Look what we found in China. Gary Nightingale, our personal American Mandarin speaking guide. What a treat to have him guide us around. We saw much of the city in one day. Of course Gary said he had never seen it so deserted. It was cold and right after the big expo and just before Chinese New Year. Perfect timing. Gary was also meeting another friend of his from Grapevine who is checking out the feasibility of importing some items from China. That is the essence of Gary's business in China.
The Pearl tower is a Pudong landmark. Pudong is the new side of the city on the West side of the river. To get to the old city we rode in the most amazing underground tunnel car that is like a ride at Disney with flashing laser lights and neon. It zooms under the river in just minutes.
All the red laterns are for Chinese New Year. The year of the rabbit.
The Pudong skyline from the Bund side of the river looking at Pearl tower.
In the old section of city a street market decorated for Chinese New Year
Old China and New. There are over 400 Starbucks in China and they plan to add over 1000 in the next few years.
In old garden in the middle of city center all the buildings roofs are covered in sculptures like these.
Jon just barely fits so the old Chinese must have been sort of tall. Not too tiny.
Chinese shopping street
This house is the site where Chairman Mao started the Communist party in China. Turn 180 degrees. Across the street is this place. Kathleen's American Bar and Bistro. Locals find it amusing. We do too.
The fake market.. Going with Gary they opened the secret wall to get the good watches and we went into the secret door in the back to find the good purses. They almost also threw me out when they caught me taking pictures.
Into the secret room in the way back. The wall moves.
We are having a glass and celebrating our loot.
Magic at night
From our hotel window
The mall next to hotel decorated for Chinese New Year. Jon said he came to China to be intimidated because the whole mall was Chanel, Escada, Gucci and expensive jewelry stores. The grocery in the basement had a $4000 bottle of 2000 Chateau La tour among others.
Only Texans can pose with the flag so we found a few more.
View from hotel
On to Hangzhou
Sharp is one of Gary's employees in Hangzhou
So he got stuck driving us around.
This is heart of a tea growing region and we drove through the tea farms one afternoon. They are really beautiful as it is like wine. Growing up and down and around the hills in valleys in the mountains.
In the center of town is a large beautiful lake. Called West Lake. Our hotel was right on the lake and the whole shore is one continuous park. It is solid with azaleas and camelias so we can only imagine how glorious the spring is. Winter has it's own beauty. Trees are a tracery against the sky. A symphony in black and grey.
We had a contest to spot the funniest signs. I feel guilty making fun of their English with my own limited language skills.
Happy Bhudda
I don't think the guys were too serious. Sharp on the other hand was fairly devout and enjoyed going with us.
Offerings. I am sure Bhudda enjoyed them on a cold day.
The pond of the golden carp
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| The motor man |
We were not only ones out for a pleasure ride. However we were the only foreigners. After a while I began to feel famous because people asked me to have my picture taken usually with children. Gary thinks it is the blonde hair. It was sort of funny.
Not as funny as Gary though when he lost all pride due to the cold and wrapped his scarf around his head. Now that was funny.
Always the last minute negotiation before paying up
Another Bhudda on top of another hill. Yeah for the Chinese. This one had an escalator and an elevator.
Gold ceiling in the top of the temple and it is covered with the Bhudda hand sign that closely approximates an obscene gesture in our culture.
This is what you get when travelling with two engineers. They are fascinated by the fact this old pagoda is not even. Now why that matters escapes my mind but they think it is unique.
Food section
Instead of a menu we walked down the display of various things we could order. The first was fish head. The best part. Gary was doing all the ordering so we were a bit relieved that he didn't just love head and eel. Other than that nothing looked too bad.
Smoked something
End result and the food is amazing.
We passed on the foot but it provides great flavor
That evening we went to a period theme park and to see a Chinese show.
Gag photos we were stupid like kids and it was fun.
I always wanted to be empress and Gary wanted to be a warrior. His partner Bob who was stuck driving us around this day was our imperial advisor and of course Jonny is emperor. There is Bhudda at top of hill.
It is now cold and rainy. Oh well we must trudge on.
Chinese puppet show
The evening show had clowns and acrobats and lots of gorgous dancers and big production numbers.
Odds and Ends
They do not heat their homes and most do not heat offices. So in Gary's office they sit all bundled up. They do not want to waste heat. They also do not air condition homes and offices. In the one local restaurant we went in to they had a space heater just for us. The locals, no heat.
Bundle up is the word and those little fat babies are really not fat just buried in 8 layers of clothes.
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