tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84927271651493077302024-03-05T06:34:34.548-08:00Shanghaied FamilyRidleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05643859326914944007noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-27123698759330999662009-07-08T12:59:00.000-07:002009-07-08T13:28:44.207-07:00Here and there<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePWImEIQhahLias_MKHzUuON1bcisn5ejzX58csWpGEGVwRk6S8mQtDDKknYSLRNIClFZGfUFP4E7m-IDVIs0QK20zOjLJkk-4r9ekl5G98uw66GOw7u5oBlqmBacimvZpWNBMJn_7YY/s1600-h/IMG_0332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePWImEIQhahLias_MKHzUuON1bcisn5ejzX58csWpGEGVwRk6S8mQtDDKknYSLRNIClFZGfUFP4E7m-IDVIs0QK20zOjLJkk-4r9ekl5G98uw66GOw7u5oBlqmBacimvZpWNBMJn_7YY/s320/IMG_0332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356185505757415010" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;">I never tire of the streets of Shanghai. </span></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Am4CQGqfPxc3e26jq1YpTNf_wn8IDS1kAcj52IRrpvAlQmoR850crhxf41IXJ-qJsFXegCiY8A8xVmodBQIRmML5pxr5YdsfqIVtcZ4YEtQ8MabrLKGxtZgRE5M-oA_Fi9MsPZM-okg/s1600-h/IMG_0334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Am4CQGqfPxc3e26jq1YpTNf_wn8IDS1kAcj52IRrpvAlQmoR850crhxf41IXJ-qJsFXegCiY8A8xVmodBQIRmML5pxr5YdsfqIVtcZ4YEtQ8MabrLKGxtZgRE5M-oA_Fi9MsPZM-okg/s320/IMG_0334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356185498294227250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The girls getting their toes done! What fun pampering!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg02V26GL7fWRocH3P3CfTsBeLX3IO4iZQ_WLfdVpAMwGnwiI7jtgB2i3o4suKVhLUHaMvy00vbE0E39TO_yO_X6DPh3vQuCqGwWX7KchkLIXxT8jzrDGbkypblBiJVEq8qhvB23o_TVc/s1600-h/IMG_0344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg02V26GL7fWRocH3P3CfTsBeLX3IO4iZQ_WLfdVpAMwGnwiI7jtgB2i3o4suKVhLUHaMvy00vbE0E39TO_yO_X6DPh3vQuCqGwWX7KchkLIXxT8jzrDGbkypblBiJVEq8qhvB23o_TVc/s320/IMG_0344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356185490264903794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our friend Amy Tan and her husband Lou diMatteo were in town for a bit with Lisa See, another wonderful author of things Chinese. We got to have a yummy dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, M on the Bund, where Michelle, the owner, hosted us all.</span> (Amy foreground, Lisa in the back.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohWgBt-zTIa5DcL94I-wYqyDoh2ED96_22dz2IyTBESxXUJoNt5HL-vcp51hsOoOvXpRizuc-cxhR1ZsL_ckrvyi7_JDSd3DxixBqhkLkRrfNe5ujuL0ivPJmscn-0-oQskbaCkgmIvA/s1600-h/IMG_0341.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohWgBt-zTIa5DcL94I-wYqyDoh2ED96_22dz2IyTBESxXUJoNt5HL-vcp51hsOoOvXpRizuc-cxhR1ZsL_ckrvyi7_JDSd3DxixBqhkLkRrfNe5ujuL0ivPJmscn-0-oQskbaCkgmIvA/s320/IMG_0341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356185485976602786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The spectacular dessert that we love that is just a bit of about everything!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_TggSHdkXuQcVuYhIRmfboSVX-rRL96u3_QuQswCSPyXOMhENB8SGQGsHxUgKbkX1ZpiGlo7waO_gDuIBRicfB4bcsC36vVtq6SjNWZ913O5WAPTRIcJbTQXV_lna7Yz-995ILrCMio/s1600-h/IMG_0342.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_TggSHdkXuQcVuYhIRmfboSVX-rRL96u3_QuQswCSPyXOMhENB8SGQGsHxUgKbkX1ZpiGlo7waO_gDuIBRicfB4bcsC36vVtq6SjNWZ913O5WAPTRIcJbTQXV_lna7Yz-995ILrCMio/s320/IMG_0342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356185484572704706" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lou with a new friend I made that night, Han Feng, who did the costumes for Amy's opera, Bonesetter's Daughter, that opened in San Francisco. She is a young designer now working on films and operas around the world. Really fun gal who lives right down the street from us. Our neighbor!</span></span></a><br /><br />(Sorry. I can't find a way to take away the underlining!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_TggSHdkXuQcVuYhIRmfboSVX-rRL96u3_QuQswCSPyXOMhENB8SGQGsHxUgKbkX1ZpiGlo7waO_gDuIBRicfB4bcsC36vVtq6SjNWZ913O5WAPTRIcJbTQXV_lna7Yz-995ILrCMio/s1600-h/IMG_0342.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></a>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-4200063002740464712009-07-08T11:46:00.000-07:002009-07-08T12:14:33.418-07:00Last day in Shangri-la<span style="font-size:130%;">Here we are, our last day of our trip in Yunnan. We were driven over harrowing roads that dropped thousands of feet down the mountain side (while the driver is wildly passing other cars on blind curves!) to a village that produces black pottery. We were taken to this particular home, where the potter is very famous. 90% of the villagers are potters, and as we came into the village, at the top of the hillside, there were stores selling the black pottery. This particular artists work, so we were told!, only goes out to stores and commissions.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz1VkrP0ktlXgeH_A-1FyWwC2zX7BkRllhMo-9blrAy9ltu_buFYppagNlpfZvQV80cz0nsfPz36rQQlRDpA5Elun9nXWr_ZU8PmSLAQNd4h4myPwlC2gSZLaECRJnrX6dGpyRkzpBfM/s1600-h/IMG_0283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz1VkrP0ktlXgeH_A-1FyWwC2zX7BkRllhMo-9blrAy9ltu_buFYppagNlpfZvQV80cz0nsfPz36rQQlRDpA5Elun9nXWr_ZU8PmSLAQNd4h4myPwlC2gSZLaECRJnrX6dGpyRkzpBfM/s320/IMG_0283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164631552574674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This is a typical home with the inner courtyard where the animals are kept, grass/hay is dried on the ground level.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xxWmbSKdBFtlxPCjE4gzTSgL45Hg2C3Qh1yFBQ_r9_CSapcyvezExPKjvKSJuFn3aEWLgPvI1EsGhnbMY-x1CqIpgOtdvu8E_zemrDOSljY1T7bDqV0h9OD-xwU-9E4Hq_uTbRD7dMk/s1600-h/IMG_0287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xxWmbSKdBFtlxPCjE4gzTSgL45Hg2C3Qh1yFBQ_r9_CSapcyvezExPKjvKSJuFn3aEWLgPvI1EsGhnbMY-x1CqIpgOtdvu8E_zemrDOSljY1T7bDqV0h9OD-xwU-9E4Hq_uTbRD7dMk/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164626544860002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I had to use the facilities after our long ride, and this is it! A nice stone hole in the floor. I have to say that is was much cleaner and devoid of stench, unlike most other depositories!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlJ3mL9lQaR5kNyPGacI3ymdafz36OtBqjyB070CnvelA8cFlKyphCw1-nzQQZnBPybUNJshHhxmqKX4h7-PdRsr5kfve_MC83uUm4fCV38YzwiRuyY9Awl6gdVESy0W9Rge5oVBFcGw/s1600-h/IMG_0288.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlJ3mL9lQaR5kNyPGacI3ymdafz36OtBqjyB070CnvelA8cFlKyphCw1-nzQQZnBPybUNJshHhxmqKX4h7-PdRsr5kfve_MC83uUm4fCV38YzwiRuyY9Awl6gdVESy0W9Rge5oVBFcGw/s320/IMG_0288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164616842135650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The second floor is the living/working space. The wood carving on the home was beautiful.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fTnwXlyVBfDShMiUDRIFDTEka1D77Fq-ArWKiK2733Fnq0jBkynUFo2FhZQyGO6rEkfQOxQNjhYPPrgG2qpsFrWVJBw1XhM6nLItDz5VIOFlUQ75QdhO0HX5cpb3N807YS7h10hx9og/s1600-h/IMG_0291.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fTnwXlyVBfDShMiUDRIFDTEka1D77Fq-ArWKiK2733Fnq0jBkynUFo2FhZQyGO6rEkfQOxQNjhYPPrgG2qpsFrWVJBw1XhM6nLItDz5VIOFlUQ75QdhO0HX5cpb3N807YS7h10hx9og/s320/IMG_0291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164613201221394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We entered into the main room where the potter and his son-in-law (on the right) were busy at work. We watched them for quite a while. They were incredible adept and moved the clay with such incredible facility. The clay is all from the surrounding mountains, which is why the village is famous. It sure didn't appear as though they received many tourists, though. Maybe that is yet to come.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmjMiBWq_KLz7C4oC3HKtJIjcDodn9ExtLYYT2NpOl6EzpBBXEr7Cdrfmk1BNgSFMxmC92n4rasAVMYlSwwQU9YS4iG9ZR0oV74FSFBpEMYQJus8LEOgL43RhzqUPIf7fRE18tcv9_ug/s1600-h/IMG_0294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmjMiBWq_KLz7C4oC3HKtJIjcDodn9ExtLYYT2NpOl6EzpBBXEr7Cdrfmk1BNgSFMxmC92n4rasAVMYlSwwQU9YS4iG9ZR0oV74FSFBpEMYQJus8LEOgL43RhzqUPIf7fRE18tcv9_ug/s320/IMG_0294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164139657243410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It was the middle of the afternoon and they worked just by the light from this window that faced west. There were no lights on in the room. Not even sure if they had electricity in the room. The pots were spun by their feet.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">We were very curious about his process and the pots and asked lots of questions. That endeared us to him and he offered to tour us around the house. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3g0dwGdMLg202BVOxP2SyFpw_nR_6tAmGVwUZORnS4AUb0XcEooS5oJOnCqRph_poeJYk7LtS61x98N1Uu4AAYzdK6jwGC_czhkqr4GmYYAdeW6-Nm_2LnW7Ecz37qfbSBvACd4YTag/s1600-h/IMG_0295.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3g0dwGdMLg202BVOxP2SyFpw_nR_6tAmGVwUZORnS4AUb0XcEooS5oJOnCqRph_poeJYk7LtS61x98N1Uu4AAYzdK6jwGC_czhkqr4GmYYAdeW6-Nm_2LnW7Ecz37qfbSBvACd4YTag/s320/IMG_0295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164136837610962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The potter's brother is a monk, which is a source of great pride. He happened to be visiting from his monastery while we were there. We kept catching glimpses of him as he would peak his head out of his room.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">The potter took us into a large, beautiful room - their shrine to Buddha where his brother prays (and the whole family must also) while he is there. The whole room was immaculately kept, large and light. Nicer than any other room in the house. Kept just for prayer. We finally made our way to the attic where there were pots that he was "willing" to sell us! Imagine that! Of course we found some that we couldn't live without!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXtYYsllGGHky3tUTBaT0C7pl4ChtkWiYFI4hsAjGJznA2KNiHaLVtqh52_SgvPEAU-uupDAD5jVnZO9OySd85IS9g5RbNAO_jnonvhJgK6yAM51v8yX3PD34MeJ2gwaKtoIiF6cd42I/s1600-h/IMG_0296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXtYYsllGGHky3tUTBaT0C7pl4ChtkWiYFI4hsAjGJznA2KNiHaLVtqh52_SgvPEAU-uupDAD5jVnZO9OySd85IS9g5RbNAO_jnonvhJgK6yAM51v8yX3PD34MeJ2gwaKtoIiF6cd42I/s320/IMG_0296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164128523322370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This is the village and we went walking a bit down the road and villages were walking about, too.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VIvd2ZuYb3y2t4g8Jhk8-WikvB4FgohlHkg2k9eIZc2ZHdBMFL6DZASBOW7YPpk3Yz855dnGA-SI_LopOsWjbierLYa7Xn7coERAXKLqBxbep8aGlQ63c3e1Jge5fRzwHw5hdlJJfPc/s1600-h/IMG_0298.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VIvd2ZuYb3y2t4g8Jhk8-WikvB4FgohlHkg2k9eIZc2ZHdBMFL6DZASBOW7YPpk3Yz855dnGA-SI_LopOsWjbierLYa7Xn7coERAXKLqBxbep8aGlQ63c3e1Jge5fRzwHw5hdlJJfPc/s320/IMG_0298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164122332637986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6ger0raBidhpvrxj9tlFxBu-dSeq6Dnv6_WSRrnGWOcBW6vBDAF2uOUrpeLVxpB_CRgQMo1so92jFVYxoDOzYI5uI5h9Ehwt5GenTwfbWG2Qw_zeTyUn5W87r0S6Wx5ZwQehNhQHs9M/s1600-h/IMG_0300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6ger0raBidhpvrxj9tlFxBu-dSeq6Dnv6_WSRrnGWOcBW6vBDAF2uOUrpeLVxpB_CRgQMo1so92jFVYxoDOzYI5uI5h9Ehwt5GenTwfbWG2Qw_zeTyUn5W87r0S6Wx5ZwQehNhQHs9M/s320/IMG_0300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356164120683603938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Beautiful, beautiful people.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hx1YRTEqJldswWpwGbJ2E8ekNxEE_Bh_0s8ur973IqJHiX461nzxzy2B005_mXrI5ibwe5cQBLhnwcUW63-xJucO_kzp0MBexKzSOZhYV7W4Qx1C2PiGH7t1IpriesikaZ0Z_5rggM0/s1600-h/IMG_0302.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hx1YRTEqJldswWpwGbJ2E8ekNxEE_Bh_0s8ur973IqJHiX461nzxzy2B005_mXrI5ibwe5cQBLhnwcUW63-xJucO_kzp0MBexKzSOZhYV7W4Qx1C2PiGH7t1IpriesikaZ0Z_5rggM0/s320/IMG_0302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356163240173367794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking back down at the village as we were leaving.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_PbCtad6lZdw-kJVmqtPiJ_kmc6JBT5c_phN1AC7CzMGnh-nwzH3P2imAi66R09suFZQVjU3Wf9HYoFuK4zvqSxLlGVftRN9GJU7Bwyn7XpbbSi89zAS3YiQKP6ijpSdxV1wSbZoZ_E/s1600-h/IMG_0307.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_PbCtad6lZdw-kJVmqtPiJ_kmc6JBT5c_phN1AC7CzMGnh-nwzH3P2imAi66R09suFZQVjU3Wf9HYoFuK4zvqSxLlGVftRN9GJU7Bwyn7XpbbSi89zAS3YiQKP6ijpSdxV1wSbZoZ_E/s320/IMG_0307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356163231483791522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">After having dinner in the old part of Shangri-la, we passed a frequent site: dancing in the town square. We have seen this everywhere we go. At night people of all ages come out and dance together. It is really wonderful to see, and we have even entered in and participated a couple of times. They always gladly welcome us in to their group. Nothing is private or exclusive in China - at least for the common man. Those things are changing for the new elite.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLpc9IMA3zsXvSUDsev5_K8nVkFXpSj5SAguiISkz3qc1C3xBDLsHJ506xCy571TqfYJ3iDDXfsHXj87lJdJ19nl4e6Oc91VAvT0150rTjRfsjxoI_BSUvxjycEmeW8Po1QQfIIA43-Q/s1600-h/IMG_0309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLpc9IMA3zsXvSUDsev5_K8nVkFXpSj5SAguiISkz3qc1C3xBDLsHJ506xCy571TqfYJ3iDDXfsHXj87lJdJ19nl4e6Oc91VAvT0150rTjRfsjxoI_BSUvxjycEmeW8Po1QQfIIA43-Q/s320/IMG_0309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356163225273018994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">As we were waiting for our plane to leave for Kunming and then on to Shanghai, these young people were in the airport waiting to greet the next plane load of tourists. They were all dressed in traditional costume and went to the plane playing music and singing. It was lovely. Better late than never for us!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeLt2yf4qgweSdeq9F33uwlqEXCDQ_8CyZKPb0IBIuY7HBsoNHghZZM3rtBLPvcbkyDr8uWDKHxctx50BjeGXKiQaE0j5EJhoo27ki568_oVpkaB12fUhzQMDcfQGn4ZpSbm-uDTNz3c/s1600-h/IMG_0311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeLt2yf4qgweSdeq9F33uwlqEXCDQ_8CyZKPb0IBIuY7HBsoNHghZZM3rtBLPvcbkyDr8uWDKHxctx50BjeGXKiQaE0j5EJhoo27ki568_oVpkaB12fUhzQMDcfQGn4ZpSbm-uDTNz3c/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356163219853281426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4uyX5MPZfYHAtS9nyRpR2HrCLWfYWu7kcG8o2poweXFur7nosBgf8_T07azYX7HlHPMFt0CuS9AAAwD2DRw1hvHSICDJRF_h6t2N7E1n_29OgDXaW6HDeYPLImFie0TG-7LWeg6mpxE/s1600-h/IMG_0327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4uyX5MPZfYHAtS9nyRpR2HrCLWfYWu7kcG8o2poweXFur7nosBgf8_T07azYX7HlHPMFt0CuS9AAAwD2DRw1hvHSICDJRF_h6t2N7E1n_29OgDXaW6HDeYPLImFie0TG-7LWeg6mpxE/s320/IMG_0327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356163209294149602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Back in Shanghai at the Hongqiao airport. Storey and France getting a little rest from the long day of flying! We are home!</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-45070271222975842332009-07-02T15:45:00.000-07:002009-07-02T16:50:30.330-07:00Lijiang and Shangri-la - HA!<span style="font-size:130%;">Ridley working outside of our hotel room in Lijiang, a World Heritage town. A beautiful courtyard hotel, with power!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ttsxiiR1pNjzr_9LjfMcPxpVdspCFE8Eju6X64VJs18yt4FCtAIz59J0AALWSCNVNfpiS-sAQm85QKY2ZeFopD42jGBr95Z77d6TzjWSQfCZS9ZOelytZ0ael-u8bOhgVTDn2vXWqRk/s1600-h/IMG_0204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ttsxiiR1pNjzr_9LjfMcPxpVdspCFE8Eju6X64VJs18yt4FCtAIz59J0AALWSCNVNfpiS-sAQm85QKY2ZeFopD42jGBr95Z77d6TzjWSQfCZS9ZOelytZ0ael-u8bOhgVTDn2vXWqRk/s320/IMG_0204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354004303117179250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4l7l7hEX9km8g8ZWwSNflMSh2pRHKjl_LzloyKIIIF2RvNHCQ7jVI_2lMsJVMHoUg-GbUGL4Wf9KPSyZ2Hsg8Q3AYU_uGHVSm7q9NRiqmL746j4Jrq452YLyzBNQoPXEfjzB_PRFC0kA/s1600-h/IMG_0209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4l7l7hEX9km8g8ZWwSNflMSh2pRHKjl_LzloyKIIIF2RvNHCQ7jVI_2lMsJVMHoUg-GbUGL4Wf9KPSyZ2Hsg8Q3AYU_uGHVSm7q9NRiqmL746j4Jrq452YLyzBNQoPXEfjzB_PRFC0kA/s320/IMG_0209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354004301304266018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A little shopping was done after dinner one night. Paige found this patch "cowboy" hat that the hearders wear around here.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGBFM3boS_OxwTJYu7CJ1xR2VQP_NTQlQdNfXzekBRQUIJ95gt_VcKo0rHvAhgwGCbDPUZmjRkib_1ZYvOnrxeGeQt_I4CsZs37qvG42dvnM0QLrG7vm8wLx5itOEFqvcZzcVY9kQqlY/s1600-h/IMG_0211.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGBFM3boS_OxwTJYu7CJ1xR2VQP_NTQlQdNfXzekBRQUIJ95gt_VcKo0rHvAhgwGCbDPUZmjRkib_1ZYvOnrxeGeQt_I4CsZs37qvG42dvnM0QLrG7vm8wLx5itOEFqvcZzcVY9kQqlY/s320/IMG_0211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354004298224602578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the courtyards of our hotel.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyQ8f2OIOnMZ5sajgJqfTxItVBAySQ63IwtXhBQL6eSIwbcU-ULAXBKZRPpG05YnY28uKu2cHTGGcDT0YJgxn7zrRVQh-NRYsc_6WTy0NbZwb3XoPBrDYP36J0FGq-YjvpvFcDGFaX5E/s1600-h/IMG_0212.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyQ8f2OIOnMZ5sajgJqfTxItVBAySQ63IwtXhBQL6eSIwbcU-ULAXBKZRPpG05YnY28uKu2cHTGGcDT0YJgxn7zrRVQh-NRYsc_6WTy0NbZwb3XoPBrDYP36J0FGq-YjvpvFcDGFaX5E/s320/IMG_0212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354004291351993138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">France and Christophe enjoying breakfast.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpK-ocG-VvQcsBV4t-ADIJ2w0NdkILSOB6ibZ95XwoEjKq7xNA_qH_pMFO_m9A3uN52AV2V5ut1Rcc7hk7nu8XrggntESY0bdl012tF8yBgmB6FI6ZP2Rm8yQqyFn1HucCpyOcucca0Ms/s1600-h/IMG_0213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpK-ocG-VvQcsBV4t-ADIJ2w0NdkILSOB6ibZ95XwoEjKq7xNA_qH_pMFO_m9A3uN52AV2V5ut1Rcc7hk7nu8XrggntESY0bdl012tF8yBgmB6FI6ZP2Rm8yQqyFn1HucCpyOcucca0Ms/s320/IMG_0213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354004289938272306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Something calming to start your day!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I9WkPPQFuZnbJiBKIlOn4mHAiMy2lZnibVCULjWTk2tmXLt9DAyOSgy3MLNNpDNlRgzNuo6fcEPxA46gO5BgEzbGw12trE9YSqS1BMfLuUo9CRaq6_mT5E-staRUgZRa2UmMKdndU10/s1600-h/IMG_0214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I9WkPPQFuZnbJiBKIlOn4mHAiMy2lZnibVCULjWTk2tmXLt9DAyOSgy3MLNNpDNlRgzNuo6fcEPxA46gO5BgEzbGw12trE9YSqS1BMfLuUo9CRaq6_mT5E-staRUgZRa2UmMKdndU10/s320/IMG_0214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354003274396965042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The luscious breakfast buffet.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy2ZRWrPNKt-H-rMuleKZI0Mo_3EtCsuAhcc1hOgKRL_VpbalFFzaOpEe_NluMdWMbBPg_JlJAYsMPfsWDb-p4SnR4ZDkEm0_8T4LE_8QJtEVL0OugHQ5MV9KOUKVMQTRr2L42UnAkHY/s1600-h/IMG_0215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy2ZRWrPNKt-H-rMuleKZI0Mo_3EtCsuAhcc1hOgKRL_VpbalFFzaOpEe_NluMdWMbBPg_JlJAYsMPfsWDb-p4SnR4ZDkEm0_8T4LE_8QJtEVL0OugHQ5MV9KOUKVMQTRr2L42UnAkHY/s320/IMG_0215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354003272037754578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey getting packed up first as we prepare to leave Lijiang. We have really enjoyed our time here, and David our guide is one of the best we have ever had.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxaXQRU5KsYIey2ZT17ujOIDaJgTX58WgP7sY6RNFJJyRh_UR_H2pu4HcdF8UmdGbuR_35fWb11IzE9FfcWbj8bK6T5V-7RU0TjmCDUeHLdWGgiWbMaXn2nkpAITmb_NwNbHQACD9JFo/s1600-h/IMG_0218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxaXQRU5KsYIey2ZT17ujOIDaJgTX58WgP7sY6RNFJJyRh_UR_H2pu4HcdF8UmdGbuR_35fWb11IzE9FfcWbj8bK6T5V-7RU0TjmCDUeHLdWGgiWbMaXn2nkpAITmb_NwNbHQACD9JFo/s320/IMG_0218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354003263975782098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our troupe - ready to roll!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKRXS6ugCY6_5c4AfPZIq_z55yIfs1A8qYDLCmeGiDyila4UawsWV8soewVwy85O_1Uct041MggsxK_sJ1gVeAUgas3HH1cKJOxaFPDDCPQHJf10-HZLDQvNjeTGrSqUFYuncUcgaMz0/s1600-h/IMG_0219.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKRXS6ugCY6_5c4AfPZIq_z55yIfs1A8qYDLCmeGiDyila4UawsWV8soewVwy85O_1Uct041MggsxK_sJ1gVeAUgas3HH1cKJOxaFPDDCPQHJf10-HZLDQvNjeTGrSqUFYuncUcgaMz0/s320/IMG_0219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354003258036798482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey takes the lead.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIlDN5HmINOoeQbDIkCLPKfPSdlva5WM5rA7qhJtdw6caxROnOvo7X6wB1eMJn7f5KUi2RU8nEgcQNeiMmeghKwiQiQEU6gZEpZKeDVNnb3qDmpPOrJhaMH4zuiTBF7kQlu4l644glIs/s1600-h/IMG_0221.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIlDN5HmINOoeQbDIkCLPKfPSdlva5WM5rA7qhJtdw6caxROnOvo7X6wB1eMJn7f5KUi2RU8nEgcQNeiMmeghKwiQiQEU6gZEpZKeDVNnb3qDmpPOrJhaMH4zuiTBF7kQlu4l644glIs/s320/IMG_0221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354003256885534194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Following the Yangtze with some beautiful scenery. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2O0bDkZQYDgspm3_kqSbOgUEN_R9cUAljNdM1aWY5hVHJwcKXV3OV7Hnrz0ncbOVTWxLZ57HNWmFBIln1txOzU3V0tFfQRHeA6kf0gFDRnH92PESbMVkX7eD8rBNtT75tBkx45q9WW0/s1600-h/IMG_0224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2O0bDkZQYDgspm3_kqSbOgUEN_R9cUAljNdM1aWY5hVHJwcKXV3OV7Hnrz0ncbOVTWxLZ57HNWmFBIln1txOzU3V0tFfQRHeA6kf0gFDRnH92PESbMVkX7eD8rBNtT75tBkx45q9WW0/s320/IMG_0224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002729608183442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_hbN1uR5-q4W9ps3hJWADqIiLqyI8IpFSUyW8YU7m5_vSDfo7ixQIUW_UxnlRDFWmbkXpiAGajdUVAwVQrdJd1JXOLjuk_ljnhVCH59GVcgwaf2Y6BcF5zdpgTTxpzLFBnpzLeN6PPc/s1600-h/IMG_0227.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_hbN1uR5-q4W9ps3hJWADqIiLqyI8IpFSUyW8YU7m5_vSDfo7ixQIUW_UxnlRDFWmbkXpiAGajdUVAwVQrdJd1JXOLjuk_ljnhVCH59GVcgwaf2Y6BcF5zdpgTTxpzLFBnpzLeN6PPc/s320/IMG_0227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002724385514994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A star in the making - with a very serious camera man directing.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQBqH0mlF5gtPZy1PRWRw8TLJrPyl1ctmrOJW_hEHDmcFuTHyX2tNTyCqbZRaMAHnz_zKKZyVGn2rdfHJ9RhZIWzvm-pMETSHPKIWUFC424flqsWe5uz0Xju6F8RXEpot9k5nPr07Fsk/s1600-h/IMG_0228.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQBqH0mlF5gtPZy1PRWRw8TLJrPyl1ctmrOJW_hEHDmcFuTHyX2tNTyCqbZRaMAHnz_zKKZyVGn2rdfHJ9RhZIWzvm-pMETSHPKIWUFC424flqsWe5uz0Xju6F8RXEpot9k5nPr07Fsk/s320/IMG_0228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002720478026242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielIEJNQND2H6q6B-1e0u5rm57OrvnjHZuC_fAQGcd9PBvnXSyqyxWduzaFwa6sEUWc7b01_Y3otmI8pyDovZUTzNZErxMq_YuQgoymdGdVH5qyJPM-dQSYpdwBxavTSfDLUXwslovqZ4/s1600-h/IMG_0229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielIEJNQND2H6q6B-1e0u5rm57OrvnjHZuC_fAQGcd9PBvnXSyqyxWduzaFwa6sEUWc7b01_Y3otmI8pyDovZUTzNZErxMq_YuQgoymdGdVH5qyJPM-dQSYpdwBxavTSfDLUXwslovqZ4/s320/IMG_0229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002715901017746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mX_zb9LLPXgwnXlrsMgGIcnujgIoWxGCYOyikfsd7bbP0ppt0sXER4QfklUXmx7eBpJI37TKIeE1oe85vFex3VH0cEDuJgjoXavHJxkNJ7wh_VTJFGo1jE-kWwPMREuVkqmD92RddZ8/s1600-h/IMG_0230.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mX_zb9LLPXgwnXlrsMgGIcnujgIoWxGCYOyikfsd7bbP0ppt0sXER4QfklUXmx7eBpJI37TKIeE1oe85vFex3VH0cEDuJgjoXavHJxkNJ7wh_VTJFGo1jE-kWwPMREuVkqmD92RddZ8/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002711635935698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We stopped at Stone Drum Town which is at the bend of the Yangtze for a little tour and lunch. The vendor had red pepper cakes which I bought! Yum! Anyone want to come over for dinner??</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5iqKkr_QFKPfCed_msBrzu03de4uW4TOeAiXjfdrzaR0m4qOlwDd8FBUYTcqXmkBzkAt78L0Eag23MuagWgFp_t8s7Mv5wvcLpzZPveKEHbYszXD2NLs8czRMiu03Rn2sSHKRSHfveY/s1600-h/IMG_0231.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5iqKkr_QFKPfCed_msBrzu03de4uW4TOeAiXjfdrzaR0m4qOlwDd8FBUYTcqXmkBzkAt78L0Eag23MuagWgFp_t8s7Mv5wvcLpzZPveKEHbYszXD2NLs8czRMiu03Rn2sSHKRSHfveY/s320/IMG_0231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002200676665042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcwf76p3IRY78ftPCTlxyz7tqzrCTtN3q-sTSZwXPwTSoCrBpa_Nz8CWH6GcnQmZZBOXxLHwRfzMnQZZKYz4KldKZ6wIFI_Nj4XxiczQXd5Y5JE9rD78VVkiaurqvDnwZVz3IsTcB2qo/s1600-h/IMG_0235.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcwf76p3IRY78ftPCTlxyz7tqzrCTtN3q-sTSZwXPwTSoCrBpa_Nz8CWH6GcnQmZZBOXxLHwRfzMnQZZKYz4KldKZ6wIFI_Nj4XxiczQXd5Y5JE9rD78VVkiaurqvDnwZVz3IsTcB2qo/s320/IMG_0235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002197160500610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our choice of fresh vegetables as we eat with the locals.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVecG_SOYe2lItCPzOsMkO1mdm9wgVNYiLbh3N_IhzcdB-2xeOuJjIBJmgWKPGpsfg0vC0tGeItvQBRyaW9ZymapQrMF37stpCK0YBn9oqY-Oo66s4y5O8iuUhHY1-6o3RRkbKd7mG3zo/s1600-h/IMG_0236.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVecG_SOYe2lItCPzOsMkO1mdm9wgVNYiLbh3N_IhzcdB-2xeOuJjIBJmgWKPGpsfg0vC0tGeItvQBRyaW9ZymapQrMF37stpCK0YBn9oqY-Oo66s4y5O8iuUhHY1-6o3RRkbKd7mG3zo/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002194800391298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwzZa96628JU4Y1N2V0W8f9q9SYj9CI3obSMSNs8Si3_dSq-vOftramCi3qDWUEKYLOCunPhdbc8DHpRcwT3ESEfuuZB_vdUqHw-Fg217LCbRURAkKE4gx4u1GPFvh043bDRBPukZt9s/s1600-h/IMG_0237.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwzZa96628JU4Y1N2V0W8f9q9SYj9CI3obSMSNs8Si3_dSq-vOftramCi3qDWUEKYLOCunPhdbc8DHpRcwT3ESEfuuZB_vdUqHw-Fg217LCbRURAkKE4gx4u1GPFvh043bDRBPukZt9s/s320/IMG_0237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002186499886786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">There was a great confab over getting to inspect a tuc-tuc up close. Very exciting!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1Ki6FwkfKToST-Iza1L0ZNxp0c-yFYGZJ9_qs418u8lm27dzCbMTNZBtETKbLDybRnEAtuSlJI075QBWedJaawtcvAGgV90xyX03Co-kh5UFVLCCiif311zVQfangUT-fLAW-EQpYZ0/s1600-h/IMG_0240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1Ki6FwkfKToST-Iza1L0ZNxp0c-yFYGZJ9_qs418u8lm27dzCbMTNZBtETKbLDybRnEAtuSlJI075QBWedJaawtcvAGgV90xyX03Co-kh5UFVLCCiif311zVQfangUT-fLAW-EQpYZ0/s320/IMG_0240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354002181526316882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWBU_wRcz2HaaFFpq-7PBom-u4qmfZ75ia75jEg7fcXynaH2Qs0A9TJ1_TgfvHsiMtRP7oPP6lDlU-Dqe71WHdqZkTKLm5uGfnQLjC9fvlmmg_upRZxAWoyKNvYzyhY7NMQV5geloFuc/s1600-h/IMG_0242.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWBU_wRcz2HaaFFpq-7PBom-u4qmfZ75ia75jEg7fcXynaH2Qs0A9TJ1_TgfvHsiMtRP7oPP6lDlU-Dqe71WHdqZkTKLm5uGfnQLjC9fvlmmg_upRZxAWoyKNvYzyhY7NMQV5geloFuc/s320/IMG_0242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354001627672195890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Heading into the mountains.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e6l_BjuL5iugGbT8ybvfytUCW1SVp5_Nwzd937B7xL3jxo65uk1IQehOSn17fOSbVoLlu_9qmjK9oNhy4lij4v4wKiFK8ilOie1Vgq2qDUDXOLOWUqpnZImv3ixRp7C33b3DjdZw7WY/s1600-h/IMG_0244.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e6l_BjuL5iugGbT8ybvfytUCW1SVp5_Nwzd937B7xL3jxo65uk1IQehOSn17fOSbVoLlu_9qmjK9oNhy4lij4v4wKiFK8ilOie1Vgq2qDUDXOLOWUqpnZImv3ixRp7C33b3DjdZw7WY/s320/IMG_0244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354001626764366690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We have to say good-bye to our lovely guide David as we head into Shangri-la. He is not allowed to guide in this region. We must meet another guide, local to the area. He was fine, but David is a hard act to follow. He was very straight forward and didn't hesitate to answer questions in a somewhat honest fashion. Most guides (they are all employed by the government) really tow the party line. It is interesting how much a guide can effect how you feel about an area.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A64zZp_us_BvMGZmnPvDq5Dm0RYgsPO5hnYdb_ChXAR1k5Mo8hzWE4LcIrWnkDPChEQsgMmsiXRG8dPK3-RYMTi8xHOOteiGZ5rU_Srz7VNSegP48xuzjEUhY3O4pNnVEmKAqegO_9k/s1600-h/IMG_0250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A64zZp_us_BvMGZmnPvDq5Dm0RYgsPO5hnYdb_ChXAR1k5Mo8hzWE4LcIrWnkDPChEQsgMmsiXRG8dPK3-RYMTi8xHOOteiGZ5rU_Srz7VNSegP48xuzjEUhY3O4pNnVEmKAqegO_9k/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354001617498162274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our next stop was Tiger Leaping Gorge. We walk for about 2k along this placid river...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl9j_lbSDoeokMUasFbgognBZyRhe67_wtfWITP8ALGy331StXJRYGSc-Xv2hYi6yJGArRQ4wF4vuLPTjhYQzzkoGWu37h2Q6P6dH-CuXMq9V4uMzSt-vf_RYuqvMgVojJV3clmwU0h0/s1600-h/IMG_0251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl9j_lbSDoeokMUasFbgognBZyRhe67_wtfWITP8ALGy331StXJRYGSc-Xv2hYi6yJGArRQ4wF4vuLPTjhYQzzkoGWu37h2Q6P6dH-CuXMq9V4uMzSt-vf_RYuqvMgVojJV3clmwU0h0/s320/IMG_0251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354001610130646690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">go through many tunnels dynamited out of the overhanging rock....</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh-ExjVWp0CtFN0Ym5Scf0CK-1mMfM3Nc3abEnU-MDupljrQmPa3m_FeMKQ-VuX3GNEQLP-TA7ufZFHldbxyHaOQnjTHX6ww56C5BPaxIN4MAF-AwWDo5iLTiaxmasYYipUnFmxMUVos/s1600-h/IMG_0253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh-ExjVWp0CtFN0Ym5Scf0CK-1mMfM3Nc3abEnU-MDupljrQmPa3m_FeMKQ-VuX3GNEQLP-TA7ufZFHldbxyHaOQnjTHX6ww56C5BPaxIN4MAF-AwWDo5iLTiaxmasYYipUnFmxMUVos/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354001608046395058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">(maybe too many tourists getting taken out by falling rock!</span>)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95fKD7dsAdvBbh8Jix8LBpdDXezda7pkHQ0NyhiHTccsTA1-tlndU1SPTQ-O7C8kXCj2qZ46_TOEMbhw8mZr33g0KFA_2S3ZFRhAZzPcIJQAGJ7c8EEVlzWo3vAPNqG1qoEr3dq_RpGw/s1600-h/IMG_0257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95fKD7dsAdvBbh8Jix8LBpdDXezda7pkHQ0NyhiHTccsTA1-tlndU1SPTQ-O7C8kXCj2qZ46_TOEMbhw8mZr33g0KFA_2S3ZFRhAZzPcIJQAGJ7c8EEVlzWo3vAPNqG1qoEr3dq_RpGw/s320/IMG_0257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354000389959645714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">and slowly we come upon Tiger Leaping Gorge. Gorg - eous!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXPgZmkimoZ55qUTTHD3o7ZbFarnxez7OWsJRRfRf094xdS_d78wI1-FzuMFI-QUU1u25-b6mf1qQQI-T9pX748jrJBjJJdsn-B0reNiilLjiwdl0BKILmG5xelgrnhQMzyHH14QlLpI/s1600-h/IMG_0261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXPgZmkimoZ55qUTTHD3o7ZbFarnxez7OWsJRRfRf094xdS_d78wI1-FzuMFI-QUU1u25-b6mf1qQQI-T9pX748jrJBjJJdsn-B0reNiilLjiwdl0BKILmG5xelgrnhQMzyHH14QlLpI/s320/IMG_0261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354000383975995490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">What do you know? At the end of the walk a nice ice cream treat awaits. More opportunity to buy, buy, buy!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRccCmrCJLeCIozvYyD2Q-xyOOY48ukvuuOQhVi25l35l4dW-881q8MVBuijPuBGDAsqcdYjj3_LAYmvqO9qwJJpinLhCA3vITLAUpTTUPmzxun4lr_pzgZKBZG6g8SoVb2PJ98PWvOPk/s1600-h/IMG_0263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRccCmrCJLeCIozvYyD2Q-xyOOY48ukvuuOQhVi25l35l4dW-881q8MVBuijPuBGDAsqcdYjj3_LAYmvqO9qwJJpinLhCA3vITLAUpTTUPmzxun4lr_pzgZKBZG6g8SoVb2PJ98PWvOPk/s320/IMG_0263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354000380951115666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMOnPErwICqh-oaCHqsKSXSKyEqfkd81nB0v5aj09l97Dj-MtbhfDwwKzWtlY7FmtMT0-RGTSh6gAxvkI6l00LqajDfzFrW12XaYtnP8yELB-fVQ4jcBIdg_VCnmY6VanfI3U7vuJqPY/s1600-h/IMG_0265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMOnPErwICqh-oaCHqsKSXSKyEqfkd81nB0v5aj09l97Dj-MtbhfDwwKzWtlY7FmtMT0-RGTSh6gAxvkI6l00LqajDfzFrW12XaYtnP8yELB-fVQ4jcBIdg_VCnmY6VanfI3U7vuJqPY/s320/IMG_0265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354000376298187874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g8J19AqD47XAZuGj6bgmLpMrscOdxAp_Qln7pypp1M-jWKc-fEODKrim-3fMZd3PSaxayjhBisjkL1k1-P7TEoUErn4dOKD2nn-wfMrzRgfakDqpgaVi-zq2vLq_TPy35zyL2zipalE/s1600-h/IMG_0266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g8J19AqD47XAZuGj6bgmLpMrscOdxAp_Qln7pypp1M-jWKc-fEODKrim-3fMZd3PSaxayjhBisjkL1k1-P7TEoUErn4dOKD2nn-wfMrzRgfakDqpgaVi-zq2vLq_TPy35zyL2zipalE/s320/IMG_0266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354000371470488610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It was stunning and powerful.