Saturday, May 25, 2013

Happy Birthday Jean

Ever since we went to China Jean has been looking at woks.  So, John got her one for her birthday and now hopes for wonderful asian food as a result!  Thanks John!!
 Our first attempt--boy that cast iron heats up 
slowly, but stays a nice constant temp!
Our first meal - chicken and veggie stirfry.
Quite good - have to love the lotus room...
the Asian Market is my new friend!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

May 4th again....finally home!

Soon after we crossed the International Date Line and we were living May 4th again, we flew over Alaska...lots of snow. 
Then over the Yukon region of Canada..lots of frozen lakes...
then over the Canadian Rockies - really a lot of snow!
Gorgeous!
and then finally on the ground at O'Hare.
Oddly enough we ran into Luann and Sig in
line behind us at Passport Control...they left
before we did...weird...but nice to see them once more!
Then off to Durham and home!

In closing we can't say enough good things about the incredible 6 weeks we've just completed.  The Baird's were wonderful hosts as always and it's always a blessing to spend time with them!  As for China, we couldn't have asked for a better adventure.  The pre-planning was outstanding and Mei, our guide was incredible!  The small group of 10 was the perfect size and the varied personalities meshed together nicely.  There was a lot of laughter and sharing throughout the whole trip.  And we would highly recommend Road Scholar trips to anyone!  Thanks to everyone for a wonderful trip!

Heading Home -

We got up and had breakfast with the folks who are leaving at 8 am.  After we bid them goodbye at the bus, we headed out to the nearby Daning-Lingshi Park with Luann and Sig.
When we passed by the display area of the fashionable
Mall where we did tai chi, we noted they had
changed the creative flower arrangements.
The Park is huge and bustling with people.  We decided to just wander.  There were several wonderful sculptures of children's stories.  This one was about Kong Rong Gave Away Bigger Pear.  The story is:  In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a person called Kong Rong.  He was very smart ever since he was a little boy.  He had five older brothers and one younger brother.  One day his father bought some pears, picking one of the largest and giving it to Kong Rong delibrately.  But Kong Rong shook his head and picked up the smallest one.  His dad was very curious, and asked: "Why?"  Kong Rong said: "I am younger, so I should eat the smaller pear, and brothers should eat the biggest ones."  His dad was very glad after hearing his words, but asked further: "What about your younger brother who is younger than you are?"  Kong Rong said: "I am older than him, so I should leave the bigger one to my little brother."  Moral:  Affection and modesty should be in everyone's heart from childhood.
This story was Cao Chong Weighed the Elephant.  During the Three States period, there was a clever kid named Cao Chong, who was Cao Cao's son.  At the boy's age of seven, Sun Quan presented Cao Cao an elephant.  All the official in Cao Cao's family were so amazed and they guessed how heavy the animal could weigh, but no one could work out an accurate result.  So Cao Cao asked all, "Who can weigh the elephant?"  At this time, the seven year old Cao Chong stood out, "Father, I've got it."  "How?" asked the father to the boy, then Cao Chong answered, "Put the elephant on a boat, then the boat will sink a bit; after that, mark the shipboard with a line along the water level, then put the animal onto the shore; load the boat with stones to make it sink until right at the marked water level; finally, weigh the stones on the boat, which is of the same weight as the elephant's."  Today such a method is no longer remarkable, but was like a miracle for a seven year old kid from 1900 years ago, therefore winning him a name of wonder child through the history of river. -- from Chinese Historical Fables.
As always the park was full of locals 
practicing their tai chi, individually or in groups...
practicing instruments...
exercising..doing chin ups on the tree...
and photographic the luscious poppies..
 
 wonderful...
as were the roses...
and the brass statues.
Reminder of fun in Japan catching
 tadpoles and minnows with
the Grandchildren.

After an hour or so of wandering we headed back to finish packing and checking out of the hotel.  Our foursome had taken up Mei's offer to take the Shanghai Magnetic Levitated Train ("MAGLEV Line") to the airport instead of a taxi.  We got everything together and headed for the taxi to the Longyang Rd. Station.
When we got to the station Mei said she had just gotten an email that her flight home had been changed to an earlier flight...would we be okay to go by ourselves.  Well yes, so we bid Mei a fond farewell with giant hugs and many thank yous for making this such a marvelous trip and headed through the turn style...
 
 and up to the platform...
here it comes...
into the car...very nice and away we go on the world's first commercialized high-speed MAGLEV - 7 minutes to go 30 km to the Pudong International Airport - maximum speed 430 km/hr (267 mph)!  Surprisingly it really didn't feel like you were going that fast.  Great ride!  We parted ways in the terminal as we were flying American and Sig and Luann were flying United.  We had a quick lunch and spent the last of our yuan on some small souvenirs, boarded the plane...
a off we went for our long journey to Durham!
Farewell China--it was a GRAND ADVENTURE!














