Day 1:
Tower and the World Financial Center! Absolutely incredible structures!! Discovery has an episode of the construction of the World Financial Center (the most recently built building). It's unfathomable what architects and engineers can create! Instead of taking the tourist ferry to Instead of staying at a usual hostel we decided to rent an apartment for a week in Shanghai. The apartment is on the 22nd floor with an amazing view of Shanghai...day and night!! Our first night we spent strolling along The Bund and Pudong, viewing the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin MaoPudong, we took the cheapa cheapa ferry across with the locals...I think we were the only tourists on there! Yeah we roll like locals! No matter what form of transportation one is embarking upon in China it's always a mad rush! Patience China, patience. On the return to Shanghai we decided to take the "sight-seeing" tunnel under the river??? I was puzzled as well, but agreed and we entered a tram (like the ones at the Pittsburgh airport only much smaller, it could fit 10 Chinese or 5 Americans ;)) and saw a terrible, very cheesy light show! I could have produced a better light-show with Lite-Brite! So no sights, just lights...awful! At least it made us laugh!!
Tower and the World Financial Center! Absolutely incredible structures!! Discovery has an episode of the construction of the World Financial Center (the most recently built building). It's unfathomable what architects and engineers can create! Instead of taking the tourist ferry to Instead of staying at a usual hostel we decided to rent an apartment for a week in Shanghai. The apartment is on the 22nd floor with an amazing view of Shanghai...day and night!! Our first night we spent strolling along The Bund and Pudong, viewing the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin MaoPudong, we took the cheapa cheapa ferry across with the locals...I think we were the only tourists on there! Yeah we roll like locals! No matter what form of transportation one is embarking upon in China it's always a mad rush! Patience China, patience. On the return to Shanghai we decided to take the "sight-seeing" tunnel under the river??? I was puzzled as well, but agreed and we entered a tram (like the ones at the Pittsburgh airport only much smaller, it could fit 10 Chinese or 5 Americans ;)) and saw a terrible, very cheesy light show! I could have produced a better light-show with Lite-Brite! So no sights, just lights...awful! At least it made us laugh!!
Day 2
We hit up The Old City of Shanghai stopping to visit the Yu Yuan Garden (Jade Garden) and Huxin (Heart of the Pavilion) Teahouse. We reached the teahouse from the garden by walking across a zigzag bridge flocked with tourists at every angle, taking pictures with the Yu Yuan in the background. From the Old City we headed over to the French Concession viewing skylines from the Garden Hotel and the Jin Jiang Hotel and then shopping for knock-offs...well Kristin did the shopping, I just did the watching. I can't tell a fake from genuine, so I have no interest. Anyway, you could purchase Foaches, Fradas, Fiesels, Fuccis and many more fakes! Everyone wanted to give us "best price for you" and "best quality for you"! Kristin haggles well!!! The best part of the French Concession besides the skyline views, was the little dumpling place we ate at. Our first experience with cold dumplings...YUMMY!!!
Day 3
Nearby our apartment we visited Yufo Si (Jade Buddha Temple), where each Buddha is carved out of one single piece of white jade. No pictures were allowed to be taken :(
In the evening we decided to check out an opera...well at least we thought. We ended up purchasing tickets for a reality tv singing show. The locals loved it...we unfortunately did not share the same feeling...we made an escape after a half an hour!!! :)
Day 4
Off to Suzhou at 7am and on the way to the train station I ALMOST got pickpocketed or should I say packpocketed. A group of 3 boys were behind me and I had my pack on my back. Kristin walking beside me fortunately caught a little greasy Chinese hand pulling at the zipper. Phew!!! I can't believe that, because I'm usually very careful about my pack. Luckily nothing more happened, they were confronted and yelled at and then they retreated.
So with all my belongings we finally arrived in Suzhou via the high-speed CRH train which I noticed to be clocked at 195km/h!! Upon arrival Kristin and I detoured to Tongli to see some active canals that locals used for transporting themselves as well as goods. It was interesting to know that this town, back in the day, "floated". The waterways were their only means of transportation. So back to Suzhou to visit the Bei Si Ta (North Pagoda Temple) which enshrined the fattest and tallest Buddha I've seen! This temples claim is that it is the tallest Chinese pagoda South of the Yangtze. That's like saying the Hancock building is the tallest building on Michigan Avenue west of Lake Michigan between the Water Tower and an El stop...anyway! We climbed 9 stories of steps to see the entire temple grounds and Suzhou city. The climb worked up a ferocious appetite so we headed into town for some Muslim treats...eggplant with green peppers, red chili pepper, cumin and slices of garlic...Yumm-O!!! Nan covered in sesame seeds and cilantro...the meal couldn't get any better!