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTONg33xTlNbS8en1u8bSv2FUhMw9RIMajICwgmqLPTV6_C8TyD8uvtdtsqz6tCBDQBQLcEHnQvcb0IvNGFHJyIHkMmPy5TzVJO70TfK0UWuN6akpg2BM4_71SX9oKtKvkBTp5-y0sAE/s1600-h/IMG_0268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTONg33xTlNbS8en1u8bSv2FUhMw9RIMajICwgmqLPTV6_C8TyD8uvtdtsqz6tCBDQBQLcEHnQvcb0IvNGFHJyIHkMmPy5TzVJO70TfK0UWuN6akpg2BM4_71SX9oKtKvkBTp5-y0sAE/s320/IMG_0268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353999818446863842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Christophe hiding his ice cream treat! No use hiding when I am going to tell, is there?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyLv5r3bAsBL1EXqyiZ4JLXaTvm0b87SkvpL3IV4MlWoEkpwbjXjb32kuFYlU1oj2E3TXP3rGeyLmAC0Nw9rVDaitDhBw_ZdDgOIVJuCs6WoiCdu3N5zcz9LKv-2cySciMF_Ybo-qj0s/s1600-h/IMG_0269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyLv5r3bAsBL1EXqyiZ4JLXaTvm0b87SkvpL3IV4MlWoEkpwbjXjb32kuFYlU1oj2E3TXP3rGeyLmAC0Nw9rVDaitDhBw_ZdDgOIVJuCs6WoiCdu3N5zcz9LKv-2cySciMF_Ybo-qj0s/s320/IMG_0269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353999810843150322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We made it to Shangri-la and headed right into dinner in a "traditional" restaurant. The guides do all the ordering (to our dismay many times as we like figuring it out) and the food started pouring in. It is always a feast. Shangri-la is very high, over 10,000 feet. Maybe 12,000. It was very cold. France experienced severe altitude sickness later.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFanYwJ4-e-Xw1n-K1863rG7RCRL5WOnPT_cRED8rnrQu_7YZCSnZZQiroGyCkyNPjxh2y6hySwPxTN0MZPDFwfC6MJpHDNfZluhix-3sR1qekYFPnAAk2jwBQGa7aVEk5XKvRmuLh7o/s1600-h/IMG_0270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFanYwJ4-e-Xw1n-K1863rG7RCRL5WOnPT_cRED8rnrQu_7YZCSnZZQiroGyCkyNPjxh2y6hySwPxTN0MZPDFwfC6MJpHDNfZluhix-3sR1qekYFPnAAk2jwBQGa7aVEk5XKvRmuLh7o/s320/IMG_0270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353999808545002514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We finally made it to our hotel. This is the lobby where we were checking in fairly late at night. We were greeted by lovely women offering warm tea and cookies - of a sort. Knowing that the heat is never turned on until you get there, we had asked for the room heaters to be turned on earlier.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">They said they were on, but alas, the rooms were freezing when we got there. Another beautiful courtyard hotel - 5 star they say. Well, the night was pretty miserable. Beautiful, but miserable. The bed was situated to that the one air vent blowing out "hot" air, was aimed directly at the bed. It was so cold that by the time the air made it to the bed, it was freezing. There were bed warmer pads we turned on, but for the queen bed, the pad was only in the middle section. I guess we had to cozy up anyway since the duvet on top didn't cover the width of the bed! If someone moved at all, the cover was pulled to them, sending the bed partner into screams of frigid agony! Not a good night. All kinds of complaining went on trying to fix some of these rather large details, but to no avail. Needless to say, we checked out of this quaint, beautiful hotel first thing in the morning and went into town to the standard Chinese huge hotel. It was warm and the beds were softer (oh yes, the other beds were made out of board!) so we were happy. Ahhh. Shangri-la. Not quite living up to its name. And then, of course, we find out why. It has only recently become Shangri-la! Its former name was, and still is known by, Zhongdian. The government decided that this region needed more tourism dollars (or kuai) so they renamed the town to get tourists up there! It is very close to Tibet and is lovely country, but it is certainly no Shangri-la. In fact, lore has it that Lijiang is the town that James Hilton was describing in Lost Horizon. Much more believable!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCdq9P4eNIzEI28H14rtV-bO71aLtp3w2yzCBwHOHrjEP-e9K-L69aBT0D-xv4_QaRkiHcuUq6_PDY6aV3qDFmLkYvm6vn6ji_lMNig8ZIn4FtTzn5qZo5a96UyGcp_rECQsbkpNefIE/s1600-h/IMG_0271.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCdq9P4eNIzEI28H14rtV-bO71aLtp3w2yzCBwHOHrjEP-e9K-L69aBT0D-xv4_QaRkiHcuUq6_PDY6aV3qDFmLkYvm6vn6ji_lMNig8ZIn4FtTzn5qZo5a96UyGcp_rECQsbkpNefIE/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353999801210660082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Off to one of the largest monastery's - off in the distance.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ84b8IKLkBGlZey-SqMUbf6YmdMFD2UOLTXHD5a0wq4VnmjNRvm3rgIlkQv_guSbHTCwPseVEpMw8oFeIytEz5I-eDSJ9nas8KJC1_53bQQVMsejx1yTXnDTW6TKVp6lhtrKk3SvKAs/s1600-h/IMG_0274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ84b8IKLkBGlZey-SqMUbf6YmdMFD2UOLTXHD5a0wq4VnmjNRvm3rgIlkQv_guSbHTCwPseVEpMw8oFeIytEz5I-eDSJ9nas8KJC1_53bQQVMsejx1yTXnDTW6TKVp6lhtrKk3SvKAs/s320/IMG_0274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353999797476230162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">No pictures were allowed inside, but lots of incense, candles, chanting, statues, money offering stations. Very dark with separate rooms for different Buddha statues.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEq-B1glPoUJOMWNP33FAzuFvGbcQRxiSMIygdA8cvdAloE2TF3-m_z0L9DjjiRHKoOO1RcOwv_HYi3MZ3v21bYIO0OXVIPGkHsYlS6f5vPgJGxLGnwGmcwOO4coZ-HCVIVYtHqfsAmU/s1600-h/IMG_0276.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEq-B1glPoUJOMWNP33FAzuFvGbcQRxiSMIygdA8cvdAloE2TF3-m_z0L9DjjiRHKoOO1RcOwv_HYi3MZ3v21bYIO0OXVIPGkHsYlS6f5vPgJGxLGnwGmcwOO4coZ-HCVIVYtHqfsAmU/s320/IMG_0276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353998229459504018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Gold roof shining in the sun. Lots of bells ringing around it to keep the birds away - no defecating here!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oLv7qllNYyWFp-U_MrQzHalIFr0bp7v7g9J0PAB0pGVhe4XYSp3j-k2b70C-pVVkbED4kQXE0akqhn3qMhDujav4Kg-6V_mxLsTBbxdv2lRmdVUEPrCKfib5HN3GFoo1_QmNlWYzHwo/s1600-h/IMG_0278.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oLv7qllNYyWFp-U_MrQzHalIFr0bp7v7g9J0PAB0pGVhe4XYSp3j-k2b70C-pVVkbED4kQXE0akqhn3qMhDujav4Kg-6V_mxLsTBbxdv2lRmdVUEPrCKfib5HN3GFoo1_QmNlWYzHwo/s320/IMG_0278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353998223283884786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A mini city with monks everywhere and the people who service them. Interesting.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4zoX1XUia7guE4JR6PeRgTEKgNHFNADinOKJwCaFEZSSARPp9qj5DmfwlHknTmX3WAibi5QyrGDF-q1896Ab57AJDSYYU1yBNS4haUnmz8T_qHu_j0NsCG-hrk8_KGqE2wxI5gMt7pk/s1600-h/IMG_0279.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4zoX1XUia7guE4JR6PeRgTEKgNHFNADinOKJwCaFEZSSARPp9qj5DmfwlHknTmX3WAibi5QyrGDF-q1896Ab57AJDSYYU1yBNS4haUnmz8T_qHu_j0NsCG-hrk8_KGqE2wxI5gMt7pk/s320/IMG_0279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353998219752895842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiSr771kReSbgrg5lpEKGUSqP-SsRJSuNDk4An4-TJKN8ijh-hK3aPYYEjmUFTeSaqutXAE-J9DG6oj20Owti1oFQf8swkkU989XA6cseidyQqCM-p_mczv7JbBZo5_rpGIEssfHNLAk/s1600-h/IMG_0280.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiSr771kReSbgrg5lpEKGUSqP-SsRJSuNDk4An4-TJKN8ijh-hK3aPYYEjmUFTeSaqutXAE-J9DG6oj20Owti1oFQf8swkkU989XA6cseidyQqCM-p_mczv7JbBZo5_rpGIEssfHNLAk/s320/IMG_0280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353998215956331442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmUjn4x75wXpfS-tgNLcS1jbsW2QLxT4J8rLWGtrQLSzlhvBQ4C9mlBx5vX-cymWYBrHeveJFoQLfyjt4vZH5ChX2OF6YwiDKhvheyu8cRnWs_o9pR0wkplEWlvB27IoZ2b5tkSbwwzQ/s1600-h/IMG_0281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmUjn4x75wXpfS-tgNLcS1jbsW2QLxT4J8rLWGtrQLSzlhvBQ4C9mlBx5vX-cymWYBrHeveJFoQLfyjt4vZH5ChX2OF6YwiDKhvheyu8cRnWs_o9pR0wkplEWlvB27IoZ2b5tkSbwwzQ/s320/IMG_0281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353998211002576498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Still pretty chilly in our high altitude monastery. The views from this courtyard were astounding, mountains all around.<br /><br />Time to go!<br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-66711401054165633602009-06-30T11:40:00.000-07:002009-06-30T13:14:34.177-07:00Back on the China road<span style="font-size:130%;">After a long hiatus from the blog (busy with many other travels, which you will see, packing to head home, and then China closed access to the blog for awhile surrounding the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square) I am back, and I will continue where I left off in the middle of our trip to Lijiang with my parents and France and Christophe.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRf7RT5ayQI5v1oIjnMRfXdaGypCYkr11O_BL-Cyk4xOtnIXtFneZeXwizihWQIR0mf7aRGi8QjL12WEkc7Oz39L0gA8l7Trr3ZfJmPlXAjk9MiHG5gNhSclAaJsDiAMumhlbCvfy2Rw/s1600-h/IMG_0144.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRf7RT5ayQI5v1oIjnMRfXdaGypCYkr11O_BL-Cyk4xOtnIXtFneZeXwizihWQIR0mf7aRGi8QjL12WEkc7Oz39L0gA8l7Trr3ZfJmPlXAjk9MiHG5gNhSclAaJsDiAMumhlbCvfy2Rw/s320/IMG_0144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353200474631145378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We made a nice leg stretcher stop at the first bend of the Yangtze River which begins in Tibet and runs all the way to the ocean by Shanghai. A stunning view.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1uOVq6GTIED5_0i7xFOUP2WVCA4Ne-08fqHgUlycg7OmH4YPKay0z5LwXqOdJ_62GbIuno3aBOpT51DIFx8iNYPIS4N61kz0y93AZf9rAMqtsllwwkHNVjR8NttISzQYetBMg6vgszM/s1600-h/IMG_0148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1uOVq6GTIED5_0i7xFOUP2WVCA4Ne-08fqHgUlycg7OmH4YPKay0z5LwXqOdJ_62GbIuno3aBOpT51DIFx8iNYPIS4N61kz0y93AZf9rAMqtsllwwkHNVjR8NttISzQYetBMg6vgszM/s320/IMG_0148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353200472269347458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We were greeted at our hotel in Lijiang by lovely traditional music</span>. <span style="font-size:130%;">The hotel was in the middle of old Lijiang, which required navigating cobbled, windy streets - down hill to get in, which means UP hill to get out. This is a Unesco protected town now. Very picturesque. The picture below shows how we managed to get Storey in and out of town as the wheel chair was impossible to push.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYS7opppVU5afb_8uweafcCXBcbmK8te6JWwYDLty-PJ6pxSQ2S0e3ir7KtndhkfKokrfvEmqODGUPC6w-7EQ_OtvDyxhSe4ptXqFupofULlK1AQX3IR1wT5eAlo0re94Wg3LbHoSY-Gw/s1600-h/IMG_0152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYS7opppVU5afb_8uweafcCXBcbmK8te6JWwYDLty-PJ6pxSQ2S0e3ir7KtndhkfKokrfvEmqODGUPC6w-7EQ_OtvDyxhSe4ptXqFupofULlK1AQX3IR1wT5eAlo0re94Wg3LbHoSY-Gw/s320/IMG_0152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353200466193172530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We made quite a little parade as we entered and exited! Some streets were so narrow that Storey's cart was just able to pass.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm86sFqsag0E6udrJ4vsC2bjSTYcekqZ9H1IG3Th0u_XkGKdFRGOcBaTnCAQm_Ollz1H9Y3AIpLOMY1MlK16xL3nMyk3w4AdHFjgGm-u4il2n27N6SgVb5Arcn_AqOxhc9AYY1sdGq49A/s1600-h/IMG_0153.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm86sFqsag0E6udrJ4vsC2bjSTYcekqZ9H1IG3Th0u_XkGKdFRGOcBaTnCAQm_Ollz1H9Y3AIpLOMY1MlK16xL3nMyk3w4AdHFjgGm-u4il2n27N6SgVb5Arcn_AqOxhc9AYY1sdGq49A/s320/IMG_0153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353200461749509602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijK_PIhFtK5HFPQe2sP2OGVyrMJq9J6cUuN0Mj9EeQ-Obz6jl6kmBPpjYXu-e445ZsYf_6RE2JnH_zno5IQJ9uqFlr7-BETyo8hoqYTH88cvZRpd9UUg-732R0isRozbSueIfBWSby1k0/s1600-h/IMG_0155.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijK_PIhFtK5HFPQe2sP2OGVyrMJq9J6cUuN0Mj9EeQ-Obz6jl6kmBPpjYXu-e445ZsYf_6RE2JnH_zno5IQJ9uqFlr7-BETyo8hoqYTH88cvZRpd9UUg-732R0isRozbSueIfBWSby1k0/s320/IMG_0155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353200456964747474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocXMq4oa33qpQuG5Urvy9xEI0qf2vCr_-9mbaB0bI65g9S9vlcuXLbk6OZo_jHfyfXkP3WGC0PTpoAOT4tEJWv20j4WFUN-a2d7zWITnqHa1gFIBRnwOnKTPSCb52GCeug_mOaZTOO9g/s1600-h/IMG_0161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocXMq4oa33qpQuG5Urvy9xEI0qf2vCr_-9mbaB0bI65g9S9vlcuXLbk6OZo_jHfyfXkP3WGC0PTpoAOT4tEJWv20j4WFUN-a2d7zWITnqHa1gFIBRnwOnKTPSCb52GCeug_mOaZTOO9g/s320/IMG_0161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353199715579002930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Of course nothing can stop a young girl from riding a horse, even if it is led the whole way!</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is in the background, and our planned adventure this day was to ride horses to the huge lake that is in the background, then take a traditional canoe out for a spin and come right back in. That was not very appealing to any of us. The poor horses could barely hold the adults, so most of us walked while the girls rode, bored to tears that they couldn't control the horses themselves. When we reached the water's edge, the boat they wanted us to get into was so wet, dirty and small. There was no way Storey could have gotten in without tipping the whole contraption, the wind was roaring creating little white caps, and nothing seemed less appealing than to row out and back. We have all had this experience before, for goodness sake!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HbH60-RXcxTCK9ulbNOKKMQAsjx3KI6Lmbez18LmL2MPlYgu_lG8IdhGouJCxLpKSia2d0tRxi10swJrJ6SDX7O9CWDwiItK7pEFRZVY4JY-LelcT9Fy8DGGaonE129-keZ3dZaCOS0/s1600-h/IMG_0166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HbH60-RXcxTCK9ulbNOKKMQAsjx3KI6Lmbez18LmL2MPlYgu_lG8IdhGouJCxLpKSia2d0tRxi10swJrJ6SDX7O9CWDwiItK7pEFRZVY4JY-LelcT9Fy8DGGaonE129-keZ3dZaCOS0/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353199712175951058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The next tourist target was an old monastery in the countryside. One of the largest in the region. It was great fun seeing it and seeing the young monks walk around. As you can see, endless color and endless courtyards. China is filled with a zillion courtyards.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwqWiH0AnfGkqm4dnWp5sytmCbTkolKdO35PuJBHbYJC3mS6w2v9kp2wqKeSOV4WG7FJLDv7qYUJkwLhVatDtdvkOzK1s89hAXfFPx34T_SPVJTbGZG-mF3bX6f_fbTpZOUudZaR8WX4/s1600-h/IMG_0168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwqWiH0AnfGkqm4dnWp5sytmCbTkolKdO35PuJBHbYJC3mS6w2v9kp2wqKeSOV4WG7FJLDv7qYUJkwLhVatDtdvkOzK1s89hAXfFPx34T_SPVJTbGZG-mF3bX6f_fbTpZOUudZaR8WX4/s320/IMG_0168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353199706732148562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlhp7YL6G34iDM_tDZ1joaRpBc8JL4-tQy-x4O_4wqw___-K4FMfio6GLt5ngrsg8hZlEIC2NZ5CGwOWiOyN4Mx7fQ4MUUeQ9ts0jlbB4acQokU2SY7g_uZxj0ESJAbssPW1CAFP1dj0/s1600-h/IMG_0169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlhp7YL6G34iDM_tDZ1joaRpBc8JL4-tQy-x4O_4wqw___-K4FMfio6GLt5ngrsg8hZlEIC2NZ5CGwOWiOyN4Mx7fQ4MUUeQ9ts0jlbB4acQokU2SY7g_uZxj0ESJAbssPW1CAFP1dj0/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353199705199116210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Some of the younger monks playing hackey sack. It is very special for a family to have a son who goes to a monastery. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iqIxWVJnn9JlkIWGGZZYeqj7EA5rVW1I1NUz_Zh-2RW-Qm6qVf8L5mEh_f-Hd-isSIiz5fq-Ts3axCJ9_Nr9BcTfYnXaMzY2Vlw5RZ7rCZ86TtsbBANe4r9M9ksTTDxCTW309GfPfNU/s1600-h/IMG_0171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iqIxWVJnn9JlkIWGGZZYeqj7EA5rVW1I1NUz_Zh-2RW-Qm6qVf8L5mEh_f-Hd-isSIiz5fq-Ts3axCJ9_Nr9BcTfYnXaMzY2Vlw5RZ7rCZ86TtsbBANe4r9M9ksTTDxCTW309GfPfNU/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353199699551857714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey finding her inner peace.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9JnHBp-zWbeStML3WqNTTIJaEU8dlW0PKZDUK-LtjiJe1sDd8Y9l-ERQjfuzVUmu94g-QjpXQv_qI-FbF5MmyB0vtWG3g30aJor2y6dKUY0JDCiXOiPdgmQkIuQYbgKtg3CoRSVXhHs/s1600-h/IMG_0173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9JnHBp-zWbeStML3WqNTTIJaEU8dlW0PKZDUK-LtjiJe1sDd8Y9l-ERQjfuzVUmu94g-QjpXQv_qI-FbF5MmyB0vtWG3g30aJor2y6dKUY0JDCiXOiPdgmQkIuQYbgKtg3CoRSVXhHs/s320/IMG_0173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353198819733048978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This gang waited in one of the sunlit courtyards while the rest of us toured through the monastery and got more of the history.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7ZKTuassPfqVoSY20Vk2CTbECztOGskiOtEcLCUYKwQAFI6yTU2muKKypjbidKQ6gRhejacH416e1k8Mz6mV8oeJ_QWE9Zo4GQjKKipYoMiCS5_CFzB0zEe1yv2I7LhQ0xffiOr5fa0/s1600-h/IMG_0174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7ZKTuassPfqVoSY20Vk2CTbECztOGskiOtEcLCUYKwQAFI6yTU2muKKypjbidKQ6gRhejacH416e1k8Mz6mV8oeJ_QWE9Zo4GQjKKipYoMiCS5_CFzB0zEe1yv2I7LhQ0xffiOr5fa0/s320/IMG_0174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353198816101721602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuvCniIGW86nEf7tvVJL50RIRyH9cEYR6jiBPacD-G00Mu1586DYcctkbULnFveJ2ehhOtWJIesKkcEx6jjz7VVyaq3E3LAFYV1Knzm9CtCI7GVOWt0hjelCoLV06oOFW5m4JxrKt-tM/s1600-h/IMG_0176.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuvCniIGW86nEf7tvVJL50RIRyH9cEYR6jiBPacD-G00Mu1586DYcctkbULnFveJ2ehhOtWJIesKkcEx6jjz7VVyaq3E3LAFYV1Knzm9CtCI7GVOWt0hjelCoLV06oOFW5m4JxrKt-tM/s320/IMG_0176.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353198804682846530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Another lovely town to check out. We love these stops in more locals towns where the tourists hadn't quite gotten to yet.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6KsnkZ4OFNFfjm8IH_e2F1WSYGxItGk6vkXkbTRVHJSowehSqNHRHIH8I9hjXb4qYsVSaRJtP_RQiDPyCNhO65JrrQ9j0RksVaXxieONZ4m7aH-63VMhu4h7ffF1QqwJ70DfGg9Eru0/s1600-h/IMG_0181.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6KsnkZ4OFNFfjm8IH_e2F1WSYGxItGk6vkXkbTRVHJSowehSqNHRHIH8I9hjXb4qYsVSaRJtP_RQiDPyCNhO65JrrQ9j0RksVaXxieONZ4m7aH-63VMhu4h7ffF1QqwJ70DfGg9Eru0/s320/IMG_0181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353198008622677586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Setting up shop out front.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54hniqMWYv3oJya514Llt05dpH3nOPgCksOIp7EWc4h6-rPelwDIhvcCAoNt_JbJ3qGDFd5j0_mDB1UYWEHFByiRh5zHEYRBZl0F3pmsrWqb8YXgkfXMinn8KTQYI5ez2kyk3WIhyphenhyphen62k/s1600-h/IMG_0189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54hniqMWYv3oJya514Llt05dpH3nOPgCksOIp7EWc4h6-rPelwDIhvcCAoNt_JbJ3qGDFd5j0_mDB1UYWEHFByiRh5zHEYRBZl0F3pmsrWqb8YXgkfXMinn8KTQYI5ez2kyk3WIhyphenhyphen62k/s320/IMG_0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353198000761529954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Clothes washing done at the town water source.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-tn6XP66Ex1Q0y29jKPB6qibWTrDF67br2M3g5xxOKP5I4irq6CdYe8S9dahxAd-FYoVG2mRxLxnUoW3IbEulg7glayTgyTNf4YOUq8tWP6avqZkUdJTXm7P4H07cFhHFKB67jrARaw/s1600-h/IMG_0191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-tn6XP66Ex1Q0y29jKPB6qibWTrDF67br2M3g5xxOKP5I4irq6CdYe8S9dahxAd-FYoVG2mRxLxnUoW3IbEulg7glayTgyTNf4YOUq8tWP6avqZkUdJTXm7P4H07cFhHFKB67jrARaw/s320/IMG_0191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353197998755584370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We were invited into another typical home by a woman on the street. She just grabbed us and had us follow her to her home. This is the kitchen.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyc1x1Tnl2pd7zHo-C8ra7W9aSBINyQI85qYB8B499f3OYmiM2mRG-x6fl3Yp3c16sTit6Mm4TLwtA0z8lvctpzq8AkROxA75uKhAinovAJIlyPlIg8kGyNxh9hErdoXfmYNlqaN0120/s1600-h/IMG_0193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyc1x1Tnl2pd7zHo-C8ra7W9aSBINyQI85qYB8B499f3OYmiM2mRG-x6fl3Yp3c16sTit6Mm4TLwtA0z8lvctpzq8AkROxA75uKhAinovAJIlyPlIg8kGyNxh9hErdoXfmYNlqaN0120/s320/IMG_0193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353197998163918946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">My dad looking very busy cooking over the fire!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTQ0oouEvn05-zF0KuPZGs1SHZE9J6qG93cnzCJBFIZaLYLFs8B8V7V4bmu_ovcrOuTJaY_MytwdpSFNA7ET1Jysa4u7wcnq9UPG-wrh3paQtXSloBxLlJ6jvHGn1YgiRUjain5Xnj_o/s1600-h/IMG_0194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTQ0oouEvn05-zF0KuPZGs1SHZE9J6qG93cnzCJBFIZaLYLFs8B8V7V4bmu_ovcrOuTJaY_MytwdpSFNA7ET1Jysa4u7wcnq9UPG-wrh3paQtXSloBxLlJ6jvHGn1YgiRUjain5Xnj_o/s320/IMG_0194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353196727765419842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Grass drying in the courtyard for the animals.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5aymmt8e-jqZZuNlPHi6OOIRuXaFWktQ57R4KYz9osNtRal2gwpiB92Dwg-Xj46X8sEL7Oz_uAJ8YBaK8eD213Q3Ak7CkPTlo33dMqZGMlbVORkvi68Co3BT6h7qy1Ccn-4psZOQx6w/s1600-h/IMG_0195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5aymmt8e-jqZZuNlPHi6OOIRuXaFWktQ57R4KYz9osNtRal2gwpiB92Dwg-Xj46X8sEL7Oz_uAJ8YBaK8eD213Q3Ak7CkPTlo33dMqZGMlbVORkvi68Co3BT6h7qy1Ccn-4psZOQx6w/s320/IMG_0195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353196723260210818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">More of the kitchen and their meager supplies.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLB8zlsUcRPtQ_o8NjHVvHBpMldCctLq4aMh8zOzy3IvXXTnsfBSTXAqLIvEu7OHh64lAHNt9rXHnkEjoE3SISoWemFHnhGDTo1GAvomZBvWqVzN9MkSUJAgQQNK9Ga-0LwAPObTR7Zo/s1600-h/IMG_0196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLB8zlsUcRPtQ_o8NjHVvHBpMldCctLq4aMh8zOzy3IvXXTnsfBSTXAqLIvEu7OHh64lAHNt9rXHnkEjoE3SISoWemFHnhGDTo1GAvomZBvWqVzN9MkSUJAgQQNK9Ga-0LwAPObTR7Zo/s320/IMG_0196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353196716821318450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A bedroom that we snuck a peak into, overflowing with clothes hastily tossed in.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_POdmEcGmv_h3HZ5MidFw6L3QjEX-DTHgoDqk078vwolxHZfFVuv-sUPZEAqOuSOdMph6hwA_UC9l6ZznhJSoOHx-QdjzK1VCTcQmqzfzhpTWim5pjXBjjKqNARf937RpNa6EssHPYyI/s1600-h/IMG_0197.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_POdmEcGmv_h3HZ5MidFw6L3QjEX-DTHgoDqk078vwolxHZfFVuv-sUPZEAqOuSOdMph6hwA_UC9l6ZznhJSoOHx-QdjzK1VCTcQmqzfzhpTWim5pjXBjjKqNARf937RpNa6EssHPYyI/s320/IMG_0197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353196710650778786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The matron of the house who wouldn't let us leave without stuffing our pockets with peanuts. She was literally throwing them into my purse and the girls bags, making us take something with us. The never ending hospitality of the Chinese continues to amaze us.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpMe2BabQurv8T-A0n0cHsoDjlbjFgmZKTGhLfXPrrZTBTzaWRDGPYXBvVxKv1y888lYUOXlrENufom9HKVH0vq-foynpQS4F1G6i_a-JhAUgCnarfz1RoN8Yes9yEWrrW_7D3ls7RO0/s1600-h/IMG_0199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpMe2BabQurv8T-A0n0cHsoDjlbjFgmZKTGhLfXPrrZTBTzaWRDGPYXBvVxKv1y888lYUOXlrENufom9HKVH0vq-foynpQS4F1G6i_a-JhAUgCnarfz1RoN8Yes9yEWrrW_7D3ls7RO0/s320/IMG_0199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353196204336317234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This is a covering that the women of this area wear to protect their backs when they are hauling things on their backs. We saw it often, huge loads on these women's backs. Very attractive without the goods, also.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Dad and Susie in a familiar pose.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxECuHvmtozKoxK3TlD9rUaNVgopGE9GmRZLGaomhcxTfo_bhDbAUS-t5D5H8ztzr9C7EO7kjz01w9IDdxWkCj3h4AQsbCCrl850eZi5ND7BswGdh2JVYZzEFapWrBBuVz4jEPknnVDU/s1600-h/IMG_0120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxECuHvmtozKoxK3TlD9rUaNVgopGE9GmRZLGaomhcxTfo_bhDbAUS-t5D5H8ztzr9C7EO7kjz01w9IDdxWkCj3h4AQsbCCrl850eZi5ND7BswGdh2JVYZzEFapWrBBuVz4jEPknnVDU/s320/IMG_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353196204355449330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A courtyard where a movie was being filmed. Sandbags piled up on the right and extras milling about in their period costumes.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ScuaMQSOV0psiSxVHiDSYYzrcZrCwGkGYf2MoDjYgJw1MhmehyohGYud8uQjD1fFfPQJSIXf0PRvdFcZzh2r89MtQANXiJG4w5aqeAMB_s4zWajBE2bZDp5H6GOEu7NFtTcGEaivAMk/s1600-h/IMG_0202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ScuaMQSOV0psiSxVHiDSYYzrcZrCwGkGYf2MoDjYgJw1MhmehyohGYud8uQjD1fFfPQJSIXf0PRvdFcZzh2r89MtQANXiJG4w5aqeAMB_s4zWajBE2bZDp5H6GOEu7NFtTcGEaivAMk/s320/IMG_0202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353196199781401794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Dad and Susie exploring the town. The mountains are visible in the background. This was really a stunning village. I don't think the photos have properly captured the historic essence or beauty. Oh well!</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-40988487040212295982009-04-30T21:02:00.000-07:002009-04-30T21:44:59.995-07:00Romeo and Juliet<span style="font-size:130%;">Another beautiful Shanghai night. Paige's friend Astrid came over for the night while Storey was camping out with Girl Scouts. We hopped on our bikes and rode down a very busy Changle Lu to Cafe Montmartre and some yummy French cuisine.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-mPwtHEgfiyMIKjkgsy_e70B_NXYBkefzDDmOsWPWaCJWFAeXLDe6r14uiR_n2klDwNAs3oJPu8hrzKkziuK45JTEUQRoCrrVi4pZZGElAqQfYfxwEDRe3G85EXJn8GGalAW0RG-nPM/s1600-h/IMG_0489.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-mPwtHEgfiyMIKjkgsy_e70B_NXYBkefzDDmOsWPWaCJWFAeXLDe6r14uiR_n2klDwNAs3oJPu8hrzKkziuK45JTEUQRoCrrVi4pZZGElAqQfYfxwEDRe3G85EXJn8GGalAW0RG-nPM/s320/IMG_0489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330710794529636946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">After dinner we hopped back on the bikes and went around the corner to Anfu Lu and a British production of Romeo and Juliet. It was a fabulous production and we had a perfect night.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4xmBTkVs6UrLWWjJY6RVwyAqTgjlu56IwbO8RtyEOP6rtchc0lDkDA0b2qnVkAeiplcm20T7doYazGsp-51Dl38zMOxOxRue0_Teg4KuEgWHNHJ_qx3rZm8dhZItTfUh8N01IBUHrIE/s1600-h/IMG_0491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4xmBTkVs6UrLWWjJY6RVwyAqTgjlu56IwbO8RtyEOP6rtchc0lDkDA0b2qnVkAeiplcm20T7doYazGsp-51Dl38zMOxOxRue0_Teg4KuEgWHNHJ_qx3rZm8dhZItTfUh8N01IBUHrIE/s320/IMG_0491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330710792041754386" border="0" /></a>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-62744881511462588372009-04-30T17:29:00.000-07:002009-04-30T21:00:24.653-07:00Spring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7sG5JfEtXad0DRTOvweTVOqQKAl83v_mWdRpQTF7SWgBglcoic0UPFgx_Yhk5BEqtd78_n5XJujm6Our4lqlZqeROTiHQw5oBZdbvOQDLeOhuPq5hzBEICkNgXYZsc1-vYSMnYlEO8Y/s1600-h/IMG_0494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7sG5JfEtXad0DRTOvweTVOqQKAl83v_mWdRpQTF7SWgBglcoic0UPFgx_Yhk5BEqtd78_n5XJujm6Our4lqlZqeROTiHQw5oBZdbvOQDLeOhuPq5hzBEICkNgXYZsc1-vYSMnYlEO8Y/s320/IMG_0494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330698411095010498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> I went out last Wednesday to Fudan to meet Ridley and another woman who works at Fudan for dim sum. The bottom picture shows the food arriving, the top picture shows the food when we were done eating! Absolutely amazing amounts of food for $3 a piece. Where are we going to eat in the States for that????</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf0TK3swel5xJ3RehMbfxmEqfUzyxlMSaBlQTq5Yh-COAI1hReW27lvlQ12qefycFEW-29_KL5nJOrSc1qDtzeYeP29sOwaDdAKDMSxeJO9x5IyHQorzm2sOReLWmc6vn22V0RwLe_WQ/s1600-h/IMG_0493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf0TK3swel5xJ3RehMbfxmEqfUzyxlMSaBlQTq5Yh-COAI1hReW27lvlQ12qefycFEW-29_KL5nJOrSc1qDtzeYeP29sOwaDdAKDMSxeJO9x5IyHQorzm2sOReLWmc6vn22V0RwLe_WQ/s320/IMG_0493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330698407639789570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, it is spring, and we are crazy busy here as the rest of the world is at this time of year - end of school, with the addition of the end of our time in Shanghai. It is so hard for us to fathom that we will be leaving in 6 weeks.<br /><br />I still have a lot of our last vacation to post, and I will get to it at some point. We leave in about an hour for a 4 day Yangtze River Cruise. We are trying to fit it all in before we leave!<br /><br />It is spring here - has been for a good month - and more glorious than we could imagine. The trees have leafed out, the skies are blue, the days are warm with cool breezes and everyone is out and about. It got warm enough one day that I even saw a man cooling himself in the way we became accustomed last summer and fall - pulling his shirt up to cool his tummy. It was a great reminder of what warmth is around the corner.<br /><br />We walk out the lane in the morning to the school bus and pass our lovely neighbor, who we call the plant guy, who shaves his head while watching the morning activity. Paige couldn't cross the street the other morning, at 7:15, as there was so much traffic - cars, bikes, motos, people. It took about 5 minutes! We will miss all these sites.<br /><br />We get back from the cruise Monday night and Wednesday night we are hosting Ridley's boss from Fudan and about 8 others for a Mei dinner. We are trying to be very strict about what she makes! Paige is hosting a party with another friend on Saturday night with about 25 kids. We talked to the neighborhood lane committee and we have the community room for the night. It should be fun. It is a pink party! Lucky boys. My friend Timi arrives from the States the same day. It is a crazy week.<br /><br />There seem to be so many things that I see every day that I want to record, but I sit down here and forget them all! Funny little things that we have come to take for granted, but which are really so China. <br /><br />More, so much more, later.<br /><br /><br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-25285810279232591402009-04-20T01:40:00.000-07:002009-04-21T05:46:00.510-07:00Baisha<span style="font-size:130%;">We are on our way to Lijiang, a UNESCO preserved village, but have some wonderful sights and stops along the way. This is a roadside market - note the "fresh" chickens in hand - that I shot out the window.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF9LofMMnbex_8ttnbeMeubyQD0fieBHJsCr3v5oXuHh7rIViWB81531FrnnNCtPl0iCeNSc1Yg8SWMsiZitpX-qsHqoIi25K8h9yg3p7wKOwLI7fIxnzdKc5We9T3SYqGI2hXhoy0U8/s1600-h/IMG_0078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF9LofMMnbex_8ttnbeMeubyQD0fieBHJsCr3v5oXuHh7rIViWB81531FrnnNCtPl0iCeNSc1Yg8SWMsiZitpX-qsHqoIi25K8h9yg3p7wKOwLI7fIxnzdKc5We9T3SYqGI2hXhoy0U8/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327118246729507794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We were not sure what these rolled greens are. A beautiful arrangement, though.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kaIG9W2PPNHMLGOOTxHC0Sk1Kp4MroWgEzEShMPR9GnA5TT0Cu5NkvJKEsoqDwkfRfNyz4Z4wBJMZ8aUK0kJrOlhz-QFSz-PNIoEbqzy5CPiS1LBx_rB6S9PSL1S4voFvm7lQVdcyVU/s1600-h/IMG_0081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kaIG9W2PPNHMLGOOTxHC0Sk1Kp4MroWgEzEShMPR9GnA5TT0Cu5NkvJKEsoqDwkfRfNyz4Z4wBJMZ8aUK0kJrOlhz-QFSz-PNIoEbqzy5CPiS1LBx_rB6S9PSL1S4voFvm7lQVdcyVU/s320/IMG_0081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327118238575019026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Baisha, a wonderful village we stopped by that retains much of its original charm, without the added tourist factor.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7cPcmltAvM3ywvHylKyv5n4ZObJbrNemJW0-GlqQr3S167qLqRoq8dS6c2l7eFM1PbRj_GoRq-peQcLyzUpQZR98sFc4D-Jl4qGVDdJd3FTWDwFcAeSPhMsUUnmG6N0qUu0xewwqGZQ/s1600-h/IMG_0088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7cPcmltAvM3ywvHylKyv5n4ZObJbrNemJW0-GlqQr3S167qLqRoq8dS6c2l7eFM1PbRj_GoRq-peQcLyzUpQZR98sFc4D-Jl4qGVDdJd3FTWDwFcAeSPhMsUUnmG6N0qUu0xewwqGZQ/s320/IMG_0088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327118239366577970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The old cobblestone streets made havoc with the wheels of Storey's transportation. We had a little pit-stop for pumping the tire, and some picture taking.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMplVQ_4FETMg769eF2zd8SDBTKW3YTA-OCesTVAl3Aw-SZQSmW5WCfFFr1utAqrXck4jGvNP8u03ev_rraiHV4RD8zj2GeonoyM7IiSZ2tSshPRYmTXU5cBCkBpnyIGCjAy7Wm4GWVdg/s1600-h/IMG_0092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMplVQ_4FETMg769eF2zd8SDBTKW3YTA-OCesTVAl3Aw-SZQSmW5WCfFFr1utAqrXck4jGvNP8u03ev_rraiHV4RD8zj2GeonoyM7IiSZ2tSshPRYmTXU5cBCkBpnyIGCjAy7Wm4GWVdg/s320/IMG_0092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327118235895609218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The town was like this woman: beautiful, old and original.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZFjiPNnN31XKYIsUvOdfDTbNPvsCdAZgIJw7dvOojxunNVzJoCd0gqIJqRmYrO_Tj_pak2RLUDqy8cbE5rS8PFb3LbGADIchwd-loftQ_vd2iNGnckHyfE-y-B9Vk7cDpZlt8Kz3_5g/s1600-h/IMG_0094.