Shanghai Days and Shanghai Nights

Shanghai, the booming metropolis of China that embodies both the culture of East and West, where futuristic sky-rises tower in Pudong while historic buildings intermingle incospicuously below, and the place where people come to take part in China's economic gold rush.

My Uncle, Ms. Yueng, Kaman (Ms. Yueng's son), and I arrived late in the evening to a seemingly desolate airport where the climate was unmistakably chilling. It fit my preconceptions of a communist country, frigid. The former USSR and China, both cold. Coincidence? I think not. Even the looks of the security officers were cold. As I passed through immigration I got my stamp of approval and moved to collect our luggage and find our hosts, who, despite the cold, gave us a very warm welcome. Judy and David, my uncle and Ms. Yueng's friends, shuttle us off to their inner city Chateau where we would seek refuge for the coming week.

At this point I don't really recall all the details of trip, returning to Hong Kong over a week ago. During the week in Shanghai we visited several sites around the city which included some really old buildings, some gardens, and some pretty interestingly designed buildings. And we visited the "Venice of China" which was a city comprised of many water-ways running through it, similar to Venice. On the guided tour I really just wandered around not understanding the Chinese the guide was speaking. And like most tourist hot spots there were the street hawkers harassing tourists, me especially because I was the least chinese looking person around. It's like they think I just want to throw my money away or something. We also did some shopping, of course. I bought a few things, but Chinese people are stubborn when it comes to negotiation. Fortunately I have already had much practice at this. I bought some North Face jacket look alike, or defective in some way, for 10 dollars. Not a bad buy. And of course we ate a lot, I mean ate well. I also had an opportunity to experience some night clubs. The night there is quite good, with lots of foriegners attending these clubs as well. One night we went to RoJAM which had a talent competition, and people practicing their break dancing moves, which was when I really realized how much influence we had on modern Chinese culture.

Overall, I'd say that Shanghai is like any other major city with the addition of some historical buildings, a place for buying some pirated DVD's, and establishing some new business venture.

Few Days in HKG

Eat, work, shop are the most concise words describe Hong Kong people. Not much has changed since my last trip here, except maybe the temperature. I think there's a conspiracy to get me fat, very fat. My appetite is never big enough. Too much food. I have devised plans to avoid eating, but they continue to fail me. If I do not want food, I get it anyway. If my plate is empty, then that must mean I am still hungry. If I leave food on plate, then I get told to eat it. Maybe if I eat really really slowly, and only put a little in my plate, they will leave me alone because I appear to be busy. So I finish my food when I think it is time to go, but no... I have been tricked! More food is actually on the way! When I walk, I can feel the jiggle in my belly. Not good. Well, hopefully it will at least keep me warm. It's gotten down below 55 degrees F here. I was totally unprepared for such temperatures. I thought this place was supposed to be hot and humid. My new method of packing as light as possible is not working out because I primarily have thin clothes and T-shirts. I don't know how long I'll be here, but I have decided to nix the Bali trip in the wake of the tsunami disaster. Too much sadness to go to a country that has been hurt soo much. Instead I have decided to go to Shanghai, another offer I could not refuse. But it is even colder there. I can't believe I am going to buy a winter jacket. I was supposed to be heading to the tropics, but I guess not. My plans are, well I don't know. You know when I know...