After I blogged last night Jeff and I geared up for a night on the town. We went to an awesome Beijing Duck dinner where Jeff got his first "real" taste of Chinese cuisine. After our dinner we took a taxi to the Cloud 9 bar, located on the 87th floor of the Jinmao Tower. The bar was extremely nice and we may go back at some point to bask in the view once more.
Since it was pouring all morning we ended up sleeping in until about noon. Although the rain never stopped for the rest of the day we managed to get over to the Shanghai Museum. The museum was at the southern edge of the Renmin Park, only a mile walk from our hotel but by the time we got there our clothes and shoes were soaking wet.
The Shanghai Museum is a collection of historical Chinese artifacts. The main exhibits were made up of an Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery, Ancient Chinese Sculpture Gallery, Ceramics Gallery, Calligraphy Gallery, Painting Gallery, and Jade Gallery. Each gallery had artifacts dating as far back as the 21st century B.C.
Right now we're relaxing at the hotel and planning out our itinerary for the remainder of the trip. Hope everything is good back home!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
Day Thirty-Nine
I woke up early this morning to a bright and shining Shanghai day. Although the day started little later we managed to kind of get out of the city to see the Longhua Si Temple. The most notable attraction at the temple is its 1700 year old pagoda. The padgoda stands about 40 meters high and has stood the test of times. During the Cultural Revolution the communist youth Red Guards plastered propaganda banners to cover the entire structure.
While we were at the temple we took pictures of the beautiful bronze and gold Buddha statues. Once we left the temple we walked to the Martyr's Cemetery which is the location where many soldiers who died during the communist revolution were buried. Since we didn't have shoes on we weren't allowed to go into the monument at the center of the park but we walked around and took pictures of the beautiful gardens.
Next stop of the day was to the Xiangyang Clothing Market. The clothing market was supposed to be very similar to the Pearl Market in Beijing, ( knock of designer wears, fake watches, cheap ties and all for haggling). Unfortunately, the market is no more. Apparently about a year ago they leveled the building to build the foundation for another sky scraper.
We walked back to the hotel and we're just going to hang out for awhile before we go to dinner...it was a long walk. Tonight we're planning on going to the Jinmao Tower and Cloud 9 bar at the top. See you guys tomorrow!
While we were at the temple we took pictures of the beautiful bronze and gold Buddha statues. Once we left the temple we walked to the Martyr's Cemetery which is the location where many soldiers who died during the communist revolution were buried. Since we didn't have shoes on we weren't allowed to go into the monument at the center of the park but we walked around and took pictures of the beautiful gardens.
Next stop of the day was to the Xiangyang Clothing Market. The clothing market was supposed to be very similar to the Pearl Market in Beijing, ( knock of designer wears, fake watches, cheap ties and all for haggling). Unfortunately, the market is no more. Apparently about a year ago they leveled the building to build the foundation for another sky scraper.
We walked back to the hotel and we're just going to hang out for awhile before we go to dinner...it was a long walk. Tonight we're planning on going to the Jinmao Tower and Cloud 9 bar at the top. See you guys tomorrow!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Day Thirty-Eight
Today was a little bit more eventful then yesterday. I woke up a little early, nine o'clock, and got ready for my friend Jeff's arrival. Around 11:30am I went down to the hotel Lobby Bar to wait for Jeff. I ordered some tea and read my book for about half an hour before he arrived. When Jeff arrived we sat and talked for a little before gearing up to tour the city.
The first stop of the day was to the Yuan Yu area. Near Yuan Yu there are an abundance of shops and restaurants. We stopped at a Shanghainese restaurant for crab and shark's fin soup. After lunch we walked around the district a little before walking to the Bund.
We strolled along the Bund, a stretch of walkway lined with souvenir shops along the Huangpu River, and tried to figure out how to get across to the other side of the river. We were unsuccessful, and had to head back into the city to board the metro.
When we got onto the other side of the river we disembarked our train and headed for the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The Pearl TV Tower is similar to the TV tower that we visited in Macau. The only difference being that the Shanghai TV tower is much taller than the Macau Tower and it also has a spherical section that has a space city exibition and rollercoaster.
We've been relaxing and the hotel since then and we're going to catch a late dinner soon. Night everyone!
The first stop of the day was to the Yuan Yu area. Near Yuan Yu there are an abundance of shops and restaurants. We stopped at a Shanghainese restaurant for crab and shark's fin soup. After lunch we walked around the district a little before walking to the Bund.
We strolled along the Bund, a stretch of walkway lined with souvenir shops along the Huangpu River, and tried to figure out how to get across to the other side of the river. We were unsuccessful, and had to head back into the city to board the metro.
When we got onto the other side of the river we disembarked our train and headed for the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The Pearl TV Tower is similar to the TV tower that we visited in Macau. The only difference being that the Shanghai TV tower is much taller than the Macau Tower and it also has a spherical section that has a space city exibition and rollercoaster.