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZFjiPNnN31XKYIsUvOdfDTbNPvsCdAZgIJw7dvOojxunNVzJoCd0gqIJqRmYrO_Tj_pak2RLUDqy8cbE5rS8PFb3LbGADIchwd-loftQ_vd2iNGnckHyfE-y-B9Vk7cDpZlt8Kz3_5g/s320/IMG_0094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327117023493586594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our guide, David, had arranged for us to go into a local home. Through the arch, over the ghost door and </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvZLtiWGTowQG5TMt0ifnuyTu7bmTP5hqdPYMe_NVlf5ZpGCKT1ul3G9Mo91QFJXYQ39Sf5xQaOY1oqwNjBgkXvJObMGNPCMGlb-BHa5xFmxFu18u5WoDZI56KtVMAXDkF4Yjsc11qtQ/s1600-h/IMG_0096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvZLtiWGTowQG5TMt0ifnuyTu7bmTP5hqdPYMe_NVlf5ZpGCKT1ul3G9Mo91QFJXYQ39Sf5xQaOY1oqwNjBgkXvJObMGNPCMGlb-BHa5xFmxFu18u5WoDZI56KtVMAXDkF4Yjsc11qtQ/s320/IMG_0096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327117024867016258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">down a narrow passageway showing the mud brick of the homes in this village and in the area.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7-mw0kR0VceWR28qsUQP06n6T-zzs-FwhR9CmSN7rf-UsGAq6nsfHnaqJOkip1ng_6ZO9PCbrA6G84wiypgbOVMQYFMpCNbhM-EqaQhQNBsZV97PtfnJdZw98bvOm3ojwtHDEocRlRU/s1600-h/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7-mw0kR0VceWR28qsUQP06n6T-zzs-FwhR9CmSN7rf-UsGAq6nsfHnaqJOkip1ng_6ZO9PCbrA6G84wiypgbOVMQYFMpCNbhM-EqaQhQNBsZV97PtfnJdZw98bvOm3ojwtHDEocRlRU/s320/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327117021627933474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">When we arrived to the courtyard of the home - where now several families live - we saw this funny cage. It turns out that this home is part of a film being shot in the village and through China. We met the American editor later who was working on the film in an open doorway of a wonderful old hotel. We also ran into the film crew, which you will see in a bit.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-PEjlLbNPRArqAaRkEKAYnnbnsVMM3d7cq9595PkHA9_fKvIShAy6rkrP3ezGqeYBjKNeiTd7bH22tqlZ2R8irjP6m7-ZT1WIVl_gNj34BK8Ws_jvoagYkt5K3ncjTm3NoYVGk6a4gE/s1600-h/IMG_0101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-PEjlLbNPRArqAaRkEKAYnnbnsVMM3d7cq9595PkHA9_fKvIShAy6rkrP3ezGqeYBjKNeiTd7bH22tqlZ2R8irjP6m7-ZT1WIVl_gNj34BK8Ws_jvoagYkt5K3ncjTm3NoYVGk6a4gE/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327117016859301618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The door into the kitchen area had a big chain and lock on it. The woman unlocked it for us to go in and see this kitchen courtyard.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzxybi2_7VnJwUhZbXeZU3iUCvLmd3uVA-jWI2rdyxrQMcK3DuJmVN37X7RuqplUPT1E64We4UWI4urqr1VAlJtVU_ONhPdjQIdw_Qm6jidv1D1zMvDQkxjN72FMXx0cHO0FrmatyH-o/s1600-h/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzxybi2_7VnJwUhZbXeZU3iUCvLmd3uVA-jWI2rdyxrQMcK3DuJmVN37X7RuqplUPT1E64We4UWI4urqr1VAlJtVU_ONhPdjQIdw_Qm6jidv1D1zMvDQkxjN72FMXx0cHO0FrmatyH-o/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327117013104968370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The open space of the kitchen held this still used well.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV1xpwGITq-A2cqKzYyspBnQA8gQGotgjGIxBj4HLwuVriOksNh59226ynEX38Xyo_cRHEy5EvutNSFREX91AMV40DLkg_BC8ClKzUsBsL2VR2zAd31je13zyVXRuqL4KGsaI5Wdg2xE/s1600-h/IMG_0105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV1xpwGITq-A2cqKzYyspBnQA8gQGotgjGIxBj4HLwuVriOksNh59226ynEX38Xyo_cRHEy5EvutNSFREX91AMV40DLkg_BC8ClKzUsBsL2VR2zAd31je13zyVXRuqL4KGsaI5Wdg2xE/s320/IMG_0105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327116000412686002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This is the view from the upper story of the house. Stunning.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7pOdyQSHBpZrx6jba8IinAvY5lB24YT5vDlu5AN0W5S5ynxyU2OQ8YVcmzYR3q2PdHMIEJs6TL81XkwJiubV-VqBvbDdOMm2mewJuojW9QtXprDYAmI2q_xBDBva-9vSt8HdPKXpjkA/s1600-h/IMG_0107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7pOdyQSHBpZrx6jba8IinAvY5lB24YT5vDlu5AN0W5S5ynxyU2OQ8YVcmzYR3q2PdHMIEJs6TL81XkwJiubV-VqBvbDdOMm2mewJuojW9QtXprDYAmI2q_xBDBva-9vSt8HdPKXpjkA/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327116001899205042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking from the second floor down to the kitchen area. The stairs up were extremely steep and narrow. All steps in China are far too narrow for my big American foot! I usually have to go down sideways. Grandma Susie and Storey waited below - wisely.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHapFueIRmjEOePLrr7D0T0YpBrc_aqLj7PfK5uWLT-b6GHsCpj939lGzf-3DdSL7CzRvep4RZgFniQxm58HlNqD2JnVOF6NC7VpL8PvwMO-PyC1re4b8Kg7O20mZAHey36wfaolhBAs/s1600-h/IMG_0109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHapFueIRmjEOePLrr7D0T0YpBrc_aqLj7PfK5uWLT-b6GHsCpj939lGzf-3DdSL7CzRvep4RZgFniQxm58HlNqD2JnVOF6NC7VpL8PvwMO-PyC1re4b8Kg7O20mZAHey36wfaolhBAs/s320/IMG_0109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327115996863603346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We bought books about the house and the generations of this man's family who had lived here. He took the books from us and signed them - wrote long paragraphs of we are not sure what!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9vmipPyoP_1MBSFqgwpd_ojkwOsRlLB1qxS5S_-PLS-SWAS4n88PRg4LKhSk7UbyqsiOLjw8RPhp04Nel777wqP0Q8AdU9CtxA50nq8CCQY3Yc8jlTyZGPZfRRJXy-x11DCt6JTHCJc/s1600-h/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9vmipPyoP_1MBSFqgwpd_ojkwOsRlLB1qxS5S_-PLS-SWAS4n88PRg4LKhSk7UbyqsiOLjw8RPhp04Nel777wqP0Q8AdU9CtxA50nq8CCQY3Yc8jlTyZGPZfRRJXy-x11DCt6JTHCJc/s320/IMG_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327115998859208626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The sweet woman with keys to the kingdom! They just wanted to talk and talk and talk. They were wonderful and genuine. We felt so privileged to have visited them.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a8sWT5K9U3lrhQkljn0KoJxzHnF5Qzwg84CqSot2Dgh72PovNBFoj41xJFNdj4LoXnFGgvdGYIcz4glCsjcMUVza3sZIeyJV3PmsNY-v6QVxMzNxdcufK97lkH-iXA999G94D1hHI3o/s1600-h/IMG_0112.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a8sWT5K9U3lrhQkljn0KoJxzHnF5Qzwg84CqSot2Dgh72PovNBFoj41xJFNdj4LoXnFGgvdGYIcz4glCsjcMUVza3sZIeyJV3PmsNY-v6QVxMzNxdcufK97lkH-iXA999G94D1hHI3o/s320/IMG_0112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327115992788912002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">After we left to explore more of the village, we came upon the old market place. Still stunning. They were filming right around the corner and some of the extras were awaiting their turn.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRipmheCMD4IRDh69G1C-JA36AG2zkX0eOxBs0mKYbLr4gt60JrdtpMfO-QEoa11tIkQDDfP7eeEwwByzqvdpfXGs0-qK0pBjTrT-vaZ6-U4gL6mB7KBNzFINbc4rvEB51ItyT9zRs60/s1600-h/IMG_0117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRipmheCMD4IRDh69G1C-JA36AG2zkX0eOxBs0mKYbLr4gt60JrdtpMfO-QEoa11tIkQDDfP7eeEwwByzqvdpfXGs0-qK0pBjTrT-vaZ6-U4gL6mB7KBNzFINbc4rvEB51ItyT9zRs60/s320/IMG_0117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327113330760037922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Filming - hurry up and wait!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRva0UL9ByTflnN5Mu8vdL7tdUOqQvHj1vlEc2WnMNlrBwBnG4QuxFDGe15gnd9RZXeix430QxumuAfIPuZHi-z8kg3TWOaCuig7Ta7_4b3JE3CaK6_KfHq4eHoBNLr9f0NZ7ZtnqdMpk/s1600-h/IMG_0119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRva0UL9ByTflnN5Mu8vdL7tdUOqQvHj1vlEc2WnMNlrBwBnG4QuxFDGe15gnd9RZXeix430QxumuAfIPuZHi-z8kg3TWOaCuig7Ta7_4b3JE3CaK6_KfHq4eHoBNLr9f0NZ7ZtnqdMpk/s320/IMG_0119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327113327979319010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Locals hanging around and chatting. They are so colorful.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JrRBu9DbfOxKkO_EQI0-zzRykttgZxqVziVXApLh84t0dyaSXqHHaO16-f9YCLmvojg0sO8RJDR0-PA4OxCMimz3N9drjFNCTq12ivXw7Em7-hmiw8RRdfYx7QkLPu8aRj1HJgsMGFc/s1600-h/IMG_0121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JrRBu9DbfOxKkO_EQI0-zzRykttgZxqVziVXApLh84t0dyaSXqHHaO16-f9YCLmvojg0sO8RJDR0-PA4OxCMimz3N9drjFNCTq12ivXw7Em7-hmiw8RRdfYx7QkLPu8aRj1HJgsMGFc/s320/IMG_0121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327113321132615730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This room was filled with men smoking and chatting. I grabbed a quick photo before they turned away.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAU1J-hXfup1IB856trNqusMi1nidqBqwH3WTAbGllW99oJmkgAHKLVHo5jyke-CVGrprgpJFkidwBtaDpj18nDTLWPKeeJmbLHS2xVcvy5yeP1riGD3q3tQO_71DaRiDTbhYUhEggG0/s1600-h/IMG_0122.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAU1J-hXfup1IB856trNqusMi1nidqBqwH3WTAbGllW99oJmkgAHKLVHo5jyke-CVGrprgpJFkidwBtaDpj18nDTLWPKeeJmbLHS2xVcvy5yeP1riGD3q3tQO_71DaRiDTbhYUhEggG0/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327113322583894658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Making our way down the back alleys of town - Grandma Susie in the lead, Christophe and Dad and Paige.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPwJlKSBjsnAzm-Z8bqtLIL-aStXecQa27cd4OXTCF1IGrMibAO6vhUKFhklPJOG2VCMu3COC1rQEFVaDVds43Pr897zHXqNFiJXH8M-XRV0QnJXYEaukWLJANX-xZkpmJp3suRobjk4/s1600-h/IMG_0126.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPwJlKSBjsnAzm-Z8bqtLIL-aStXecQa27cd4OXTCF1IGrMibAO6vhUKFhklPJOG2VCMu3COC1rQEFVaDVds43Pr897zHXqNFiJXH8M-XRV0QnJXYEaukWLJANX-xZkpmJp3suRobjk4/s320/IMG_0126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327113315707598818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Buildings were a bit run down but gorgeous. Hopefully they will keep them up for future generations. The town is certainly getting more attention with film crews discovering it.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbme8OFvmodhtJfioBOaJo_Ttc3Svs2ODoFIyO1YSdA7bvjwtI96EOAY_e2-zaUgU1bx6Vpg_-ejUMPgmW9zjAPm04s0VZ4wfkr0MJLw1Jirq1ZMIi7Qm9OHpWETgiCEgMRBJI255jmhI/s1600-h/IMG_0127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbme8OFvmodhtJfioBOaJo_Ttc3Svs2ODoFIyO1YSdA7bvjwtI96EOAY_e2-zaUgU1bx6Vpg_-ejUMPgmW9zjAPm04s0VZ4wfkr0MJLw1Jirq1ZMIi7Qm9OHpWETgiCEgMRBJI255jmhI/s320/IMG_0127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327102530918670002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Corn drying.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVQg9B2IcZ-_S4JQs96gWrDb7Ew83fxXfYLFadjgGuQaCKG4eApEvIlcHikhd4AzjV-DPxTWcEIcuuta_wsfdJ9f_eRQecXwkdwoQCFmRYgXXhSrm8bP2lqOAsxvIEClxZEH-NRpmuFw/s1600-h/IMG_0130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVQg9B2IcZ-_S4JQs96gWrDb7Ew83fxXfYLFadjgGuQaCKG4eApEvIlcHikhd4AzjV-DPxTWcEIcuuta_wsfdJ9f_eRQecXwkdwoQCFmRYgXXhSrm8bP2lqOAsxvIEClxZEH-NRpmuFw/s320/IMG_0130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327102531812029106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We walked around the outside of the village and found the gardens next to the mud walls of town. A river was just behind us.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8SDWGNd_YVg-_nZXPR6n-DF5kZlzChG9GOPUE0nGeKoP6wUwACz-ZJdAnmh2_iBG3Nsuygc7Tw7o9tIqgW0QUsjyO3CSktzKUjobq_JDAtbrwOJaZumrFm0U8aFnuI1UoGh5CWoRcJA/s1600-h/IMG_0133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8SDWGNd_YVg-_nZXPR6n-DF5kZlzChG9GOPUE0nGeKoP6wUwACz-ZJdAnmh2_iBG3Nsuygc7Tw7o9tIqgW0QUsjyO3CSktzKUjobq_JDAtbrwOJaZumrFm0U8aFnuI1UoGh5CWoRcJA/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327102528820982946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Havesting, drying basket and a beautiful building.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzh2z3JqOQbLsTTol0PdRY7zD32enSmqwo59uKu0xjF4n5gIgOxb6f8_DKSboy8rHDcVDdU4-RpgVYGcbEPlRr18qO5xK9N6Nw4g6eQD8IP2264s-3lZi3atZkVqg757AT4i3pio6mqBI/s1600-h/IMG_0137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzh2z3JqOQbLsTTol0PdRY7zD32enSmqwo59uKu0xjF4n5gIgOxb6f8_DKSboy8rHDcVDdU4-RpgVYGcbEPlRr18qO5xK9N6Nw4g6eQD8IP2264s-3lZi3atZkVqg757AT4i3pio6mqBI/s320/IMG_0137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327102523734050306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our driver buying fish for dinner tonight! He threw it in the back with all our luggage!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-1_VVczFbm1Oo84JbBsLTA74nITIWMqdqTgxPqs8_IsLkj2yXrg76F6i5G20__0K_C_2ycSR8nb_XLna61g91rotokHSNvBEFq1zoxx5-rEmdIDH0H2qsYaGl8smEqS4Ygt07wCj_QA/s1600-h/IMG_0141.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-1_VVczFbm1Oo84JbBsLTA74nITIWMqdqTgxPqs8_IsLkj2yXrg76F6i5G20__0K_C_2ycSR8nb_XLna61g91rotokHSNvBEFq1zoxx5-rEmdIDH0H2qsYaGl8smEqS4Ygt07wCj_QA/s320/IMG_0141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327102523842412482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This was one of our favorite stops as it really hasn't been touristed yet. The stores were all local and people took us by the hand to find things. Perfect day.</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-38903671792707357082009-04-11T23:59:00.000-07:002009-04-13T02:41:18.655-07:00Dali<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtApUnVS07SCpUM5AzkaF8zSIZqf1jC6URm01cT_uCcDDfTi2LfqOyPG-hL9H6hn36MRkmLwRzaOrGtdP_jeHUP1XYdxsPOS_8xOOpdVb6iAlgoJgC-rKYhOtXCJBjYI9IUDI6eWiGpk/s1600-h/IMG_0905.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtApUnVS07SCpUM5AzkaF8zSIZqf1jC6URm01cT_uCcDDfTi2LfqOyPG-hL9H6hn36MRkmLwRzaOrGtdP_jeHUP1XYdxsPOS_8xOOpdVb6iAlgoJgC-rKYhOtXCJBjYI9IUDI6eWiGpk/s320/IMG_0905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323702751713174962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We got up early to fly to Dali. There is a huge lake that the town sits on - as well as many other towns!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pHWv_D7HUDLgsPu64dUWIltnVpsUBzBMVHEZry4FoS0MmZx9YSxW5du5N4n-c1I4k5axLgoNe4kA2IdEMItnCm_ahl0geJzYW68n5evYnqK8NUe5A_ejiYejPEdrChbc1Mhen-wh8Yg/s1600-h/IMG_0907.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pHWv_D7HUDLgsPu64dUWIltnVpsUBzBMVHEZry4FoS0MmZx9YSxW5du5N4n-c1I4k5axLgoNe4kA2IdEMItnCm_ahl0geJzYW68n5evYnqK8NUe5A_ejiYejPEdrChbc1Mhen-wh8Yg/s320/IMG_0907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323702747187307394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This is Dali "New City". We were happy to not be staying here. We made our way around the bottom of the lake and then up north about 30 minutes.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa4KXRxUPBlwrLd81oC_6GVT4X-VVccEFYwqe4QgQfm1vz0OEnDpsV1ZN3X_NcTJoYolf2bmygynH1SFBPqkA3KDUrVTBYypYo6hNfXIlbwE9keBDbiGqMrw2q9MJmTcBNq81pYSUHeU/s1600-h/IMG_0932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa4KXRxUPBlwrLd81oC_6GVT4X-VVccEFYwqe4QgQfm1vz0OEnDpsV1ZN3X_NcTJoYolf2bmygynH1SFBPqkA3KDUrVTBYypYo6hNfXIlbwE9keBDbiGqMrw2q9MJmTcBNq81pYSUHeU/s320/IMG_0932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323702745637850690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A wonderful shot of a plastic bottle recycler.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iYam0NDSCTQMctBIx75nWf7LHl2drKD04ezRn-EpfvqZhzQPIiw7Y72xXWEAmA0IileLFCUkfxZTL5gFOeVuDf5usQxAmz7aMxXs2Hxc50zeO7_yg50KaxsqsWq4_SSQlHFakQar-eM/s1600-h/IMG_0949.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iYam0NDSCTQMctBIx75nWf7LHl2drKD04ezRn-EpfvqZhzQPIiw7Y72xXWEAmA0IileLFCUkfxZTL5gFOeVuDf5usQxAmz7aMxXs2Hxc50zeO7_yg50KaxsqsWq4_SSQlHFakQar-eM/s320/IMG_0949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323702739387714066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">One of many 3 wheeled vehicles that we saw everywhere.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-qY4nK1fnOAeoGNNBoiNzfAKRVbHM9VesL_HJ-OLQg_uEXeC71VAe-7I0jd9xu4CPu3gJZM3vajYFSQVI1b0-pPiaOGB_WuEwigaKgJo4vLP6dIGbsa6h3mTkY3uF1k2pULzSr6Q-Fk/s1600-h/IMG_0999.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-qY4nK1fnOAeoGNNBoiNzfAKRVbHM9VesL_HJ-OLQg_uEXeC71VAe-7I0jd9xu4CPu3gJZM3vajYFSQVI1b0-pPiaOGB_WuEwigaKgJo4vLP6dIGbsa6h3mTkY3uF1k2pULzSr6Q-Fk/s320/IMG_0999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323702195951588338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Making our way to the lake for a boat ride to an island fishing village.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hHIiQ5ExIQkkFnGAbVDLnBEQFZV9tnTmIOOQZPrbJd0kJR4TlxXl7Qna9jZLLZ9uQuAz_HRyraouDYRZnJ3WBDN21V2t35ZYbNTUbOCT9EJzijN7BBfzQWONmO7s1mT3zVHYJzdisc8/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hHIiQ5ExIQkkFnGAbVDLnBEQFZV9tnTmIOOQZPrbJd0kJR4TlxXl7Qna9jZLLZ9uQuAz_HRyraouDYRZnJ3WBDN21V2t35ZYbNTUbOCT9EJzijN7BBfzQWONmO7s1mT3zVHYJzdisc8/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323702188475773138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The lovely boat.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3Cy4Wr69D5ODFQv-4-gFdYAirl4l28cw3BeWVsmgBSoPQME8FOT6W1SsiBqbYmjvT_z0Va46dNLcVvFK3NdcqsZtgwpL_26QppDsgHmzH2BCAMAHowkxCaEOXrJI81Q3S67t9KfBho4/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3Cy4Wr69D5ODFQv-4-gFdYAirl4l28cw3BeWVsmgBSoPQME8FOT6W1SsiBqbYmjvT_z0Va46dNLcVvFK3NdcqsZtgwpL_26QppDsgHmzH2BCAMAHowkxCaEOXrJI81Q3S67t9KfBho4/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323702190924958722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The first mate!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaob0FehlocKsjEIJd-_ljGRoWkdOqbTklCQVknwCu974uCYpsJBcpy1Cned8OZYnDuj1IszcJhEawzyau17IrmITJ01lM-U7Ty9kN4K6C-scIgVsI3bW2AIrgBc2sC-cmBWQa_WVawWM/s1600-h/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaob0FehlocKsjEIJd-_ljGRoWkdOqbTklCQVknwCu974uCYpsJBcpy1Cned8OZYnDuj1IszcJhEawzyau17IrmITJ01lM-U7Ty9kN4K6C-scIgVsI3bW2AIrgBc2sC-cmBWQa_WVawWM/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323702184616601506" border="0" /></a>Michael, our first guide.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZs51BYONKyNOLV1PqrB2LZJf-cOjFC9Z_Ho_5RFnLeFdMvf-HZNdpTTX1onNDbsaYpZh6fRFwjjnGvC3AzBLjYn4uNHM6zM1eFVkSY62NswPddvX0RdRKGdXjndSHhjPGEhNvXA9DuY/s1600-h/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZs51BYONKyNOLV1PqrB2LZJf-cOjFC9Z_Ho_5RFnLeFdMvf-HZNdpTTX1onNDbsaYpZh6fRFwjjnGvC3AzBLjYn4uNHM6zM1eFVkSY62NswPddvX0RdRKGdXjndSHhjPGEhNvXA9DuY/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323701475992313794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Clear skies and clean air was a very nice change.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxOHBCg9bjEaiRo-ChSomTqOS0-WE9HhZEsxozgfProktWekEhO94nSK-38xvAsreBPIS-4lkgTCeZuEfJUs8OtxxKKc0wff7SzFV65FG8DVpnSOVmRYq3y5Az5bLUJlh3IzPt8t_8t4/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxOHBCg9bjEaiRo-ChSomTqOS0-WE9HhZEsxozgfProktWekEhO94nSK-38xvAsreBPIS-4lkgTCeZuEfJUs8OtxxKKc0wff7SzFV65FG8DVpnSOVmRYq3y5Az5bLUJlh3IzPt8t_8t4/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323701474202337858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFB8oP_jkHnPla3bGsekVc6_qxQUagPcMdUwkX2hnVvyuO4VdjbnKrafZAoTMkBxHzSNYlUvaka3WDX-7FK-y6sG58ZW-JgRxsWAtWigsRSwKx4bUctQ-xiISRVStA5wBt5qPnL9mMzw/s1600-h/IMG_0023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFB8oP_jkHnPla3bGsekVc6_qxQUagPcMdUwkX2hnVvyuO4VdjbnKrafZAoTMkBxHzSNYlUvaka3WDX-7FK-y6sG58ZW-JgRxsWAtWigsRSwKx4bUctQ-xiISRVStA5wBt5qPnL9mMzw/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323701470883004002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd9GEwyg_k9SFKOdZeH03f7xNMbFPuKGA821uFa-MKCgHTIJRLUr16aQRYzeCXPzhhjqeIIaKwvZYSE3FYxSN_8DX3eOKS_AOuPaA48cXaCvTrBjs0GZpIw5bO2D3Rb5Z7rX2gRzuiDI/s1600-h/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd9GEwyg_k9SFKOdZeH03f7xNMbFPuKGA821uFa-MKCgHTIJRLUr16aQRYzeCXPzhhjqeIIaKwvZYSE3FYxSN_8DX3eOKS_AOuPaA48cXaCvTrBjs0GZpIw5bO2D3Rb5Z7rX2gRzuiDI/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323701469933011698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The village.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxY2tWRVIHONXNinEhwjxS4SoPJ2rEbvDLQ4QCmYFPCYRm_vDJ3iClMDdlX0KaV_L4iJKviNTGslz8iEhpk-VGvULV4AGthAjyeMhwsEever3UB81xs2J-SBKDCGKF4fjO5CsykFVNP5k/s1600-h/IMG_0026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxY2tWRVIHONXNinEhwjxS4SoPJ2rEbvDLQ4QCmYFPCYRm_vDJ3iClMDdlX0KaV_L4iJKviNTGslz8iEhpk-VGvULV4AGthAjyeMhwsEever3UB81xs2J-SBKDCGKF4fjO5CsykFVNP5k/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323701462289185394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Another temple! This, of course, to pray for good fishing.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmNScct5jwctfG1fapTidmDMeJ_eZTCN8N2Db2cw7FYqZgBU4d55PHVeNj8QtY3J1hGSxnEsG0nN5FBbPOBcG2qDiSxYrBXppdyo3RJh3BKRceLUwOkD0sBjTgnjVqs9Lo_CHThThWMI/s1600-h/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmNScct5jwctfG1fapTidmDMeJ_eZTCN8N2Db2cw7FYqZgBU4d55PHVeNj8QtY3J1hGSxnEsG0nN5FBbPOBcG2qDiSxYrBXppdyo3RJh3BKRceLUwOkD0sBjTgnjVqs9Lo_CHThThWMI/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323700451092835762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5UVkGXUH-dlqsfIUI1JsEd97LuYU7edalWnm7K2vfrhG1nRxuwRd3Y8HdwFgo4_-JRF37qbc6ANGsnwGfwiyGpcia27drRqdT4nSpQqCWylipuwbA15y0oxY7Ceq680HY4eXonkN-0g/s1600-h/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5UVkGXUH-dlqsfIUI1JsEd97LuYU7edalWnm7K2vfrhG1nRxuwRd3Y8HdwFgo4_-JRF37qbc6ANGsnwGfwiyGpcia27drRqdT4nSpQqCWylipuwbA15y0oxY7Ceq680HY4eXonkN-0g/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323700447818553506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A beautiful, colorful town.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-h7K7MEfnf2zY3-s4LbrwkMLvL4tf1nPav_ji4IxNE5-TLwyAdQJV1Uvu-Av7P_igAn1PcyQAgSpG1WXvTbpQpK5DDDRmt_M_pe_H61pg3N7yQkgdmzY79WJE10kBpo6joLRNTEiHsk/s1600-h/IMG_0033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-h7K7MEfnf2zY3-s4LbrwkMLvL4tf1nPav_ji4IxNE5-TLwyAdQJV1Uvu-Av7P_igAn1PcyQAgSpG1WXvTbpQpK5DDDRmt_M_pe_H61pg3N7yQkgdmzY79WJE10kBpo6joLRNTEiHsk/s320/IMG_0033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323700445537315106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Dried fish that tour boats with Asian tourists who came after us, swamped</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZLLIRNPVJZt3ccjJIRaf9WjkuvXDNWb-TvOF9kkzryie4wmjQKLwOd6cCpIXbv_EpzmQwvVDoRgyBey_mIIHUQiTcN963yvOQ8nrmw3bcctydN5_aCf5eoQRlEeXOhoS7DnBmajXYl4/s1600-h/IMG_0034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZLLIRNPVJZt3ccjJIRaf9WjkuvXDNWb-TvOF9kkzryie4wmjQKLwOd6cCpIXbv_EpzmQwvVDoRgyBey_mIIHUQiTcN963yvOQ8nrmw3bcctydN5_aCf5eoQRlEeXOhoS7DnBmajXYl4/s320/IMG_0034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323700443094260802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_Gxe0HnIaUBCj07x0npy0lEQUjmTU_U8z3AypifhqoCpkpdV6e6HGy8-CvqRB_RUstHNckNwTAgSwr6_TQk_KbsovwN2UEtcWlVzXImtEp8TAi_0ov_USM-ZLv_kYpspVKo5OgWCefk/s1600-h/IMG_0035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_Gxe0HnIaUBCj07x0npy0lEQUjmTU_U8z3AypifhqoCpkpdV6e6HGy8-CvqRB_RUstHNckNwTAgSwr6_TQk_KbsovwN2UEtcWlVzXImtEp8TAi_0ov_USM-ZLv_kYpspVKo5OgWCefk/s320/IMG_0035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323700438205955906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Paige and Storey each found a shell mobile that they had to take home!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3t9PD2NrUi_35IDVsPt32UyeQWFKsv3QaLLFBzU7sl8tMvLNP9eFa1iT-nTsddcaKZHLr_v5zHZJ-pO9ilxW19rKMv2_hTmk9BG_kgHLhRCWFONdRi2GmRUktAvoATZClJI7ub23qmRg/s1600-h/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3t9PD2NrUi_35IDVsPt32UyeQWFKsv3QaLLFBzU7sl8tMvLNP9eFa1iT-nTsddcaKZHLr_v5zHZJ-pO9ilxW19rKMv2_hTmk9BG_kgHLhRCWFONdRi2GmRUktAvoATZClJI7ub23qmRg/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323699523796989778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The vendor who laughed at their tough bargaining.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HoUL9a2WGnPfrsEfg7at-K0NzIGwDVP14sTYAac3GyBQo6qBAMjbubnBYF5o9-5_a6yIVTg9mpNu80FJGh7OwToxEVQDyMElh5OFdmKFriYuSm2jN2kVz1MPxw_IsdSWiAys5wYHQfA/s1600-h/IMG_0046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HoUL9a2WGnPfrsEfg7at-K0NzIGwDVP14sTYAac3GyBQo6qBAMjbubnBYF5o9-5_a6yIVTg9mpNu80FJGh7OwToxEVQDyMElh5OFdmKFriYuSm2jN2kVz1MPxw_IsdSWiAys5wYHQfA/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323699520709923410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our Naxi courtyard hotel in the old town of Dali.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_xEmb5K_jkLEjbozCzmv3aPu0XnMJlzZ1Lksbe3iwJkoWHa3_KPBxAH9b1Es2F-XJvZeWv__crn0lDPY_XjwZVGadvaLGgIB87JCWtn3-PsxXyz5Ont0a97HPVINBi0zLhvNnwGwraE/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_xEmb5K_jkLEjbozCzmv3aPu0XnMJlzZ1Lksbe3iwJkoWHa3_KPBxAH9b1Es2F-XJvZeWv__crn0lDPY_XjwZVGadvaLGgIB87JCWtn3-PsxXyz5Ont0a97HPVINBi0zLhvNnwGwraE/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323699518872465442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wZ4DM92R9ywhhOrbgl91UAGq2nEvt7bxr0YKpywaOjg6aF8Az4XSq4tHRcthAKuX4ygWCgmPPzwFalmo9vkqSKaXQvVjAeecFVimbwxdDK5-pCAMmRAzCOc_WhjokPy76q3eAU1oauY/s1600-h/IMG_0048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wZ4DM92R9ywhhOrbgl91UAGq2nEvt7bxr0YKpywaOjg6aF8Az4XSq4tHRcthAKuX4ygWCgmPPzwFalmo9vkqSKaXQvVjAeecFVimbwxdDK5-pCAMmRAzCOc_WhjokPy76q3eAU1oauY/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323699515256133042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXvjj1t5p3K5hHvv54KQZK1R4_Ts0Ba9X1n6eo3ooDCpB-zmL9xCuxhhhOaxKxjNhLT4bZp5P7TQ59oQL7fvPpRqSPTImYXuzhniGEa_lOBT9489fbfj9_Gc4RgBha9X1s2UHCM5qXAM/s1600-h/IMG_0049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXvjj1t5p3K5hHvv54KQZK1R4_Ts0Ba9X1n6eo3ooDCpB-zmL9xCuxhhhOaxKxjNhLT4bZp5P7TQ59oQL7fvPpRqSPTImYXuzhniGEa_lOBT9489fbfj9_Gc4RgBha9X1s2UHCM5qXAM/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323698678653934434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We took a lift up the mountain for a view of the area and yet another temple. All along the mountain were tombstones. They face east, the rising sun, and there were guards along the way standing watch over them. QingMing, tomb sweeping day is coming up, and people were already cleaning out some areas around the tombs. We saw these on all the hillsides as we drove north the next day.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBOfm6cRh88YP-Rkpc31jcgQWvD_gF2QTapEBSvfA1KeGhjLirK3NVT1zR3h-l75DSsFof6sm1lLBKE6eGALVN05_ZXpzRlNhdXeJ6hmcrSA_KnLUaBvuSDpEHE6bAonTECD_t1s84y8/s1600-h/IMG_0050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBOfm6cRh88YP-Rkpc31jcgQWvD_gF2QTapEBSvfA1KeGhjLirK3NVT1zR3h-l75DSsFof6sm1lLBKE6eGALVN05_ZXpzRlNhdXeJ6hmcrSA_KnLUaBvuSDpEHE6bAonTECD_t1s84y8/s320/IMG_0050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323698672234681026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoEGKvapJrWaNaRbdSNhUM_U5orCOm3vvD-JL7-HYaZI50n37wYtrPHkwyo43pZ0apZW02hOvbrhNQcWk4hj5nJXzfQ4EvIJUoj8wSTbdJ9AG4gRUHVyIZRcOHeT5la9EdVQbAgDTRSY/s1600-h/IMG_0063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoEGKvapJrWaNaRbdSNhUM_U5orCOm3vvD-JL7-HYaZI50n37wYtrPHkwyo43pZ0apZW02hOvbrhNQcWk4hj5nJXzfQ4EvIJUoj8wSTbdJ9AG4gRUHVyIZRcOHeT5la9EdVQbAgDTRSY/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323698669415291394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A little hazy in the afternoon. The lake is in the background with old town Dali and some other small villages around.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPHOKrbPsRjYoK3kLOgk1hPgs6p2wtNgAwWhKZcnzJkJXS99BseB_lK4brBW2QJl35lECUgXuX_AyEgZEF2i5sUlOv-tGaKL0FMO8F_8EHgpkaFGHPBSrxswyb0x-e4nnakpAKC7MudU/s1600-h/IMG_0057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPHOKrbPsRjYoK3kLOgk1hPgs6p2wtNgAwWhKZcnzJkJXS99BseB_lK4brBW2QJl35lECUgXuX_AyEgZEF2i5sUlOv-tGaKL0FMO8F_8EHgpkaFGHPBSrxswyb0x-e4nnakpAKC7MudU/s320/IMG_0057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323698663711454594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Ridley and Paige sitting out the temple viewing. Actually, France, Christophe and I were the only ones heading up those stairs!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLO1xpWN4a9IhC1W9BpVsC6KmojNMRDf9p0LbRWSZO1FqJDnjWXoGtkc7-_gz7fMF41LvGYeKfCRooLIpMyDnmt25b5r0lLcxOvWzQtC2yEBMwUS2-jt10chBWqqNQbnmUiK6KoShjeE/s1600-h/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLO1xpWN4a9IhC1W9BpVsC6KmojNMRDf9p0LbRWSZO1FqJDnjWXoGtkc7-_gz7fMF41LvGYeKfCRooLIpMyDnmt25b5r0lLcxOvWzQtC2yEBMwUS2-jt10chBWqqNQbnmUiK6KoShjeE/s320/IMG_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323698657319912898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bgoLf9rREciTIRpkSh7x7DlCjwaJYx06MXIKaiul3btsQqmUfhL2XPinqa0P6sBIDfTiESjGKIFCxQCWH58lmU0pLts09jm3h_b0XlzifotkDZz_-llxvOMv7-7reyYCYT518jwyDiI/s1600-h/IMG_0064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bgoLf9rREciTIRpkSh7x7DlCjwaJYx06MXIKaiul3btsQqmUfhL2XPinqa0P6sBIDfTiESjGKIFCxQCWH58lmU0pLts09jm3h_b0XlzifotkDZz_-llxvOMv7-7reyYCYT518jwyDiI/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323697269323974994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">In the street behind our hotel, these restaurants were everywhere displaying their fresh produce. Pick what you want to eat and they cook it up! The little bridge in the foreground goes over the water that runs through town and is used for washing clothes, drinking, and animal watering. They have different times for different acitivities!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8J9_JPZQVkXEo9Oi5YZWiOOtn9ezRbB5Nl0bvWnwp1jyTsvpuj_odQZAZ3T9JfNSbBFS57BTRzHDngaUTYKb_MeU4F7lc20KWLOieUQC32RQwfob2tm1ZzJhQuHSJjdql8icRkchpKuE/s1600-h/IMG_0074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8J9_JPZQVkXEo9Oi5YZWiOOtn9ezRbB5Nl0bvWnwp1jyTsvpuj_odQZAZ3T9JfNSbBFS57BTRzHDngaUTYKb_MeU4F7lc20KWLOieUQC32RQwfob2tm1ZzJhQuHSJjdql8icRkchpKuE/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323697262508810674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgqWT_rIkwPdgL0lsFACmEPjPH3DmKX0nWdBFrarJkzjk3ycvhAvU180_x1BPtjqpYIoJEMU24rbU00YAj5tcAMFMspDGhDXyZpm-G8wztRTZfn4LYyYHhZK7Q7t3g131NCnhETA2cCk/s1600-h/IMG_0068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgqWT_rIkwPdgL0lsFACmEPjPH3DmKX0nWdBFrarJkzjk3ycvhAvU180_x1BPtjqpYIoJEMU24rbU00YAj5tcAMFMspDGhDXyZpm-G8wztRTZfn4LYyYHhZK7Q7t3g131NCnhETA2cCk/s320/IMG_0068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323697260291891026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A better shot of the irrigation system.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWfn2dx6PewFR6X8hkCNRjaI96qh42aZmqO2y_EJaxUelYNBrWNksKsGpQDz8gwH1481dAUaFGz5iBya0lMStFxxi-OEjsGxT5WgCL4eaT4AuEJGvfASBSFlk_v4tW0P_Wrjg_i89_to/s1600-h/IMG_0070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWfn2dx6PewFR6X8hkCNRjaI96qh42aZmqO2y_EJaxUelYNBrWNksKsGpQDz8gwH1481dAUaFGz5iBya0lMStFxxi-OEjsGxT5WgCL4eaT4AuEJGvfASBSFlk_v4tW0P_Wrjg_i89_to/s320/IMG_0070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323697254524434386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A sneak peak at a local barber.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm1WArRMEuymmPHH6UCVSGvNSvkmoibY6oyObfb0PIWpqIHlzpRwjCKu3JNS3S0LVb5qQt3jbYco03WCu0bHM-fgT4LuBdkfiG31xy-Pp1tQEmGDIY1zYeWN6ODZ3hr8tfx8yOA33FME/s1600-h/IMG_0073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm1WArRMEuymmPHH6UCVSGvNSvkmoibY6oyObfb0PIWpqIHlzpRwjCKu3JNS3S0LVb5qQt3jbYco03WCu0bHM-fgT4LuBdkfiG31xy-Pp1tQEmGDIY1zYeWN6ODZ3hr8tfx8yOA33FME/s320/IMG_0073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323697252554891090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Another lovely park in the middle of town. It was a charming village.</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-23685392816212387882009-04-11T00:57:00.000-07:002009-04-11T02:25:24.598-07:00Dad and Susie are here!<span style="font-size:130%;">Well, it's been awhile. Believe it or not Dad and Susie have come and gone and we have had adventures aplenty! What fun we have had.<br /><br />They joined me their first day here on my Art Class tour. It was down at the Bund which was really fun. We had lunch out on the terrace of New Heights, looking out over the river and the incredible architecture of Pudong.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpq-F4DedA5zCwZhITyfd4ingS21ST00GCQiv1sCoYMvYWDelFqyNXSkqmxScjA8ukN3hX2CDcAnRF3valh_pJvyK8_NXxIpYIq1sLT5N43zmPVjT_wYiq5uIN1Qp2J94lYeazM2obuo/s1600-h/IMG_0804.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpq-F4DedA5zCwZhITyfd4ingS21ST00GCQiv1sCoYMvYWDelFqyNXSkqmxScjA8ukN3hX2CDcAnRF3valh_pJvyK8_NXxIpYIq1sLT5N43zmPVjT_wYiq5uIN1Qp2J94lYeazM2obuo/s320/IMG_0804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323346335294934530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The next adventure was the glasses building - yes, a building with every kind of glasses (eye ware) you could ever desire. Storey was in need of new eye ware, and she had fun getting her eyes "tested"! 30 minutes later she had two new pairs of glasses. Of course, there was lots of agonizing over which frames to choose with so many to decide from.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZd8-6E-CoGIXQ3K9B8ikUeVqdBZlQWDdkt5QsnE2rfRT7vhxmgtKT5rP8ijilZUfn5ZE23CO5oQ3tLZuesm7vcBHhsmFTtwHyzHyOXsZ6eYz-vdTVobmnKwWmXD0ybhCZaPtwO6H6b0/s1600-h/IMG_0806.