I thought since updating the blog with pics while we were actually in China was a bust (communism - bah!) I'd post a few here before we resume regular cute kid programming!
Shanghai was just a little bit busy. It made for an interesting combo of jet lag, culture shock and claustrophobia that first evening!
Our hotel was in a good location, but this was the closest "take-out". We opted to dive into our stash of digestive biscuits before calling it a long day and an early night!
PDA alert! We had dinner at a fancy restaurant in Jin Mao Tower. The reflection you see on Matt's shoulder is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, a standout in the Shanghai skyline. I know you're curious: we both had lasagna. It was fantastic. :) (Do you get the impression this was not a culinary tour of China?)
Looking up in the Jin Mao Tower....
Yu Yuan Garden. Just don't ask either of us to pronounce that. We stumped more than a couple tourism staffers with that one!
We like how this one is addressed to Chinese citizens, but posted in English. Generally, I would agree with the advice: "Don't chase, hit and feed the animal at random" is probably in everyone's best interests. Same goes for "Resist the Superstition. Refuse pornography, gamble and drug." But we're still puzzled by what "Don't talk bllingsgate" means....?
(Smelly) chickens at a night market....
Terra Cotta Warriors...
Creeeeeepy oversized puppets:
I think I'm smiling here because I spotted a Pizza Hut in the distance...a modern and practical use for the ancient walls around Xi'an!
We spent some time underground trying to spot the imaginary vegetable gardens among the stalagtites and stalagmytes. It's kind of like putting three stars together and calling it a constellation of a throne. Okaaaay.....
It was pretty, nonetheless...
Apparently the rock structure behind us looks like an Elephant...
I was more convinced by these guys!
Anyone up for a Root Canal? This was just off a main street, nestled between a travel office and a produce stand, I think:
Traffic jam on the Li River...
Some of the tourists panicked a little when this guy steered right towards our boat....until he grabbed on and tried to sell some souvenirs of questionable authenticity!
Matt steering our raft on the Li:
Behind him was this guy, using the comorant birds to catch him some fish!
Stuck in a line while Air Canada's computers were down at Shanghai airport....but wait! Matt's blackberry is up and running! Crisis averted! Phew....that was a close one.... ;)
On another note - I'm pretty sure Matt and I wound up in more Chinese vacation slide shows than our own. We were kind of like celebrities over there!I'll leave the slide show at that, but not without saying one more HUGE THANK YOU to all the kind souls who looked after the kids and kept them in good spirits while we were away. They say it takes a village, but we are lucky to have a small metropolis in our court. Couldn't have done this without you!
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