In Shanghai we did a quick tour of the city. Stopped by the water front where the sister of Big Ben is located. We then headed to silk worm factory. Saw the many stages of the silk worm life cycle - which is only 25 days. The factory is know for making quilts (which were awesome) but since I have no idea where I'll be living I figured it was best to just get some scarves.
After lunch we went to old town. This is a bargainers haven and I loved it. It is great to go into a store and bargain your way down on just about everything. Picked up some gifts for the family. Then a quick trip to the Shanghai Museum. THere were a few good things in there - the Tibetan Masks and Ceramic warriors, but since I'm not a huge museum person it wasn't my favorite hour.
But then we went to he Circus - WOW. Crazy stuff happening there - contortionists, plate spinners, roller skating divas, jugglers…At one point there were 10 girls pyramid on a push bike. But the last act was the best. The motor bike in a where cage game. One guy was fun, two was cool, three was great and four was unexpected - BUT five was just insane! The whole show I felt like I was a kid again. The best show I've seen so far on the trip - and we went to the early one so more tine to go out for our last night!
The night out was great. Most all the youngsters came. Lots of drinks and the Chinese drinking game again. Everyone was feeling good and Brandon was just taking all the pictures. About 2 hours later we all headed out. Most of the gang went to Mc'Ds for some food, but I wasn't really into that so I headed off with Chen and his friend David for a corner street vendor. He was selling lots of food which he has charcoaled grilled. I had some bread and mushrooms and this was probably one of my favorite meals of the trip.
Our last day of the tour was a free day. I wish I would have just gone off by myself, but everyone coerced me into hanging out one last day. We pretty much just walked around the same places we were the day before. Our last dinner of the trip was the best. We found a hot pot restaurant and enjoyed a feast. At this place we all got our own hot pot which was good for the vegetarian of the group.
Food in general on the trip was a bit tricky for people. For one it was actual Chinese food - from China. I had been introduced to it in Australia so I thought it was pretty normal and for the most part what I had was good. But many of the Americans were not impressed as it was not like American Chinese (no Kung Pow Chicken here). I did get a headache for the first 2-3 days due to the amount of MSG that is used in the food (they treat it like a flavoring so it is in every dish as if it were salt). But once I got used to it - the headaches went away. Although I did enjoy it, I was looking forward to NOT eating Chinese food for awhile (…little did I know what I would be eating - or better said not eating).
Overall I loved China. Don't ask why, its dirty, people spit everywhere (and I mean everywhere - like even in the airport while waiting for a flight right on the floor next to me), and the toilets are horrible. But over all I love it. Some highlights of the trip include:
- Babies with holes in their pants and no diapers so they can poop and pee right on the street
- Hole toilets with walls that go up half way and no door - horrific smells and pee everywhere on the floor
- Eating dog
- Everyone living in apartments with clothes hanging out the window 20 stories up
- Eggplant and radishes
- All my good friends that I have made
Now off to Bali for some yoga - and a vacation from my vacation.
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