Day 4
Off to Hangzhou...anticipating a smooth transfer just like Suzhou, but not the case. Apparently the train leaves from the South station (not the North like Suzhou). So off to the south train station to purchase new tickets...no refunds on the old tickets and just an hour behind...so over all not bad. Immediately arriving in Hangzhou we spy a DQ...DQ does it right...and next minute we were having blizzards!!!! After inhaling our blizzards we rented bikes and headed for the causeways! This was the most relaxing time I've had in China...no one yelling hello at me...no one crowding around me as I open my English to Mandarin phrasebook...none of it!! We rode our bikes for about 5-6 hours and then took a paddle boat ride to Lord Ruan's Mound and Mid-Lake Pavilion, the latter of which is the smallest and earliest. Another one of the most relaxing moments...even if it only lasted an hour. :) (sigh) Our last stop in Hangzhou...Papa John's for some cheesesticks!!! P-A-P-A baby!!!
Day 5
Bags...watches...shoes...This is the phrase that all of the street hawkers knew clearly! I can't even imagine to tell you how many secret knockoff back rooms we'd been to! Although one is a memory that will last forever. So Kristin is approached yet by another bags...watches...shoes...seller and we are off at the Chinese pace...which is a fast walk, almost to a competitive level. In this room we find the usual fakes: Coach, Prada, Diesel, Rolex and many more. So Kristin immediately checks out a Coach and it is a horrible copy! So she asks for better quality and the next we know the guy is pushing on a shelf of bags and low and behold there is another room! We just start cracking up!!! It was hysterical. So nothing there tickles her fancy, so we ask for more and with another push of a shelf, there's yet another room!!! CRAZY!!! In this room there weren't many good options either, so I anticipate another room and I begin pushing on a shelf or 3 and to our dismay...nothing!! Everyone just started laughing at me...hey I had to give it a try!!! Wish I would've taken a pic of that!!
Last Day in Shanghai :(
Off to a real Peking Opera! A high-class meal at Subway...Eat Fresh!...was had prior to the show. Again, we were slightly disappointed with the show...I guess our expectations were too high??? There was initially some fighting, but then it was all singing and not much acting, but we made it through the entire performance. The rest of the crowd loved it and cheers and applause were given frequently. We didn't know why, either?? Out of the theater we see a torrential downpour...hail and wind gusts turning umbrellas inside out!!! So for 20 yuan, we bought two umbrellas and head for the Royal Meridian Hotel...a hotel we frequented to use it's lovely bathroom...as we approached the doorman said "Welcome Back"! I guess we tinkled there a little more often than we noticed! After cleaning ourselves up we decided it was time for wine. The was our 30th birthday party celebration!!! We sat for hours chatting and laughing while sipping our South African Cabernet and eating spiced cashews! As not to look like big alcoholics, we headed to the Jin Mao Tower to Cloud 9 on the 87th floor for yet another Cabernet, roasted duck, spicy fried tofu and lovely spring rolls! Even through my wine goggles the view was spectacular. Shanghai all lit up in it's beauty!! Flickering lights here, color-changing lights there...(sigh)!! To top our wonderful birthday celebration off we were entertained by a magician at our table. Card tricks, ring and necklace tricks (Yangtze cruise friends are all well aware of this one thanks to Michael!) and a disappearing/reappearing scarf trick! After 3 bottles of wine anything was entertaining to me!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!!!!
Day 3
Nearby our apartment we visited Yufo Si (Jade Buddha Temple), where each Buddha is carved out of one single piece of white jade. No pictures were allowed to be taken :(
In the evening we decided to check out an opera...well at least we thought. We ended up purchasing tickets for a reality tv singing show. The locals loved it...we unfortunately did not share the same feeling...we made an escape after a half an hour!!! :)
Day 4
Off to Suzhou at 7am and on the way to the train station I ALMOST got pickpocketed or should I say packpocketed. A group of 3 boys were behind me and I had my pack on my back. Kristin walking beside me fortunately caught a little greasy Chinese hand pulling at the zipper. Phew!!! I can't believe that, because I'm usually very careful about my pack. Luckily nothing more happened, they were confronted and yelled at and then they retreated.