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZd8-6E-CoGIXQ3K9B8ikUeVqdBZlQWDdkt5QsnE2rfRT7vhxmgtKT5rP8ijilZUfn5ZE23CO5oQ3tLZuesm7vcBHhsmFTtwHyzHyOXsZ6eYz-vdTVobmnKwWmXD0ybhCZaPtwO6H6b0/s320/IMG_0806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323346331328039666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A shoe salesman going down the street. He went by me too quickly to get a good shot, but I captured his departure. This while we were waiting for a taxi in front of our lane.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PXDVRIRmmRBPtIvG5oFvqB8TBRkmkpJVwH7Hhgu-xBJ_CrdgIHzPJSy_54gd023heiq2WkQUATitKJ2uV2lo5cRYJVmRJaJwZ1P4mYyATSutDWZ_ADUp4xN85Jv-Ol5nAmUMzdAVULc/s1600-h/IMG_0808.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PXDVRIRmmRBPtIvG5oFvqB8TBRkmkpJVwH7Hhgu-xBJ_CrdgIHzPJSy_54gd023heiq2WkQUATitKJ2uV2lo5cRYJVmRJaJwZ1P4mYyATSutDWZ_ADUp4xN85Jv-Ol5nAmUMzdAVULc/s320/IMG_0808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323346332477569874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Another Shanghai adventure - the north market. This is where we have sheets made, and dad and Susie are having a silk quilt made. Really fun to watch the process as they stretch out the silk, cover it with the cotton cover.....</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHp-D7CDjj5RMzmX693YQNQuyrhxeLVzzRVj5yi85O9TJh5YAxTSX4oYZGorZWuRK82Kak_zfMiOpBeKb6CrO-zkPmrolQ95ygtzxIp2v-wwi_dKTYn-LRUiPXvaAJzaqh5Mi1eWxBFs/s1600-h/IMG_0809.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHp-D7CDjj5RMzmX693YQNQuyrhxeLVzzRVj5yi85O9TJh5YAxTSX4oYZGorZWuRK82Kak_zfMiOpBeKb6CrO-zkPmrolQ95ygtzxIp2v-wwi_dKTYn-LRUiPXvaAJzaqh5Mi1eWxBFs/s320/IMG_0809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323346326414614626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">and then quilt, sew it all together. This is a family run operation, and I have gotten the low down that it is the best value and quality in the building. They are right across from my favorite sheet makers, so it must be!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IU_qWsKSNIvbrYX4OArsELMxLk9wnR2qVz8ldrr2LVbXSojvVsefW2bsAUOSFIDnu9cLwQLuHdiE7-UHoXin0wO_wOoa8S7UwKQ5EB70Gg2LSXKzuoEmhSBM_0cLsboNCzE50MnSUqc/s1600-h/IMG_0812.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IU_qWsKSNIvbrYX4OArsELMxLk9wnR2qVz8ldrr2LVbXSojvVsefW2bsAUOSFIDnu9cLwQLuHdiE7-UHoXin0wO_wOoa8S7UwKQ5EB70Gg2LSXKzuoEmhSBM_0cLsboNCzE50MnSUqc/s320/IMG_0812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323346321773735122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It is now spring break, and we have flown to Kunming, Storey's birth place. The city of flowers and eternal spring. These flowered pillars greet us. We met France and Christophe in the airport, who had just finished their Beijing and Xi'an tours.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbtvZ7M8JlGQ9ytdx82SbiVU_XZ4YeLG7ZcnekeUdxnstQLDO_Kcpm9ptYwXOP1_8TWSnHJ0LK_-z8_iajxBucgVjiVz-QW_4ECZzA6zIimzn_DTZ_l86-EBfb0q-NGD1-T8ACuhvYTs/s1600-h/IMG_0816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbtvZ7M8JlGQ9ytdx82SbiVU_XZ4YeLG7ZcnekeUdxnstQLDO_Kcpm9ptYwXOP1_8TWSnHJ0LK_-z8_iajxBucgVjiVz-QW_4ECZzA6zIimzn_DTZ_l86-EBfb0q-NGD1-T8ACuhvYTs/s320/IMG_0816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323345027512710322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We are so excited to be here after 10 years, and Ridley, Paige, and I head off with Storey to see where she was living before coming home with us. We got the coolest taxi and driver. Ridley had me take pictures of this DVD player in the taxi. It holds two different movies it can switch between, has a TV and a radio. We were just counting on him looking at the road more than the screen! </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGnITzetMuIs1caWInuzMuJvOrNx9ARZ9D-9g6usMwrZpK97NZWL6mxyd8jAb_tXKpSL0BRgGbaQ7veCx1k-j6HltgNVabjkBdu-u_9XEW_3P3yxb4NLPzBoQMLEIup7rTITERnp-90w/s1600-h/IMG_0817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGnITzetMuIs1caWInuzMuJvOrNx9ARZ9D-9g6usMwrZpK97NZWL6mxyd8jAb_tXKpSL0BRgGbaQ7veCx1k-j6HltgNVabjkBdu-u_9XEW_3P3yxb4NLPzBoQMLEIup7rTITERnp-90w/s320/IMG_0817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323345024120729554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_YAf1gYuZq28tQccr_pYTm5CEuewxDEpQX1pgHn8NPVQoh4uudGYWtEaW3w1HurkhtpVkhaydO6ydOs6aUEUUQ6UzRPbCT7O9llHPVPB8ofI0UE9xYyV4UqG4Iuuc03PnDoxmDyRevQ/s1600-h/IMG_0818.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_YAf1gYuZq28tQccr_pYTm5CEuewxDEpQX1pgHn8NPVQoh4uudGYWtEaW3w1HurkhtpVkhaydO6ydOs6aUEUUQ6UzRPbCT7O9llHPVPB8ofI0UE9xYyV4UqG4Iuuc03PnDoxmDyRevQ/s320/IMG_0818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323345023325619314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57fXlNRLqCT8auQeWYqbTI-POne6zUQ-KEIuuOqG0kohJzXixjNztHVaXDkcUv0vu3baUMUivlaKtXPcR46gN701f5NZxX50LJaToDqnGGjD2MAFSXfEYFLTNX1MCfk4q3OzpKVJ1jFg/s1600-h/IMG_0819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57fXlNRLqCT8auQeWYqbTI-POne6zUQ-KEIuuOqG0kohJzXixjNztHVaXDkcUv0vu3baUMUivlaKtXPcR46gN701f5NZxX50LJaToDqnGGjD2MAFSXfEYFLTNX1MCfk4q3OzpKVJ1jFg/s320/IMG_0819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323345021550252658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We met up with the others at Green Lake, and had a great walk around. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSXIV2tFGAcyc9lc0DGXm4pt13ZP-6JmxltE13saKDgq4VK-1NFMVEnr-K25yCbn5D5E8MLrvTeOiQyUgnu2Gd938pg7kilsc1BEIdEixLE2EkKuuxREkGzM6JS2yh7oBDH6aYMgmhgo/s1600-h/IMG_0827.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSXIV2tFGAcyc9lc0DGXm4pt13ZP-6JmxltE13saKDgq4VK-1NFMVEnr-K25yCbn5D5E8MLrvTeOiQyUgnu2Gd938pg7kilsc1BEIdEixLE2EkKuuxREkGzM6JS2yh7oBDH6aYMgmhgo/s320/IMG_0827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323343765653286706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A warm beautiful sunny day with musicians out serending the strolling passersby.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7dxH9H1Nu9fc-kSMuFM8Z5Y3aA3hR25-dusauMIWqdTOz0RQuIVQg5YSpImTYg0AgvkkcZesqq1Jw82QrUovXgJPXcSUDd6b6yNCHSGRdCYGX3h78nxDzzkcE849Jz6WsDG-2ySfn1k/s1600-h/IMG_0828.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7dxH9H1Nu9fc-kSMuFM8Z5Y3aA3hR25-dusauMIWqdTOz0RQuIVQg5YSpImTYg0AgvkkcZesqq1Jw82QrUovXgJPXcSUDd6b6yNCHSGRdCYGX3h78nxDzzkcE849Jz6WsDG-2ySfn1k/s320/IMG_0828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323343763068134210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL8UGCEUQ0sz_vHsgh60oFidVPjZjoyawAABw_zNFPr7L1VIL5N1YYDEAXwBNfwcF0DczJqrsR2L2AjFcqCX8YBJLomPx_Xc1eIiOSGsxiiDB6LCXNmHVSoMclw49lo4ULy2SroZVqnk/s1600-h/IMG_0829.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL8UGCEUQ0sz_vHsgh60oFidVPjZjoyawAABw_zNFPr7L1VIL5N1YYDEAXwBNfwcF0DczJqrsR2L2AjFcqCX8YBJLomPx_Xc1eIiOSGsxiiDB6LCXNmHVSoMclw49lo4ULy2SroZVqnk/s320/IMG_0829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323343021011337570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Mmmmm. Love that popcorn! Even the semi sweet stuff.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOyhZfkeht0mWL6Pay4LRm4kb6zyNnaIc4iF4moUipsDjfrmbU6yIBrv5JCd6f5_ikf6AN7ZOwsBumS2NCCg9GBQPjMrQvGZu-8TmYZ4UJzZvdKoZzD5O8ttvm7rlbNwNHxO5ndZEqFU/s1600-h/IMG_0830.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOyhZfkeht0mWL6Pay4LRm4kb6zyNnaIc4iF4moUipsDjfrmbU6yIBrv5JCd6f5_ikf6AN7ZOwsBumS2NCCg9GBQPjMrQvGZu-8TmYZ4UJzZvdKoZzD5O8ttvm7rlbNwNHxO5ndZEqFU/s320/IMG_0830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323343014156803010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">There was even a brass band playing!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ziLgNiH-TxvLNq1XWmySMZPdB9d4RCrS3yZgPWkIKZQeWaBrHKQoJPe4QZ462cD-omzpX2IaCWaME4-nFTBMkyxSLOhL3j6wn_zfBw8I6OZwduNWwhOnYHKOXAphGZ6yMmg8p2uboMM/s1600-h/IMG_0832.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ziLgNiH-TxvLNq1XWmySMZPdB9d4RCrS3yZgPWkIKZQeWaBrHKQoJPe4QZ462cD-omzpX2IaCWaME4-nFTBMkyxSLOhL3j6wn_zfBw8I6OZwduNWwhOnYHKOXAphGZ6yMmg8p2uboMM/s320/IMG_0832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323343014741679346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">As we strolled around to the other side of the lake we saw the hotel where we had stayed 10 years ago! The front part is new. We were in the tall building in the back. Green Lake Hotel.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqMkuawllkpYnpZSuqorrpdidSyl6GjFzBkIYLac9s81h0J0uJfdAir6L7BegWZguGXWqNSCrx1jNzK8IOuu47PBzaLCcYpsChtPF2OFmsYFZPKO2eUrhY6CThgZvSU7ogkZw4-wU6ck/s1600-h/IMG_0833.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqMkuawllkpYnpZSuqorrpdidSyl6GjFzBkIYLac9s81h0J0uJfdAir6L7BegWZguGXWqNSCrx1jNzK8IOuu47PBzaLCcYpsChtPF2OFmsYFZPKO2eUrhY6CThgZvSU7ogkZw4-wU6ck/s320/IMG_0833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323343010490681938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our guide then dropped us off in "old town" after we had repeatedly told her we were interested in the older parts of town - older buildings. Well, we got it! It is really hard for the Chinese to understand that we are not interested in all the new stuff.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A1yk87phyphenhyphenLXh_b1aijcnA8fqMztAz7jeygJumIODn2hCd4GBYD16ommj8h1hdbSoLNKgcBfZW-8XgUmDxIOycuakbxpNHmOJBiN1_K6Fzu-yMo1ur9uLmZe8lfhNPo7cSY4txC6eE6s/s1600-h/IMG_0839.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A1yk87phyphenhyphenLXh_b1aijcnA8fqMztAz7jeygJumIODn2hCd4GBYD16ommj8h1hdbSoLNKgcBfZW-8XgUmDxIOycuakbxpNHmOJBiN1_K6Fzu-yMo1ur9uLmZe8lfhNPo7cSY4txC6eE6s/s320/IMG_0839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323342333852941170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I will spare you all the photos of us wading through mud holes and construction zones - with a wheel chair! - as we zigzagged through the old section. It was definitely not new!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY86QjACdDDQLAfVlE0ZYD1nbeIhNjcEZCYT3lu-_Fcc75Cb6FfCfRNIgE9IqBUzu89n-zKUKwjiYDygmkuOy7vQamBTE-ZK2zVxFRzAsq29GpvUIzwLwfV0rjG8FINUuSPidR7gdiBdg/s1600-h/IMG_0844.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY86QjACdDDQLAfVlE0ZYD1nbeIhNjcEZCYT3lu-_Fcc75Cb6FfCfRNIgE9IqBUzu89n-zKUKwjiYDygmkuOy7vQamBTE-ZK2zVxFRzAsq29GpvUIzwLwfV0rjG8FINUuSPidR7gdiBdg/s320/IMG_0844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323342332206426274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Some street cooking in beautiful earthen pots, and on the right something that resembled brains. We did not stop here to dine!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPxq1HUk_q6dtJfGLXT7iEFM1c8hyHUk7BOuHjeAoaxNEl5K-ecN-hGkTHba-T6nPLd4DJ0EOL5yKY1yR8IQ-ARi8PKe7nGBELElckh7u8x_7iZNFNioqbMSOY02js9I9nVPjZ08566M/s1600-h/IMG_0854.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPxq1HUk_q6dtJfGLXT7iEFM1c8hyHUk7BOuHjeAoaxNEl5K-ecN-hGkTHba-T6nPLd4DJ0EOL5yKY1yR8IQ-ARi8PKe7nGBELElckh7u8x_7iZNFNioqbMSOY02js9I9nVPjZ08566M/s320/IMG_0854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323342325588738274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I just can't resist these shots of bikes and motorcycles lined up. There were many more behind me that I couldn't get in the picture. Many of the bikes have electric motors on them. It is really the way to travel. I think we will be bike people when we return to the States. Better in all ways.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UD60yNk8q2eZ-DuoG5MdmDzvzrUcY_N36wlbO_-031Kn6XqjW5qDR4jnkvtbrCJx0rZvBh-mCAlwr8k2jswT5NhoR-4mDsG7GUgmJTznA-lB68DRuItY8qnURoWXRngyoBne6S2qTyU/s1600-h/IMG_0850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UD60yNk8q2eZ-DuoG5MdmDzvzrUcY_N36wlbO_-031Kn6XqjW5qDR4jnkvtbrCJx0rZvBh-mCAlwr8k2jswT5NhoR-4mDsG7GUgmJTznA-lB68DRuItY8qnURoWXRngyoBne6S2qTyU/s320/IMG_0850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323342321463490642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I loved this shot of the dishwasher of a restaurant. I didn't realize at the time that it would be our restaurant of choice that night! This was the back alley. We walked around front, through old stone arches and a historic plaque, and found this courtyard.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6XyyQp273A70lx5J80gylEcYjMF7MKnUNmNZv6RirrT50ULBdmCZf_CubYHvGL_nRzTw66Obrb6Ue5QKNnKPw_D3XpF4imZOj0GgROXfxumffIbPZJWr5w89NSRZyeS3eGIiyd3JCog/s1600-h/IMG_0857.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6XyyQp273A70lx5J80gylEcYjMF7MKnUNmNZv6RirrT50ULBdmCZf_CubYHvGL_nRzTw66Obrb6Ue5QKNnKPw_D3XpF4imZOj0GgROXfxumffIbPZJWr5w89NSRZyeS3eGIiyd3JCog/s320/IMG_0857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323341726285087218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We wanted to eat here because of the beauty and old feel, but the food was, of course, every bit as good as the ambiance.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-mk__eOKXXttASVpfL7rKpsUNAhtMMfhyMK0YFHq8R7gRDHA4IaTZT2doaf7ebzjcbw056i2GoVCqFjlSJUKU_afdPvO3XQYjQf-LHi87S47YCK3VrRqdl8WFjvbo59DVp_gVoLVIgc/s1600-h/IMG_0859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-mk__eOKXXttASVpfL7rKpsUNAhtMMfhyMK0YFHq8R7gRDHA4IaTZT2doaf7ebzjcbw056i2GoVCqFjlSJUKU_afdPvO3XQYjQf-LHi87S47YCK3VrRqdl8WFjvbo59DVp_gVoLVIgc/s320/IMG_0859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323341723582911858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Keep your eye on the gentleman to the right of France in the back. That is a pipe he is holding! A water pipe.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10niG8YshgoABP20y0tocRdK0ZH3_iJ5kzDwHWU15S4Bkky9tzlK9PeuD5bArBjPLqoj48GV7NKK5UOhKhSW_QWlWAQsqdZ0EcPsb1AEivcK0zANL0cARvqCVVxpjs83LoO6AaKuurNk/s1600-h/IMG_0862.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10niG8YshgoABP20y0tocRdK0ZH3_iJ5kzDwHWU15S4Bkky9tzlK9PeuD5bArBjPLqoj48GV7NKK5UOhKhSW_QWlWAQsqdZ0EcPsb1AEivcK0zANL0cARvqCVVxpjs83LoO6AaKuurNk/s320/IMG_0862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323341717986185362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Duck. I bet you could have guessed!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V0lVkISlmFJ-Td3mNGRqt6Xp0vxkd83xmvK-PZeIfUZEO13PLf6XAHlOs1PKvGjM0T5nYvu0an_weM3az3_ligweQIf-DrArQGhQrrF4tWV5yqLLXS_evnsW34_wmtP-a887vDWupME/s1600-h/IMG_0863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V0lVkISlmFJ-Td3mNGRqt6Xp0vxkd83xmvK-PZeIfUZEO13PLf6XAHlOs1PKvGjM0T5nYvu0an_weM3az3_ligweQIf-DrArQGhQrrF4tWV5yqLLXS_evnsW34_wmtP-a887vDWupME/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323341714513212098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Puffing away - inbetween France and Christophe.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Bd0xeq1_rIXWpMiDqIlluPTnryzxWoWGAvn4WAvET6Z7TISXAg1oLz6S-a9S7xHYmmPChOrIyEIYuXoCeCiUhAJIlLtyXeS399AmVKjfsd0TW0Oc7CNLEbvLFLLifdZRxL_dSR-OSGs/s1600-h/IMG_0866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Bd0xeq1_rIXWpMiDqIlluPTnryzxWoWGAvn4WAvET6Z7TISXAg1oLz6S-a9S7xHYmmPChOrIyEIYuXoCeCiUhAJIlLtyXeS399AmVKjfsd0TW0Oc7CNLEbvLFLLifdZRxL_dSR-OSGs/s320/IMG_0866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323341025878131970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Being in a courtyard we were not subject to the fumes, but I was fascinated by the device. Does the smoke really taste different??? Better???</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE93x0XrQNlRNInPM4MZfxqrGMYijV8dBZDi5qeONpT86hmfq0SWvv9WbaHYVtTDb29s7MEMU3tJQTs6i9PMLpXrkAiCEU3YYXmDQOVy7G-l8TKdL7vbTqwb2qR0mGA_tdOwoK7AmD20/s1600-h/IMG_0870.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE93x0XrQNlRNInPM4MZfxqrGMYijV8dBZDi5qeONpT86hmfq0SWvv9WbaHYVtTDb29s7MEMU3tJQTs6i9PMLpXrkAiCEU3YYXmDQOVy7G-l8TKdL7vbTqwb2qR0mGA_tdOwoK7AmD20/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323341023924734178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking a little worn out at the end of the day!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb4RpdPbZb-nwP0WwjUSd3rMFs9yJ-yf0K7pfgTmZkzgU9I6JgFuybIzdl_queV8VpfbUBTxoeYsitt12BaTH-ay8sxuuf78BChijstNngbJ7VFQio_JRpEUDfq5KoED6eXATnFNMZn4/s1600-h/IMG_0878.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb4RpdPbZb-nwP0WwjUSd3rMFs9yJ-yf0K7pfgTmZkzgU9I6JgFuybIzdl_queV8VpfbUBTxoeYsitt12BaTH-ay8sxuuf78BChijstNngbJ7VFQio_JRpEUDfq5KoED6eXATnFNMZn4/s320/IMG_0878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323341016038268418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0l5dnRmGMEHQ9fWHXyWbUOztWodUC2D57R-XHZvQ_yWq5Hxaj29mqfAUCx33anQ1D-YjUrGdyg5BHBB3cF9PbYKeJ-Wa08vXf8W-y9pUIbHa8GjR6sfpTWwyuHS9u0-TYlrUwX-R8C4/s1600-h/IMG_0885.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0l5dnRmGMEHQ9fWHXyWbUOztWodUC2D57R-XHZvQ_yWq5Hxaj29mqfAUCx33anQ1D-YjUrGdyg5BHBB3cF9PbYKeJ-Wa08vXf8W-y9pUIbHa8GjR6sfpTWwyuHS9u0-TYlrUwX-R8C4/s320/IMG_0885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323340579290891586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Dad and Susie who didn't seem to suffer any jet lag at all. They got up and kept going every day!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZD8L2eXsmcL2EB1pr27F6Qj0wGG6wbxUXM0rMkYInW1Tjqzi_KZqp17fRfvbSM9uBPMFhFe96tWXMA_fd13eb6iU7XWxWwSU15Qttgy_uKnlD5Wf7l60Zapchx-stB0_jzQG65IdCBk/s1600-h/IMG_0886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZD8L2eXsmcL2EB1pr27F6Qj0wGG6wbxUXM0rMkYInW1Tjqzi_KZqp17fRfvbSM9uBPMFhFe96tWXMA_fd13eb6iU7XWxWwSU15Qttgy_uKnlD5Wf7l60Zapchx-stB0_jzQG65IdCBk/s320/IMG_0886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323340573995978594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjYwNNDg-d4EbmDgsDS6InNT3Sd44kovUWae7CiHITLrsLLsZTr3Txmg7ILdmnwz0lUiP6QdyNRz0SoSyXX0jcluAWBovIARZtCQpPzOZgfipQeUV760Upr-x6D4K-Fkrh99CYIwtOcI/s1600-h/IMG_0893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjYwNNDg-d4EbmDgsDS6InNT3Sd44kovUWae7CiHITLrsLLsZTr3Txmg7ILdmnwz0lUiP6QdyNRz0SoSyXX0jcluAWBovIARZtCQpPzOZgfipQeUV760Upr-x6D4K-Fkrh99CYIwtOcI/s320/IMG_0893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323340572906841538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Some shots from Paige capturing the interior courtyard.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFtidxlpJ60GHeFBi7bT7AjvDfcv5LuwmPM29Khv1Pl2hLGfiLBAVnxMvitP3FWcHYJL-O8W5sGlBuOhiKlTRopgRNJmrKjE5B3Hl_xp2ddawp7At3Zgp6s33jO62PFWXeiIt4FfLgwE/s1600-h/IMG_0897.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFtidxlpJ60GHeFBi7bT7AjvDfcv5LuwmPM29Khv1Pl2hLGfiLBAVnxMvitP3FWcHYJL-O8W5sGlBuOhiKlTRopgRNJmrKjE5B3Hl_xp2ddawp7At3Zgp6s33jO62PFWXeiIt4FfLgwE/s320/IMG_0897.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323340564432286034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The first of many memorable, wonderful meals together. Kunming is in Yunnan Province in the southwest of China. It borders on Vietnam. We are heading to Dali tomorrow, then Lijiang and Shangri-la. <br />Stay tuned!<br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-32374123577876986852009-03-17T06:53:00.000-07:002009-03-17T07:09:03.606-07:00BookWorm Literary Festival<span style="font-size:130%;">At the Book Festival, Ridley had been assigned to participate in the Literary Death Match, something that "Opium" literary magazine founder Todd Zuniga, chatting below, does across America. It was a crazy American Idol sort of format. Todd is whacky and fun, and humiliated the four writers involved! Behind Todd here were the three judges: content, presentation and intangibles. Interesting judging points. It was all very funny and lively with lots of audience participation.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wSXtjhxIgrhnwehWLAVX8eOJ7L4oehujv930fbSt4YYC1ppXjT2VodkB43_q5v5y8ijhcBZbCxLgIR9Gs3wG88gfmlyf67eYNflo3wr_QVy7k7sRh3oN84PRzk6TieLQG6hUANImFzw/s1600-h/IMG_0793.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wSXtjhxIgrhnwehWLAVX8eOJ7L4oehujv930fbSt4YYC1ppXjT2VodkB43_q5v5y8ijhcBZbCxLgIR9Gs3wG88gfmlyf67eYNflo3wr_QVy7k7sRh3oN84PRzk6TieLQG6hUANImFzw/s320/IMG_0793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314155236997501266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Ridley and the other 2nd round contestant, Zachary Mexico.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumlv8Z4fvLfN0Zl-rDVokK5DwdleLVWEBxRLkR54llkV7iGTDFS9VIEzdqU3kNVg9D57BA02WH8Q5bF29i0OoEYNC18f29AQpfim_lEWjPwsrtZkkNRQKIk6QkTxf9P0NWxbpzKRqKHI/s1600-h/IMG_0795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumlv8Z4fvLfN0Zl-rDVokK5DwdleLVWEBxRLkR54llkV7iGTDFS9VIEzdqU3kNVg9D57BA02WH8Q5bF29i0OoEYNC18f29AQpfim_lEWjPwsrtZkkNRQKIk6QkTxf9P0NWxbpzKRqKHI/s320/IMG_0795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314155235818962562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Ridley was voted off, which was fortunate! The runners up had to down three shots of tea and find Beijing on a map with a chopstick, blindfolded. The Scottish poet who no one could understand, won - by a chop stick!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYRw9Tdav2jrtBjFNn8MVubs8ezicqB1tjHdvKX42QBc24nl21_WCZVl0aePDEqrg6JDazOK9YBgNPWh7fITTFcstSat2Y1dVQD-8xV5V3rIvjOYcAYulXEANylq377fUw2x0AIqqM_E/s1600-h/IMG_0800.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYRw9Tdav2jrtBjFNn8MVubs8ezicqB1tjHdvKX42QBc24nl21_WCZVl0aePDEqrg6JDazOK9YBgNPWh7fITTFcstSat2Y1dVQD-8xV5V3rIvjOYcAYulXEANylq377fUw2x0AIqqM_E/s320/IMG_0800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314155228841630434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Sunday was beautiful and warm, and we surprised our friends from France, Christophe and France, at their hotel just after their arrival from Paris. We took them to the Bell and Drum Tower and hutong area to Shichahai, a small lake with restaurants and small shops all around. We had a great lunch and walked around a bit.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINcPMrmw32oVf-4KjSjqh_lUro0r33P-QGquxPTd4fz1GybAhtruGR4NmLB2vfxxIfsPTMR6SPtSGR1F7UTW1qEnTU5bxJSYIWFFLLj3UZ53MQq_xuS8wNgflVoMjRNQmzOw4HkiUAec/s1600-h/IMG_0801.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINcPMrmw32oVf-4KjSjqh_lUro0r33P-QGquxPTd4fz1GybAhtruGR4NmLB2vfxxIfsPTMR6SPtSGR1F7UTW1qEnTU5bxJSYIWFFLLj3UZ53MQq_xuS8wNgflVoMjRNQmzOw4HkiUAec/s320/IMG_0801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314155228879574754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey eating rice cooked in bamboo, which we had first tasted in PingAn at the rice paddies. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2Eogyssrmrq1THW4m2FyCDRNZ8Cbmii8ckKSjI92hOb1ZZHlK7-KTZXIeoroNXHutuAzy_y-Uo45tvDmRSBPuZt_gmtY7KprpiriWtVDTuGdq0vFUiUc8JJoZcAl9828kEi-LnliJWM/s1600-h/IMG_0803.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2Eogyssrmrq1THW4m2FyCDRNZ8Cbmii8ckKSjI92hOb1ZZHlK7-KTZXIeoroNXHutuAzy_y-Uo45tvDmRSBPuZt_gmtY7KprpiriWtVDTuGdq0vFUiUc8JJoZcAl9828kEi-LnliJWM/s320/IMG_0803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314155185914093026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">France and Christophe still in jet lag mode, trying Chinese food for the first time. They were great troopers. They stayed in Beijing and will head to Xi'An before meeting us in Kunming on Saturday. My dad and step-mom arrive tomorrow to have spring break with us. Yippee!!!</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-34749791416007661702009-03-17T06:15:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:53:16.336-07:00Beijing - Summer Palace<span style="font-size:130%;">Ridley and Storey flew up to Beijing on Friday for the BookWorm Literary Book Festival that Ridley was participating in. Paige and I arrived Saturday morning. We were picked up by our lovely guide, Juan, who had toured the Walters around when they were here in December. We checked in at the oh so very hip "G" Hotel and picked up Ridley and Storey, then headed for a "traditional" Chinese lunch. We ended up at the same restaurant our guide in October had taken us to! Hmmmm, any one getting any kick backs here? It was yummy, at any rate, and prepared us for our Summer Palace tour. Lots of walking and rolling (the wheel chair), lots of courtyards and ghost doors. And lots of Chinese tourists.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVonacIW8zBuuupIlblaXms9HEUk2T2N9THHSNgA0b3Z8_4Gge_wHgnjy4lS3IYv4A3AL7zXOZB9S5tDoNzRXJdW7x2kH4NMYZS6QD0T3MF38r2jXv5n_C8YEjHftwHQEtPSZYG9uYxyg/s1600-h/IMG_0769.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVonacIW8zBuuupIlblaXms9HEUk2T2N9THHSNgA0b3Z8_4Gge_wHgnjy4lS3IYv4A3AL7zXOZB9S5tDoNzRXJdW7x2kH4NMYZS6QD0T3MF38r2jXv5n_C8YEjHftwHQEtPSZYG9uYxyg/s320/IMG_0769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314147418102585122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAenvGiDahnR6dx6Ml_siPTlz1ggN653aciibv4a-is2pH_KmnkOgFGw986XQoibhN5NAQLNN6ps2q56b8MfkGTuWDpcYEjZ6fE08aXLoctMp6RhOhXoNhcsgM3KebKh5o6ZQZ7M22PVM/s1600-h/IMG_0773.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAenvGiDahnR6dx6Ml_siPTlz1ggN653aciibv4a-is2pH_KmnkOgFGw986XQoibhN5NAQLNN6ps2q56b8MfkGTuWDpcYEjZ6fE08aXLoctMp6RhOhXoNhcsgM3KebKh5o6ZQZ7M22PVM/s320/IMG_0773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314147409597200738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The Summer Palace is built around a man made lake of quite a nice size. The hill that you see is the result of the hand dredging that took place to form the lake. That is the temple that the Dowager Empress (the famed Dragon Lady) would be carried to every morning. It holds the largest - so we were told - wooden female Buddha. Fun Dragon Lady facts: she was fat and ugly and made sure that all the concubines were fatter and uglier!; she would use over 150 silk "towels" every day to dry her off after her bath - they were thrown away, never to be reused (they were wash cloth sized, and silk is really not very absorbant, hence the number required for the rotund figure); she required a banquet table of food, sometimes over 100 dishes</span>, <span style="font-size:130%;">for breakfast every morning. If she liked what was offered, she might share, if she didn't like it the food was all thrown away. Not a nice woman. Was a killer of men and concubine babies, so that she had the only children that might ascend the "throne." Long story on that one.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDyk4PM6w1930f4zOsOoyGpWr_97J5Ah8zB3H4aSupNE1pi2Bbk5flZLq1Oe3GGdeC0XSoEv2EM_QPQBjmO8JxEgGURIwtHJAufcutXzKEw7vQddhOHpZzKoYiAfQ7O1h_jGs0OlVRH4/s1600-h/IMG_0771.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDyk4PM6w1930f4zOsOoyGpWr_97J5Ah8zB3H4aSupNE1pi2Bbk5flZLq1Oe3GGdeC0XSoEv2EM_QPQBjmO8JxEgGURIwtHJAufcutXzKEw7vQddhOHpZzKoYiAfQ7O1h_jGs0OlVRH4/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314146688171258098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We found that most tourists thought Storey more interesting than the Palace! They would stop and stare at her being rolled about. She was writing down what the guide was telling us, and people would literally come and look over her shoulder to see what she was doing. It merited a photo!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7bioYOSBr6Krn3s6PQs2_1AimJkAVBtxTCv8iuguLBxsH9-CfQ3-6RW6Hw0nTKZW2wA_t3Ul56QCES24AlixqFNlCGnTEM9QE5F044XwEeuEJfXSqSrizNvBiDwIJ3ePnXzzsfr90pk/s1600-h/IMG_0772.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7bioYOSBr6Krn3s6PQs2_1AimJkAVBtxTCv8iuguLBxsH9-CfQ3-6RW6Hw0nTKZW2wA_t3Ul56QCES24AlixqFNlCGnTEM9QE5F044XwEeuEJfXSqSrizNvBiDwIJ3ePnXzzsfr90pk/s320/IMG_0772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314146682020193058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">More steps, more courtyards, more beautiful roof tiles. The girls did think that this was something they had seen before - every where we go! Courtyards, steps, ghost doors, rockery, painting -- I love it all!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuZbUuNY50SUk0uLIH1_s-9ASjvxzOWipbWoz7YU_OHNRCNf5kfk2Sim8RjgoHHFnmskool8pJnoMsiXFniz4KonzPyvi-buYAqhgkDVNmgbozHyP3rdDvAr-5vA53g6inS_Cwx81vd8/s1600-h/IMG_0775.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuZbUuNY50SUk0uLIH1_s-9ASjvxzOWipbWoz7YU_OHNRCNf5kfk2Sim8RjgoHHFnmskool8pJnoMsiXFniz4KonzPyvi-buYAqhgkDVNmgbozHyP3rdDvAr-5vA53g6inS_Cwx81vd8/s320/IMG_0775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314146678606375666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQIj2fsTFvgl8FyUKcz7govusJ28uXsSA1kIzkIuqpICNu0Wowl9UmBCwlPUN90cKqNXruayxI4R-L-6w1O3wd4kgwfD_ERrMl8doY1kkcGUnKMV-Fyl-o783ht1oMflXkytjgYNP_Lw/s1600-h/IMG_0776.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQIj2fsTFvgl8FyUKcz7govusJ28uXsSA1kIzkIuqpICNu0Wowl9UmBCwlPUN90cKqNXruayxI4R-L-6w1O3wd4kgwfD_ERrMl8doY1kkcGUnKMV-Fyl-o783ht1oMflXkytjgYNP_Lw/s320/IMG_0776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314146677858068738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking back across the water at a temple built on an island for fishing luck. The bridge connecting it has 17 arches so that no matter which side you start on, the middle arch is #9 - the highest, most propitious number belonging to all things emperor.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3a-MYy8r5e-7Hzby6BTwg_FX802kw0nXBbMbb4nuLuyROqlG2og9JIYKGDBoRH58CB_fcO0egnSsd52Zkr8_80rOVRCNWU45PyN-CSvKp5nsrUte1bFsCJqrTyiMhXxGuUceGK4KEOw/s1600-h/IMG_0779.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3a-MYy8r5e-7Hzby6BTwg_FX802kw0nXBbMbb4nuLuyROqlG2og9JIYKGDBoRH58CB_fcO0egnSsd52Zkr8_80rOVRCNWU45PyN-CSvKp5nsrUte1bFsCJqrTyiMhXxGuUceGK4KEOw/s320/IMG_0779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314146142239840210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">An incredibly beautifully painted covered walkway a half a mile long from the Dragon Lady's courtyard quarters toward the female wooden Buddha temple. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplzTVeVZd17sZorP1yEXhk_YG5JO5Ma_WEeMS1Q0b6XeKcjnkEiYJFYBfX9ei9thtKpohRF9kjzdcCgm6u1Lv6U1PKE54R3Umfj_PW2ijfhQREt3VOV_JRKrm5hwmslr3ONvJOAxQAqA/s1600-h/IMG_0781.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplzTVeVZd17sZorP1yEXhk_YG5JO5Ma_WEeMS1Q0b6XeKcjnkEiYJFYBfX9ei9thtKpohRF9kjzdcCgm6u1Lv6U1PKE54R3Umfj_PW2ijfhQREt3VOV_JRKrm5hwmslr3ONvJOAxQAqA/s320/IMG_0781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314146135548056754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Each beam painted with a unique scene.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlopNNz6ufZ6y8jp-Q1UxLCo3LC80Vg8Td4GAgJ6y_YPI_Z8ogHR_fp08_ElrgCMJP9HeztNceYlXyxiGnPli0ZbB_04bMZ9SRo3uYFpGgRMZmTBvwM-WWavnjwATQ1dKucgQjJBJPdT0/s1600-h/IMG_0782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlopNNz6ufZ6y8jp-Q1UxLCo3LC80Vg8Td4GAgJ6y_YPI_Z8ogHR_fp08_ElrgCMJP9HeztNceYlXyxiGnPli0ZbB_04bMZ9SRo3uYFpGgRMZmTBvwM-WWavnjwATQ1dKucgQjJBJPdT0/s320/IMG_0782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314146123841662802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcE3BUMj1L0bcUySAvPkom2oO5ZBC3gtbbBst2Ccz2i_IJRg1uYJypekc8OxpU8VKd77b7hopiL6EcsANx43qHmeGoAGZPZg9p9Z4WfjFZSDT-MxW8_xrCZDJPkIYDxoV5hFwvajnOdI/s1600-h/IMG_0783.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcE3BUMj1L0bcUySAvPkom2oO5ZBC3gtbbBst2Ccz2i_IJRg1uYJypekc8OxpU8VKd77b7hopiL6EcsANx43qHmeGoAGZPZg9p9Z4WfjFZSDT-MxW8_xrCZDJPkIYDxoV5hFwvajnOdI/s320/IMG_0783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314146121839117426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP3E07-u48cSgVa7D6wdFrb5aVBDymTSNzy5ypZfWXZwgJYyZwpKKfvu8fcy4wzBJn7PaY_fvgWC5qanKWfbDCr12WW4mpN3YufiHvOuDxIeKBbGxrQ42hNGaGtMTNeU-pHCvRISyMRY/s1600-h/IMG_0785.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP3E07-u48cSgVa7D6wdFrb5aVBDymTSNzy5ypZfWXZwgJYyZwpKKfvu8fcy4wzBJn7PaY_fvgWC5qanKWfbDCr12WW4mpN3YufiHvOuDxIeKBbGxrQ42hNGaGtMTNeU-pHCvRISyMRY/s320/IMG_0785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314145548904734770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking up at the temple.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC8lkPBY4M778S5Ea8spEf1gjE0kIjyQJDIHbhRR7XPdopBPgf4njKbViaoEOiY4NW65htdA2R5EvzNOHPjncvj_VRzlhK09mkgXYg0QG0Km8wD3M6HRK51KlGmGkaDYwXoSF81_p9ik/s1600-h/IMG_0786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC8lkPBY4M778S5Ea8spEf1gjE0kIjyQJDIHbhRR7XPdopBPgf4njKbViaoEOiY4NW65htdA2R5EvzNOHPjncvj_VRzlhK09mkgXYg0QG0Km8wD3M6HRK51KlGmGkaDYwXoSF81_p9ik/s320/IMG_0786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314145542464403698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A marble ship where the Dowager would go to have tea and enjoy the lake.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjh-OtHf9IIIvtPUg-KWt99LOv5kcUJ8_160Ou-TmAxLNV8wnLwZJqa2qbguYtm06vGp5qFyjJUPyp8bhJWTtv6T_uSUIW3KEdcUtet-6I2HNBwyraShC2YJu5CmE01LaI9Qkqbuxnss/s1600-h/IMG_0787.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjh-OtHf9IIIvtPUg-KWt99LOv5kcUJ8_160Ou-TmAxLNV8wnLwZJqa2qbguYtm06vGp5qFyjJUPyp8bhJWTtv6T_uSUIW3KEdcUtet-6I2HNBwyraShC2YJu5CmE01LaI9Qkqbuxnss/s320/IMG_0787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314145538462937682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Leaving the Summer Palace out the back way. The splendor of these buildings, the work involved in every aspect, I find overwhelming and awing.