Friday, May 3, 2013

Ming Dynasty Yu Garden - The Bund - Longhua Temple - Farewell Banquet

Our last Tai Chi at the outdoor Mall and then we're off to Yu Garden.  The Garden was first built during the Ming Dynasty, 400 years ago, by a Sichuan Minister of Finance named Pan Yunduan.  It is a typical Classical Chinese Garden.
First a walk through old town bazaar to get to the garden.
Then into the garden.
You can turn anywhere and find wonderful surprises.
statuary...
dragons...
receiving halls...
wonderful rock structures...
and beautiful ponds
with graceful bridges...
 
and roof lines...
pointing to the heavens...
magnificent doorways to intriguing places...
reflecting ponds...
with beautiful fish...
more dragons...
intricate carvings...
 
 and jovial figures watching over you...
and wonderful rocks...
all an invitation to enjoy the quiet tranquility of the garden.
A magical place.
After a wonderful wander through the garden we again headed through the bazaar area with a little free time there to pick up any last minute souvenirs.  Then back on the bus and a trip to the Bund. 
The Bund is on the west bank of the Huangpu River and winds .93 miles in length. It's one of  the most recognized sights in Shanghai with it's 26 of different architectural style buildings including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and Renaissance designs.
 
Along the river is a 1,700-meters long flood-control wall, known as 'the lovers' wall', located on the west side of Huangpu River from Huangpu Park to Xinkai River and was once the most romantic corner in Shanghai.  This section had pots inserted into the wall creating this wonderful living wall.
 
With the recent renovation came open fencing with tremendous views of the "new Shanghai" across the river.  Just ten years ago that area across the river was all farmland   The Bund has been called a 'museum of international architecture'. Here were located the banks, hotels, exclusive clubs, press organizations and headquarters of international concerns. The twenty-six major structures, of various heights have changed little externally since the 1930s. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 the old Foreign Concession tenants were gone. Many of the structures were subdivided into government offices, department stores or storage areas. In the late 1970s and early 80s, with the thawing of economic policy in the People's Republic of China, buildings on the Bund were gradually returned to their former uses. Government institutions were moved out in favor of financial institutions, while hotels returned and the 10 meter embankment was built to help control flooding.  Subsequent improvements included the removal of the ferry docks to another location and major road changes which removed the elevated expressway and allowed the building of the new tunnel under the river.  The new wider landscaped promenade opened in 2010.
Dramatic statues still grace the area.

We had a visit inside one of the magnificent old banks and it was filled with mosaics on the ceilings and wonderful paintings on the walls.  Unfortunately, no pictures allowed.  After some wander time along the promanade, the bus picked us up and we headed to the Longhua Temple. Our first stop was at a restaurant across the street from the temple where we had a delicious vegetarian lunch prepared under the supervision of Monks from the Temple.  We then crossed the street for a visit to the Temple.
Lion with a ball statue...
and wonderful carved windows in
each of the five buildings.
The octagonal 7-story Longhua Pagoda is best well-known of the 16 historic pagodas that still stand within the Shanghai municipality. The pagoda consists of a hollow, tube-like brick core surrounded by a wooden staircase. On the outside, it is decorated with balconies, banisters, and upturned eaves. These outer decorations have been reconstructed in keeping with the original style.  Although previous pagodas existed on the same site, the current brick base and body of the pagoda was built in 977, with continuous renovations of its more fragile wooden components on the exterior.
Nice way to finish off our Shanghai tour.

The bus dropped us off at the hotel and we had free time to get packed, go shopping or just wander around.  We already had most of our stuff together and aren't leaving until afternoon so we checked emails and while we were downstairs, Luann came back and said she had found the shuttlecocks we were looking for so we headed over to the grocery store - level 2 and found exactly what we wanted.  Turns out it was actually a Walmart...wouldn't you know! 
Before we knew it we were off to a very nice hotel and our "Farewell Banquet".  What a grand time we have had and how well our diverse group has gotten along!  With the guidance of our incredible Mei and our other regional guides, we have all had an outstanding experience!  Lots of good conversation and toasting during our last dinner together.  Then back to the hotel and off to bed...the first group leaves  for the airport at 8 am sharp.