Shanghai--the Metropolitan China

I found my Chinese home!  While Zhengzhou is calm, growing, and regionally-reputable, I discovered the Chinese city for me in Shanghai.  I have yet to experience Nanjing, Guangzhou/Shenzhen, and Xi'an, but like the metropolis that is New York and Frankfurt, as is Shanghai.

 

I met a friend, Clare, in Shanghai during the students' testing period.  Poor students are taking 4 days of mid-term exams and I'm drinking Starbucks in Shanghai.  Clare and I both came to China through the same company--EMW China.

We weren't dead-set on seeing the sights, but strolled around the city and eventually came across "the Bund", a heavily commercial area known for it's skyline and evening views over the river.  Note the internationally-recognizable Pearl Tower sticking out behind Rick's head.

Not being sightseers, we went shopping.  Clare insisted that with her impeccable style (as seen here) she could save me from mine.

All day Thursday we spent shopping along NanJing road.  The street features a pedestrian shopping road and many western amenities, including Marks & Spencer.  I had no idea what it was, it being a United Kingdom store, but Clare was ecstatic to find "brown sauce".  That just doesn't sound appetizing to me.  Yet, I now like Marks & Spencer since they sold ground coffee!  My first real, home-brewed coffee.  Thank you, Marks & Spencer.

Shanghai being a metropolitan city, we also came to experience the night life!  This is where the most stories always originate, including the "thrill" that is waiting for women to get ready.  Once everyone's finally ready, the night brings adventures like multi-story lounges, taste-testing a wine (saying to the server that it's not good and getting the response, "Too bad.  It's already open."  What restaurant does that?) and eventually throwing away a 3/4 full bottle--the Chinese just cannot make a good wine, running into Germans between bars and getting directions in German, and dining at KFC to finish the night.

From such nights result the above carnage.  (Note that it's basically a woman's stuff everywhere?  Make-up, shoes, purses, and the slew of outfits tried on before deciding what to eventually wear.)

 

All in all, Shanghai is a beautiful and exciting city.  There's no shortage of shops, parks, culture, and Starbucks. Like Frankfurt and New York, it's an international city--certainly worth a return trip!

Halloween in China!

It's Halloween and China or not believe you me, I'm celebrating!  (Okay, it's two weeks later, but I was in Shanghai for the first week, then I was sick all this week, blah, etc. Good?  If you need any more excuses, I can always come up with some.  A good debater always has hot air to blow.)

Jack-o-lantern carving was to be part of the festivities, along with the name-the-body-part game for the Senior 3 students.

First comes the costume:

Here's the normal Rick; slick and with a tie.  Bright blue eyes and bright white skin.

...add the Halloween Costume.  (the horns light up, too!)

Let's see how the students react!

Somehow I don't believe that's a look of comfort and security in Carol's face.

 On this Halloween, instead of throwing a poorly-attended party, I darkened the room for our mid-day class and prepared the reach-into-the-bucket-and-touch-some-food-but-you-think-it's-a-body-part game.

And what do you know, my attendance doubled for the day!  Surprise!  The senior 3 students attend sporadically, because they are inundated with homework and preparations for the higher education entrance exam, but on this day my typical attendance count skyrocketed.

As is important for the game, everyone must be blindfolded.  With double the attendees, I hadn't planned enough blindfolds, but being resourceful, I used T.P. and the students looked like outpatients from a bad mental facility.  I think it added to the ambiance.

We started with the Brain!  (Some odd vegetable thing I found in the grocery store.  It smelled like a brain!)  From here we included ears, eyes, hair, nose, blood, and the worms feasting on the remains!  All were imitated by foods found at the local grocery store.

But best of all, don't forget the heart!  As I said, all were imitated by foods from the local grocery store--in China you can buy a pig's heart like any other meat.  Being that a market-weight pig weighs 250 pounds, it's nearly a perfect match for human!  How could I resist?

