all things spicy and fast-paced. All that does wear a lady down, though. The boon of working in academia is that beautiful 2-semester, 9-month schedule that leaves 3 months open for international play. Today I leave the glittery grind for life out of a backpack. I will ... read more

Today I took a tour through the American Women’s Group with one of China’s most celebrated photographers, Gang Feng Wang. The tour was through the Shikumen (stone gate) houses and lanes. Mr. Wang grew up in the lanes and gave a very interesting and historical view of the lanes and houses that are rapidly being demolished in favor high rise buildings. Ironically the tour started off in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel which I’m sure is built on the site of one of the old neighborhoods. We were taken to two buildings that were once homes to wealthy families and then to lane houses and apartment buildings. With the takeover of the Communist party, it became very unpopular to be wealthy and dangerous for the families. The family that owned the first house left ... read more