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60lBCcd8eWRRdOuMQuk3qOR4XfkIrTPJ1JYbFJZUr3LW9Y0rQHH3BHziAebaQodqTRZm5qLHsA4bBVgU6e_MGGA_xvDwWekEzLZle3ij3s2FoqwKE08fDCAI268RTQa2rg9on62TJGf0/s1600-h/IMG_0791.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60lBCcd8eWRRdOuMQuk3qOR4XfkIrTPJ1JYbFJZUr3LW9Y0rQHH3BHziAebaQodqTRZm5qLHsA4bBVgU6e_MGGA_xvDwWekEzLZle3ij3s2FoqwKE08fDCAI268RTQa2rg9on62TJGf0/s320/IMG_0791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314145538428772978" border="0" /></a>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-62696329142570497292009-03-17T04:34:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:14:51.218-07:00Birthday boy<span style="font-size:130%;">Ridley had his birthday last week, and Grandma Lu and I gave him some truly tailored shirts for the grand occasion. He has had shirts made at the South Bund Soft Spinning Market (aka fabric mart) which are quite lovely, but these boutiques are around the corner from us on one of the men's bespoke streets. I had heard that Mr. Chans is particulary good, so off we went. The measuring surely made us think they were thorough. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7yxPnQeG2i3_CAwuV2eR5MSh-Y0lGrPMeqBmLl_hNsTwZImJ79kUrUAc0r4foIy9PqBVx14ZrfxHSqQmCOFNYCLAGGt1_9a6SD2-eMJyuTfA1rSGzsZc2Z5IAV5IWXtJArCI_52-id8/s1600-h/IMG_0750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7yxPnQeG2i3_CAwuV2eR5MSh-Y0lGrPMeqBmLl_hNsTwZImJ79kUrUAc0r4foIy9PqBVx14ZrfxHSqQmCOFNYCLAGGt1_9a6SD2-eMJyuTfA1rSGzsZc2Z5IAV5IWXtJArCI_52-id8/s320/IMG_0750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314142706546889858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBZkgZ3MfKEeHGLVvWN6mlfmwTpuA0IVuUA9X63M5qMo6iA71SV8ruDhGFKu9R7lwhvdr03USis94h4qkjJo6yA4UTNSEROznLq3ra5zJUlWNwFad2swnfp_CFrVjuvoufC0GPudt-Tw/s1600-h/IMG_0752.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBZkgZ3MfKEeHGLVvWN6mlfmwTpuA0IVuUA9X63M5qMo6iA71SV8ruDhGFKu9R7lwhvdr03USis94h4qkjJo6yA4UTNSEROznLq3ra5zJUlWNwFad2swnfp_CFrVjuvoufC0GPudt-Tw/s320/IMG_0752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314142702812248562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFlDlcLa_Le9vUAMjb-3azwsxLwYC0W8To0BgkNrONcKH1TkI_m_V2kGmlpDbB9gqWo9JHt4mGtT0A4O_eNnPs0k8sTtodoz1mHY2wdhHqP4tK7jMDgDKQwyNjXq190Qsxi1Tb4ZthR4/s1600-h/IMG_0754.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFlDlcLa_Le9vUAMjb-3azwsxLwYC0W8To0BgkNrONcKH1TkI_m_V2kGmlpDbB9gqWo9JHt4mGtT0A4O_eNnPs0k8sTtodoz1mHY2wdhHqP4tK7jMDgDKQwyNjXq190Qsxi1Tb4ZthR4/s320/IMG_0754.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314142699036210498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Getting everyone involved in this round!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8ISpeAjqTR-s4gZG3JPeUqugvGK07GDxzeZYhr1y4TiUk9ObIiDQFYgqbilSeGqwH6ZWXKJzZRALARIPMUePXQ3AQxBN0W-tgL1P2aAcFZPKknyZ5HyfeYB9wZ8Bn3xRsDA2LBfgzsw/s1600-h/IMG_0756.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8ISpeAjqTR-s4gZG3JPeUqugvGK07GDxzeZYhr1y4TiUk9ObIiDQFYgqbilSeGqwH6ZWXKJzZRALARIPMUePXQ3AQxBN0W-tgL1P2aAcFZPKknyZ5HyfeYB9wZ8Bn3xRsDA2LBfgzsw/s320/IMG_0756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314142289043231682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This is the second fitting. We went in on a Tuesday, had the first fitting on Wednesday, (this fitting) and the shirts were done on Thursday. Amazing and perfect fits with the finest fabric.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA-372RR97jWd1bOSfxZ4eqwBGf85sBIBAp5TQrNLpB3Gtxm68mp5olyX_VairoCjxozBRBnUY1K59nEOaS6gGmKGJsVsKFjzGDKQSgx1FD4QO0nQVCSancN73y9XqtJiDHkgfADuUBg/s1600-h/IMG_0764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA-372RR97jWd1bOSfxZ4eqwBGf85sBIBAp5TQrNLpB3Gtxm68mp5olyX_VairoCjxozBRBnUY1K59nEOaS6gGmKGJsVsKFjzGDKQSgx1FD4QO0nQVCSancN73y9XqtJiDHkgfADuUBg/s320/IMG_0764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314142283784194658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPcb_nfiVEPdMgw5g_21fNLY0lfZqjGJlVY07eh00AlJlrMBahDgy__6axUYuZzRBR0r9uvWJWpVCAt-TMxJMyPleM5PK1R4QgQ7fEHkEirTggkeUgtqivgNlXWlOPkTSve2X7SJ56dg/s1600-h/IMG_0765.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPcb_nfiVEPdMgw5g_21fNLY0lfZqjGJlVY07eh00AlJlrMBahDgy__6axUYuZzRBR0r9uvWJWpVCAt-TMxJMyPleM5PK1R4QgQ7fEHkEirTggkeUgtqivgNlXWlOPkTSve2X7SJ56dg/s320/IMG_0765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314142272586862210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Just in time to wear the shirts to Beijing for the Beijing literary festival at the BookWorm.</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-72818864327739316722009-03-16T01:42:00.000-07:002009-03-16T02:28:58.967-07:00Back with more adventure<span style="font-size:130%;">I am going to load you up with a bunch of photos, which I have been neglecting over the past couple of weeks.<br /><br />First, Storey and Ridley with the Dr. Seuss hat she made in Kindergarten ( teacher </span><span style="font-size:130%;">switch</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> day on Dr. Seuss day - how convenient!) Pretty cute.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-DCktnhWTA3RYyGSFUbLIJophzTFM4-obDvh9kf7sAQxGIXgdeyUteZNoX1mmJpT9YnvC4agfF0UvUUhPOSChoRqwOtZ2vqWi6qrCCiedrEKjoDZ9ND5rHoCDHuGC50-rmBuho4UUgs/s1600-h/IMG_0732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-DCktnhWTA3RYyGSFUbLIJophzTFM4-obDvh9kf7sAQxGIXgdeyUteZNoX1mmJpT9YnvC4agfF0UvUUhPOSChoRqwOtZ2vqWi6qrCCiedrEKjoDZ9ND5rHoCDHuGC50-rmBuho4UUgs/s320/IMG_0732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313709021504476194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I went on a walk in our neighborhood to find a shop that makes all kinds of products covered in silk. I was on a particular search for DVD cases. The address led me to believe it was around Jing'An Temple, about a 15 minute walk from our house. After reaching the Temple, I walked another 15 minutes and finally called the shop. I was going in the right direction - keep going. Another 20 minutes later I found this alley. It was somewhere down here.....</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPaTaUlrThPLc1_4sUMhP-gOsi9vrNrQslnoX6KjxQG_AUWxcZjn0UswHbYNZXCMCmPExFeF8CIcE6c4vWWKWfFhYNbVLYAO01YRZFqvFLa6FMmn0qe2-P0X5CAvZF_5CPrv3iIf01Uek/s1600-h/IMG_0740.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPaTaUlrThPLc1_4sUMhP-gOsi9vrNrQslnoX6KjxQG_AUWxcZjn0UswHbYNZXCMCmPExFeF8CIcE6c4vWWKWfFhYNbVLYAO01YRZFqvFLa6FMmn0qe2-P0X5CAvZF_5CPrv3iIf01Uek/s320/IMG_0740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313709019756645122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Aahhh. The right number on this building.....</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyid1YKBf90VopAZdiWtrWHc86Vz3gffIHvm9wo4bgBF8Hy_sI7fMbEcF342_NEjliFWFZRHj2JlwvR6I7_Y053ANtW2-RmkFZQqfanZGNKlTo36jGmq-uFbgzQPkFZGY9cFGzMtgvX-U-/s1600-h/IMG_0739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyid1YKBf90VopAZdiWtrWHc86Vz3gffIHvm9wo4bgBF8Hy_sI7fMbEcF342_NEjliFWFZRHj2JlwvR6I7_Y053ANtW2-RmkFZQqfanZGNKlTo36jGmq-uFbgzQPkFZGY9cFGzMtgvX-U-/s320/IMG_0739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313709014612428882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking a little industrial to me at the moment. You never know what you find around a corner, up some stairs.......</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H3mAWr_bpLTuu8VIoftocgqjfEjbKPVR3MQ3xzQTivJnQwIJSFOCnrLbai-ERhSiPhTzkJcOqwxtrhxvk1fi8DuTP43burWjOuqfjQiTpa-4XrYglLwyZA4NqzolyEqyutr9m9W5yBH8/s1600-h/IMG_0738.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H3mAWr_bpLTuu8VIoftocgqjfEjbKPVR3MQ3xzQTivJnQwIJSFOCnrLbai-ERhSiPhTzkJcOqwxtrhxvk1fi8DuTP43burWjOuqfjQiTpa-4XrYglLwyZA4NqzolyEqyutr9m9W5yBH8/s320/IMG_0738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313708394287189074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I was actually directed to this elevator by the guard at the front door.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJslyoyydvjcfpPlFsy4W5LpXq3HBwhy2VpoiWvml5fuNm9rCdIW4mEPBU7zwsmlfgnOK-DDh0-rJC7AaVK5XLJXw5mGFHISqFxSPoxXgF9qVgOnnLBFmBYtRE1J7g2EddmZx18mRr58t/s1600-h/IMG_0737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJslyoyydvjcfpPlFsy4W5LpXq3HBwhy2VpoiWvml5fuNm9rCdIW4mEPBU7zwsmlfgnOK-DDh0-rJC7AaVK5XLJXw5mGFHISqFxSPoxXgF9qVgOnnLBFmBYtRE1J7g2EddmZx18mRr58t/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313708387272545170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Now here's a job. She gets lots of reading done. At least she knew where to take me. The moment she saw me, she said fifth floor - not quite like that though. In Chinese. That gave me confidence to continue.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">I was in the right place.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiict9KN2YLOzdafroN-AFNQdMHkLlMmg28BM4uIib_WkZW0mjuJWvBDxWkzRxzZ4_85e7kuzPzClj6JSAwhOlUuXYXPe6za6v0HstT0civM86_9yeJL6GrIeq821Uy5kD8ZAGBt3jxHDG2/s1600-h/IMG_0734.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiict9KN2YLOzdafroN-AFNQdMHkLlMmg28BM4uIib_WkZW0mjuJWvBDxWkzRxzZ4_85e7kuzPzClj6JSAwhOlUuXYXPe6za6v0HstT0civM86_9yeJL6GrIeq821Uy5kD8ZAGBt3jxHDG2/s320/IMG_0734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313708381612243362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Bad picture, but I arrived to this room filled to overflowing with all kinds of albums, picture frames, journals, DVD boxes, glasses cases, etc. I found my needs and more, of course, and found that my whole afternoon was gone. It just takes longer to do things around here! One activity a day.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Glvne4EyqxbCIC5e37EpIGnH0t7k1Pxuqck0vE8Sc4QmD8VF3w1GtKN0qjayNJRxGUCnkS-K_lztPPJA7zyy8m1MCAbmGjTTiefg_YMmTDM3p-i9ALPLj7WeaSG4IFOSMJ1lqqBlvZMN/s1600-h/IMG_0735.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Glvne4EyqxbCIC5e37EpIGnH0t7k1Pxuqck0vE8Sc4QmD8VF3w1GtKN0qjayNJRxGUCnkS-K_lztPPJA7zyy8m1MCAbmGjTTiefg_YMmTDM3p-i9ALPLj7WeaSG4IFOSMJ1lqqBlvZMN/s320/IMG_0735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313708370238362690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Wednesday is mahjong day at Julie's. She has moved from Puxi and the Xintiandi area to across the river and the Lujiazhui financial center. We decided to meet for lunch in the Shanghai World Financial Center. I grabbed a photo as I was walking up. The JinMao Tower is in the foreground, the SWFC in the back. You have seen this building before when Julie and I went up to the observation deck (highest in the world)which sits right above the can opener hole. That is its nickname around here: the Can Opener.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjCdO9Zzje50E76RF7tu4Nv6gDOD22znI-mxLhhCWWdhM_E1Pp8FXTEW8SnXPYo4D_wTCItIcMxkcgyyTjfHb7APJSWWoVKzFy-_zF3e_UzOtZEKn_i6bsi81EHr2NpoSL7mruxwwfyKC/s1600-h/IMG_0743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjCdO9Zzje50E76RF7tu4Nv6gDOD22znI-mxLhhCWWdhM_E1Pp8FXTEW8SnXPYo4D_wTCItIcMxkcgyyTjfHb7APJSWWoVKzFy-_zF3e_UzOtZEKn_i6bsi81EHr2NpoSL7mruxwwfyKC/s320/IMG_0743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313707441871524146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A little closer shot of where I am heading - into the clouds.<br /><br />After many security guards and much routing around, I finally was able to enter the Marriot lobby that has the elevator to the restaurant on the 100th floor. Hmmm, pay 150 kuai to go to the observation deck or go to the restaurant for a lovely lunch for about the same price?<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBM1pH4kyExOSyraOkXQqj4EEyMVxiU3cztWy06-mtkSL1Rcx43RMYfoyf2iwo4CbDQORmL58XVR3Avmq1OYdpaNFnb_ATbFsz9a05MKY4_h7WKYu_TAq94M0B4g1RYLonMudm7C_XxuG/s1600-h/IMG_0745.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBM1pH4kyExOSyraOkXQqj4EEyMVxiU3cztWy06-mtkSL1Rcx43RMYfoyf2iwo4CbDQORmL58XVR3Avmq1OYdpaNFnb_ATbFsz9a05MKY4_h7WKYu_TAq94M0B4g1RYLonMudm7C_XxuG/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313707431580416562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">With these lovely mahjong ladies waiting, no contest: Aunt Kay (Julie's husband's aunt who was visiting), Julie, Mary and a beautiful view out the windows. I am hooked on mahjong. Hoping to bring that back with me!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL-N2Udoo8bzaE5LQPxUvJ1_yWdhOzrPIUGp5XYHk__1IxWyBJsMr2J8r-kfBAfnCBGYx9-2ef2eb3btuE5_oYik_RZv1fGmXe7FJlj-SE6YsYX_OqLo7Rv1b88DR_isLllXkHP2cW5dR/s1600-h/IMG_0746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL-N2Udoo8bzaE5LQPxUvJ1_yWdhOzrPIUGp5XYHk__1IxWyBJsMr2J8r-kfBAfnCBGYx9-2ef2eb3btuE5_oYik_RZv1fGmXe7FJlj-SE6YsYX_OqLo7Rv1b88DR_isLllXkHP2cW5dR/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313707426033582642" border="0" /></a>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-27967034664720233232009-03-02T15:40:00.000-08:002009-03-02T16:20:51.441-08:00Queen for a day!<span style="font-size:130%;">Thanks to my friend Julie, I got to be queen for a day - or at least an afternoon! </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6u3Knl1mEXkXWvVvXTKCo8NnQG1Du20dygbEpTwkgdbWXyCMKOG0uX0ktF0HSK3cf-VDc41HiQi4h8oJdWvtZH97acxq8dgatZvfHbUAyt6KjIVjQsn2J59X1WCcG6UgxcAkBoIs_R9U/s1600-h/IMG_0723.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6u3Knl1mEXkXWvVvXTKCo8NnQG1Du20dygbEpTwkgdbWXyCMKOG0uX0ktF0HSK3cf-VDc41HiQi4h8oJdWvtZH97acxq8dgatZvfHbUAyt6KjIVjQsn2J59X1WCcG6UgxcAkBoIs_R9U/s320/IMG_0723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308742566339154626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">These lovely ladies (in waiting?) took me to a perfect Italian lunch in Taikong Lu, the maze of boutiques and restaurants that I love to meander. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUqxEMlwmp9sb7x2FQ3EROpfUQfoKzKPah0WUt-c1e3gLapu-mmolpAE5Fc1VxvMNdnacqh6aXOGWiRSUeqdouTgOBCb5WJ-ZeyVAkEf7sP7k81tcPsgVWCeqVcH_uXDRwkWrkbICJAUo/s1600-h/IMG_0722.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUqxEMlwmp9sb7x2FQ3EROpfUQfoKzKPah0WUt-c1e3gLapu-mmolpAE5Fc1VxvMNdnacqh6aXOGWiRSUeqdouTgOBCb5WJ-ZeyVAkEf7sP7k81tcPsgVWCeqVcH_uXDRwkWrkbICJAUo/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308742554919963698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Julie in front next to me, and Kathleen and Mary. Julie is from Minnesota and knows my friend Nancy. Mary is from Twin Falls, Idaho, lived in St. Louis for many years, and I meet them in Shanghai! It is a small world. Kathleen is from New Mexico but has roamed the States, last in Dallas. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4Y6AbSQa04Arvv9M71KIenkchlf7Ww6msLuhZaGZ_Zah7q9MkP6C3zhvB11cco3ZGA6u4wacy95yzkKp-xm6LhG5ICphCiwG2-046hfJkW-BpfS76vl6MlGLIGtbF1yMNfMeABvG4Sto/s1600-h/P1010003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4Y6AbSQa04Arvv9M71KIenkchlf7Ww6msLuhZaGZ_Zah7q9MkP6C3zhvB11cco3ZGA6u4wacy95yzkKp-xm6LhG5ICphCiwG2-046hfJkW-BpfS76vl6MlGLIGtbF1yMNfMeABvG4Sto/s320/P1010003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308741475461008706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">After a delightful lunch on another rainy day, we headed to a luxurious facial at Diva Life - a garden house done up in purple. Everything purple. What a treat. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb2ISMGhFmPA9LKjIyyZtVxgPf0hG-30VFWPbGr0lkyIL8cn1jOrKkSgYKXmo2ZFi8tSxlMayXxP6Kay6xnuTxRQNjYk56FWJNLr2H-hj3bNeOO9oX-hiFaHXRUUMcDQ6OilU7Ve4BpG7/s1600-h/marcelle+b-day"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb2ISMGhFmPA9LKjIyyZtVxgPf0hG-30VFWPbGr0lkyIL8cn1jOrKkSgYKXmo2ZFi8tSxlMayXxP6Kay6xnuTxRQNjYk56FWJNLr2H-hj3bNeOO9oX-hiFaHXRUUMcDQ6OilU7Ve4BpG7/s320/marcelle+b-day" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308741467397252098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Sweet Julie.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUblIrjGBxH26J8efGerfYwJvrXMBIHaEPqQ3qRloKjHgD506ZBLBNY_Y7lf212_eiUnV-PPo7Czr8AtuiQsrhvHq7sK818TDvk_frE3yOrxLKu1daLGhYG3h71DrdrX3RwhzwWC7GkLO/s1600-h/P1010001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUblIrjGBxH26J8efGerfYwJvrXMBIHaEPqQ3qRloKjHgD506ZBLBNY_Y7lf212_eiUnV-PPo7Czr8AtuiQsrhvHq7sK818TDvk_frE3yOrxLKu1daLGhYG3h71DrdrX3RwhzwWC7GkLO/s320/P1010001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308741457227114530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Saturday night we headed out to eat with Julie and Phillip, Phillip's Aunt Kay and Kathleen and her husband Mike (taking the photo). We started out at the Glamour Bar, definitely worthy of its name, on the Bund overlooking the Huangpu and Pudong lights, and then progressed across the street to Jean Georges, a beautiful French restaurant, also overlooking the lights. We had our own room with two semi-circle tables we had them put together to try and assimilate a round table. It was so Chinese!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQY6OkcBFj3qnsQ4kqjSRxcJIORhjkf5EVdJA2nxgifQjTFQCZuI6FIlLEsh6m1ubU5NBItxVv_QtFe2FjIqgY421vMqQrNFlV3i9rdSc69oko01PLGRHbF_LC19jHp2CaIVcT6jsbcN-w/s1600-h/P1010005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQY6OkcBFj3qnsQ4kqjSRxcJIORhjkf5EVdJA2nxgifQjTFQCZuI6FIlLEsh6m1ubU5NBItxVv_QtFe2FjIqgY421vMqQrNFlV3i9rdSc69oko01PLGRHbF_LC19jHp2CaIVcT6jsbcN-w/s320/P1010005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308741450750542482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">My darling husband who arranged all these lunches and dinners for me. We had the tasting menu at Jean Georges which was French and oh so Chinese at the same time. (Meaning lots of fish and no meat. Very different from a mid-western French tasting menu!) You see us at the end of the meal, so happlily replete with our final dessert course. We started with:<br />1. a small compote of almond puree with a shaving of truffle on top<br />2. a poached egg, in the shell, with vodka cream and caviar on top (oh my!)<br />3. succulent scallops with a raisin caper emulsified reduction (can that be correct?)<br />4. delicious soup with frogs legs - BIG frogs legs! could only have been a toad!<br />5. turbo with a tomato zucchini salsa on top<br />6. lobster on toast, and more lobster<br />7. squab with fois gras to the side - oh my, again!<br />8. dessert, as shown above - a collection of 4 varieties of pear - frozen, pastry encrusted, ice cream, flanish. The other choice was chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. A warm chocolate cake was brought out to me, so I had pears and chocolate! <br />And AFTER all that, a plate of chocolates and homemade marshmallows that were salted. I just looked at those!<br />Mmmmm. Being queen is good!<br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-50807369462435157472009-02-21T20:03:00.000-08:002009-02-21T23:11:43.718-08:00More every day lifeP<span style="font-size:130%;">aige got to Skype with BF Ellie while Ellie was visiting Susu and Poppy. They talked for about an hour and a half - late night for Paige, early morning for Ellie. So much fun to hear them giggling and laughing like they had seen each other yesterday.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh688s-yKY24gaMTd6niYQKxkHevCxkL1zP0GC6IeiIm_htCygscA6EfX6qxJhQ9Xm0Q_a6JL4ahJa-2RjPARDY9RVf3r7fWSXnxPqY43m0tcuJisspQqp8_F53E_4XkYYtHGupPZWDdlYE/s1600-h/IMG_0681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh688s-yKY24gaMTd6niYQKxkHevCxkL1zP0GC6IeiIm_htCygscA6EfX6qxJhQ9Xm0Q_a6JL4ahJa-2RjPARDY9RVf3r7fWSXnxPqY43m0tcuJisspQqp8_F53E_4XkYYtHGupPZWDdlYE/s320/IMG_0681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305508181492599346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Friday night was a fun school event: Bingo. Tons of people showed up and we had many rip-roarin' games of bingo with lottery ticket fun baskets being given away at the same time. Winners of the Bingo games got to choose from a table of yummy baked goods.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4YlQMkdoXHE8CbQVqtmgHYfT-O2KTyQ2pRZ2I9FyHzg3Jfx-CvMfPizTsBJZFwU00WM-07yOfpzaWJnHM49AhfzZqaHhI6q7GpBc_skM17wjFjnUFyowcOZpLHd3qWIGkc_HCLLvFduT/s1600-h/IMG_0692.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4YlQMkdoXHE8CbQVqtmgHYfT-O2KTyQ2pRZ2I9FyHzg3Jfx-CvMfPizTsBJZFwU00WM-07yOfpzaWJnHM49AhfzZqaHhI6q7GpBc_skM17wjFjnUFyowcOZpLHd3qWIGkc_HCLLvFduT/s320/IMG_0692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305471282733006514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the breaks was a chicken song. Two middle school teachers leading the charge. YMCA song was another get up and jiggle around song. Lots of fun and laughter, pizza, popcorn and new friends. We met the new family from Australia who live down the street from us. Their children, Hugo and Pearl, are adored by the girls who have taken them under their wings on the school bus.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA07yaDXRWMDhoF6rbuAJFJtaWFJ6QOU50ilb3GLfRpuOWxq7iEwTADhhiDB0iuVpdpdslDEPj9MJJp995rDfPFllQycr-cNXWuqmq1YrlTGaGO444LgRIGNrIgVMpEtrJ_w2CdJR-v4O/s1600-h/IMG_0695.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA07yaDXRWMDhoF6rbuAJFJtaWFJ6QOU50ilb3GLfRpuOWxq7iEwTADhhiDB0iuVpdpdslDEPj9MJJp995rDfPFllQycr-cNXWuqmq1YrlTGaGO444LgRIGNrIgVMpEtrJ_w2CdJR-v4O/s320/IMG_0695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305471278766715074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I had a fun romp through a wet market I found next to Storey's Saturday morning pottery class. This guy was cracking me up. He was running around cutting, weighing, chopping meat up for clients, all the while this cigarette hanging out of his mouth with ashes about 1/2" long precariously dangling on the end. When he saw me laughing and taking a picture, he started laughing and finally removed the cigarette - probably just until I walked away!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw7MJ1MRqzCRMGOrsEA7g7asTOaWr-rjJ70WgpvNACnz_LihEggzOBftvJs2ik55lgj7kZABVCfMv45qrOtbCZdLYakdnc16KmBwXMXhp0r5hl8UNZfDb7Isr1rr7KhUTvEAH0zOUgHE-/s1600-h/IMG_0699.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw7MJ1MRqzCRMGOrsEA7g7asTOaWr-rjJ70WgpvNACnz_LihEggzOBftvJs2ik55lgj7kZABVCfMv45qrOtbCZdLYakdnc16KmBwXMXhp0r5hl8UNZfDb7Isr1rr7KhUTvEAH0zOUgHE-/s320/IMG_0699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305469828454143986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57cirq3lu8yIG-VbmA_ZvJumpS8CD7QiDDZaEunpTAbw6ZXQUrwnkZzvURZQt8haE6vvB8Q_M2wZLxrBTtKw128stpsoUFZBHHnZrLXmh2gUVZePf38XNPTVJ5WnFLfnxpsOP4pQqYerl/s1600-h/IMG_0700.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57cirq3lu8yIG-VbmA_ZvJumpS8CD7QiDDZaEunpTAbw6ZXQUrwnkZzvURZQt8haE6vvB8Q_M2wZLxrBTtKw128stpsoUFZBHHnZrLXmh2gUVZePf38XNPTVJ5WnFLfnxpsOP4pQqYerl/s320/IMG_0700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305469832070136658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A chicken was being removed for a customer while I took this, so I moved quickly so I wasn't there for the rest of the process. They do it all right here for you - the defeathering, etc. Anything you would like.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiz8CWA0kk2uz_LGd6C28O8mEPEnpCEkWU2J9_rLf-1LCYTTwyrxrsZ8HFExR9Bb-cKdRxiEPOWcVx_hx2CQESQYMiHmrhbHKDSCSfcLhPzIP8m9xj4zN4RDHyqvq8IlVGbruS93Dq6U0/s1600-h/IMG_0705.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiz8CWA0kk2uz_LGd6C28O8mEPEnpCEkWU2J9_rLf-1LCYTTwyrxrsZ8HFExR9Bb-cKdRxiEPOWcVx_hx2CQESQYMiHmrhbHKDSCSfcLhPzIP8m9xj4zN4RDHyqvq8IlVGbruS93Dq6U0/s320/IMG_0705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305469424621075170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The Chinese eat a lot of fish, and all kinds of fish. Some of the lovely choices.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK5-h87kp5edd1w-F_88csoYMr3Y7qvjOs-3xIIM52Ts4ola9uv3gvoYUvWBzYDSm6jtriNKHeZM2xWp7xFynxBtCvt_HC5IZ0j-1AnfDIwFsaqQUjuDAqBThcUI5DzIz7TGJ-IwlD-OQ/s1600-h/IMG_0704.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK5-h87kp5edd1w-F_88csoYMr3Y7qvjOs-3xIIM52Ts4ola9uv3gvoYUvWBzYDSm6jtriNKHeZM2xWp7xFynxBtCvt_HC5IZ0j-1AnfDIwFsaqQUjuDAqBThcUI5DzIz7TGJ-IwlD-OQ/s320/IMG_0704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305469422620891266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQo9fZ1pVfNtaA26iBdN-yZfL4rQVAwTZ5cRGY8NFGaDpsS1gJ8Zb_0YarSnzpBORAYHh946vi5PVRE8PsW-947uMj16Jpb4Qhp517FI8oPEThuUUpmjyUwtSvdAup5FlPNCijwsSgZl2/s1600-h/IMG_0706.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQo9fZ1pVfNtaA26iBdN-yZfL4rQVAwTZ5cRGY8NFGaDpsS1gJ8Zb_0YarSnzpBORAYHh946vi5PVRE8PsW-947uMj16Jpb4Qhp517FI8oPEThuUUpmjyUwtSvdAup5FlPNCijwsSgZl2/s320/IMG_0706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305469423317946370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWh7cLZr2wV0NdHWUideuJP2qMAYFKLKV0ox7lQ1kD7tgvRVaD4Rt94nU_hut0kTOhQlxOgg9kuE3U_pgfacPQghNj3PhQBcQt-r9eVfgKfRXuUIFdkjuKCTak8ki9PG8audbfZQ4T9g8M/s1600-h/IMG_0707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWh7cLZr2wV0NdHWUideuJP2qMAYFKLKV0ox7lQ1kD7tgvRVaD4Rt94nU_hut0kTOhQlxOgg9kuE3U_pgfacPQghNj3PhQBcQt-r9eVfgKfRXuUIFdkjuKCTak8ki9PG8audbfZQ4T9g8M/s320/IMG_0707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305469421918649986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Fresh dumplings.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ86JJPvW8m75c3lbAVHtWK8wYsy5QbI-2DXelK5dY96mB75FYaYFNeXPDFW2E2sOarAMPxzc8aKGaudISYIPhSktuNEpEX8WdWmlS3Al5ojwWA6gASty13A-5w8qaVlww4Vo7YpzTZsG/s1600-h/IMG_0698.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ86JJPvW8m75c3lbAVHtWK8wYsy5QbI-2DXelK5dY96mB75FYaYFNeXPDFW2E2sOarAMPxzc8aKGaudISYIPhSktuNEpEX8WdWmlS3Al5ojwWA6gASty13A-5w8qaVlww4Vo7YpzTZsG/s320/IMG_0698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305468934419539202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Hand made noodles.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpT0VT6yYMZ8oM0uqoUCswwwfoPEWlAqKwWV4OkxwKSBbmZt5KjEzW9UX0_w98N2tDxxQNPt4K6MO4HJL1mS6vQtB4Yl1KpOnrg3yjUZsaRDup_654MTzTDrrlJ0NJLNd7yFy3F4APmCO-/s1600-h/IMG_0702.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpT0VT6yYMZ8oM0uqoUCswwwfoPEWlAqKwWV4OkxwKSBbmZt5KjEzW9UX0_w98N2tDxxQNPt4K6MO4HJL1mS6vQtB4Yl1KpOnrg3yjUZsaRDup_654MTzTDrrlJ0NJLNd7yFy3F4APmCO-/s320/IMG_0702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305468932297285106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Rice and grain.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHV8_AUWEYSSpD67JiUNz2iwBp8Iqe5DCdpUbdTfAgpH3CLeT7EYSPfXGqh9p45XuPhencL7aUKcUQ8WMF0MVhl3fdm_PMqQ64PEuhaaTS4JPjL-jnsB4Y_HKjKMDgl8j8tULecQY4aF9/s1600-h/IMG_0703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHV8_AUWEYSSpD67JiUNz2iwBp8Iqe5DCdpUbdTfAgpH3CLeT7EYSPfXGqh9p45XuPhencL7aUKcUQ8WMF0MVhl3fdm_PMqQ64PEuhaaTS4JPjL-jnsB4Y_HKjKMDgl8j8tULecQY4aF9/s320/IMG_0703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305468924804837426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Beautiful, fresh veggies. I can't get enough of the vegetables over here. So many different kinds and all so delicious.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ81-wEmqbxktnx0zNhjKYhrporTIJlDJYW_AVo4-paSnTn3HRZPE7G8mM-5VoY9viup7k_BwuLTrSeSyq_jL22G0CcHWh2KZZeRTQLePCYywWq40Ft-GFOmAtuNq5RgPNtw2zD-xbP34/s1600-h/IMG_0697.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ81-wEmqbxktnx0zNhjKYhrporTIJlDJYW_AVo4-paSnTn3HRZPE7G8mM-5VoY9viup7k_BwuLTrSeSyq_jL22G0CcHWh2KZZeRTQLePCYywWq40Ft-GFOmAtuNq5RgPNtw2zD-xbP34/s320/IMG_0697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305468918144793826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIVB-zsyVoHZh6xR3Onbd2qwFvO_REu2ufXWqF0sifxTW5wmOq3EzxWd6klS0PQwc_pT6zQzC8Wo1Q4vNnT9RbH91M-F0eEwOLVOIwQm-5klAYGflZoEybQYvYKMNnjOQIx5_NtzVSNfA/s1600-h/IMG_0708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIVB-zsyVoHZh6xR3Onbd2qwFvO_REu2ufXWqF0sifxTW5wmOq3EzxWd6klS0PQwc_pT6zQzC8Wo1Q4vNnT9RbH91M-F0eEwOLVOIwQm-5klAYGflZoEybQYvYKMNnjOQIx5_NtzVSNfA/s320/IMG_0708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305468204363133394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Yet more fish.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdic3-30r0A6XOuVS_XKple6qfhnP5clJjfaGai69U9Naz_hKwRaiQrukxfxFTkhvBzGPZxBRDu5KLyz2TFKtmap7eR1DTvyOWpQpBkSjH5chIJLyFL5np1sehMOYfzi-3xAK9c_1zeBPQ/s1600-h/IMG_0709.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdic3-30r0A6XOuVS_XKple6qfhnP5clJjfaGai69U9Naz_hKwRaiQrukxfxFTkhvBzGPZxBRDu5KLyz2TFKtmap7eR1DTvyOWpQpBkSjH5chIJLyFL5np1sehMOYfzi-3xAK9c_1zeBPQ/s320/IMG_0709.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305468198146126882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The choices of tofu here are like the cheese counter at home. Everything from stinky tofu to fried tofu, dried, wet, soft, firm, aged..... Our cook makes the best tofu pudding we have ever had (actually, never had tofu pudding before!). It is creamy and smooth with ever so slight almond and vanilla flavoring.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4WcvSkuyLWmdwOswyh-IcP9edGhiYrXxWDCXQBh5pwCy2E-YVFYyy1Fy6V_CY3BVExp8IeOGJVwnLFYzVrjL1eQ1ATLPw_MeP3Wr_d4gVHNBVIqjfWvBOBcTXEkQNnSk4d-bySerG004/s1600-h/IMG_0710.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4WcvSkuyLWmdwOswyh-IcP9edGhiYrXxWDCXQBh5pwCy2E-YVFYyy1Fy6V_CY3BVExp8IeOGJVwnLFYzVrjL1eQ1ATLPw_MeP3Wr_d4gVHNBVIqjfWvBOBcTXEkQNnSk4d-bySerG004/s320/IMG_0710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305468191975885266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">More grains, nuts, rice, beans, spices.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigBscYCHPwAfEKifWVnKEok2yb-gS5xc-NL2uHjoxjhrXAKOWSVO4HxoQIyn4ACJxecY5Adl7sah7S-VFuTph-VzpGTIi0ZZEjzz7UJE7vWIAZeXu8-jvKLFWtREWB2vj7On2p5gpRA65/s1600-h/IMG_0711.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigBscYCHPwAfEKifWVnKEok2yb-gS5xc-NL2uHjoxjhrXAKOWSVO4HxoQIyn4ACJxecY5Adl7sah7S-VFuTph-VzpGTIi0ZZEjzz7UJE7vWIAZeXu8-jvKLFWtREWB2vj7On2p5gpRA65/s320/IMG_0711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305468194931621090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey was taken by friends to a gymnastic class yesterday, after an afternoon Girl Scout outing. We went to pick her up and couldn't find it! The address was correct, we knew we were in the right area, but everyone we asked kept sending us back to the previous place we had been. It was a bit of a circus. I finally called another mother who explained over the phone how to get there. All buildings have guards, and we had asked several guards who had all said it didn't exist. Such is the world in Shanghai. We found Storey who loved her new class. It will be easier next time!<br /><br />From gymnastics we headed to Otto's, an Italian restaurant around the corner from us. As we were driving by the corner, we saw a huge truck filled top to bottom, front to back with pineapples. The men were throwing the pineapples out onto the corner. There were pineapples under the truck, in the street, and piled high on the sidewalk. We were marveling at the brashness of it all. When we exited from dinner and started walking home, there on the corner was a gal selling the pineapples from a very reduced pile. I went to ask how much and had to ask twice because I couldn't believe the cost. 5 RMB for 3 pineapples. So we paid about .73 cents for three gorgeous, and salivatingly delicous pineapples. That was good as it helped off-set the price of the far too expensive Italian restaurant! Anything western costs 10 x what the Chinese equivalent would be.<br /><br />It is a rainy Sunday afternoon. Storey has taken to making dinner for us every Sunday. We have had yummy spaghetti, meatloaf, and tonight it is lasagna. We haven't found any lasagna noodles in any of the stores, so Storey and Ridley are down making the noodles. I am sure it will be the best lasagna ever! Happy Sunday.<br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-57279975145356011262009-02-13T16:16:00.000-08:002009-02-13T16:38:08.797-08:00HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY and HAPPY BIRTHDAY<span style="font-size:130%;">It is Susie's birthday on Valentine's Day. We are loving you, missing you, and can't wait to see you in a little over a month. Here are our Chinese flowers we are sending you on Valentine's Day.<br /><br />My dad, Susie and sweet Kalea, my niece.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VHc_k8cVpDS9FEbzMTIIU_MOraHjPKtaYj4ZXPbwviBCpOyzjRGQrGYqb03vI3Fpa3nGaHIhYCvVhxh-9p1yR2KDuXep7Q5tVIxtCGfAyXFovopJdARNtjxAH4FJzB1jqKDcVoLlvapN/s1600-h/IMG_0364_1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VHc_k8cVpDS9FEbzMTIIU_MOraHjPKtaYj4ZXPbwviBCpOyzjRGQrGYqb03vI3Fpa3nGaHIhYCvVhxh-9p1yR2KDuXep7Q5tVIxtCGfAyXFovopJdARNtjxAH4FJzB1jqKDcVoLlvapN/s320/IMG_0364_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302443641889389890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Feast your eyes on the Chinese Valentine's floral arrangements!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_VyiOrH_Nq6mgxuooKHFz1egGR_aCBWmbNZ_Z8eu8-6lYGGHNRS5IM3wGpY2SpK9mQ-bTm8707qrk_lHYyvvTXfYwHp_z8eZm70atj-cSvHcaX4KgMbetkFCXipBvf1ZXr3sWcBabJsm/s1600-h/IMG_0678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_VyiOrH_Nq6mgxuooKHFz1egGR_aCBWmbNZ_Z8eu8-6lYGGHNRS5IM3wGpY2SpK9mQ-bTm8707qrk_lHYyvvTXfYwHp_z8eZm70atj-cSvHcaX4KgMbetkFCXipBvf1ZXr3sWcBabJsm/s320/IMG_0678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302441946375527634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Lmgimvg9d2Fx_BR_cgGdO310PQOeZLzN4Ad8A5qrBX5ohyphenhyphendzqJVE7IWa7BzmBRQFCBiySmiXiec30oKKtLaHX5xpa3pxxBxWrp-w8-gXI8YFVpselCbMIAH19nbxSMmWFG9NeSVJgyIO/s1600-h/IMG_0677.