Saturday, October 22, 2011
still trucking
Dear FFF:
This is the most amazing city!! Ancient and modern all mixed together and alive from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm everywhere you go.
I have had a really busy week with my friend Pam (the gal I met in the airport) We have been to the antique market....street after street of old men selling wares of every imaginable thing......I bought an old opium pipe. The fabric market where you can have anything you want made to order. Want a cashmere coat? pick out a picture and your fabric (or bring an old coat and they will copy) and they will have make in three days........$60 - $70. Suits, dresses, blouses, absolutely anything.
Pearl market anyone? Silk market? I've seen em all and having a ball. We also went to Fuxing Park. What a morning........people singing, dancing, playing music, doing TaiChi, and just being happy. So fun to watch a bunch of Chinese doing the Texas Two Step! Older men and women walking backwards through the park (Cleans the mind) and men of all ages sitting and playing MahJong and drinking their tea!
Next Monday, I fly to Beijing and stay til Thursday. I have the name of my hotel written in Chinese so I can get a taxi to get me there from the airport. Everywhere you go, you have to have things written in Chinese characters because I haven't met a tai driver yet that speaks English. I am staying at a major hotel in Beijing so should be able to get on some English speaking tours.......want to go to The Great Wall and hopefully The Forbidden City. I could stay here a year and not see all there is to see!
Look forward to talking to everyone in November.
Love, GG
This is the most amazing city!! Ancient and modern all mixed together and alive from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm everywhere you go.
I have had a really busy week with my friend Pam (the gal I met in the airport) We have been to the antique market....street after street of old men selling wares of every imaginable thing......I bought an old opium pipe. The fabric market where you can have anything you want made to order. Want a cashmere coat? pick out a picture and your fabric (or bring an old coat and they will copy) and they will have make in three days........$60 - $70. Suits, dresses, blouses, absolutely anything.
Pearl market anyone? Silk market? I've seen em all and having a ball. We also went to Fuxing Park. What a morning........people singing, dancing, playing music, doing TaiChi, and just being happy. So fun to watch a bunch of Chinese doing the Texas Two Step! Older men and women walking backwards through the park (Cleans the mind) and men of all ages sitting and playing MahJong and drinking their tea!
Next Monday, I fly to Beijing and stay til Thursday. I have the name of my hotel written in Chinese so I can get a taxi to get me there from the airport. Everywhere you go, you have to have things written in Chinese characters because I haven't met a tai driver yet that speaks English. I am staying at a major hotel in Beijing so should be able to get on some English speaking tours.......want to go to The Great Wall and hopefully The Forbidden City. I could stay here a year and not see all there is to see!
Look forward to talking to everyone in November.
Love, GG
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Zhu Jia Jiao
Took a tour today to this ancient city located on the water canals of western Shanghai. Took an hour and a half on bus, and we were still in Shanghai......over 23 million in this city!
The village was incredible!!! Our tour guide spoke very good English and there was so much history in this area. Things dating back to BC. We toured temple, gardens, and then took a ride down the can on a gondola. Lunch in a local restaurant was excellent, but I have no idea what I ate. I did, however, drink soda out of the can.....no ice. Water here much like Mexico. Public restrooms are a hoot. A stall, sort of, with a ceramic circle over some primitive plumbing. You must squat (tough with my knees, but did it) there is a basket of small tissues that you wipe with then throw in another basket, so as not to clog up ducting. I now know to drink very little when I am out in public.
Today a friend (I met in the Detroit airport also coming over here) picked me up (she has a driver) and we met with 4 of her friends for coffee then out to lunch. We were suppose to go to the pearl market but it started to rain so we just did some local shopping. So many different sights and sounds.......smells too, but I haven't yet gotten use to them. Raw fish, poultry, frogs and eels.........ugh.
More adventures everyday....loving every minute of it.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
getting around
FFF:
Been staying pretty close within "the compound" but starting to venture out a little. We all took a trip to another corner of Shanghai to a Chinese Antique Furniture Store. It was located in a back alley within the city (driver Jin Rong took us there) some really cool stuff, but I don't need any furniture. Dave & Kelly found a cool chest which they are going to use as a coffee table.
