China Life

This is part of the kitchen of a home in China. We were able to go into one of the local homes and to see what it is like. They fed about 15 of us dinner. This family happened to be well off because they owned their home and their own court yard. Mrs. Wong was a very beautiful woman. She had retired from working in a tea house to take care of her mother. Taking care of all the generations is very important to them. Many times we would see grandparents with the young children while the parents were working.

The beginning of the dinner they fed us. Everyone drinks Coke or Beer over there. We had to ask for water. We didn't eat much that night especially after we saw the snake wine on the counter with a real snake in it.
Almost everyone owns washing machines but not dryers. This is an example of a apartment building with the wash hanging out side. Even the nicest apartment buildings would have laundry hanging out.
More Laundry in Shanghai

This is what the public toilets look like. Most of the time this is what they have in their homes. Some of the older communities have only a public toilet.. The first time was an interesting experience. Tip for travel in China: Bring your own toilet paper and make sure you have it with you at all times.
It sure is good to be home.

This is Kim, Simon our guide, Me and Pat our friend. Simon was once a High School teacher. He taught English. Every morning on the bus he would teach us a couple of new Chinese words or phrases.

Kim trying to haggle a price for some coins. He drew quite a crowd. We found out that the coins were knock offs. The owner of the booth wouldn't give him his money back. We had to settle for a bracelet. I love it. Word to the not so wise. Don't give them money and expect change back you might get counterfeit. Make sure what you're are buying is real. If it sounds like a good deal it probably isn't.

This is the grand canal. The Chinese started construction in 480 B.C. It was finally finished in 610 A.D. They call it the Venus of the East because Marco Polo thought it reminded him of his home in Italy. Most people in China hang their clothing out t0 dry. Very few of them have dryers. Our guide said that that was their national flag. The canal was originally lined with tile and built with slave labor.

Another view of the Grand Canal. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

My thoughts on China

Tiger Hill Garden View

Well it took a few days to get over the Jet lag.
We are glad to be home.
We did have a great time though.
Our days were packed with things to do every minute.
So tired every night that we just fell into bed.

I thought China was a country of extremes.
Very rich and very poor.
Very beautiful and very polluted.
Very old and very New.
Some arrogant but mostly very friendly.

It was a photographers and artists paradise.
Great business opportunities and free enterprise very much alive.
I never saw so many bikes and scooters in my life.
People everywhere.
I wish you all could have been there to share it with us.

I will be posting some of my favorite photos over the next few days. I hope you will enjoy them.

See you in Beijing

Well, the bags are not packed but we are almost ready to go. It doesn't seem real that we are going to China.
I remember as a child trying to dig a hole to China with my friend Kristy. Of course we knew we couldn't do it but it was something to do down by the tree house fort on a summer day. Every child should have a tree fort. My Brothers built ours, but we tried to decorate it and put in a brick path to the tree and of course dig a hole to China.

The great wall of China here we come.