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Lmgimvg9d2Fx_BR_cgGdO310PQOeZLzN4Ad8A5qrBX5ohyphenhyphendzqJVE7IWa7BzmBRQFCBiySmiXiec30oKKtLaHX5xpa3pxxBxWrp-w8-gXI8YFVpselCbMIAH19nbxSMmWFG9NeSVJgyIO/s320/IMG_0677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302441949114446386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Julie surrounded by the advent of spring at the Pudong Flower Market.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEfetLseNek519PMidCAR2Tbw58Bbs2kL8tVbObUTbuC5W9MxDG6C-ZPMMSK6QIdBSpMQo2LXgV_AayYXzb2geOmA39KRjvfRK1NunCHYz73H_4INrt6W1j55EXxvYNw7AbNpgRTQAqLq/s1600-h/IMG_0676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEfetLseNek519PMidCAR2Tbw58Bbs2kL8tVbObUTbuC5W9MxDG6C-ZPMMSK6QIdBSpMQo2LXgV_AayYXzb2geOmA39KRjvfRK1NunCHYz73H_4INrt6W1j55EXxvYNw7AbNpgRTQAqLq/s320/IMG_0676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302441942497929458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcBuvDXsxgKV4JgKtTithIwx2jeMymct_kij5x719pQOK8mtA-scmumgN6WD3pn8FVlaMKILan2WjH6-0PO0R_eWI_fDzsG8LBGH2MlbrAjXm7pNnC7Q9nuE9brWE6FariHb6v6YZea9a/s1600-h/IMG_0675.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcBuvDXsxgKV4JgKtTithIwx2jeMymct_kij5x719pQOK8mtA-scmumgN6WD3pn8FVlaMKILan2WjH6-0PO0R_eWI_fDzsG8LBGH2MlbrAjXm7pNnC7Q9nuE9brWE6FariHb6v6YZea9a/s320/IMG_0675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302441944152474706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEsbiVeQ0TdRl34F7aRMXqsG69fjczo1Qa1k38LvfQgJzRInKnzyY7JVqCIyGu-UFFLtA_n4ogrFhRRaJjLdiXXRCaFsqa7ArweGB2qoM_yfB_Ejg3vR7u7RUQMyS2qR9kxdWEC1ZES1N/s1600-h/IMG_0674.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEsbiVeQ0TdRl34F7aRMXqsG69fjczo1Qa1k38LvfQgJzRInKnzyY7JVqCIyGu-UFFLtA_n4ogrFhRRaJjLdiXXRCaFsqa7ArweGB2qoM_yfB_Ejg3vR7u7RUQMyS2qR9kxdWEC1ZES1N/s320/IMG_0674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302441339616988098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Yes, a bouquet of feathers and bunnies!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7qGb64QZLi-Qcs-pfPqNSGatzT5xJvMijEJDw3S2svEOzQaGqWtmpGgm5hRFZMyuW6Ojx4AwN3O_k6q24cvdFfpdPWFt-60Eu0HJAeyeJRSs4mCKyiynub-lUdyQomRTHFKAQfEf8cqt/s1600-h/IMG_0673.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7qGb64QZLi-Qcs-pfPqNSGatzT5xJvMijEJDw3S2svEOzQaGqWtmpGgm5hRFZMyuW6Ojx4AwN3O_k6q24cvdFfpdPWFt-60Eu0HJAeyeJRSs4mCKyiynub-lUdyQomRTHFKAQfEf8cqt/s320/IMG_0673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302441338311602866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRYqHHODoK28yhNIUWFO-p4HfmKC1x4OZlSZEoYi6RYYGZYJwAddJ1YQvCZjgICQGs-aaU459jGMDxvVWeyXiKbMRI8Esz-ZVX7xzdtlJ04SUHTS9UNtM6_-TcwOmGBbhtM9n9YgqiA2V/s1600-h/IMG_0672.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRYqHHODoK28yhNIUWFO-p4HfmKC1x4OZlSZEoYi6RYYGZYJwAddJ1YQvCZjgICQGs-aaU459jGMDxvVWeyXiKbMRI8Esz-ZVX7xzdtlJ04SUHTS9UNtM6_-TcwOmGBbhtM9n9YgqiA2V/s320/IMG_0672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302441331795578018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A little tulle with your blue sparkle roses!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojBSd154RsfpRqm0AzHPzFoIVxwB3RzeIqt9WFRsWqzfoJQxF8zT3i20-Cv3bo6Lk10nNCGYR6BHfFgM-W1uiu71RnezR26dbCAdrxv6QEKSHX-cjvM4i9rOYATDX77iZct7UbMmVIcWb/s1600-h/IMG_0671.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojBSd154RsfpRqm0AzHPzFoIVxwB3RzeIqt9WFRsWqzfoJQxF8zT3i20-Cv3bo6Lk10nNCGYR6BHfFgM-W1uiu71RnezR26dbCAdrxv6QEKSHX-cjvM4i9rOYATDX77iZct7UbMmVIcWb/s320/IMG_0671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302441332358457010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gHbtZkb2ODeAnm4ld_CyRF_hXFsb0ndZDW2U48WdasaVywDXETmpMagXvi8OMNnnDIPrjnPoOnoQU1eBWTUx20HohBPWs4LbRdkZo1pndPGjhCpquKPhW9GkvoEsUa1QH-GjWAnTfwpM/s1600-h/IMG_0670.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gHbtZkb2ODeAnm4ld_CyRF_hXFsb0ndZDW2U48WdasaVywDXETmpMagXvi8OMNnnDIPrjnPoOnoQU1eBWTUx20HohBPWs4LbRdkZo1pndPGjhCpquKPhW9GkvoEsUa1QH-GjWAnTfwpM/s320/IMG_0670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302440798191692194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Feathers!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4raWt_uoVks6bYVrvYIIDlCNcFEZf5M2RjwK5pIs-xUWlbF6PtsBoSVf1XcgnLx6Eao7w8gjbyqJ4UlL5wmvTjNDfKqKnJ12jEyV2u2DR8_nVpgpFDyLT92v5CwGne__EO-OoJub-zytB/s1600-h/IMG_0669.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4raWt_uoVks6bYVrvYIIDlCNcFEZf5M2RjwK5pIs-xUWlbF6PtsBoSVf1XcgnLx6Eao7w8gjbyqJ4UlL5wmvTjNDfKqKnJ12jEyV2u2DR8_nVpgpFDyLT92v5CwGne__EO-OoJub-zytB/s320/IMG_0669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302440793871808706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Real roses hidden under a coating of blue sparkle paint.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GPIbdeb5udNCetNJ7kKI7_i31yLHhMSUVX7-kCBuH3qmQfu8lMrH1sPd_sEUATgJq_fxS4dPw0tIDJwZV2YiaLhP5f2-PhFMIglpWvjSZeLUG0MOdmnYH98stk2ydsmStAE79n6PEDeo/s1600-h/IMG_0668.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GPIbdeb5udNCetNJ7kKI7_i31yLHhMSUVX7-kCBuH3qmQfu8lMrH1sPd_sEUATgJq_fxS4dPw0tIDJwZV2YiaLhP5f2-PhFMIglpWvjSZeLUG0MOdmnYH98stk2ydsmStAE79n6PEDeo/s320/IMG_0668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302440790268245266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4H-BcDjWYEN3NAJ16kq00p7ZVMbyDxtXGTKQKq3G1RrBxaS1W384zhvIxyQnpAbS_iU1PaBzd5Bai7E04U8FLxPQUfHdIcioyewufxDIz1iH0DtlsNT0KqnTpkJEN7N6uGi5Ejun1V_Y/s1600-h/IMG_0667.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4H-BcDjWYEN3NAJ16kq00p7ZVMbyDxtXGTKQKq3G1RrBxaS1W384zhvIxyQnpAbS_iU1PaBzd5Bai7E04U8FLxPQUfHdIcioyewufxDIz1iH0DtlsNT0KqnTpkJEN7N6uGi5Ejun1V_Y/s320/IMG_0667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302440788261327426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Have a wonderful Valentine's Day.<br />We are sending our love to our family and friends - and particularly to Grandma Susie on this special day!<br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-88137120907165634762009-02-11T00:17:00.000-08:002009-02-11T00:51:45.258-08:00Shanghai shopping<span style="font-size:130%;">I have had some fun Shanghai shopping adventures lately. My friend Liz found the deal of a century on some copies of the Terra Cotta Warriors, so I met her at Dong Tai Lu to place some orders. My tutor, Dean, came with us as the vendor doesn't speak English very well and we had some high finance to accomplish. We met on the street with all the vendors: Dong Tai Lu is a fabulous outdoor "antiques" market, full of all the Asian trinkets, old and new, you could ever wish for. And those you didn't even know you were wishing for! Liz was placing numerous orders for co-workers, and I was placing orders for friends, as well. After meeting in front of the stall, the vendor took us on this route down several alley's.........</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP1ns7BbFrT3cmrKOkeTPmyKvyFk3UhoQ28cG_3eOB-VN7gtECd0ob9iE-ZSFFTMx1sl8Kc94lmMImR9eQo2vzX4zPN8X959xgB7GmRaq1KZP9WWWAKAox59aLQjIj4EkcEXBF65EhSPZ/s1600-h/IMG_0658.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP1ns7BbFrT3cmrKOkeTPmyKvyFk3UhoQ28cG_3eOB-VN7gtECd0ob9iE-ZSFFTMx1sl8Kc94lmMImR9eQo2vzX4zPN8X959xgB7GmRaq1KZP9WWWAKAox59aLQjIj4EkcEXBF65EhSPZ/s320/IMG_0658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301453207954299810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A beautiful warm day to be washing clothes - although it is done in the freezing cold as well. Once you get off the main streets into the back lanes, like ours, you can really begin seeing daily life. Behind the green bucket is a corrugated stone that she was scrubbing the clothes on. I would say that the average Chinese person is very "green" in their living. They hand wash their clothes and air dry them; don't turn on lights during the day; don't turn on the heat (even if they happened to have it); hand wash dishes in one bucket of water (as with the clothes - no water waste). Lessons to be learned. And for the most part ride bikes, walk or take public transportation.<br /><br />Liz with a co-worker, Susan.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-aXV9Zcx9eDmBDC9FHcP83w3nQArwNl5I_u_ZtlUQEGO0zEWQgoBEmgQO28gwM8LOhiomUkvukxjs7dJywFTTUNEBwnxutln7Hzq5kav-pi9T0KLxA4SyZe5iUTtyuFXOOKJFlbCOv2T/s1600-h/IMG_0659.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-aXV9Zcx9eDmBDC9FHcP83w3nQArwNl5I_u_ZtlUQEGO0zEWQgoBEmgQO28gwM8LOhiomUkvukxjs7dJywFTTUNEBwnxutln7Hzq5kav-pi9T0KLxA4SyZe5iUTtyuFXOOKJFlbCOv2T/s320/IMG_0659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301453201930251090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We truly felt like we were doing some back lane dealing!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8QUUZc9NrKOSObBPQN7kCL5TJu7xjeADv7DWSZqb2ZRbh5WBiiq62z_9PYpNmrvQ739Fn78W466ftiJCQQDW_xM77HiuVZsrrlvzwFPIC1Yd-1MKa2P_AQN0V25daBwl5njTNJpGNR0A/s1600-h/IMG_0660.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8QUUZc9NrKOSObBPQN7kCL5TJu7xjeADv7DWSZqb2ZRbh5WBiiq62z_9PYpNmrvQ739Fn78W466ftiJCQQDW_xM77HiuVZsrrlvzwFPIC1Yd-1MKa2P_AQN0V25daBwl5njTNJpGNR0A/s320/IMG_0660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301453203925041874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">After several lanes and twists and turns we made it to the "warehouse."</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy1f4sdlFmTB3ODfbNQtxgMP0wFGN6ZN5RQF8ZGDJppedy7UjJQrdwbivBdvlfT2hNqevrMPZ8rP1vBgankoast5EwbzXNDdlxxjKhIKdMYydi5ricRMCn3292auLPZ_5xg-UejE3d2nI/s1600-h/IMG_0661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy1f4sdlFmTB3ODfbNQtxgMP0wFGN6ZN5RQF8ZGDJppedy7UjJQrdwbivBdvlfT2hNqevrMPZ8rP1vBgankoast5EwbzXNDdlxxjKhIKdMYydi5ricRMCn3292auLPZ_5xg-UejE3d2nI/s320/IMG_0661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301453202216835314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This room couldn't be larger than 15 x 15 and stacked to the brim. We had to stand in once place or step outside the door.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFNyZLAiWV4q3002tz2OXz3fFkV27r0WhBUStVhBY9MaAHfoOgMCTyBVPtiV3pQdYe_1kZaPAiYEBA2nLlmF2H2bn5EYsxTaQ1v-RQMD5DJWYYuFRA613aqrX7U2pXZbMxlAugMw9J6w3/s1600-h/IMG_0655.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFNyZLAiWV4q3002tz2OXz3fFkV27r0WhBUStVhBY9MaAHfoOgMCTyBVPtiV3pQdYe_1kZaPAiYEBA2nLlmF2H2bn5EYsxTaQ1v-RQMD5DJWYYuFRA613aqrX7U2pXZbMxlAugMw9J6w3/s320/IMG_0655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301452567264593778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Dean making sure the everything is proceeding as it should.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoolBQTgsohuFwEHmH3TLvsax5XgKTW2W9h0vyP44InvuaGt89rXWS3TyM48pQcdQRAUAC86njb905gqJ7WoPrlXDdzy0dlmpEUfMSlngOvg30rJ23Q4sBy6IcYcXQaEehnlSLxhzBf9bv/s1600-h/IMG_0656.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoolBQTgsohuFwEHmH3TLvsax5XgKTW2W9h0vyP44InvuaGt89rXWS3TyM48pQcdQRAUAC86njb905gqJ7WoPrlXDdzy0dlmpEUfMSlngOvg30rJ23Q4sBy6IcYcXQaEehnlSLxhzBf9bv/s320/IMG_0656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301452563029563714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our lovely vendor with her treasures surrounding her.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-nfbePz4Zb7DuxpSEQPPnaBEAP1qGTDJyF2Quk-35mVDdO0g1YWqLFEQJn8zPAGAJ2DgEbGDq3ok2Cd022DyU68oNVTQQ-ay97cMtEqxI8ncBm6DPtCsOzECnamblwOM6doXHWIArbM1/s1600-h/IMG_0657.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-nfbePz4Zb7DuxpSEQPPnaBEAP1qGTDJyF2Quk-35mVDdO0g1YWqLFEQJn8zPAGAJ2DgEbGDq3ok2Cd022DyU68oNVTQQ-ay97cMtEqxI8ncBm6DPtCsOzECnamblwOM6doXHWIArbM1/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301452561523339634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The day before I had taken my friend Julie out to a furniture warehouse out west. She is looking for an opium bed to take home and we had fun being educated on the difference between opium beds and wedding beds. Wedding beds envelope you in a canopy-like setting, with different kinds of tops and sides to be had - painted, carved, openings to hang fabric to stay cozy and private. Opium beds are more like large day beds with a portable small table in the middle to put all the opium paraphanalia that might be needed. I think it would be fun to use the small table for gaming, instead! Anyway, another far and away fun hunting adventure.<br /><br />I strolled around Taikong Lu after dropping Storey and her friend at pottery on Saturday morning, never tiring of the beautiful buildings and every day life going on.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvwE8PW5fBXNpklDX-OW9TdJJhciMsuCDCis-WyZKIROWtz61VaRCw-WemEXqDLYXreublNnXJyEKupO7pkISrM_VlJTTfh2sC6EpVYqC6EvxzeQq2EMjWQQMc0_sJSfmW6CooUywlAcG/s1600-h/IMG_0649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvwE8PW5fBXNpklDX-OW9TdJJhciMsuCDCis-WyZKIROWtz61VaRCw-WemEXqDLYXreublNnXJyEKupO7pkISrM_VlJTTfh2sC6EpVYqC6EvxzeQq2EMjWQQMc0_sJSfmW6CooUywlAcG/s320/IMG_0649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301451997409597026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Such beautiful grey brick.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-h-OW1-oeum6k8RFqfWFtueLGdTWAqTXu5v_N0J6lzlBU0kXjdn5-5YCmvxgFcT5dTD7G9syNVxvSFhSVhskhvqZ9H4gzMZ_Vza-iNKD9vH60w8tK17SfQeCmyhceV7wAupQVfvJ1noF/s1600-h/IMG_0651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-h-OW1-oeum6k8RFqfWFtueLGdTWAqTXu5v_N0J6lzlBU0kXjdn5-5YCmvxgFcT5dTD7G9syNVxvSFhSVhskhvqZ9H4gzMZ_Vza-iNKD9vH60w8tK17SfQeCmyhceV7wAupQVfvJ1noF/s320/IMG_0651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301451996008059346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Fresh vegetables for sale, never mind the clothes drying above!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOKbFcY5K_I_gmazN8hj5tpu4JLRPqLem4ZVrGdiTXz3W8GyI-ythkpIlnCTBW1T3aU2b5I4-AHpVskGrgiL-nXJgJ8yz3CNsRHx5aQkeqUu1rOJN3njGN2-RlY06q0tL7W3tFVQc8Phx/s1600-h/IMG_0652.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOKbFcY5K_I_gmazN8hj5tpu4JLRPqLem4ZVrGdiTXz3W8GyI-ythkpIlnCTBW1T3aU2b5I4-AHpVskGrgiL-nXJgJ8yz3CNsRHx5aQkeqUu1rOJN3njGN2-RlY06q0tL7W3tFVQc8Phx/s320/IMG_0652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301451993375017122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKGP5soTsOMeoSYN2zcf86vmAzMdDf_obRRyWHOWeZ7Qe20XKlH9RPUkXSW4MG9qZPnPfNxJ7qorNv5jIla1Bz9ZhP0YS5ceGgRjlmcAuQpkDK8lBSzySn1ykqrMx_33dYI4jDlQ9-b5h/s1600-h/IMG_0653.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKGP5soTsOMeoSYN2zcf86vmAzMdDf_obRRyWHOWeZ7Qe20XKlH9RPUkXSW4MG9qZPnPfNxJ7qorNv5jIla1Bz9ZhP0YS5ceGgRjlmcAuQpkDK8lBSzySn1ykqrMx_33dYI4jDlQ9-b5h/s320/IMG_0653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301451992274157154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Work has resumed on our lane after the holiday break. The front gates are being repainted, with no attention at all given to dripping the black paint all over the gold portions of the gate. I guess they will go back and repaint the gold! Power washing was done on all the lanes today, maybe helping to sweep away all the fireworks residue. More painting, touching up, is also happening. It never seems to end. It is a beautiful lane!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2Zm2pE8jUe_coRACRpVkzvI9_IsR5GICRdwaNpTjMGQjgB93tSjSJrPKKMfimV7Qmm3p6-dNXtqoEFy7Qmwx4y5-Guw04lXkoSoVCnFrhntQ_MhHhZEsa-zu5aAED10K0JWnks3dvRnP/s1600-h/IMG_0654.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2Zm2pE8jUe_coRACRpVkzvI9_IsR5GICRdwaNpTjMGQjgB93tSjSJrPKKMfimV7Qmm3p6-dNXtqoEFy7Qmwx4y5-Guw04lXkoSoVCnFrhntQ_MhHhZEsa-zu5aAED10K0JWnks3dvRnP/s320/IMG_0654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301451970804960338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The girls are home from school. Storey is needing help hanging some magazine pictures from a teen magazine that Marianne sent them! We had a great care package from mom and Marianne with stuffed animals, American Girl dolls, Berenstain Bear books and Valentines goodies. Thank you Mom and Marianne!!!</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-71876303008081645202009-02-09T23:39:00.000-08:002009-02-10T03:10:44.126-08:00The End of Hong Kong<span style="font-size:130%;">This was our last day in Hong Kong, therefore our last opportunity to head out to what is called the largest sitting buddha in the world. It is on Lantau island. After a 20 minute metro ride (we have ridden the metro everywhere around here. so well laid out and easy to use) we arrived at the famous Ngong Ping Skyrail. The description of the Skyrail: "Embark on the ride of a life-time on this spectacular 5.7 km skyrail with ever-changing picturesque panoramas across the lush terrains of Lantau and South China Sea." After waiting in line about an hour to board this famous ride, here we are, ready to see the sights!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgP8CbVPv3fpxVCzgQu6qBy3cgNLEbxn9cP6nz-Ah-kUYv787pk82vZNVsY_p8kpUa9lr-OglhH2OOOC36sByFtpjI4ZpPlQRWBsSLF8gJcfUvfqRH9oLqFbnFrjr7MCxxktISTMSdmRI/s1600-h/IMG_0581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgP8CbVPv3fpxVCzgQu6qBy3cgNLEbxn9cP6nz-Ah-kUYv787pk82vZNVsY_p8kpUa9lr-OglhH2OOOC36sByFtpjI4ZpPlQRWBsSLF8gJcfUvfqRH9oLqFbnFrjr7MCxxktISTMSdmRI/s320/IMG_0581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071952145577138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Paige and Ridley already enjoying the ride!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAEHqJbY9tT-XF5OY5xEHJ8tEx0aK2R568mtf-DMF2D-SpGR4ieTBBnzZ19ZuNcEMs8sVJGr1TFOfmBla2kcHiGmoZS0_dM8XR_SsUnAICtK-QIqha5XPv61At_7sD0_sHUscV6Zw0MtJ/s1600-h/IMG_0582.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAEHqJbY9tT-XF5OY5xEHJ8tEx0aK2R568mtf-DMF2D-SpGR4ieTBBnzZ19ZuNcEMs8sVJGr1TFOfmBla2kcHiGmoZS0_dM8XR_SsUnAICtK-QIqha5XPv61At_7sD0_sHUscV6Zw0MtJ/s320/IMG_0582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071944784986802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Mmmmm...... the spectacular views begin. The South China Sea. Can you see it???</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Dsk3eUYXRZKi6PK7USZP5rKOnPgxjjxq_1qwl9ODv1dmtuurDq0WJ0IH3-T9FhrD6dO671TCtq-7rDrYAMG7TECm6YFdCfe2UPFE9dgrsOFilFXHCvu8u-i3khiM-WlnZNxgVCv0k04T/s1600-h/IMG_0586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Dsk3eUYXRZKi6PK7USZP5rKOnPgxjjxq_1qwl9ODv1dmtuurDq0WJ0IH3-T9FhrD6dO671TCtq-7rDrYAMG7TECm6YFdCfe2UPFE9dgrsOFilFXHCvu8u-i3khiM-WlnZNxgVCv0k04T/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071936593928354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This was the best landscape picture we got over the next 5.7 km! The hiking path below that disappears into the fog. It was the most unbelievably foggy day out. Not one vista to be had. The ride was still fun!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHkWTL8och4IW_tgusXlHa49e3p7iDmSA0fUYwQK29jJRhGhv7HmIojC9jRyXdZHWOrvG56dlAJOchdScNDpeXsQQA4Of1957PaS7ipRhkrVKqfjg5-NYmU1DixVrzndURJb0BdiZVldF/s1600-h/IMG_0587.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHkWTL8och4IW_tgusXlHa49e3p7iDmSA0fUYwQK29jJRhGhv7HmIojC9jRyXdZHWOrvG56dlAJOchdScNDpeXsQQA4Of1957PaS7ipRhkrVKqfjg5-NYmU1DixVrzndURJb0BdiZVldF/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071928112329842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We arrive to the Po Lin Monastery nestled in the "spectacularly scenic mountains" and found this little diversion on the way to the Buddha. Don't know what happened to my camera. Too much fog?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWp5U6iThbgm9XhsomsNAL0cso1zYlCa4TBQEcYmMMSUIOVv94TX1dmVLGTHg-uuP3FGyz8RIvOsnftDLQ0UNZtZ3jCKursig1sVGI9N2DGqUYuC4dKdJKcYVPLfYM4CfU4vsoMMZjqAlx/s1600-h/IMG_0591.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWp5U6iThbgm9XhsomsNAL0cso1zYlCa4TBQEcYmMMSUIOVv94TX1dmVLGTHg-uuP3FGyz8RIvOsnftDLQ0UNZtZ3jCKursig1sVGI9N2DGqUYuC4dKdJKcYVPLfYM4CfU4vsoMMZjqAlx/s320/IMG_0591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071911487208994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">THERE HE IS! THE LARGEST OUTDOOR SEATED BRONZE BUDDHA IN THE WORLD!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncYTF-WvOJ35Cu5y93caF0jVfiOKIde3Sv4aJ1xUO6prSTkyiFL69lnRvfYkXzyxyIJWgl4Tw2z1ZoNDDcL5jrbnWxD4LEnZTAIinfnJL9wPe4alPJx2WtlyAbKyR9tjtIsjeFqiWFk_Y/s1600-h/IMG_0594.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncYTF-WvOJ35Cu5y93caF0jVfiOKIde3Sv4aJ1xUO6prSTkyiFL69lnRvfYkXzyxyIJWgl4Tw2z1ZoNDDcL5jrbnWxD4LEnZTAIinfnJL9wPe4alPJx2WtlyAbKyR9tjtIsjeFqiWFk_Y/s320/IMG_0594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071175059137730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Mimicking the giant Buddha. Can't you tell?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXMrZTkTUcn2vutins2pC44zrVrPU5fsZ6zP_V23LHUyzs6_O3r1SpBT1PqFqE8y6pDGJlvE2tbIvWTsWiP64oHyK6BgUOuTsa_kFX5FPaJ0dXoQTU3VuZ3O8EPiCct5Ua02d21vF78Um/s1600-h/IMG_0597.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXMrZTkTUcn2vutins2pC44zrVrPU5fsZ6zP_V23LHUyzs6_O3r1SpBT1PqFqE8y6pDGJlvE2tbIvWTsWiP64oHyK6BgUOuTsa_kFX5FPaJ0dXoQTU3VuZ3O8EPiCct5Ua02d21vF78Um/s320/IMG_0597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071174017355666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The fog was shifting ever so slightly so I kept snapping away hoping to get a glimpse. We decided against mounting the thousand steps to walk into the fog with the Buddha.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TMvAWq1GKZugx0DpeaZl-tvu9qMeuPOyzSpZ0kJqcHhg818bI7RcH796fVoahHpXAl1c-_MCirVWM22r1Iuy7bqXBqaWyUhFQZI-4b7NdAvATE_uhx6sYk5XeoPUKwOiJAlDMU7tSY33/s1600-h/IMG_0599.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TMvAWq1GKZugx0DpeaZl-tvu9qMeuPOyzSpZ0kJqcHhg818bI7RcH796fVoahHpXAl1c-_MCirVWM22r1Iuy7bqXBqaWyUhFQZI-4b7NdAvATE_uhx6sYk5XeoPUKwOiJAlDMU7tSY33/s320/IMG_0599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071169460532722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_9uKi-73Xc1eyx9EDLRFwOcQVvVC4FEKyHDYCehJO6LeMUCEdGhN3VfnJMWuD3Z2efSmN_LrLRK5pCF8pkVMeqS3ZLcEN2UhJmh6dmKIRjrON3gU9iQQLHbGCngebkda5gWe7I7vMrbN/s1600-h/IMG_0600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_9uKi-73Xc1eyx9EDLRFwOcQVvVC4FEKyHDYCehJO6LeMUCEdGhN3VfnJMWuD3Z2efSmN_LrLRK5pCF8pkVMeqS3ZLcEN2UhJmh6dmKIRjrON3gU9iQQLHbGCngebkda5gWe7I7vMrbN/s320/IMG_0600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071171801740546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We had just missed the bus to Tai O fishing village (which we discovered we were very grateful for since the 20 minute ride down the mountain was narrow and twisting)so grabbed the only available cab. Tai O is a traditional fishing village.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">We started walking through the stalls of every imaginable sort of fish product and Storey could hardly breath. (A sensitive nose, this one.) We decided to go quickly through the village, but not too quickly that I couldn't grab some wonderful shots.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74r0wk77kE9RTkik2vPulb97aK6QdIANWcMUTwcGqX6iVENES94L-P7n6t_gmdDlD7_JWLQmcbY62LXa6zMu_JYwhAxueIRfyVg7GzvJMtyBbjDjYDlHIbBZfL_XFwZtI3kx0XQKg7Up5/s1600-h/IMG_0601.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74r0wk77kE9RTkik2vPulb97aK6QdIANWcMUTwcGqX6iVENES94L-P7n6t_gmdDlD7_JWLQmcbY62LXa6zMu_JYwhAxueIRfyVg7GzvJMtyBbjDjYDlHIbBZfL_XFwZtI3kx0XQKg7Up5/s320/IMG_0601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301071164718791058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I won't even begin to make-up what these items could be!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenoA11-RM0ijX24HfoxAKpimQ4h6u7GzpZkr1RZOroo-391Z5HsNGZDgd29eLgfC96b4_tFQw7YF-wcxFg7VUnOm38YJ_zQTksTKyWCdMMhd39KLDL-yDc-58yBvMkKpobES12UC3Vg4m/s1600-h/IMG_0602.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenoA11-RM0ijX24HfoxAKpimQ4h6u7GzpZkr1RZOroo-391Z5HsNGZDgd29eLgfC96b4_tFQw7YF-wcxFg7VUnOm38YJ_zQTksTKyWCdMMhd39KLDL-yDc-58yBvMkKpobES12UC3Vg4m/s320/IMG_0602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301070688617570002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Heading to the live tanks.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbtkpku5fJ3Tp-qNicR4RFE4MgtlD0uJx3muwzeAG0zck2ibJgnuf3SaiMNptokcJVzBH0manFTAB1PvfTUtlh9gSCiPHfETjgHVwklGAztiJzhwtxYTpcZC5Ie_iGk-OVv9AAUOyXw2g/s1600-h/IMG_0603.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbtkpku5fJ3Tp-qNicR4RFE4MgtlD0uJx3muwzeAG0zck2ibJgnuf3SaiMNptokcJVzBH0manFTAB1PvfTUtlh9gSCiPHfETjgHVwklGAztiJzhwtxYTpcZC5Ie_iGk-OVv9AAUOyXw2g/s320/IMG_0603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301070686951547570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoB2dWa3jCBiBZh4ANLtFUOmSetWDpS1D6HFI3sUF2O7AheWwDyug2TXN9DifT7OIMD8Cl8nLY3XcoylF85lAFg1vS17GDaKe2I2XrbUUmAXglkjcAsLDDFnxzLQNZrnIKqjLc0sQ9k1h/s1600-h/IMG_0604.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoB2dWa3jCBiBZh4ANLtFUOmSetWDpS1D6HFI3sUF2O7AheWwDyug2TXN9DifT7OIMD8Cl8nLY3XcoylF85lAFg1vS17GDaKe2I2XrbUUmAXglkjcAsLDDFnxzLQNZrnIKqjLc0sQ9k1h/s320/IMG_0604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301070684694346834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The stilt houses.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsr-5aXdqv21gSyEIcIXped_qnl5j5HD2NwHyC84rMV9EV93cC3UQsC6EVvYsR1hJERNs42Q-5KXKUR86KhTcF4B70KIwXlpWrXgSOqJO9l68ho8MlBH_gpsxNxNAr-a5AprkffXZHlAy/s1600-h/IMG_0605.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsr-5aXdqv21gSyEIcIXped_qnl5j5HD2NwHyC84rMV9EV93cC3UQsC6EVvYsR1hJERNs42Q-5KXKUR86KhTcF4B70KIwXlpWrXgSOqJO9l68ho8MlBH_gpsxNxNAr-a5AprkffXZHlAy/s320/IMG_0605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301070684816477778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">He was selling fish out of his boat. The buyers were up where we were and kept asking to see different fish that he would then display in his net.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhRNyezr2flUo920ykRhonwImkaMxZznrBvQInjGM5F6-KW0yEr6Hj0PLvPAE93CTxPH8-3jGO8r2nvryXXHegtbOvjZy7SlBdYn55X7uuDISth1IYbsq1mnVGR2wbOn4fB2jrdZ7g4Fg/s1600-h/IMG_0608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhRNyezr2flUo920ykRhonwImkaMxZznrBvQInjGM5F6-KW0yEr6Hj0PLvPAE93CTxPH8-3jGO8r2nvryXXHegtbOvjZy7SlBdYn55X7uuDISth1IYbsq1mnVGR2wbOn4fB2jrdZ7g4Fg/s320/IMG_0608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301070680672197026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A very windy taxi ride back to the metro line to head home. A fun adventure, though not quite what we had imagined. <br /><br />We had a leisurely morning the next day and headed to the airport to come home. Shanghai was blue skies greeting us. Always nice to come home!<br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-24404127978645748272009-02-09T23:03:00.000-08:002009-02-09T23:38:20.920-08:00Hong Kong<span style="font-size:130%;">New Year's Eve was celebrated on Tuesday night here, instead of Sunday night in Shanghai. We still don't know why the dates were different. We had a window table at the Chinese restaurant in our hotel that was the best front row seats we could have had. You can see the hoards of people on the walk way to view the fireworks. It was chilly out, and we were happy to be inside enjoying a fabulous meal and dinner show.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvLymNWdZHmYqr5BQlAfqdyJiomcq1c2C44oE1WrgJAi7W4qnlz_oJvasRO9F4tnAz9MyvPpLithqrW4wZhEtvdysLbJYW7wLYFNSBd-vDDgh-b-B3dG0aw2gIMjFnqlDd_Q-gSUoVLiP/s1600-h/IMG_0550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvLymNWdZHmYqr5BQlAfqdyJiomcq1c2C44oE1WrgJAi7W4qnlz_oJvasRO9F4tnAz9MyvPpLithqrW4wZhEtvdysLbJYW7wLYFNSBd-vDDgh-b-B3dG0aw2gIMjFnqlDd_Q-gSUoVLiP/s320/IMG_0550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301066115489620930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The boats were being held back by a police line. We heard later that one of the boats launching the fireworks caught fire at the end. It was interesting to see the 30 minutes of fireworks that were half hidden from the smoke that didn't clear. They kept going and going, the smoke getting thicker and thicker. The clouds just lit up with color.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI34PgpUIsfTMsKSwm9z3SldskEUjMIBnTqRo8m_mq8b32tojPu_Q13dXjBIEKP5WJ7g-kard0V7hLCB63Rb6dhnHWPMC5rR9ELUIglmw-Q83RNyUFaDA2_obzza9qIk01JA1SHz0tBGMb/s1600-h/IMG_0558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI34PgpUIsfTMsKSwm9z3SldskEUjMIBnTqRo8m_mq8b32tojPu_Q13dXjBIEKP5WJ7g-kard0V7hLCB63Rb6dhnHWPMC5rR9ELUIglmw-Q83RNyUFaDA2_obzza9qIk01JA1SHz0tBGMb/s320/IMG_0558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301064492293739858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">There was a gorgeous breakfast buffet every morning with all the goodies one could ever desire, but I had to get a picture of the fresh honey being offered! Dripping off the comb into a bowl. We decided we are going to be bee farmers when we get back to the States!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi-eh3ToD52J_de0XxwX8WIBNIcHYGHwUbv7XlhngxQAeoz1xyHjNdPFDeLhnrKPXztrmgOSiDoZWcqMaWzfgXFI6PG2T5PS6A-hq6eKAc24VTihjParaJoPuEd-6gIxyAtFvcLnKlxWp/s1600-h/IMG_0559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi-eh3ToD52J_de0XxwX8WIBNIcHYGHwUbv7XlhngxQAeoz1xyHjNdPFDeLhnrKPXztrmgOSiDoZWcqMaWzfgXFI6PG2T5PS6A-hq6eKAc24VTihjParaJoPuEd-6gIxyAtFvcLnKlxWp/s320/IMG_0559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301064490039659506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The girls and I were swimming in the pool when all of a sudden the clouds started to blow away. Before you knew it we had blue sky! We ran upstairs, got dressed, grabbed Ridley and ran for the Peak, the top of Hong Kong. The taxi driver took us to the top rather than to the tram, which turned out to be a good idea since we later saw the line for the tram circled two blocks.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1bAy9hhQqoJ42-Z9Rkla4ZknMIQDvQo7y3t4RQhE2RFYnWdUZmBhZ6KcokihQ9k4tlpzyqjlBBkq2fDPZ0H3urD1iE4VR4BfLuyuD6HetJ_48MLYcuiwqj4LlI9qYMe-GtMuCdY53-FE/s1600-h/IMG_0560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1bAy9hhQqoJ42-Z9Rkla4ZknMIQDvQo7y3t4RQhE2RFYnWdUZmBhZ6KcokihQ9k4tlpzyqjlBBkq2fDPZ0H3urD1iE4VR4BfLuyuD6HetJ_48MLYcuiwqj4LlI9qYMe-GtMuCdY53-FE/s320/IMG_0560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301064491861866882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHWCWtUgc6dcL1Dn4u5_F7TaKIpr_2kCorG-yscjTW8Xu3FNJ_kIZpaHMZMFK4s4sRPj4CCJqO-BsXpXc7NZ_EtSxeMlMazavGZc5AenRHA1ehpbYIn1W85VBRDuqeI2KnLfFnW0S0Tf2/s1600-h/IMG_0561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHWCWtUgc6dcL1Dn4u5_F7TaKIpr_2kCorG-yscjTW8Xu3FNJ_kIZpaHMZMFK4s4sRPj4CCJqO-BsXpXc7NZ_EtSxeMlMazavGZc5AenRHA1ehpbYIn1W85VBRDuqeI2KnLfFnW0S0Tf2/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301062713148148642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This is the tram. All the seats are facing uphill since it is too steep to face downhill. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsRQ3nbW861AyPZAmsbTZM0U8w-hMdOgBgTzHSrSYzDgaqoRLqyHIk-cV9fLiIg8jFCJBwbM0z05rGlNMpDPJis2WO8amygLWV7fuICuFdkJRLM9hJ9OS-diK9yfG2UMXSEEsekxUJpB5/s1600-h/IMG_0563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsRQ3nbW861AyPZAmsbTZM0U8w-hMdOgBgTzHSrSYzDgaqoRLqyHIk-cV9fLiIg8jFCJBwbM0z05rGlNMpDPJis2WO8amygLWV7fuICuFdkJRLM9hJ9OS-diK9yfG2UMXSEEsekxUJpB5/s320/IMG_0563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301062714026767058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDayKoea0IQ4GXaA-at0QDWJj9foqasmzcAI-UAR3ATKFPQ4hJ9SpNtfs8TfCS8sQx-VAAf4EYC-pw1AjQhSiKtIW1M7mWGVfS_E8Pq5RXeD8Y8qWW6CHRmEPZcgyYJARrYR0WR8ucx6z/s1600-h/IMG_0564.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDayKoea0IQ4GXaA-at0QDWJj9foqasmzcAI-UAR3ATKFPQ4hJ9SpNtfs8TfCS8sQx-VAAf4EYC-pw1AjQhSiKtIW1M7mWGVfS_E8Pq5RXeD8Y8qWW6CHRmEPZcgyYJARrYR0WR8ucx6z/s320/IMG_0564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301062710057794722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnxEe3XgdOJBKDtt37pQ5YqjPMLEnz3GHxf52z_PLZDJ2c131kd3qAEDSPIt_8o0gFvLRiG9pf6WhdD3PWUlUHZ2Uj5KufhRgA4LsSnA1SxHcum_5COswvKCpYmUj3_011lIseoS8s7t6/s1600-h/IMG_0565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnxEe3XgdOJBKDtt37pQ5YqjPMLEnz3GHxf52z_PLZDJ2c131kd3qAEDSPIt_8o0gFvLRiG9pf6WhdD3PWUlUHZ2Uj5KufhRgA4LsSnA1SxHcum_5COswvKCpYmUj3_011lIseoS8s7t6/s320/IMG_0565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301062702304339570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey recording our departure from the terminal.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8uPGRifPKGJFsx5UDe0QU-1fQCVWptiMAm0DXKxTdGkdCHszM77AT6ISjNRSbyeO3cWcqwoMI5dDXFrTd8G0ai5fmj25ekIbJDr2AD2YP1svRQ8BuM-J6AChaLxZPwWeaksMvYXeQ9My/s1600-h/IMG_0567.