Kelly and I took the bikes and rode out of the compound to a store (had an American section...very small) but we bought a lot of local stuff, filled the basket on my bike, and peddled home. There are millions of people walking, riding bikes, and scooters just hurrying are scurrying.......like a bunch of ants. It's not Kansas Toto!!!!
Went to the Science center one day and accepted a lot of stares! People are fascinated by Murphy's light skin and blonde hair; especially the older women. It's quite common for people to ask to take their picture with her. She is quite willing, and stands in there with a bit smile
The following picture are of Dave and Kelly's house and inside the compound. Once around is a mile and beautiful so get lots of good walks in. The waterfall is within the compound. The sky line is what we see from the park within.
Oops, Dave's computer is not compatible with my camera's memory stick, so after we find a solution, I will post pictures. Miss you all, but having a great time........love, Joyce
Monday, October 3, 2011
CHINA
Dear FF:
I can't believe it, but here I am, half way around the world!!! I left Detroit Saturday afternoon at 4:30 and arrived in Shanghai Sunday 6:40 pm. Fourteen hours in the air!!
While waiting at Metro Airport, I met a lady from Waterford who was on her way to Shanghai to be with her husband who also works for GM. She comes over to China twice a year and her hubby goes back to the States a couple times a year. Anyhow, we struck up a conversation and she lives not too far from Dave & Kelly. We exchanged email addresses and we are going to get together next week and do something. She also has a driver, so will go to lunch and maybe shopping.
Also, I sat next to a man who lives in Shanghai and he gave me nay suggestions of places to go and things to see.......is going to be a great trip.
Dave and his driver, Jin Rong, met me at the airport and we headed to Dave & Kelly's house. Murphy and Duncan were anxiously waiting for Grandma's arrival. I got hugs and kisses! I was exhausted and hit the hay pretty quickly (after a glass of wine.)
The fun started today.........Kelly took me to the local spa where we had a shoulder, hand, foot and leg massage. WOW...........the room was so dark, Kelly had to walk me to the chair. The massage therapist came in and laid me back in the recliner. Then heaven began.............first a warm weight (like a rice filled bag) was laid on my abdomen, then she placed my feet in a warm bath. Next she came behind me and massaged my shoulders and stretched my neck by gently pulling my head. After that area, she massaged my hands, fingers, and arms. She woke me up when she went around and started to wash my feet (now I know how Jesus felt). Then there was the warm oil and and massage of feet, toes, and legs up to knees. TOTAL RELAXATION!
We are all just hanging around the house today...........kids and I did get a chance to walk around the compound (115 houses in a gated community) I will get some pictures soon and post on blog, so keep checking!!!
Zai xain
I can't believe it, but here I am, half way around the world!!! I left Detroit Saturday afternoon at 4:30 and arrived in Shanghai Sunday 6:40 pm. Fourteen hours in the air!!
While waiting at Metro Airport, I met a lady from Waterford who was on her way to Shanghai to be with her husband who also works for GM. She comes over to China twice a year and her hubby goes back to the States a couple times a year. Anyhow, we struck up a conversation and she lives not too far from Dave & Kelly. We exchanged email addresses and we are going to get together next week and do something. She also has a driver, so will go to lunch and maybe shopping.
Also, I sat next to a man who lives in Shanghai and he gave me nay suggestions of places to go and things to see.......is going to be a great trip.
Dave and his driver, Jin Rong, met me at the airport and we headed to Dave & Kelly's house. Murphy and Duncan were anxiously waiting for Grandma's arrival. I got hugs and kisses! I was exhausted and hit the hay pretty quickly (after a glass of wine.)
The fun started today.........Kelly took me to the local spa where we had a shoulder, hand, foot and leg massage. WOW...........the room was so dark, Kelly had to walk me to the chair. The massage therapist came in and laid me back in the recliner. Then heaven began.............first a warm weight (like a rice filled bag) was laid on my abdomen, then she placed my feet in a warm bath. Next she came behind me and massaged my shoulders and stretched my neck by gently pulling my head. After that area, she massaged my hands, fingers, and arms. She woke me up when she went around and started to wash my feet (now I know how Jesus felt). Then there was the warm oil and and massage of feet, toes, and legs up to knees. TOTAL RELAXATION!
We are all just hanging around the house today...........kids and I did get a chance to walk around the compound (115 houses in a gated community) I will get some pictures soon and post on blog, so keep checking!!!
Zai xain
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