Hotpot Chicken
Temple
Yesterday we had a massive hike around Shanghai. We first walked to the Jade Buddha temple, which is gorgeous! There were so many idols and holy things to look at– I felt a little bad being there when so many people were worshipping and we were just wandering around staring. We had to get some money before we got to go into the temple though, and one of the shop owners dragged us to a bank and then dragged us back to her shop, where we bought some fans to placate her. This trip will definitely be a weightloss solution– it is SO hot here. After the Jade Buddha, we made our way to the metro and got to People’s Square, which is ringed by huge modern buildings. We went to an art museum and ate lunch there, which was a… cultural experience. It was a hotpot restaurant, and no one spoke English. Fortunately, by pointing and making noises we managed to get something…. which was most of a chicken. There were chicken FEET in our hotpot. Ally ate one. After that experience, we figured out how to get to the Bund area, which is one of the technological and historical areas of the city. The tallest tower in the world is across the river. We decided we were pretty tired, and went back to the hostel for a nap before dinner. Dinner was at a cute little restaurant where the guy spoke English and was so excited about showing us the best things he had to eat. We all ordered the same thing, but he came out with six different dishes because he didn’t want us to leave without sampling everything! We also went to a pastry shop afterwards. I thought the pastries were good, but Josh described them as tasting “like someone tore open a couch cushion and poured some stale chocolate milk on it.” Oh well. I’m waiting for breakfast now, and after that we’ll go to the airport and head to Guiyang. Hope you’re all doing well!
Whitney
Safely in Shanghai
This place is amazing. It is currently six in the morning, I know, I never get up that early, but jet lag has me in its hold. We got to Chicago, had our layover, and then got on a thirteen hour flight to Shanghai. I thought I was going to go stir crazy! That was the longest flight Ive ever been on. Youll have to excuse my lack of punctuation, but I havent figured out this keyboard yet. While we were flying, we passed over the north pole and saw the glaciers. They were gorgeous– I got pictures! I tried to take some sleeping pills and just pass out, but I could really only sleep for a few hours, if that. Some of my diary entries from when I was in the throes of Ambien hallucinations are pretty funny.
Finally we landed in Shanghai. This is when the fun began. We went running around the airport trying to figure out where the bus station was. After figuring it out, we boarded a two-hour busride to the locale of our hostel. This was our first glimpse of the city, and it was amazing. We got to see everything from the high rises to the low budget housing. The driving habits of the Shanghai locals is interesting. Apparently almost anything goes. Our driver wove the huge charter bus through traffic, honking at pedestrians and sometimes pulling onto the sidewalk to pass people. People on motorbikes paid no attention to traffic signals and just went wherever and whenever they pleased. Eventually we safely made it to Zhongshan Park, the end of the busroute. Then we had to figure out where to go from there.
If I learned anything from yesterday, it is that the Chinese are very helpful to foreigners. Often we would just be standing there with a blank look on our faces and some soul would come up and start talking away and pointing at our map. Some people even led us along alleyways and twisty turny streets to where we were trying to reach. It was truly amazing. One lady led us down a street where a policeman almost ran us over, and she ignored him and kept going, talking away about something or other. All I really know for Mandarin is “Shen shen”, which apparently means Thank You. Eventually after a very hot walk through the city, we found our hostel. Thank goodness!
The weather here is so humid it makes Tennessee feel dry as a bone. I was sweating my little head off yesterday. We tour around the city today, with a large bottle of water in hand. Apparently the tap water is supposed to be safe, but we were cautioned to buy water anyway.
Our hostel sits squat among many high-rise apartments. People hang their laundry outside via a pulley system on long rods extending off of the back porch. Dinner was good– there is a restaurant inside the hostel. I had sweet and sour pork and rice. Yum! They even had milk, which tasted amazing. After dinner we all went back to our rooms and passed out. Ally and I were both up early– she at three and I at five forty five. Amanda is still fast asleep, lucky dog. Breakfast is free, so we are waiting for the restaurant to open.
