Odds 'n Ends

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Hello everybody,

Got home safe and sound late Friday night. Left my hotel in Shanghai 36 hours earlier. Three flights and sixteen hours in the air. I'm developing a taste for airline food and movies on little tiny screens.

Thanks to all of you for following my adventure.

Here is some stuff from China that didn't fit anywhere. Enjoy!

Donna

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Photos

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These were musicians hired for a wedding. When I asked if I could take their picture, one grabbed my camera and did me one better.

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This is the high speed train we took. I learned a new meaning for balance--trying to use a squatter toilet in a train doing 300 kph.

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Longmen Grottoes are made from limestone. Go back to year 650-683. People had Buddha carved in their image. Some took over 30 years.

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Cave of 15,000 Buddhas. Mind you some of them were really tiny. Interesting that this cave was designed by two women during the Tang dynasty. They can tell which dynasty by whether Buddha is skinny or with a big belly.

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This is the most impressive carving. Empress Wu gave up her cosmetics budget for a year to finance this Buddha in her image. The ear alone is two metres long. She would visit the grottoes to worship herself!

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Museum in Wuhan. 1978 unearthed a tomb belonging to Marquis Yi of Zeng, a nobleman who died 2400 years ago. He was a music buff--the two-tone set-bells numbered 65 from very small to the largest at 2.5 tons! Still in amazing condition.

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We enjoyed a concert with replicas of the instruments found. Notice the bells in the background. They finished with "Ode to Joy."

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This was a gold bowl found in the 2400 yr old tomb. It is 98% pure, 23 karat. In the tomb they also found the poisoned bodies of his wife, concubines, and musicians.

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Sign on a University campus.

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Sign in a hotel.

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Sign at in a hotel elevator.

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Sign in hotel bathtub.

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We took a really crowded subway in Shanghai. This was the sign posted.

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We had just been commenting on how few silver haired Chinese we saw and then came across this couple. They thought it was funny getting their pictures taken with a bunch of silver heads from North America.

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Can't believe the weight people carry on these poles.

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China's new president is really clamping down on corruption and excess spending by government officials. They have installed cameras in expensive restaurants to catch them. We went to a beautiful place that used to entertain these officials. They have had to adjust their pricing since the clampdown--sign shows dishes are now half price.

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One of 24 major Buddhas in Shanghai temple. All are coated in pure gold.

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And finally...lots of other groups of tourists, most from other parts of China and Asia. Most wore matching hats or jackets.

Comments

[Claire]

A few chuckles on this entry
Thanks for sharing. I am sorry to see the blog from China end. You have earned a rest.

[Gretchen Huntley]

Thanks
Thanks so much, Donna, it truly was fun traveling along with you!

[Rowena]

Welcome back!!!
Hi Donna, Glad to hear u r home safe and sound. Enjoyed your blogs and anxious to hear all about your trip. Ciao,Rowena

[Cathy Atkinson]

Glad you are home safely
Dear Donna: Thanks for the wonderful pictures and commentary. I really enjoyed both. Thanks for doing the travelling for all your readers. Sincerely, Cathy

[Sharon]

WOW!
Just catching up on your blogs, since I am rarely on emails. So enjoyed your pics, Donna! Please come see us at WA....would love to hear about all your adventures.

[Yvette]

Another free visit!
Second place I visit so far this evening, enjoyed the pictures!