Shanghai Adventures

Life is finally starting to settle back down after our move to Michigan and our end of summer adventures. While Sharon was basking on the sunny beaches of Hawaii and enjoying being with the family and friends, I was hard at work in Shanghai...kind of. I was in a three week training for work, which besides teaching some practical work skills also gave us a great cultural experience. We were in classes 8-5, Monday -Friday, but had the evenings and weekends to get out and explore Shanghai and the surrounding areas. I ended up spending all my time in Shanghai and learned about pearls, bartered and bought, acquired some nice tailor made clothes, ate some interesting food, and enjoyed strolling along 'The Bund' (the river front). I've included some of the pictures from getting out.

 We had a subway not far from the hotel we were in so I got out a lot. I was surprised at how easy it was to navigate. It was also pretty clean and safe.

 I could never figure out why they had these 'Look Out' signs on ceiling that were not really that low.

 I loved running into these kids playing a pokemon type of game in the stairwell of the subway. I had never seen little boys so into a card game, they were yelling and jumping around, I think mimicking the actions of the characters they were playing.

 The TV tower.

 On Sundays in the People's Square parents gather with little ads for their single children (the pieces of paper you see hanging behind them) Then walk around and try to workout dating and/or marriage arrangements for their busy children.

 A presentation given to us on the many diverse cultures and races in China and their diverse clothing, language, and rituals.

 The Jade Buddha Temple.

Giant Replica of the reclining Buddha (One of the two Jade Buddha statues here)

The Goldfish were very beautiful. I know Ira would have loved seeing them.

Shanghai

 Downtown lights up at night, until about 11:00 or 12:00 then they start shutting all the lights off.

The old colonial building line one side of the river, this is what they call the Bund.

The newer development line the other side of the river. 

 Shanghai has been growing incredibly fast. Many of the skyscrapers and buildings are beautiful, modern looking buildings finished in the last 10-15 years.

 I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the traditional against the modern China.

 The following pictures are from the Yu Garden.

 This was a bustling tourist location in the day time. I went out a few times in the evening just as the shops were closing and got to see it practically empty with all the lights on. It was pretty cool.

 I liked the artful rock architecture.

 I like the round doors. I don't know if it is just that it reminds me of hobbits and Lord of The Rings or just the concept being so opposite our square doors.

 In many respects you don't get the feeling that his is a communist country. You see many many signs of capitalism including familiar franchise names.

 Water Village Photos

We went just outside Shanghai one day to a 'Water Village'. I guess they call it the 'Venice' of China. We got rides in these boats then shopped along the canal. It was authentic enough, but as I left and walked out onto the street I got the feeling the experience was more commercialized and tourist focused than I cared to admit while experiencing it. That became a theme on several of the planned 'tour' destinations. Really gave me a new appreciation for the 'Exit through the Gift Shop' mentality that tourist destinations have; a silk mill full of old equipment and few workers that didn't appear like it really produced anything, at least there was no way it produced the goods found in the immaculate shop as we came out the other end. The pearl and tea shops we stopped at were similar experiences.