I have to say that having Dad and Eileen visit us has been wonderful so far. We are having such fun showing them around and looking like we know what we're doing. So far, they seem fooled and quite impressed with our Mandarin and knowledge about all things traveling in China. The last days with Dad & Eileen in Shanghai were busy and full of fun. We were on the go almost the entire time. Saturday, Dad, Eileen and I went to the Shanghai Museum. The museum was free—one of the many Chinese museums with no entrance charge. We bought audio tours and enjoyed hearing about the history of ceramics and bronze in China. We took a break for tea and cookies in the tea room and then headed back to Zhongshan Park after a power ... read more

I have been sick for a week. Really sick and really miserable and I have decided not to write a blog just about how sick and miserable I am because that will not really help me and I'm all about me. So this is a blog about what is funny about my being sick and voiceless in Shanghai. It's all I got. I have been home for a solid week. Mostly in bed. Besides being sick and miserable and coughing incessantly, I'm bored. I wake up every day hoping today is THE day I'll be better. Then I open my mouth and no sound comes out and then the coughing starts....Oh and don't assume that by saying wake up that implies that I'm sleeping for more than 20 minutes stretches. Because I'm not. Sleeping at 90 ... read more

Okay. Here's what happened next on our HK urban adventure. Fear not, culture lovers, the next and likely final installment about this trip will be about Hong Kong sights, sounds, people and of course FOOD. We wanted to get an early start on the day, but that didn't happen due to a late night on Thursday and a long stay at the hotel breakfast. We Slavens love a good breakfast buffet. Especially when it's part of our room rate. I used extreme restraint both days and did not partake in the dessert and chocolate fountain stations. I cannot say the same about my companions. I did indulge in the free flow espresso drinks, however. We still managed to head out at about 10:15 and Disney only opens at 10am. We took the subway to Disneyland and ... read more

I just posted another article on the url=http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/articles/blogs-shanghai/family-matters-shanghai/weekend-wandering-shanghai-arts-crafts-institute/ City Weekend site. I figure I should put the link here, since I have a bigger audience at Travel Blog than I do at City Weekend--at least at the moment. I have to say, writing with a deadline in mind makes my tummy flip a little, but so far, so good. Speaking of tummies, my new herbs are much improved. I think they do in fact taste better. Maybe new doc is on to something. I also feel a little better with the new batch. I'm getting ready for our weekend in Hong Kong. It's going to be fun and better yet, warm! It's miserable weather-wise here in Shanghai this week. Rainy and gray. I'm also getting ready for the big event--my dad and Eileen are coming to ... read more

I keep waiting for a holiday to come along that is not celebrated here. I'm fully expecting a big St. Patrick's Day parade come March at this point. I'm actually a little surprised we didn't celebrate Lincoln's birthday considering all the Halloween happenings, the Christmas decorations (some of which are still up--just like home. I can't forget all the press and hoopla we saw here during the US election--televised broadcasts, election parties, etc. Of course much of that hoopla was expat-sponsored, whereas the Valentine's Day hoopla is just the same capitalistic machine that we have back home in the USA. It's just that we are not in a technically capitalistic country...just sometimes it's really hard to tell. Valentine's Day was wild. There were roses, chocolates, cookies, cakes in all shades of red and pink. Most western ... read more