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8uPGRifPKGJFsx5UDe0QU-1fQCVWptiMAm0DXKxTdGkdCHszM77AT6ISjNRSbyeO3cWcqwoMI5dDXFrTd8G0ai5fmj25ekIbJDr2AD2YP1svRQ8BuM-J6AChaLxZPwWeaksMvYXeQ9My/s320/IMG_0567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301062146797715618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Where did the blue sky go??? As quickly as the clouds blew away they blew back in. Island life.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iX1NlOJohAh1cceqFvVQt6htwV4Wrv8ACviC6LmBAU8cDZ3ooRlRala5SxcdUYcJlTu4K7tKr56qeLunV2WOfUEtdND2P0LzAQWn7iqT76D7mTt6dv8Kbj8vjEFa-oA-cVHJ9oAShuYM/s1600-h/IMG_0570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iX1NlOJohAh1cceqFvVQt6htwV4Wrv8ACviC6LmBAU8cDZ3ooRlRala5SxcdUYcJlTu4K7tKr56qeLunV2WOfUEtdND2P0LzAQWn7iqT76D7mTt6dv8Kbj8vjEFa-oA-cVHJ9oAShuYM/s320/IMG_0570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301062144520972402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It is hard to capture how steeply we were tilted. The buildings looked like they were leaning at 45 degree angles.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoHvoteMw0ZX7h3M0sgNja56BbMsAGN_9H2SkVyRnLU6FGvipZC0usnx6WJRPcEZmssb1Euv-pvP0E0V6KuvTfhbxDCGlAPu2aWY2Z4PHI7lISWpHwmKv5rG65bHkUDPaAH4S4VVcesOQ/s1600-h/IMG_0571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoHvoteMw0ZX7h3M0sgNja56BbMsAGN_9H2SkVyRnLU6FGvipZC0usnx6WJRPcEZmssb1Euv-pvP0E0V6KuvTfhbxDCGlAPu2aWY2Z4PHI7lISWpHwmKv5rG65bHkUDPaAH4S4VVcesOQ/s320/IMG_0571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301062141831440290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXscVR4pP6Sf1ijKUhK0naQ_G47YCfEUd8NTCd6LVX7NJHw2Nim-liRKetqQBySOTTlAklMImE6jreLckErwSxiqaB3C4OZZCcV0GEyEno8WbtannkjN804I8ar__sMWpRsLyBRgU-Ry4/s1600-h/IMG_0575.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXscVR4pP6Sf1ijKUhK0naQ_G47YCfEUd8NTCd6LVX7NJHw2Nim-liRKetqQBySOTTlAklMImE6jreLckErwSxiqaB3C4OZZCcV0GEyEno8WbtannkjN804I8ar__sMWpRsLyBRgU-Ry4/s320/IMG_0575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301062141196943346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">A fun quick adventure. We were able to grab a little lunch and ice cream at the top. Made it all worth while.</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-1463186180526385122009-02-07T22:10:00.000-08:002009-02-08T00:02:16.419-08:00Hong Kong - Ocean Park<span style="font-size:130%;">Ocean Park. One of the largest amusement parks I have seen - apart from Disney World, of course. We did go to Disney World Hong Kong our first day here, but I forgot my camera, so you are spared the photos of what you already know! Disney World, or Land, on a smaller, very manageable scale. We had a great day and Paige even went on Space Mountain with me. It was so scaled down, though, that it spun around a little too quickly to make it down the mountain. Prefer the original!<br /><br />The girls and I took a day to Ocean Park while Ridley stayed back to work. Ocean Park, as you would imagine, is on the ocean, and is on a mountain top as well at the base. You can come and go from either area. We were given the tip by our concierge to begin at the top and make our way down, as most people start at the bottom. We got there right when they opened and did avoid many lines.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ie3M06g62Mel13-R1cNQt7tCzpiQ-tA2QX6bMJwWSzbDrJbGKxmqbGsT1V4e3YHFVBqtI2H4fIM8-sZmGG7mF9OpQiNzrl366WHILOp9FelDU8dJLjgkFvMAmGUG1TeaZ16SVFKv7CAc/s1600-h/IMG_0543.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ie3M06g62Mel13-R1cNQt7tCzpiQ-tA2QX6bMJwWSzbDrJbGKxmqbGsT1V4e3YHFVBqtI2H4fIM8-sZmGG7mF9OpQiNzrl366WHILOp9FelDU8dJLjgkFvMAmGUG1TeaZ16SVFKv7CAc/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300320658797058498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Flamingoes, not getting enough shrimp! They weren't pink enough!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljfgyZKJXaDBu7xVlVpdfmrrvWll9sp7i6lE4NbWxcC58fayN4z-MNJixLNZzn9iLvJnvVtxUR9Jp_8Bo50Tr-hadpFRrXaa4Jupq6JXSsSkHwXV5PuZk8uSsDB4KPal0phLCh5WqszUs/s1600-h/IMG_0378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljfgyZKJXaDBu7xVlVpdfmrrvWll9sp7i6lE4NbWxcC58fayN4z-MNJixLNZzn9iLvJnvVtxUR9Jp_8Bo50Tr-hadpFRrXaa4Jupq6JXSsSkHwXV5PuZk8uSsDB4KPal0phLCh5WqszUs/s320/IMG_0378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300320655537400434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Dragon dance</span>. <span style="font-size:130%;">Everywhere this time of year.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7rBCKL0xLpebywq8mpbgFr3QRdlq2bW60jcZmQJljfM1svZGxodyEtIxXaAXQvkgzSQ3q79dRL3XCTdtecbzqbKN30xilWEn8VWkBaVj0520Gb9IvS3c1P0Rnp1qfFqG5DTUFPfHEbeg/s1600-h/IMG_0381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7rBCKL0xLpebywq8mpbgFr3QRdlq2bW60jcZmQJljfM1svZGxodyEtIxXaAXQvkgzSQ3q79dRL3XCTdtecbzqbKN30xilWEn8VWkBaVj0520Gb9IvS3c1P0Rnp1qfFqG5DTUFPfHEbeg/s320/IMG_0381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300320653770771042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Some festive merry making.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLcKwte60brRb8vr89STXXRgIC7ZzLUS9f46qMgHpvMlM9SxvwGX4pzYJEV_jpsA7dW_XdOI_UmFWj7ro2eR1kKqu-pSjXlC4V3U6UPmglnLE3JcmMNSgJI45ypGzszlt1UYVEFtmur2I/s1600-h/IMG_0385.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLcKwte60brRb8vr89STXXRgIC7ZzLUS9f46qMgHpvMlM9SxvwGX4pzYJEV_jpsA7dW_XdOI_UmFWj7ro2eR1kKqu-pSjXlC4V3U6UPmglnLE3JcmMNSgJI45ypGzszlt1UYVEFtmur2I/s320/IMG_0385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300320651244244178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Even though we started at the top, we had to go up yet further to get to the first rides. Another famous HK escalator up the mountain to save our precious energy for the rides.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9ohjHe443_WlhqezEFzGDGXNOcNUgainNK4eqah4j_tYAPlWdBU_AcW7BneJVcGC0GahMO4ZT5TE80hq-8xnz39ptj9_UuN7cuDz7YkHrrtiixJf3BeHBkO4uu-DA8LfO-Ta0i0owTaK/s1600-h/IMG_0388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9ohjHe443_WlhqezEFzGDGXNOcNUgainNK4eqah4j_tYAPlWdBU_AcW7BneJVcGC0GahMO4ZT5TE80hq-8xnz39ptj9_UuN7cuDz7YkHrrtiixJf3BeHBkO4uu-DA8LfO-Ta0i0owTaK/s320/IMG_0388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300320649928505682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The first escalator stop brought us these incredible views. I begged the girls to go on this roller coaster with me, but they did not budge. Not their cup of tea.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBIOpeLB_T9ZxnNu1sbrc6nvGIkIBi1iQwi9_xhD72LjJgth8PXaRqOPHWoBuWAHxjMW6WGQLAieXol_aORhH6dHZd5QgZJRv-H3_4q8zBfxNEZj7SmTVil9HvYOYeXD_UAl5epQCAW0i/s1600-h/IMG_0392.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBIOpeLB_T9ZxnNu1sbrc6nvGIkIBi1iQwi9_xhD72LjJgth8PXaRqOPHWoBuWAHxjMW6WGQLAieXol_aORhH6dHZd5QgZJRv-H3_4q8zBfxNEZj7SmTVil9HvYOYeXD_UAl5epQCAW0i/s320/IMG_0392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319757582028626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our first ride was a log ride called Raging Rivers. We laughed so hard and got soaked! A silly way to start a cold day</span>! <span style="font-size:130%;">Next we were lucky enough to get into the dolphin show. (I heard so many people say they couldn't make it in because it sold out every show - 40 minutes in advance). It was the first show of the day. We sat there 1/2 hour ahead of the start and got to look at the incredible view and decide which ride would be our next. The girls opted out of the roller coaster, but Storey really wanted to go on the Eagle, which is the tall ride in front of the taller drop. More of that later. As we sat there we were entertained by a Brazilian band dressed in Chinese garb playing English songs. Quite the international spectacle!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOYepdQVpwfOLWPHTtcfyJIAAmvIXf9ftD_ApOYnRCMbp-DyaeNylQ3CVzMbq1af4U96rsNT1lnWeeX-kqmOlUEceo6-MWFo2r9jx7YkL3A58Y2PBs-bnKJFHRNK36nmRujGGhZy0BxRh/s1600-h/IMG_0396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOYepdQVpwfOLWPHTtcfyJIAAmvIXf9ftD_ApOYnRCMbp-DyaeNylQ3CVzMbq1af4U96rsNT1lnWeeX-kqmOlUEceo6-MWFo2r9jx7YkL3A58Y2PBs-bnKJFHRNK36nmRujGGhZy0BxRh/s320/IMG_0396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319758731977890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Another dragon dance!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvroqj7Cvn2GXGH92E1iLn7z5RvxYNw3RHDg69L0bKEPku2h8vk2IQfByQ-HLpq0zZtz8Ez6I7H-YtjnpasT2Jz-I3dk92VxvdKJ42M1bXrCsn5P8DUHBErGDizKnusAOHLm4kKx-HDYen/s1600-h/IMG_0401.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvroqj7Cvn2GXGH92E1iLn7z5RvxYNw3RHDg69L0bKEPku2h8vk2IQfByQ-HLpq0zZtz8Ez6I7H-YtjnpasT2Jz-I3dk92VxvdKJ42M1bXrCsn5P8DUHBErGDizKnusAOHLm4kKx-HDYen/s320/IMG_0401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319753512095666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV9VCmqCtU-6YcmEwjbYaHoSf4czT-Yx2S5kNbvW_cRnWKjy31A2yiNGyGmqKlyx7m2qrtkWJB0ymEgyCKfIk9Fh07e55nCKuf_GFLb5QEmu3ss_dZQIjJdaMIxRKfnxerMXLkQ7Xv6p0/s1600-h/IMG_0403.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV9VCmqCtU-6YcmEwjbYaHoSf4czT-Yx2S5kNbvW_cRnWKjy31A2yiNGyGmqKlyx7m2qrtkWJB0ymEgyCKfIk9Fh07e55nCKuf_GFLb5QEmu3ss_dZQIjJdaMIxRKfnxerMXLkQ7Xv6p0/s320/IMG_0403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319752886419298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The dolphin show was wonderful and full of amazing tricks. I could never capture the height these amazing creatures made it to, but you get the idea.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7U0FVRmQmtKkmlCV0t8c9ggLnBCP0sM3g2Mz1N48zZrqkCQ9c4EjDW_DQKAQXGnVQbvFRL4Q61SKuld3SsuTJMz58a_sJ6sNQtJr6TMy5XeP48-EC7e0UHb4fdC8_LrJxZexeZsXMqIJ/s1600-h/IMG_0418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7U0FVRmQmtKkmlCV0t8c9ggLnBCP0sM3g2Mz1N48zZrqkCQ9c4EjDW_DQKAQXGnVQbvFRL4Q61SKuld3SsuTJMz58a_sJ6sNQtJr6TMy5XeP48-EC7e0UHb4fdC8_LrJxZexeZsXMqIJ/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319747019915074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The Sea Jelly Spectacular was next. Great reviews to see this place, so we waited in an ever growing line for about 1/2 hour to walk through an aquarium space with every kind of imaginable sea jelly under every imaginable kind of light. It was spectacular.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGbyejOUJN1PU3xxVmhVLIbfTkL4-qYJNlKs-7TuN1VI_zjwSVYuTqjb4nPHhSWZv3jo5m5OXQ9CxxHR3TFl_A2CAFHrVwFQref2b9e2AdfriakMxtGSfx2NiDefJ6ZXPiFa_g63HBsA4/s1600-h/IMG_0421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGbyejOUJN1PU3xxVmhVLIbfTkL4-qYJNlKs-7TuN1VI_zjwSVYuTqjb4nPHhSWZv3jo5m5OXQ9CxxHR3TFl_A2CAFHrVwFQref2b9e2AdfriakMxtGSfx2NiDefJ6ZXPiFa_g63HBsA4/s320/IMG_0421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319201839829874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">An awful lunch that we couldn't eat, and then down to the real action packed area where we saw hotdogs, hamburgers, KFC available. The lines for the food were unbelievably long, though. It was like a carnival area with all sorts of games to play: toss the ring; throw the bean bag; basketball; toss the coin. I think Storey used up half of her money from Grandma Lu playing every game she could find! They were having a ball. The park was beginning to be intolerable. <br /><br />Storey really wanted to do this ride. I thought it was something I could handle. Paige backed out and was contented to take photos - about 50 - of me and Storey on the ride.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">The line was only about 15 minutes long before it was our turn to board the pirate ship.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwLn6eQFMppwbaA3JExDZ6pi5c-nT9RUZtVGroXw6VA35J03ioLoW7iGPe_8QGFf4kH6iADUiMLN7TnfyZxvxikpaYASO7iSzKPoCE2h2zeVDKAiwoz2KHlFmTnKsK9Hp7t67g7Cq4Uqm/s1600-h/IMG_0425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwLn6eQFMppwbaA3JExDZ6pi5c-nT9RUZtVGroXw6VA35J03ioLoW7iGPe_8QGFf4kH6iADUiMLN7TnfyZxvxikpaYASO7iSzKPoCE2h2zeVDKAiwoz2KHlFmTnKsK9Hp7t67g7Cq4Uqm/s320/IMG_0425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319198820120658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX0BQxdcYFHQSrgfgx3gU93UyTw2UjevYg0BAiK17ts1e0J1CwR3l3hjO0yRunTfOc7pvoVQfjp7yzEAtJKm6PdXgYLofsf1DP0cRRakl_rYRj4qyqlvzEWd8GKnPRO4iz2VvpkYNAgmn/s1600-h/IMG_0448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX0BQxdcYFHQSrgfgx3gU93UyTw2UjevYg0BAiK17ts1e0J1CwR3l3hjO0yRunTfOc7pvoVQfjp7yzEAtJKm6PdXgYLofsf1DP0cRRakl_rYRj4qyqlvzEWd8GKnPRO4iz2VvpkYNAgmn/s320/IMG_0448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319199946718162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I was handling the ride pretty well until it kept going! It wouldn't stop. I had to look out to the ocean and the horizon to keep it together, but I kept fantasizing that the ride was broken and they would never be able to stop it! </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zu3vLx14iSX5p9XmSSTRy0vASH7QWsJXrMsTwXMW5XwID2Zn57Uq5r1oOpUftuVoITec7Ik9nepvq9QpyzBUvhQRg8dLvSjGdj0LqyaxteNi-db9TmS8K7HcVlHWsddE6OiYYoe6UsCz/s1600-h/IMG_0451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zu3vLx14iSX5p9XmSSTRy0vASH7QWsJXrMsTwXMW5XwID2Zn57Uq5r1oOpUftuVoITec7Ik9nepvq9QpyzBUvhQRg8dLvSjGdj0LqyaxteNi-db9TmS8K7HcVlHWsddE6OiYYoe6UsCz/s320/IMG_0451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300319195664644834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We made it off and Storey was ready to go back on!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QQNDi0AGnpIxgsK4R7CYbMHZGNOXmsHcSl_50LtrUoqepLpdue5USNI6W7WTMsNKN7B4Nw_BmXspMFbPzVa3s4PKViETlWWVbPpzBfv-AQhVypn2E2u9Bk_dQLoxCBGmt7ufrFyL3Loo/s1600-h/IMG_0464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QQNDi0AGnpIxgsK4R7CYbMHZGNOXmsHcSl_50LtrUoqepLpdue5USNI6W7WTMsNKN7B4Nw_BmXspMFbPzVa3s4PKViETlWWVbPpzBfv-AQhVypn2E2u9Bk_dQLoxCBGmt7ufrFyL3Loo/s320/IMG_0464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300318725008967954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Me, a little less so!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmj8IsqieUOqu26hib4XelVSra8TZ5r7BtS-Flapc13MYNEPWGMl2k888qVruoH61_G8r1PR6jB641euu49BA8mJ5ihBhyRmsEgy2Kcp2VFctPA5CpYMyS6eCXcSr7JeULx72IxX5Gbh-/s1600-h/IMG_0465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmj8IsqieUOqu26hib4XelVSra8TZ5r7BtS-Flapc13MYNEPWGMl2k888qVruoH61_G8r1PR6jB641euu49BA8mJ5ihBhyRmsEgy2Kcp2VFctPA5CpYMyS6eCXcSr7JeULx72IxX5Gbh-/s320/IMG_0465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300318727475799090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey checking out the next ride she wanted to go on. The Eagle.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_s6zhZg4iHiBdeSXC6dUqh3EGLpKvMGIMBYxS6zwmB-qHwCE87LlVfOIe2EwOAwv28yOkwb_ux7UdKy1SvejRGg55YBxLVIpZrv50tKNBbuVH0q9gsnD03-k7qElFZOBymN2jFrPoW7-/s1600-h/IMG_0470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_s6zhZg4iHiBdeSXC6dUqh3EGLpKvMGIMBYxS6zwmB-qHwCE87LlVfOIe2EwOAwv28yOkwb_ux7UdKy1SvejRGg55YBxLVIpZrv50tKNBbuVH0q9gsnD03-k7qElFZOBymN2jFrPoW7-/s320/IMG_0470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300318724526446050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Small cars spinning on their own arm as the entire arm spins and moves up the pole. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLWpn2ovlSbmMpUbkULIlyw53mOWj_VI1UlIolSg2xpLwZyrxf_q1I1jCIlZeZ4vZZ0nW8TcbKTym96DIbZKtg2BjMcdW2Q0Ag4US4InP3l91HxOpN5zOmDdlpPxjXDF8CVQ4RMk7IGzM/s1600-h/IMG_0495.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLWpn2ovlSbmMpUbkULIlyw53mOWj_VI1UlIolSg2xpLwZyrxf_q1I1jCIlZeZ4vZZ0nW8TcbKTym96DIbZKtg2BjMcdW2Q0Ag4US4InP3l91HxOpN5zOmDdlpPxjXDF8CVQ4RMk7IGzM/s320/IMG_0495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300318309366529266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Dismounting.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzneZHmX-6rhChPLRHjp9vQQtFYAxynMIClTA9EDCHPuLCqM7EXU1Fm2CSrqIU4yzO6N7bWmGa8eDO4RgmJFIzfxEt5wD0HHmoeqL2YGg7RmYhX8DHqCQDd6zkAsfZGIjlSGPVuJqU2VO/s1600-h/IMG_0505.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzneZHmX-6rhChPLRHjp9vQQtFYAxynMIClTA9EDCHPuLCqM7EXU1Fm2CSrqIU4yzO6N7bWmGa8eDO4RgmJFIzfxEt5wD0HHmoeqL2YGg7RmYhX8DHqCQDd6zkAsfZGIjlSGPVuJqU2VO/s320/IMG_0505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300318310478725730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey is now our official advenure/thrill seeker. She was willing to go even on her own. Her eye was on the drop ride, but I was still recovering from the pirate ship, and Paige is not the thrill ride seeker. She did not want to go on this one alone, so we moved on.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Gep8Kazvf3kHOWAaDck-FvE__pbJdbO2Pe6g4M-6W6ivyTCTer3lOMnuEfcztcHHznuOKM96cT2qjXZ09o7IXgM8piTEBLFg5O-7uVlO9EPBLYxpSW4AJTJ-fnYGzh__uzUlPuvTx8OI/s1600-h/IMG_0512.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Gep8Kazvf3kHOWAaDck-FvE__pbJdbO2Pe6g4M-6W6ivyTCTer3lOMnuEfcztcHHznuOKM96cT2qjXZ09o7IXgM8piTEBLFg5O-7uVlO9EPBLYxpSW4AJTJ-fnYGzh__uzUlPuvTx8OI/s320/IMG_0512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300318300991323458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Happy thrill seeker.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Cb3GVdFEO6Xoj0z93PNFxmwYseFmbHjXAn1riDnd49-2CiYJctbuCgVcTdJTznLBmXgH2mW0uncKJa5ELmYjbbtj7PRyBTMEcR3iaTJ1JzUEvW6gwt7NF-F5dkDz93VZT1DSl32MGmTU/s1600-h/IMG_0513.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Cb3GVdFEO6Xoj0z93PNFxmwYseFmbHjXAn1riDnd49-2CiYJctbuCgVcTdJTznLBmXgH2mW0uncKJa5ELmYjbbtj7PRyBTMEcR3iaTJ1JzUEvW6gwt7NF-F5dkDz93VZT1DSl32MGmTU/s320/IMG_0513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300318299280743922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We made our way through the crowded lanes to find the cable car down. The line was only about 20 minutes long compared to the hour wait at the bottom to go to the top.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppj5rCaF4ifTz7m4rDINtRnrfDqsDRr5AMaLCeCNvETd68Q9B5C_gJeM2dQY8qWDVlZ8uwzdl-VZnQcGs4rLgoXsW7CEry-9zVsks0EKCw62M_MyHXyqkG7L-CpYo3VEvOa-JoBZ3MUO1/s1600-h/IMG_0520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppj5rCaF4ifTz7m4rDINtRnrfDqsDRr5AMaLCeCNvETd68Q9B5C_gJeM2dQY8qWDVlZ8uwzdl-VZnQcGs4rLgoXsW7CEry-9zVsks0EKCw62M_MyHXyqkG7L-CpYo3VEvOa-JoBZ3MUO1/s320/IMG_0520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300317672301188626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It was about a 20 minute ride across hills and down the mountain. It was beautiful.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxivQirys4cCZY1xzoWNyzw-OlJmyNJD_adK5kKpxFC_YsN-cAGQ0bkotxu_3Vxj-tMKq-fYI3CBM1YlT6hxg2FinXq14D_O4zM-46Z3-osbjBSmPd5L6177m6uOUVDEUbGCc5EClOy_AQ/s1600-h/IMG_0524.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxivQirys4cCZY1xzoWNyzw-OlJmyNJD_adK5kKpxFC_YsN-cAGQ0bkotxu_3Vxj-tMKq-fYI3CBM1YlT6hxg2FinXq14D_O4zM-46Z3-osbjBSmPd5L6177m6uOUVDEUbGCc5EClOy_AQ/s320/IMG_0524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300317669293366466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhUH7e_UutYIM3cFNeJSWEQSUUAU3BKfudXwdcdLytX4VcEJfn7hROfO7j2w90pPEKRQLnUS-_oB_6AyTOlywaGtShrDjPeOrS-mN_OZLqB2x5jqD-Nsqq-QGaMuDkxpd1n4BDw8o0zUR/s1600-h/IMG_0526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhUH7e_UutYIM3cFNeJSWEQSUUAU3BKfudXwdcdLytX4VcEJfn7hROfO7j2w90pPEKRQLnUS-_oB_6AyTOlywaGtShrDjPeOrS-mN_OZLqB2x5jqD-Nsqq-QGaMuDkxpd1n4BDw8o0zUR/s320/IMG_0526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300317669590194546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Madagascar 2 ended up being the hokeyist walk through exhibit. Very funny.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyBo3L9apZjqwUXbHoZ9nkVmHxPUuUQD5stfMppPEn4lh4_G3bQReMbn3vbiOjVR35F1pOzaGufXa9D7feJVzLCr6t8MtN49LtqAlGwyJ7AEgIY4gal-Mfa-NBzRh-S1Fe954V5bDzZwh/s1600-h/IMG_0527.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyBo3L9apZjqwUXbHoZ9nkVmHxPUuUQD5stfMppPEn4lh4_G3bQReMbn3vbiOjVR35F1pOzaGufXa9D7feJVzLCr6t8MtN49LtqAlGwyJ7AEgIY4gal-Mfa-NBzRh-S1Fe954V5bDzZwh/s320/IMG_0527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300317666562783218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We were nearing the end of the day. Getting late and dark, but the bungee jumping was a must. Both girls got quite a bit of height.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj6-JT3LhMVeMC4sonrIaHtGo6G-OUcEfcqTCaQ-sDSnGHTkY_MH30hBA9hKwvclDKkbwm-xQoJtWQ07y5GZyVz8vTQmvx2tg4qFo199V24LS7nxcpDBiOt-1GJETHSxEcrifqMKvnRno/s1600-h/IMG_0529.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj6-JT3LhMVeMC4sonrIaHtGo6G-OUcEfcqTCaQ-sDSnGHTkY_MH30hBA9hKwvclDKkbwm-xQoJtWQ07y5GZyVz8vTQmvx2tg4qFo199V24LS7nxcpDBiOt-1GJETHSxEcrifqMKvnRno/s320/IMG_0529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300317197272928610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7g9xsp3kY41Ukx1aqdYskEHaDkNaexu26mK05kDT3eLMUZtucmneMmp6H3i0AMy0oGk_b31AVWdqbrizCNbt1ToBjGuWhBL9w0to0XVfvqeD708xRTWuDjO8ZDFgA1N7MSpeb-pNa4yK0/s1600-h/IMG_0542.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7g9xsp3kY41Ukx1aqdYskEHaDkNaexu26mK05kDT3eLMUZtucmneMmp6H3i0AMy0oGk_b31AVWdqbrizCNbt1ToBjGuWhBL9w0to0XVfvqeD708xRTWuDjO8ZDFgA1N7MSpeb-pNa4yK0/s320/IMG_0542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300317192158478930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd0A1RdsHym_-wgEnBOHhk9-2qXfm5WsfiwgQuuQ6dZ87h8y5QnY4WDZOIvSHEenHcYt8_FFedhvxt5xbkI6ZWwc-2H8Yu_YIsKKf7jNh8Q9OvGE6KrRRcDbxRP9h31JAOVFA8fi0A-aQ/s1600-h/IMG_0532.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd0A1RdsHym_-wgEnBOHhk9-2qXfm5WsfiwgQuuQ6dZ87h8y5QnY4WDZOIvSHEenHcYt8_FFedhvxt5xbkI6ZWwc-2H8Yu_YIsKKf7jNh8Q9OvGE6KrRRcDbxRP9h31JAOVFA8fi0A-aQ/s320/IMG_0532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300317193017992770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BlYsU-XUN_EyalIVZB0ilVOo0i8d-1dO5w0uqRpbHmW6J8VxJVU_fZZY0kEz3n1ioJkomf2EjAadoxKcZu72-K-zlLOPpgHzpf5lo19C0pz2eAA6Iktg5MvdnGTrIXFJzphj8lZT6OZ3/s1600-h/IMG_0540.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BlYsU-XUN_EyalIVZB0ilVOo0i8d-1dO5w0uqRpbHmW6J8VxJVU_fZZY0kEz3n1ioJkomf2EjAadoxKcZu72-K-zlLOPpgHzpf5lo19C0pz2eAA6Iktg5MvdnGTrIXFJzphj8lZT6OZ3/s320/IMG_0540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300317188999052194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A few more carnival games for Storey, winning some more stuffed animals, and we were off. Another day in HK!</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-41224788008619656532009-02-07T16:42:00.000-08:002009-02-07T17:50:01.487-08:00Hong Kong<span style="font-size:130%;">Spring Festival, Chinese New Year, in Hong Kong. We were under the impression we were heading south to and some warm weather. Aahh. We arrive to a cloudy and cold Hong Kong. In the 70's the week before, in the 70's the week after, but we got the 50's and 60's! Oh well. A wonderful city nonetheless.<br /><br /><br />The view across the Bay to Kowloon from our hotel room. The various ferries to many ports were right below us. It was fun watching all the activity coming and going on the water.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-knzGxx0nBlLcabskwG_u1JnK4JdVXxdvHzV7DeFVYzGjc8-46lWd_fIQE32mjJMoutwcvrep9wZDMRv9viAAtqEjfgYJjo6qak7aMUVUos0DR-WbBXdxW0Lfq05VxHfpxrvgfRz63C6/s1600-h/IMG_0336.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-knzGxx0nBlLcabskwG_u1JnK4JdVXxdvHzV7DeFVYzGjc8-46lWd_fIQE32mjJMoutwcvrep9wZDMRv9viAAtqEjfgYJjo6qak7aMUVUos0DR-WbBXdxW0Lfq05VxHfpxrvgfRz63C6/s320/IMG_0336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223851127589730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The cruise ship port is across the way on the right. We saw a constant flow of ships making their way to Kowloon harbor and then taking off again. It didn't seem as though anyone got much time here. A day, maybe two.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZWnzBe7ulkVzEWukv9op0QxDe6WfAYv8LYOgozPvgCKXqNUFS_geOInS994Vv0QTMAQsS-WsdPsbX7axXtvesIaeB4H4W-uCUFPjTt_ra2f08OjEz-QWOuYvQmPJ9dnsIVYF3YswAN_6/s1600-h/IMG_0337.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZWnzBe7ulkVzEWukv9op0QxDe6WfAYv8LYOgozPvgCKXqNUFS_geOInS994Vv0QTMAQsS-WsdPsbX7axXtvesIaeB4H4W-uCUFPjTt_ra2f08OjEz-QWOuYvQmPJ9dnsIVYF3YswAN_6/s320/IMG_0337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223844099632498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Tricky to see, but the boats in the distance were mini cargo ships. They were little and had cranes on them and went back and forth carrying containers - where to we weren't exactly sure. Other ports, other ships?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGtovsuYwdwFYY-fksRBVEHxNYRE-L932WId-Fz2ZkZ1kABNJORm3TmmnrKFt1KljrIgFesM-4nfffSfLFYhrDK4lYUVKVWFtLDpKnAtuEcseH39_6-Pt_-6cny0ceJmkCfWDH79iNXVU/s1600-h/IMG_0338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGtovsuYwdwFYY-fksRBVEHxNYRE-L932WId-Fz2ZkZ1kABNJORm3TmmnrKFt1KljrIgFesM-4nfffSfLFYhrDK4lYUVKVWFtLDpKnAtuEcseH39_6-Pt_-6cny0ceJmkCfWDH79iNXVU/s320/IMG_0338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223847561924914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey needed to keep swimming for swim team, so here we are, on our way to the pool, supporting Storey's swimming desires and needs!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t9upAtfp9BjQuzow5moC1zIeT08KH7pn8v4GM4YNMb8vfyou-AfkiPw7HOTJkyb4FbjjKiVA6txqf8YvuQLUW-6zImtb87NP9Z6z7ToAeLLKMk0HYsNZxkSOyHTHDigWojHguqQ7SVPN/s1600-h/IMG_0340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t9upAtfp9BjQuzow5moC1zIeT08KH7pn8v4GM4YNMb8vfyou-AfkiPw7HOTJkyb4FbjjKiVA6txqf8YvuQLUW-6zImtb87NP9Z6z7ToAeLLKMk0HYsNZxkSOyHTHDigWojHguqQ7SVPN/s320/IMG_0340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223466543208066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">An infinity pool heated just enough to be able to get in (for me - the girls didn't notice). The outdoor temperature had me wanting to spend the entire time in the hot pool, but I sacrificed and swam laps with Storey as much as I could. She, of course, would soundly beat me every time. Paige lapped us, however, on the breast stroke. Good swimmers.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvvme9vTTY8Ig0AHwqn0JNHXXfDYpzZ7WqUHAI99aMWMEjn_R0CQH-LoPGeznKnQs-Hhhwi88Ma59TcR9iimn1PQE8ulWOooGwBuQE-VDRQfo6nWbCp4t3a1cdsOacn2uRfCmYXRIiFr1/s1600-h/IMG_0344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvvme9vTTY8Ig0AHwqn0JNHXXfDYpzZ7WqUHAI99aMWMEjn_R0CQH-LoPGeznKnQs-Hhhwi88Ma59TcR9iimn1PQE8ulWOooGwBuQE-VDRQfo6nWbCp4t3a1cdsOacn2uRfCmYXRIiFr1/s320/IMG_0344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223465390421778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlsniv2R_N-ndhlxYpRF3Z39D1YIy7jnfXyb_cY9luW2yl5t2vAByjn6FMVUVeU-tzwLFmeZE89cnO51cr6JvvB2G7BjuBQMU87X4O5u36BSDpGjLP_msO-IElMJx6SHnvI_46ZSNt0jP/s1600-h/IMG_0347.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlsniv2R_N-ndhlxYpRF3Z39D1YIy7jnfXyb_cY9luW2yl5t2vAByjn6FMVUVeU-tzwLFmeZE89cnO51cr6JvvB2G7BjuBQMU87X4O5u36BSDpGjLP_msO-IElMJx6SHnvI_46ZSNt0jP/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223462687996402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">My favorite place!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0fpX43aczrmbs8uMHDVhK_F2E8TgHPMFW3bvRd7iI3DL8ixDobXRPlxdAZz0OswEN7c3z0Av-sRTRlPCW1zxYGeOkKfqClDKKLG4CtOjPtS4WpnCCtdgjto2LLKF2bw30JSKxrx8Rf5v/s1600-h/IMG_0351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0fpX43aczrmbs8uMHDVhK_F2E8TgHPMFW3bvRd7iI3DL8ixDobXRPlxdAZz0OswEN7c3z0Av-sRTRlPCW1zxYGeOkKfqClDKKLG4CtOjPtS4WpnCCtdgjto2LLKF2bw30JSKxrx8Rf5v/s320/IMG_0351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223067925947250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We were usually at the pool for hours while Ridley worked away. We would watch the city lights begin their illumination. It was beautiful.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxU-O0fuA8zWyeYybv7cs6wa-iB9M6-9lL1_KzRvy9yxKrMjRHMiOTUxcgjGuo-UVPtR9oO-GxqkzesI54fiSWHp-aPRklzgrQzUqfQpeuHnZuvg0sNNZex5J2szKvSeFoOqYqotN6Sct/s1600-h/IMG_0352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxU-O0fuA8zWyeYybv7cs6wa-iB9M6-9lL1_KzRvy9yxKrMjRHMiOTUxcgjGuo-UVPtR9oO-GxqkzesI54fiSWHp-aPRklzgrQzUqfQpeuHnZuvg0sNNZex5J2szKvSeFoOqYqotN6Sct/s320/IMG_0352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223061604105490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I think we only missed one day at the pool out of our six days in HK.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87EmY00OkuWn4PbInGHGwNzu9GepxO_tcKUQ3aaOkxfiXMBBqSnIxiXpbq3qBeT5z8VMwfJDlHAse7PGnnQbQqtjc4awLztu8rMsetUizfEtUeov7bib8avxFZyEkOsX0eZL4fJcR7-my/s1600-h/IMG_0353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87EmY00OkuWn4PbInGHGwNzu9GepxO_tcKUQ3aaOkxfiXMBBqSnIxiXpbq3qBeT5z8VMwfJDlHAse7PGnnQbQqtjc4awLztu8rMsetUizfEtUeov7bib8avxFZyEkOsX0eZL4fJcR7-my/s320/IMG_0353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300223055083674994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking for lunch the first day. We were in a wonderful area of town, Central. In order to get to the streets, we crossed all kinds of elevated walkways, went through a mall and would land in these wonderfully small, crowded streets of Lan Kwai Fong</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoiidLVhSOjw38IfMZyLA8gPUqyu40LWAHAb2eOanECUGsvpFx-0eQBEeGE7Aw9E0OG8al5I8McxMRlo4ruYAReNYLJxWWSP7SGhS8rTiZTT2EHvTJYTyLqdiD9cJk846QUsVTUNu3jWs/s1600-h/IMG_0334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoiidLVhSOjw38IfMZyLA8gPUqyu40LWAHAb2eOanECUGsvpFx-0eQBEeGE7Aw9E0OG8al5I8McxMRlo4ruYAReNYLJxWWSP7SGhS8rTiZTT2EHvTJYTyLqdiD9cJk846QUsVTUNu3jWs/s320/IMG_0334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300222583379503058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It was very quiet, comparatively speaking, because of the New Year break, but we found one market still underway. You can't really tell from the photo, but all the streets are fairly well pitched, as HK is built on large hills. The small stair steps are visible in this photo.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5bd8DTEciCgw-ezBcc_gcXFGiXVDYKFssF5tJeiuqUklh2FsvK6Sxu3pAlAxm_6HnOmDtghQnqQuws_rj4ADu-fgFiacYY3lZdXoHPoZ2mAJaYWeVs8kJ2Fe6ovSXaCzee3IPQlwOa9q/s1600-h/IMG_0335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5bd8DTEciCgw-ezBcc_gcXFGiXVDYKFssF5tJeiuqUklh2FsvK6Sxu3pAlAxm_6HnOmDtghQnqQuws_rj4ADu-fgFiacYY3lZdXoHPoZ2mAJaYWeVs8kJ2Fe6ovSXaCzee3IPQlwOa9q/s320/IMG_0335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300222580961603714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi216QsmMUblZCWugsD7qKkJpPqpH98VD2tEQaKE1ahgTIydt4_cLO1Q-RJR3uX-lAQDj61UMDtn78a_OfFvj1Yu-dK3GnDkuoNZ9eXvCGvSLcu2H70uhfWjq__J6PlLMOb7AtdcRIkjwLV/s1600-h/IMG_0362.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi216QsmMUblZCWugsD7qKkJpPqpH98VD2tEQaKE1ahgTIydt4_cLO1Q-RJR3uX-lAQDj61UMDtn78a_OfFvj1Yu-dK3GnDkuoNZ9eXvCGvSLcu2H70uhfWjq__J6PlLMOb7AtdcRIkjwLV/s320/IMG_0362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300222578779900738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdssC2OKdm6UhAhj4-pLx656od9Y6xLVUemn5638owrzfVjo0vqeAS3tHCu-hhH7OuZkH216J1BBcBRiitHCzhpkv5L-N69yHeo_uXU3qwLhasn_qSlc-YQaMODmmuTgTW1lVPpw9Amez-/s1600-h/IMG_0363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdssC2OKdm6UhAhj4-pLx656od9Y6xLVUemn5638owrzfVjo0vqeAS3tHCu-hhH7OuZkH216J1BBcBRiitHCzhpkv5L-N69yHeo_uXU3qwLhasn_qSlc-YQaMODmmuTgTW1lVPpw9Amez-/s320/IMG_0363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300222574758581426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Most of this market was closed down. This lone vendor was hoping for some business.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pp2mEBfcRAkqtct4quVLiHQBWNCCzt8QMXPGu-SnIZ9Q74gnysiuZvyEMsIqbNrbuIfqujgdzvbPQybswV8OWLM6z5g6Owl-HiP06p93A3Q2RFghWlC2CU35RdyjjyNYi-PxwYItmuFN/s1600-h/IMG_0364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pp2mEBfcRAkqtct4quVLiHQBWNCCzt8QMXPGu-SnIZ9Q74gnysiuZvyEMsIqbNrbuIfqujgdzvbPQybswV8OWLM6z5g6Owl-HiP06p93A3Q2RFghWlC2CU35RdyjjyNYi-PxwYItmuFN/s320/IMG_0364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300222012371174706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The trams were everywhere. It was so tall and so narrow. Of course we saw the red double decker buses in use all over town as well.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQq3lpQtKAbauprCrDqpph-LiYSlXGd7YxCun31u-9fbTz4l85OI7yCthAWGql1smft7NzDd-HfsBQBVCJtzX-B1XWwD9-YZQ42CwXiLnilODPZqm8Ss8WSb4jzL8PMe-2-ztauB3G9X71/s1600-h/IMG_0366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQq3lpQtKAbauprCrDqpph-LiYSlXGd7YxCun31u-9fbTz4l85OI7yCthAWGql1smft7NzDd-HfsBQBVCJtzX-B1XWwD9-YZQ42CwXiLnilODPZqm8Ss8WSb4jzL8PMe-2-ztauB3G9X71/s320/IMG_0366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300222006737817970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">HK has such a different feeling to it, with so much of its English heritage still alive. Almost everyone spoke English, which was a huge change from our daily lives here. Very easy to communicate. The international aspect of the city was overwhelming. Different languages everywhere. A lot of westerners all around, which made us feel so normal!