We've been relaxing and the hotel since then and we're going to catch a late dinner soon. Night everyone!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Day Thirty-Seven
What's up everybody and welcome to Shanghai! Other than getting settled in to my hotel I haven't done much today. My plane dropped down around noon. Once I got in I boarded the only commercially operated Maglev train to get to the city. I'm sure you guys have heard of them, but maglev trains, are suspended and propelled by the the force of magnets. The Shanghai Maglev transports people to and from the Airport and reaches a maximum speed of 267 MPH! I can't say for sure how fast we were going on our particular train but it felt like flying at a low altitude, buildings and the landscape literally shot by.
I got to the city within eight minutes, ( by car it usually takes fourty five minutes to an hour). Other than just walking around district I checked into my hotel this afternoon and watched TV. My hotel, The Metropole, itself actually has a little history. The Metropole was built in the early 1930's. It has survived through the Japanese invasion during the thirties and fourties as well as during the communist cultural revolution. Anyways, my friend Jeff gets in tomorrow morning and hopefully we'll start doing some site seeing!
If you want to check out the second portion of my pictures please click on the link below.
Asian Adventure Picture Mess Part Two
See you guys!
I got to the city within eight minutes, ( by car it usually takes fourty five minutes to an hour). Other than just walking around district I checked into my hotel this afternoon and watched TV. My hotel, The Metropole, itself actually has a little history. The Metropole was built in the early 1930's. It has survived through the Japanese invasion during the thirties and fourties as well as during the communist cultural revolution. Anyways, my friend Jeff gets in tomorrow morning and hopefully we'll start doing some site seeing!
If you want to check out the second portion of my pictures please click on the link below.
Asian Adventure Picture Mess Part Two
See you guys!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Day Thirty-Six
Not a very eventful day today. The morning started out with breakfast with the ladies. That is, Fiona's grandma, mom,and maid. After breakfast Fiona's family went outside the city to visit some cousins and left me to my own devices.
I ended up just hanging out in the room. Watched TV, read my book, worked out, napped, and exchanged some money.
Around seven o'clock Fiona's driver came and picked me up to take me to dinner with everyone. We had rice soup and ate a ridiculous amount of shellfish. I leave to go to Shanghai tomorrow. Peace!
I ended up just hanging out in the room. Watched TV, read my book, worked out, napped, and exchanged some money.
Around seven o'clock Fiona's driver came and picked me up to take me to dinner with everyone. We had rice soup and ate a ridiculous amount of shellfish. I leave to go to Shanghai tomorrow. Peace!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Day Thirty-Five
This morning started out bright and early again. Fiona's aunt woke me up around seven o'clock to go to the Macau Lighthouse and park right up the street from Fiona's apartment. We got to the top of the hill that the lighthouse is on and I took a couple pictures.
When I got back to the house I finished packing up my stuff and got ready to leave Macau to go to Foshan/Guangzhou. Once we got across the border and into mainland China one of Fiona's dad's drivers picked us up again. The drive to Foshan took about two hours.
Once we got to Foshan we went to the Foshan Hotel to meet up with Fiona's dad and some of his business associates for lunch. The first dish that was served for lunch was quite interesting. It was a soup with fried bees and seahorses in it. I didn't eat either but I did sip on the broth, which was actually quite good.
After lunch I went with Fiona's family to the Foshan Hospital. At the hospital Fiona spoke to the director about a substance abuse rehabilitation treatment that is being developed to replace methadone treatment. Fiona may try to hook up the director from the hospital with researchers at USC so that they may collaborate.
The next stop in Foshan was at Fiona's dad's factory. I mentioned it in another blog but in case you forgot, Fiona's dad makes thermostats for various companies. The building in Foshan is where the company began. Since 1991 the business has grown exponentially. The company started out on one floor but now occupies an entire nine story building as well as a newly built satellite factory outside of the city that supposedly is even bigger than the first. The conditions seemed very clean and safe, however, the work looked extremely difficult, (even in the face of the manual labor I've seen at dad's packing house). A majority of the employees, most of which are migrant workers and haven't gone to high school, aren't even over the age of eighteen.
After visiting the factory we drove around Foshan so that I could see the city. About an hour later our driver took us to meet back up with Fiona's dad for dinner. The most interesting dish of the meal had to have been the crocodile soup. Although I didn't eat any crocodile meat the broth had a distinct and unique flavor. We're staying at a hotel tonight and probably just hanging out in the city tomorrow. Night everyone.
When I got back to the house I finished packing up my stuff and got ready to leave Macau to go to Foshan/Guangzhou. Once we got across the border and into mainland China one of Fiona's dad's drivers picked us up again. The drive to Foshan took about two hours.
Once we got to Foshan we went to the Foshan Hotel to meet up with Fiona's dad and some of his business associates for lunch. The first dish that was served for lunch was quite interesting. It was a soup with fried bees and seahorses in it. I didn't eat either but I did sip on the broth, which was actually quite good.
After lunch I went with Fiona's family to the Foshan Hospital. At the hospital Fiona spoke to the director about a substance abuse rehabilitation treatment that is being developed to replace methadone treatment. Fiona may try to hook up the director from the hospital with researchers at USC so that they may collaborate.