So with all my belongings we finally arrived in Suzhou via the high-speed CRH train which I noticed to be clocked at 195km/h!! Upon arrival Kristin and I detoured to Tongli to see some active canals that locals used for transporting themselves as well as goods. It was interesting to know that this town, back in the day, "floated". The waterways were their only means of transportation. So back to Suzhou to visit the Bei Si Ta (North Pagoda Temple) which enshrined the fattest and tallest Buddha I've seen! This temples claim is that it is the tallest Chinese pagoda South of the Yangtze. That's like saying the Hancock building is the tallest building on Michigan Avenue west of Lake Michigan between the Water Tower and an El stop...anyway! We climbed 9 stories of steps to see the entire temple grounds and Suzhou city. The climb worked up a ferocious appetite so we headed into town for some Muslim treats...eggplant with green peppers, red chili pepper, cumin and slices of garlic...Yumm-O!!! Nan covered in sesame seeds and cilantro...the meal couldn't get any better!
Day 4
Off to Hangzhou...anticipating a smooth transfer just like Suzhou, but not the case. Apparently the train leaves from the South station (not the North like Suzhou). So off to the south train station to purchase new tickets...no refunds on the old tickets and just an hour behind...so over all not bad. Immediately arriving in Hangzhou we spy a DQ...DQ does it right...and next minute we were having blizzards!!!! After inhaling our blizzards we rented bikes and headed for the causeways! This was the most relaxing time I've had in China...no one yelling hello at me...no one crowding around me as I open my English to Mandarin phrasebook...none of it!! We rode our bikes for about 5-6 hours and then took a paddle boat ride to Lord Ruan's Mound and Mid-Lake Pavilion, the latter of which is the smallest and earliest. Another one of the most relaxing moments...even if it only lasted an hour. :) (sigh) Our last stop in Hangzhou...Papa John's for some cheesesticks!!! P-A-P-A baby!!!
Day 5
Bags...watches...shoes...This is the phrase that all of the street hawkers knew clearly! I can't even imagine to tell you how many secret knockoff back rooms we'd been to! Although one is a memory that will last forever. So Kristin is approached yet by another bags...watches...shoes...seller and we are off at the Chinese pace...which is a fast walk, almost to a competitive level. In this room we find the usual fakes: Coach, Prada, Diesel, Rolex and many more. So Kristin immediately checks out a Coach and it is a horrible copy! So she asks for better quality and the next we know the guy is pushing on a shelf of bags and low and behold there is another room! We just start cracking up!!! It was hysterical. So nothing there tickles her fancy, so we ask for more and with another push of a shelf, there's yet another room!!! CRAZY!!! In this room there weren't many good options either, so I anticipate another room and I begin pushing on a shelf or 3 and to our dismay...nothing!! Everyone just started laughing at me...hey I had to give it a try!!! Wish I would've taken a pic of that!!
Last Day in Shanghai :(
Off to a real Peking Opera! A high-class meal at Subway...Eat Fresh!...was had prior to the show. Again, we were slightly disappointed with the show...I guess our expectations were too high??? There was initially some fighting, but then it was all singing and not much acting, but we made it through the entire performance. The rest of the crowd loved it and cheers and applause were given frequently. We didn't know why, either?? Out of the theater we see a torrential downpour...hail and wind gusts turning umbrellas inside out!!! So for 20 yuan, we bought two umbrellas and head for the Royal Meridian Hotel...a hotel we frequented to use it's lovely bathroom...as we approached the doorman said "Welcome Back"! I guess we tinkled there a little more often than we noticed! After cleaning ourselves up we decided it was time for wine. The was our 30th birthday party celebration!!! We sat for hours chatting and laughing while sipping our South African Cabernet and eating spiced cashews! As not to look like big alcoholics, we headed to the Jin Mao Tower to Cloud 9 on the 87th floor for yet another Cabernet, roasted duck, spicy fried tofu and lovely spring rolls! Even through my wine goggles the view was spectacular. Shanghai all lit up in it's beauty!! Flickering lights here, color-changing lights there...(sigh)!! To top our wonderful birthday celebration off we were entertained by a magician at our table. Card tricks, ring and necklace tricks (Yangtze cruise friends are all well aware of this one thanks to Michael!) and a disappearing/reappearing scarf trick! After 3 bottles of wine anything was entertaining to me!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!!!!