After the foray through the remains of our victim, the students all headed for a thorough hand wash, but not before snapping photos with the Halloween props.

Following the Senior 3 (12th graders), Senior 2 (11th graders) carved Jack-o-lanterns.

They learned step-by-step to cut out the top, scoop out the insides, and carve the face.

Jesmine proudly displaying her design (before having to carve it).  Just to comment, Chinese pumpkins are much smaller and have a very thick rind, very good for baking, very difficult for jack-o-lanterns.

Thus, when the students discovered that their intricate drawings for the face were too difficult, some resorted to other designs for their final product--here the ravenous rabbit.

But the groups all fared very well and successfully made jack-o-lanterns for Halloween 2010.  Plus, not a single injury among 50 students! (thank goodness)

...and, of course, the students' carving and games were followed by mounds of candy.  A complete Halloween.

Later Days,
Rick

Beijing--The Northern and Cultural Capital

Welcome to Beijing!  We will be your guides through the adventure.  Who are we, you ask.  Well, there's Rick in the middle and a whole bunch of Chinese girls.  Who are they?  No Idea! Should you be alarmed?  Not at all!  This is completely normal for China.  If you look Western, expect to be viewed as another tourist sight.

We'll begin in the Forbidden City.  Since Beijing has been the capital of China, this enclosed area was the home to the emperor, until the People's Republic of China began its formation.  Here's Philipp in the first open square.

Did you know that the entrances to esteemed Chinese buildings are typically guarded by two lions?  That's right, the one on the left will have his paw resting on a ball, symbolizing control of the empire, while the one on the right has a paw shielding a cub, indicating the female and the continuation of the empire.  Once you know this, you may find it enlightening, but it gets to the point that you see it everywhere.

Please, stop by our many beautiful gift shops, like the one here.  Don't be fooled, the first price is always too high.  First the man said 50 Yuan for the mask; I showed my disinterest by turning around and he shouted 10 yuan!  That's the price I took.

North of the Forbidden City is a great area for dining and night life.  The prices are set for tourists, but the scenery makes up for it.

What would you like for breakfast?  Some may have porridge or this black rice soup (still don't know what it is), but I recommend the Baozi--it's a pork ball inside steamed bread.  It's one of the least oily foods I find and it's delicious and inexpensive.

Don't miss the Beijing Duck.  There's tons of restaurants for it and it's tender meat with a crispy, seasoned skin. 

And while you're at it, try one of my favorites--spicy green beans.  There's minimal oil, tons of flavor, and just enough pepper to make your tongue warm not burning.  Anyone know the Chinese name for these so I can find them again?

Where are we off to next?  Well there's a line of cars about 2 km long; it's faster to walk along the road, and it looks like it's in the middle of nowhere.  Guesses?

We'd like to thank our sponsors, Kentucky Fried Chicken.  Even if you're visiting world landmarks in an uninhabited area, we'll be there to meet your dietary needs!

And now back from our sponsors, we're at the Great Wall of China!  Philipp wasn't able to make it due to digestive challenges.  We both ate the same foods, Philipp, I guess, is more sensitive than I am.  Of course, we both had medicine should this happen...but it was all sitting back in Zhengzhou.

The Wall. Archeologists conclude that the wall, in total, covers 8,000 Km, and I was lucky enough to see this stretch of it on a clear, fresh, autumn day.  Looks like Philipp just has to trek back to China and come with me to Beijing again. Bummer.

Let me simply say, architecture wasn't what it is today.  Here is a shot head on of the wall.  It appears to go straight up, because it basically does.  It contours to the hills and, if cliff-like, that's what the wall does.  This is a bit too unpredictable to be an "undiscovered" jogging path. 

Like I said, a beautiful autumn day.  I love the seasons.  Vacation spots?  Keep 'em.  I want four distinct times of year.

And these are my highlights of Beijing.  Thank you for joining me.  I'll leave you here between the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Imperial Garden.  Thanks for coming along!

Later Days,
Rick