The next stop in Foshan was at Fiona's dad's factory. I mentioned it in another blog but in case you forgot, Fiona's dad makes thermostats for various companies. The building in Foshan is where the company began. Since 1991 the business has grown exponentially. The company started out on one floor but now occupies an entire nine story building as well as a newly built satellite factory outside of the city that supposedly is even bigger than the first. The conditions seemed very clean and safe, however, the work looked extremely difficult, (even in the face of the manual labor I've seen at dad's packing house). A majority of the employees, most of which are migrant workers and haven't gone to high school, aren't even over the age of eighteen.
After visiting the factory we drove around Foshan so that I could see the city. About an hour later our driver took us to meet back up with Fiona's dad for dinner. The most interesting dish of the meal had to have been the crocodile soup. Although I didn't eat any crocodile meat the broth had a distinct and unique flavor. We're staying at a hotel tonight and probably just hanging out in the city tomorrow. Night everyone.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Day Thirty-Four
So today was a little bit more eventful than yesterday... I went to Hong Kong! I was pretty close to not even going too. Last night I couldn't fall asleep, ( I think I stayed up until 4:30 in the morning, just trying to read myself to sleep). Despite my utter exhaustion from almost no sleep I managed to gather enough energy to get up, get ready, and go to the dock to catch our boat.
We got to Hong Kong around ten o'clock and right on time to see the Handover Parade at the Happy Valley Sports grounds. In case you didn't know, Hong Kong, exactly ten years ago, was a British colony. In 1997 England gave Hong Kong back to the Republic of China. July 1st of this year celebrated the Tenth Anniversary since the handover, (quite a big deal for Hong Kong). There were multiple ceremonies, including parades, sports matches, and other miscellaneous festivities.
The Happy Valley Sports grounds was the point at which the main Handover parade began. The main portion of the show consisted of synchronized skydivers flying down in different costumes with flares, smoke bombs, and fireworks.
When we finished at the sports grounds we grabbed a taxi and went to Hong Kong's Times Square. Although Hong Kong's Times Square is nothing like New York's it was still amazing. We ate lunch at the Times Square and then took off to the Peak Galleria.
The Peak Galleria is a giant shopping mall at the top of a hill that sits behind Hong Kong. It can be reached by one of two ways; tram or taxi. We opted to take a taxi but came back on the tram. While we were at the peak we took a bunch of pictures of Hong Kong's amazing cityscape.
Once we got back to the base of the hill we hired a taxi to take us to Victoria Park. Unfortunately, the cultural parade we had hoped to see ended up being a Worker's Rights March. Not really in the mood to be activists we jumped out of the taxi and just explored the city on foot.
We walked to the Hong Kong Convention Center, located on the ocean and then walked all the way to Hong Kong's Soho district. At the Soho district we had a small snack and a couple drinks at a bar called Staunton's. Once we finished with our snack we had a taxi take us to Lan Kwai Fong, a district filled with various flavors of bars and pubs. By the time we finished our drinks we were pretty tired. We shot back down to the Hong Kong dock and hopped onto a ferry to come back to Macau. Home sweet home now, I think we're going to watch a movie tonight and then catch up on some sleep. Night everyone.
We got to Hong Kong around ten o'clock and right on time to see the Handover Parade at the Happy Valley Sports grounds. In case you didn't know, Hong Kong, exactly ten years ago, was a British colony. In 1997 England gave Hong Kong back to the Republic of China. July 1st of this year celebrated the Tenth Anniversary since the handover, (quite a big deal for Hong Kong). There were multiple ceremonies, including parades, sports matches, and other miscellaneous festivities.
The Happy Valley Sports grounds was the point at which the main Handover parade began. The main portion of the show consisted of synchronized skydivers flying down in different costumes with flares, smoke bombs, and fireworks.
When we finished at the sports grounds we grabbed a taxi and went to Hong Kong's Times Square. Although Hong Kong's Times Square is nothing like New York's it was still amazing. We ate lunch at the Times Square and then took off to the Peak Galleria.
The Peak Galleria is a giant shopping mall at the top of a hill that sits behind Hong Kong. It can be reached by one of two ways; tram or taxi. We opted to take a taxi but came back on the tram. While we were at the peak we took a bunch of pictures of Hong Kong's amazing cityscape.
Once we got back to the base of the hill we hired a taxi to take us to Victoria Park. Unfortunately, the cultural parade we had hoped to see ended up being a Worker's Rights March. Not really in the mood to be activists we jumped out of the taxi and just explored the city on foot.
We walked to the Hong Kong Convention Center, located on the ocean and then walked all the way to Hong Kong's Soho district. At the Soho district we had a small snack and a couple drinks at a bar called Staunton's. Once we finished with our snack we had a taxi take us to Lan Kwai Fong, a district filled with various flavors of bars and pubs. By the time we finished our drinks we were pretty tired. We shot back down to the Hong Kong dock and hopped onto a ferry to come back to Macau. Home sweet home now, I think we're going to watch a movie tonight and then catch up on some sleep. Night everyone.
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