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0qNuh6DCiIP8Mxuyu_nFLEfcwSIGEK9OL1hhe8J-Q7sCNf_B9GFKzOhL45vJDqtp7xzRaHHJSVisNqrXlwUvwza5fIqfo-oOcVgQq5HhIOU5gSiMPU6KapJf9pDhpNGm1AXCamtcC8aj/s1600-h/IMG_0367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0qNuh6DCiIP8Mxuyu_nFLEfcwSIGEK9OL1hhe8J-Q7sCNf_B9GFKzOhL45vJDqtp7xzRaHHJSVisNqrXlwUvwza5fIqfo-oOcVgQq5HhIOU5gSiMPU6KapJf9pDhpNGm1AXCamtcC8aj/s320/IMG_0367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300222008928705138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The concierge told us we would be seeing groups of Phillipinos gathering during the holiday. We were a bit amazed when we saw how many were out. Women were gathered in groups, sitting on cardboard, eating packed picnics, playing card games, giving manicures and pedicures to each other, and just chatting and laughing. They must have been off work because of the holiday, and these covered walkways were their meeting places. Afterwards cleaners would come and pick up all the cardboard and refuse from these get togethers.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUOWM2TcDPeLjwVk0toyCeFa-RAaz4rpp9mRmIcQZx4yDSVqkrTSwNiKiSQLEu2sjB8p1ba_SFi31RLDamHvFpPw5ai5ltJrfjKw2a8H5u_3q6eEFiJz8pqDZMVsPXA5HDxnxsyJBgncp/s1600-h/IMG_0354.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUOWM2TcDPeLjwVk0toyCeFa-RAaz4rpp9mRmIcQZx4yDSVqkrTSwNiKiSQLEu2sjB8p1ba_SFi31RLDamHvFpPw5ai5ltJrfjKw2a8H5u_3q6eEFiJz8pqDZMVsPXA5HDxnxsyJBgncp/s320/IMG_0354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300222002401753938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We were by the Central - Mid-levels escalators that helped ferry us up the hill to other eating and shopping establishments. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEZ8g_HNYz7DkIsMl3MSiquPpcB0XvyNsnnWudZiBWv4Ktvip9eeT-ainQcTYHThlgcqmXMPDhaAR9nbRcfOBDwL3HgUCZL9Qa4DnVdKb3hcqQVcCtU2sTuCvu4pDlHb02ekNocsi4qAQ/s1600-h/IMG_0357.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEZ8g_HNYz7DkIsMl3MSiquPpcB0XvyNsnnWudZiBWv4Ktvip9eeT-ainQcTYHThlgcqmXMPDhaAR9nbRcfOBDwL3HgUCZL9Qa4DnVdKb3hcqQVcCtU2sTuCvu4pDlHb02ekNocsi4qAQ/s320/IMG_0357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300221539135847266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">You get to ride up, but have to walk down. Not a problem.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a9LaAk9zMWr7vPLeBUJ5sh8Xk7zeVT4ZHSG5V83zUBrNzJ1kAozOg4i4SJn6Z6pm8OaEGvqVFaHdagPPeo2bXR2ZDs3DtwfzN0K8BguiDCNoK963cSF74T9bfVUH3Y9L4JyrrHOsiibs/s1600-h/IMG_0358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a9LaAk9zMWr7vPLeBUJ5sh8Xk7zeVT4ZHSG5V83zUBrNzJ1kAozOg4i4SJn6Z6pm8OaEGvqVFaHdagPPeo2bXR2ZDs3DtwfzN0K8BguiDCNoK963cSF74T9bfVUH3Y9L4JyrrHOsiibs/s320/IMG_0358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300221537995701778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">What did we spy as we were heading up the escalator but a sign for our favorite London eatery, Pizza Express! We hopped right off that escalator and headed down the stairs to the street, back up the stairs to the 2nd floor and gorged on our beloved pizza and pasta!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiWSbgwgDnqZiAIRGHmDDj3na6tQDOug0b7yxPDuOsfwypjTgfALjsNsPfAFZJCWPLmeTEFNU94qJZqG081ljY4H0DX4fVaXKqzr0ZQv3qJ1iR9fJd2qjAjzhrCR8IAVAnbaPs7D9XlPT/s1600-h/IMG_0360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiWSbgwgDnqZiAIRGHmDDj3na6tQDOug0b7yxPDuOsfwypjTgfALjsNsPfAFZJCWPLmeTEFNU94qJZqG081ljY4H0DX4fVaXKqzr0ZQv3qJ1iR9fJd2qjAjzhrCR8IAVAnbaPs7D9XlPT/s320/IMG_0360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300221535972297938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">There was an outrageously delicious gelato store across the street that we went to more than once. And on every corner, I am not kidding, every corner, there was a 7-11 to be found. I have never seen so many. They were even installed in some of the amusement parks! They were in the metro tunnels, malls, every imaginable corner held a 7-11! We were grateful to use it for our water supply, paying 3 HK dollars for a bottle of water rather than the 35 HK dollars the hotel wanted to charge us!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMSEVhFcWfqc0GKpvO7Gk5GGgHcH3gQBYEfeOt8M5_TBFbTYskZtf83iENjn_YxLOMUVrPZNhIyM7WsdJ4LZfYLOuV6_P0CPqSBMvyihuASCg7HpwJRi5YMlkLyJx-ZEl8ITUFjX_tuA1/s1600-h/IMG_0361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMSEVhFcWfqc0GKpvO7Gk5GGgHcH3gQBYEfeOt8M5_TBFbTYskZtf83iENjn_YxLOMUVrPZNhIyM7WsdJ4LZfYLOuV6_P0CPqSBMvyihuASCg7HpwJRi5YMlkLyJx-ZEl8ITUFjX_tuA1/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300221532209648930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We were hoping to find some English movies while in HK, and Bolt in 3-D was there. What a treat. Waiting in the hallway of the theatre while they cleaned it. No need to get there too early as all seats are assigned. Our concierge got them for us the day before and we got about the last 4 seats available! Movie watching is a big New Year's activity, we discovered. The movies the day before had all been sold out.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzw0MayK9d9qG3Y6Lm587bXsMQGoDg3W20Hb8r0Qf3LUx5ILDnZqyO41zwSaccQCALLRxdcnSn0r4TBzXNld9FqMdz0cduqWxip5CgPIRjWVAeH-Ax2sI9DNH6UezKswn99e9ILlmae6Q/s1600-h/IMG_0373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzw0MayK9d9qG3Y6Lm587bXsMQGoDg3W20Hb8r0Qf3LUx5ILDnZqyO41zwSaccQCALLRxdcnSn0r4TBzXNld9FqMdz0cduqWxip5CgPIRjWVAeH-Ax2sI9DNH6UezKswn99e9ILlmae6Q/s320/IMG_0373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300220906036581186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Everyone feeling a little cool with their 3-D glasses on!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOAKW_V9ipWusQzCl3QPegjI3UYYG5ODH3KHSq2fTlLiG58CCrahqKNMtf5SOkzPyRDYixR9V5lP7XWDE_oN5hqqqngHG_TUI2H24hHTZ4EFWHtit3445IKP0zLEdarICA1KsZ_SZd4FH/s1600-h/IMG_0374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOAKW_V9ipWusQzCl3QPegjI3UYYG5ODH3KHSq2fTlLiG58CCrahqKNMtf5SOkzPyRDYixR9V5lP7XWDE_oN5hqqqngHG_TUI2H24hHTZ4EFWHtit3445IKP0zLEdarICA1KsZ_SZd4FH/s320/IMG_0374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300220903103098146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Ridley spelling it out for you!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaKU4n0thkl3FoIZe6SvNMJUxGiHLErw146CC3tiuitEGicowjXuqHcbpJ_ZPuH3Qj7YFFVW9RI_5OoY3oPlCHflBmX3wnqP7_U2Cu3JSR2XzHzb8I5A24bTnCK0RC_RU8j9Q9u1iUH1h/s1600-h/IMG_0375.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaKU4n0thkl3FoIZe6SvNMJUxGiHLErw146CC3tiuitEGicowjXuqHcbpJ_ZPuH3Qj7YFFVW9RI_5OoY3oPlCHflBmX3wnqP7_U2Cu3JSR2XzHzb8I5A24bTnCK0RC_RU8j9Q9u1iUH1h/s320/IMG_0375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300220902674459058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">What is a movie without popcorn? They even had the salted variety! The mainland Chinese love sweet popcorn and it is often impossible to find the salty version.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj-k9BArPTvoIrBVnTTDXzeGvGVbmIyMIetw4haZNRKmK8nrUY1t80ZaT3K00mRevehAJFAPNUEZVcAIyI16GE4gO_AgqEbvt2GNr3ZC-FHagq7rYsy787M0lgI8OIEdh0oATJB_ldfVs/s1600-h/IMG_0376.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj-k9BArPTvoIrBVnTTDXzeGvGVbmIyMIetw4haZNRKmK8nrUY1t80ZaT3K00mRevehAJFAPNUEZVcAIyI16GE4gO_AgqEbvt2GNr3ZC-FHagq7rYsy787M0lgI8OIEdh0oATJB_ldfVs/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300220905767161442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">More to come later!</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-70901471762008169292009-02-05T16:56:00.000-08:002009-02-05T17:10:35.563-08:00All things new - in the New Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-C8HMhhS39UgHpqUR12bFmkvd3CU2vn9jSNLw7wxPuNTdTrAlFxclm3Mb3UdUfTo_4FXlBCDWdYR4ABikylx0gouqHLuWeMsMDdWs2pGeifTd3DrPLKbAcTRSJYo7rrbrzStDqxtOR49/s1600-h/IMG_0639.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-C8HMhhS39UgHpqUR12bFmkvd3CU2vn9jSNLw7wxPuNTdTrAlFxclm3Mb3UdUfTo_4FXlBCDWdYR4ABikylx0gouqHLuWeMsMDdWs2pGeifTd3DrPLKbAcTRSJYo7rrbrzStDqxtOR49/s320/IMG_0639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299482959291313266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Every new year means every thing new. Here Storey is beginning her new year by directing the application of the glowing night sky above her bed. So wonderful to see the stars as you sleep. No shooting stars yet!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfSg8YkEAmm7qcJWDK640YEcvzek509flhOXFs-AObvIWuNLpDYKhRwNMfYCnBYCQDrA0G81D9gfuEdzif3buE1Gqyx9sRPFMYFiTcwDaXczgtOf4u1UAmR8bQTPz0i6KcX3ZcJyDK-Lz/s1600-h/IMG_0640.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfSg8YkEAmm7qcJWDK640YEcvzek509flhOXFs-AObvIWuNLpDYKhRwNMfYCnBYCQDrA0G81D9gfuEdzif3buE1Gqyx9sRPFMYFiTcwDaXczgtOf4u1UAmR8bQTPz0i6KcX3ZcJyDK-Lz/s320/IMG_0640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299482950429708994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Storey's next "new" addition is a few red streaks in her hair to join her friends and millions of other Chinese! (Red is the lucky color and very propitious for prosperity!) For $10 a pretty new head. (Notice the pink foam from the shampoo? His fingers were bright red.)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1yFK5nFW9t99OdPxGWMfjb-7Q0u1hI8QbnV1l9ZlPfpx7fXH0xHUheGCLcA7zrsFmzYNSe0zGzvQ3mBGjxPNsWJ7cmfDlVXsIDHmbM3XjsubUHuUW6WsV7_woNGC9Ktd4rrK8y9KoGsr/s1600-h/IMG_0641.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1yFK5nFW9t99OdPxGWMfjb-7Q0u1hI8QbnV1l9ZlPfpx7fXH0xHUheGCLcA7zrsFmzYNSe0zGzvQ3mBGjxPNsWJ7cmfDlVXsIDHmbM3XjsubUHuUW6WsV7_woNGC9Ktd4rrK8y9KoGsr/s320/IMG_0641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299482550601216770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The "new" head. It is not this bright at all. The salon lights gave it a little extra umph.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysBQAiLXm39s0bjMdKTEQxUvqxO0wzq57ogyb3CwLKsYojhC4eDN4HQUCJbfyLsF7561vf3VhJ43aHVQHe8vTbB07Q-1fHjB0w7yOz_RsP6szkLdS6i9uy4o5VBfStOeagcI-KKON8tXT/s1600-h/IMG_0646.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysBQAiLXm39s0bjMdKTEQxUvqxO0wzq57ogyb3CwLKsYojhC4eDN4HQUCJbfyLsF7561vf3VhJ43aHVQHe8vTbB07Q-1fHjB0w7yOz_RsP6szkLdS6i9uy4o5VBfStOeagcI-KKON8tXT/s320/IMG_0646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299482549364372690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Had to show off this Mandarin project of Paige's on her family. It is all written in Mandarin characters. Who would of thunk 6 months ago that Paige could write complete sentences in Mandarin???</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhKTraGUTXIFP1j_PMYHONCazSkeaPVGwtJ44XY3yNc2ITswXV6UpbU29iR5oB8g1In6bcNYETH9uyCkZC4EzJIlI25E6A-VQ3D485zpnISu0ggCHTKGDqsfQkLt6z-7MsQaCbz8ElWyi/s1600-h/IMG_0647.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhKTraGUTXIFP1j_PMYHONCazSkeaPVGwtJ44XY3yNc2ITswXV6UpbU29iR5oB8g1In6bcNYETH9uyCkZC4EzJIlI25E6A-VQ3D485zpnISu0ggCHTKGDqsfQkLt6z-7MsQaCbz8ElWyi/s320/IMG_0647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299482542614786882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">She can even read it and speak it! Sorry, had to show her off a little.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">OK. I promise our trip to Hong Kong comes next!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwZtwEf0fpht0ACMYiNYCH2JSw79tXevfvsrwOZufn1tPcgxoZVv4yZmnFY8HuRhMHatCoh13nx9J2c76gesAHf-imPmmbAH64D-oVvPZ1SeXJiZvVTTGzvFUIYMxrQUhMjGGsVfKn5bp/s1600-h/IMG_0648.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwZtwEf0fpht0ACMYiNYCH2JSw79tXevfvsrwOZufn1tPcgxoZVv4yZmnFY8HuRhMHatCoh13nx9J2c76gesAHf-imPmmbAH64D-oVvPZ1SeXJiZvVTTGzvFUIYMxrQUhMjGGsVfKn5bp/s320/IMG_0648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299482543603581570" border="0" /></a>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-81557500113674149652009-02-05T01:00:00.000-08:002009-02-05T01:20:20.858-08:00Latern Festival<span style="font-size:130%;">Happy Chinese New Year! It is the year of the Ox and we are celebrating - for 15 days!<br /><br />We headed to YuYuan Gardens Saturday night to see the light fantastic! YuYuan celebrates the Lantern Festival, which falls toward the end of the CNY celebration, or otherwise known as Spring Festival, every year in great display. Come with us as we walk through the maze of lights - and people. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsrx6tZJA3sRzUcocNTOTB8wXFLS17nJFKr_IJlGgsEZbX1sPXZNO6kUi5p2TpDbWwSb0A6bDQp6UIrK85wDZFOaWKP3X_CPBNLJyg4DkRzx-m9KHAaDwk1nSkUJ6jTiGYFHsUc2qTODS/s1600-h/IMG_0634.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsrx6tZJA3sRzUcocNTOTB8wXFLS17nJFKr_IJlGgsEZbX1sPXZNO6kUi5p2TpDbWwSb0A6bDQp6UIrK85wDZFOaWKP3X_CPBNLJyg4DkRzx-m9KHAaDwk1nSkUJ6jTiGYFHsUc2qTODS/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299237281658979602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ygq-1qE_rmfUtMDFcQIBGuUeHApL63NXOcodty_wCzAxq9XURNSDfpZDWSBmQkJ-EPotXENEZettTJi0dq4564YFAxzeviT-bCHtaSMMUKGWY9QcexoL5_7AkBgvZ2Es0WxsZXxjrdRF/s1600-h/IMG_0632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ygq-1qE_rmfUtMDFcQIBGuUeHApL63NXOcodty_wCzAxq9XURNSDfpZDWSBmQkJ-EPotXENEZettTJi0dq4564YFAxzeviT-bCHtaSMMUKGWY9QcexoL5_7AkBgvZ2Es0WxsZXxjrdRF/s320/IMG_0632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299237281606692578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The tea house at the 9 turns bridge. There were all kinds of floats in the water depicting stories we don't know. Lots of ox around.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiu4kxZPxX-6ODg6ldzkJQG5FfNSD9q-npCMvP4wK8ZFXaPaWwY9qPG1UUVQ3EcLuPCBdQmSWpg29w67nqme1A_PiijhXUr4QxaZPOYH8MXz2XKCditdlRcEFp6KnKMS0iy6dxINeAnrOu/s1600-h/IMG_0630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiu4kxZPxX-6ODg6ldzkJQG5FfNSD9q-npCMvP4wK8ZFXaPaWwY9qPG1UUVQ3EcLuPCBdQmSWpg29w67nqme1A_PiijhXUr4QxaZPOYH8MXz2XKCditdlRcEFp6KnKMS0iy6dxINeAnrOu/s320/IMG_0630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299237285072296754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The place was packed and people were lined up on the bridge, traffic being conducted one way by many guards stationed everywhere</span>, <span style="font-size:130%;">to see the spectacle on the water.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAarbFixRprJnQV9UVrhAQ2_trYNq8-Wqe8NbIqeuM54tlp7zbY9i6gcMfGeBqnlSP-wWeMtCKNdafx1UekYN-rEEqsK9UVRZqzVQwNDL8KyeHIx3Q5etQQQzuXkIn984IPHBCkjLrOiwu/s1600-h/IMG_0629.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAarbFixRprJnQV9UVrhAQ2_trYNq8-Wqe8NbIqeuM54tlp7zbY9i6gcMfGeBqnlSP-wWeMtCKNdafx1UekYN-rEEqsK9UVRZqzVQwNDL8KyeHIx3Q5etQQQzuXkIn984IPHBCkjLrOiwu/s320/IMG_0629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299236796450863138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCd1Ee0TY0s0sVPk9YWHCijgGCuCnfCp0GXcTbIqlH9uAuf_DKh6xDJrW8FO-w57nxfZrPDsuJMQ50C5xu3rpR0G2zu6cDs-gWWJoJdh7BfrS68EoJQ2psF4O2Qs0s17RKJ8MzEhtAmvNf/s1600-h/IMG_0628.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCd1Ee0TY0s0sVPk9YWHCijgGCuCnfCp0GXcTbIqlH9uAuf_DKh6xDJrW8FO-w57nxfZrPDsuJMQ50C5xu3rpR0G2zu6cDs-gWWJoJdh7BfrS68EoJQ2psF4O2Qs0s17RKJ8MzEhtAmvNf/s320/IMG_0628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299236798198755010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The crowds on the bridge are visible in this shot.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlsy3Ksz8XJlIDM0lcObKssTf1dtK4M366NaG3KyfWMsSIBrdImMrmEzj2Wjq5hpTvjJwXt27GK3ZXHyB7IRld34N7nqwIJsI_lNZDHI0d7Gl4C52IxivDEExhFW1Ravrm-8nnIvdwMqi/s1600-h/IMG_0623.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlsy3Ksz8XJlIDM0lcObKssTf1dtK4M366NaG3KyfWMsSIBrdImMrmEzj2Wjq5hpTvjJwXt27GK3ZXHyB7IRld34N7nqwIJsI_lNZDHI0d7Gl4C52IxivDEExhFW1Ravrm-8nnIvdwMqi/s320/IMG_0623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299236799326944242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuim_tyj1x3qE0ItYD7WUBsSxGmFITgWqw_WTTQcba3EtYFhXMOaKWM8QcTFX38stB99xrKCnNWMM03cLEVYebq3ICVmPAMBcr8SHGWLNhA6gh1z1d5ZbOdAPF41TMTxm6c2cyrMK9xSP/s1600-h/IMG_0624.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuim_tyj1x3qE0ItYD7WUBsSxGmFITgWqw_WTTQcba3EtYFhXMOaKWM8QcTFX38stB99xrKCnNWMM03cLEVYebq3ICVmPAMBcr8SHGWLNhA6gh1z1d5ZbOdAPF41TMTxm6c2cyrMK9xSP/s320/IMG_0624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299236794348357218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">All kinds of extra booths were set up everywhere selling every sort of plastic ox, moving ox, fabric ox, ox horns for your head - just everything imaginable and unimaginable, and of couse, ox head with dumplings!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdiEVRGJq0czeqwmGF1PhEX1Kl1zlaDVb2xbo_t-2tuA_7tP1Qe37H9OeKflwF1CERJ7CZy0_uhPHTnBV2dKyMRfxh5FS1imHxu_VfTG19Ara9u5tjZepqM3NUyJk3Uk5EL7yWI9Rn88e/s1600-h/IMG_0620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdiEVRGJq0czeqwmGF1PhEX1Kl1zlaDVb2xbo_t-2tuA_7tP1Qe37H9OeKflwF1CERJ7CZy0_uhPHTnBV2dKyMRfxh5FS1imHxu_VfTG19Ara9u5tjZepqM3NUyJk3Uk5EL7yWI9Rn88e/s320/IMG_0620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299236178338593218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2zVigh6AZIUzym9b5_aQmK8YXTLmQ-L3ESzJHhsUSHTo6cn2NRCJ0V6L91WtzGU58FcGExQSH8YEnmXnwruOCtPjTrDvERv_FiCiavstBtMWViI3enPq2AEyADTYTo0Ho2YtUM2_Vdjt/s1600-h/IMG_0618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2zVigh6AZIUzym9b5_aQmK8YXTLmQ-L3ESzJHhsUSHTo6cn2NRCJ0V6L91WtzGU58FcGExQSH8YEnmXnwruOCtPjTrDvERv_FiCiavstBtMWViI3enPq2AEyADTYTo0Ho2YtUM2_Vdjt/s320/IMG_0618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299236180321914466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXv0OzkkTtHpCr-tZBeaNqITFekDmtDDYAYkHr7KccIDw6GUik2oXfOEo_NJpUW3RjBSgK3coZt8v9QJ-KKhkbi1NBER5AWZXUkVgbZcB2j-FI4RfltQKZUx_-SYlxj7pIbFJWOyRjtbKy/s1600-h/IMG_0617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXv0OzkkTtHpCr-tZBeaNqITFekDmtDDYAYkHr7KccIDw6GUik2oXfOEo_NJpUW3RjBSgK3coZt8v9QJ-KKhkbi1NBER5AWZXUkVgbZcB2j-FI4RfltQKZUx_-SYlxj7pIbFJWOyRjtbKy/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299236181107842706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy7RzXWUcTMpMTdgerYM5nFgwF2ofAAMmqDKPjgA94PwlXmPBP_jZ3gsmrua4p1heHz9Y6nD9hG7NLEIJ27vExO1NtGxDRFDTUfsA-MyQ9EeYFt1kLi67ZvcQravbY3cYWtFOpxhAVngP/s1600-h/IMG_0615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy7RzXWUcTMpMTdgerYM5nFgwF2ofAAMmqDKPjgA94PwlXmPBP_jZ3gsmrua4p1heHz9Y6nD9hG7NLEIJ27vExO1NtGxDRFDTUfsA-MyQ9EeYFt1kLi67ZvcQravbY3cYWtFOpxhAVngP/s320/IMG_0615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299236173186998034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">As they say: Xie Nian Kuai Le <br />Happy New Year!<br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-36030295883882224142009-01-19T18:20:00.000-08:002009-01-19T19:05:53.900-08:00Pre Chinese New Year<span style="font-size:130%;">This is a great photo, able to show many things at once. First and foremost, cute Storey! On the left of the photo, two items of interest. The first is the fish hanging down to dry with the laundry! This is the time to be drying meats, fish, etc., for the New Year, which begins January 26. This is normally the coldest month, therefore the most "auspicious" time to dry foods for the new year. Pieces of meat and fish are hanging out all around Shanghai. Everyone stocks up on food for the New Year. The stores are brimming with food and people.<br /><br />Also on the left you can see the new store fronts with marble columns and marble slab lintels containing the store names. These were all just added to our beautified street. Storey is standing on the new pavered sidewalk that went in this past fall, and the road was repaved, also. On that repaved road you can see a wedding limo, all decked out with flowers. Hard to see, but there is a procession of other beflowered cars following.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmyWU2oEB8OrdnyhiI7bBVw9gO0X8O_EtR1vWBmGj50AnWupZeR9LH5Y59aRopc7rtmIsi8Aq67EEJzopz7pG8Un6ZWGjDQmeeXy2Dmv5oHCpazAzpu8NMcDYPtbk4qjIAdvFs4MjKhWT/s1600-h/IMG_0320.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmyWU2oEB8OrdnyhiI7bBVw9gO0X8O_EtR1vWBmGj50AnWupZeR9LH5Y59aRopc7rtmIsi8Aq67EEJzopz7pG8Un6ZWGjDQmeeXy2Dmv5oHCpazAzpu8NMcDYPtbk4qjIAdvFs4MjKhWT/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293195718958683762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The Pearson's roaming the streets of Shanghai! We are headed to the Nanjing market for shirts, shoes, socks, DS games, Pokeman cards, jeans and DVD's. Great one stop shopping.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoATJTy7NUonVTWhtY4Tswv0ATPPccZBYnt5dWbPGThyphenhyphenPsuJUVaLs0hFey3rdEot3wyQM0pPrl96iwEAqgM95IotYze9DtMqaEXqYLr_V_sSnaTQFlarb3vgnJ1PPNsZ60FJKdPbhPM8T/s1600-h/IMG_0321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoATJTy7NUonVTWhtY4Tswv0ATPPccZBYnt5dWbPGThyphenhyphenPsuJUVaLs0hFey3rdEot3wyQM0pPrl96iwEAqgM95IotYze9DtMqaEXqYLr_V_sSnaTQFlarb3vgnJ1PPNsZ60FJKdPbhPM8T/s320/IMG_0321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293195715022419810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I attended a talk hosted by the American Women's Club of Shanghai yesterday that was all about Chinese New Year. This week is particularly busy as many people prepare to leave and go home for the celebration. New Year's Eve dinner together is the big event. That will be next Sunday night, January 25. Non-stop fireworks and firecrackers. The New Year's celebration lasts 15 days. Each day is significant for something. After staying up late to see the countdown and fireworks on New Year's Eve, it is important to greet the New Year, so everyone rises very early in the morning. It is a day to spend just with immediate family. The second day is for visiting and taking gifts to others. The third day, for some reason, is a day full of bickering, so to avoid that everyone stays home! The 4th day is the day of travel, and this is when the more affluent families head out of town or country. Day 5 is the business people's day to pray to the business gods. Great fireworks are on the eve of the 5th to attract the business god's attention, and then the 5th day is filled with prays in the temples and fireworks, crackers. The 7th day is the celebration of everyone's birthday for that year. This is the year of the ox. The zodiac rotation is every 12 years. We were warned that if someone asks you what zodiac sign you were born in, they are really figuring out how old you are! The last day, the 15th day, is the Lantern Festival. You must wear bright clothes - no black or white which denote death. If it happens to be your zodiac year, you should wear everything red - underwear, socks, clothes. The year of the Ox is Paige's year, but so far she is not going along with the idea of all red! <br /><br />It is also called Spring Festival as this was originally an agrarian festival (weren't they all?) celebrating the coming of spring and good harvests. It is a very important family time and they gather and make jiao zi (dumplings) together. As everything has double meaning here, they eat jiao zi because they look like gold ingots which means prosperity for the new year. The Chinese use the lunar calendar which is 360 days long, 30 days in each month, therefore the New Year changes every year. It will be mid-February next year. <br /><br />Shanghai is filled with migrant workers, and as there are only so many trains available they will not all be able to make it home. Train tickets can only be purchased so many days in advance and the papers have already mentioned that most all the trains are full. Construction workers live on the job site (as seen in past photos) sleeping on tables or cots, and the laoban, boss, buys their food. They get paid once a year, right now, before the New Year. That is why they go home. To take the money to their family so they can live for the next year. They make about 500 RMB a month - $73.50. Everyone keeps warning of pickpockets this time of year as workers prepare to go home with as much as they can. There is a police officer on each train car, and they come around and chop each train ticket with their name and cell phone number in case they have something stolen and they can contact him immediately. Many of these train rides can last for over 2 days. There are more street hawkers, trying to make last minute money and jammed streets. Impossible to get taxi's. It took us about an hour to get home from picking the girls up at school last night. Next week it will be eerily quiet as everyone will be gone (including us!). We head to Hong Kong on Saturday to experience a little warmth and the New Year there. It should be A LOT quieter from what I have heard. We won't be missing out on it altogether, though, since it lasts 15 days!<br />More later.<br /></span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492727165149307730.post-30821570836547015972009-01-17T16:21:00.000-08:002009-01-17T17:13:26.129-08:00Back in Shanghai<span style="font-size:130%;">Back in Shanghai, I got a lunch in with my friend Julie and her daughter Cortney who was making a stop before heading off to Thailand for 4 months on a Colgate college trip. Din Tai Feng, one of our favorite dumpling spots at Xintiandi. It was a beautiful day and I biked over. Julie had brought us goodies back from America: maple syrup - liquid gold around here, Speedo goggles for Storey, tights from Target, all kinds of treats! So good to have her back. Cortney is a beautiful, fun girl like her mom. As Ridley said, "That was a long lunch!" </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBGog6ch-OgZqgXwXS5IzBVEjixG_kIovFThVMCIAXt52R4eEuUhc3ALjcIm6ZFUj_nPoSb5ol4u_EhzAD1dBiXwodlL722n8Cfl4XIX8GG5BPu8S4UI8QquUJgLqLQmngzXdAjcftg5c/s1600-h/IMG_0305.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBGog6ch-OgZqgXwXS5IzBVEjixG_kIovFThVMCIAXt52R4eEuUhc3ALjcIm6ZFUj_nPoSb5ol4u_EhzAD1dBiXwodlL722n8Cfl4XIX8GG5BPu8S4UI8QquUJgLqLQmngzXdAjcftg5c/s320/IMG_0305.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292426446898990546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">OK. I think this will actually be the last of the lane renovation photos! Here is was before we left for Harbin. Pavers were actually being laid.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8s3LQwIN6uvPBYpHVCN2rGaNjEjdGHfMLwqzvPdfsXIQgwabvNokwqa1ZngMG60-xAlcxAix-TDmTg2WHOlKlOgIE-v3IHZ-JerF4PCQjMx1-flM7riAqk0svBcHVshYdjnv0SSPmXxrK/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8s3LQwIN6uvPBYpHVCN2rGaNjEjdGHfMLwqzvPdfsXIQgwabvNokwqa1ZngMG60-xAlcxAix-TDmTg2WHOlKlOgIE-v3IHZ-JerF4PCQjMx1-flM7riAqk0svBcHVshYdjnv0SSPmXxrK/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292426156945409298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Upon our return, the women were dancing in the lane! American 50's music blaring in the lane, these women are practicing line dancing every afternoon while the community room is finishing up its beautification.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCwlLrOVUiZTGpgK9nzDr5k_nOBmug8xb4WDqJeOKxgl3UzilH6rAudH0R6pIQCvuCEGvtsNqjrubBwY3-uzTYwPYs_Rx5CmETcRAx6BqCEvIpqJXzL0IECDJ2wGLIYVBcD8DiBZft0xy/s1600-h/IMG_0303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCwlLrOVUiZTGpgK9nzDr5k_nOBmug8xb4WDqJeOKxgl3UzilH6rAudH0R6pIQCvuCEGvtsNqjrubBwY3-uzTYwPYs_Rx5CmETcRAx6BqCEvIpqJXzL0IECDJ2wGLIYVBcD8DiBZft0xy/s320/IMG_0303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292426150067164738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">There was reason to dance in the street. Here is our new lane. . . </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGSRQLXNGgisLO1mo9T8hDx49U5NNQLYQ2Abca1TzVqY4PHh5FyZxCNDSWVlL6XDCRQXkpPkHv03CXi7emUKe-k204QoY_vtnp02nIwh4yAuyWjwowpO7-jBITjTpY9oIy2Z7H3OglQmd/s1600-h/IMG_0304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGSRQLXNGgisLO1mo9T8hDx49U5NNQLYQ2Abca1TzVqY4PHh5FyZxCNDSWVlL6XDCRQXkpPkHv03CXi7emUKe-k204QoY_vtnp02nIwh4yAuyWjwowpO7-jBITjTpY9oIy2Z7H3OglQmd/s320/IMG_0304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292426147644649010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Our front door.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3d548XV7NMaHwSOUoFU9tVYf1dRPdUo50AnYpdD1sgxoo3E7AKrwPPBUeZJ5sV0O7sWz-7GPIHefH0MOR7W1LVbpZBR-jtYz8DZmdMzKVbtVIKPqCXpryrkwJNGXU4v0RMfkSmi56Q_la/s1600-h/IMG_0307.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3d548XV7NMaHwSOUoFU9tVYf1dRPdUo50AnYpdD1sgxoo3E7AKrwPPBUeZJ5sV0O7sWz-7GPIHefH0MOR7W1LVbpZBR-jtYz8DZmdMzKVbtVIKPqCXpryrkwJNGXU4v0RMfkSmi56Q_la/s320/IMG_0307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292426146402410786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Corrugated formed concrete pavers with concrete and rock drainage areas. It is really lovely.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseOXLrpP2XkGqpAzfKjVvJvQDDwdcy-YE3PuOGLt07gs2HXrgicNgmHKyriYTvuSclP78zystmXNAGCTJPomi-mG4eVAIv78imkkAFId5KQ9izaZ9oEL8-E8L4vQteEWUjtV61bvVSNRL/s1600-h/IMG_0308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseOXLrpP2XkGqpAzfKjVvJvQDDwdcy-YE3PuOGLt07gs2HXrgicNgmHKyriYTvuSclP78zystmXNAGCTJPomi-mG4eVAIv78imkkAFId5KQ9izaZ9oEL8-E8L4vQteEWUjtV61bvVSNRL/s320/IMG_0308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292426141641955394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The potted plants have made their way back out, adding beauty to the rebeautified lane!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uYq6dAD4njhoy7tZa0wU9X-V13FXnoe13NoQ8QZ06fjHkuOXm4EqpfKHjLIl7ftihdM3jLoaY10PV9_t-GWa8gjvyHD05SswcnXKoJmo0YecOWyKEJHelT9slyVvaGv_ITjW5knOXnTj/s1600-h/IMG_0309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uYq6dAD4njhoy7tZa0wU9X-V13FXnoe13NoQ8QZ06fjHkuOXm4EqpfKHjLIl7ftihdM3jLoaY10PV9_t-GWa8gjvyHD05SswcnXKoJmo0YecOWyKEJHelT9slyVvaGv_ITjW5knOXnTj/s320/IMG_0309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292425280736479970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-8EWiFw-ki_U9gWRtjuttZ1HJkc1C2v-I6dERUFlyXEqP-PN8tAd25ixUI9cZhNVP2K52uaOk-Ec28paLIM-vqUkHnBV35ou9iRVj6yPIF94nOwVs5D4n8CsUUYs69WrPHw-0MaWyV5i/s1600-h/IMG_0310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-8EWiFw-ki_U9gWRtjuttZ1HJkc1C2v-I6dERUFlyXEqP-PN8tAd25ixUI9cZhNVP2K52uaOk-Ec28paLIM-vqUkHnBV35ou9iRVj6yPIF94nOwVs5D4n8CsUUYs69WrPHw-0MaWyV5i/s320/IMG_0310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292425277843385266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The cars will probably arrive soon. Yellow lines indicating parking spaces have been added.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjTF4vfeX-cdF66jvXvMw-Bi-yY2Gly-mjFOjvGzIbjddHtxCCDACIBO0OiGhF-fUz_P4NCIqWehWvZ6KX_yIl6fRMNtHiAKY3cHK3uhgKi6uKAP4cBzI2_dh9ZMxrQ8nWtn3Y_d_oLee/s1600-h/IMG_0311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjTF4vfeX-cdF66jvXvMw-Bi-yY2Gly-mjFOjvGzIbjddHtxCCDACIBO0OiGhF-fUz_P4NCIqWehWvZ6KX_yIl6fRMNtHiAKY3cHK3uhgKi6uKAP4cBzI2_dh9ZMxrQ8nWtn3Y_d_oLee/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292425271869320498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The master planter, our neighbor who does all the potted plants around, had this area made with soil for a lovely corner.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIunARFKH2RTf6s-TByIDdjvKpHRYHSyx5S7mihjQ8WHaeZyrhSWbdamrlRuc5CzH43s3vmO0KwHdVmy4HGXn4tzMpyp3ILWNVJtaO2x2Evu6G3UPKdV0CsijzzhateZIEtGZNjs5hm8Ow/s1600-h/IMG_0312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIunARFKH2RTf6s-TByIDdjvKpHRYHSyx5S7mihjQ8WHaeZyrhSWbdamrlRuc5CzH43s3vmO0KwHdVmy4HGXn4tzMpyp3ILWNVJtaO2x2Evu6G3UPKdV0CsijzzhateZIEtGZNjs5hm8Ow/s320/IMG_0312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292425263174104450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Before heading back to school, the girls and I headed to a club around the corner and paid a very hefty price for an afternoon at the pool. Paige and I did Storey's warm up work out with her. Oh my. It took an hour, and Storey absolutely blew us away on every event. Back in school, she just swam 1850 meters for her Friday swim practice!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwc_xEROrL-hGh5mn9KsYt07r0LNb9bKy7Ton6M-xMZsq0byW5xkSvxA2E4DtjEsAZV60SQnQFee7-_fkF73EuAKGifFlgWuxmFrctk2riT0yFMfXFoxsPAUv-_iJKr6KH8Lq4KDwl6JZc/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwc_xEROrL-hGh5mn9KsYt07r0LNb9bKy7Ton6M-xMZsq0byW5xkSvxA2E4DtjEsAZV60SQnQFee7-_fkF73EuAKGifFlgWuxmFrctk2riT0yFMfXFoxsPAUv-_iJKr6KH8Lq4KDwl6JZc/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292424489778066562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The pool was constantly busy with people swimming laps. There were signs all around for no spitting, and buckets were placed at the end of the lanes for spitting, if required! The life guard came and went - mostly gone - into his adjacent room for smoking breaks. The smoke wafted into the pool area. Mmmm. Chlorine, smoke - great pool smells. We took long showers, a sauna, trying to get all we could from our afternoon at the club.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixC9kI1mDqCWHcgU6-AJVDt8x_9rBSuccKNgEJp8yPVQW5-u-TIcHianycZcTPE9cTa6wJ9LCccPwyCF1JXwic2ZacOxmwcotT2HDr4j8Ghl7Uo6Mna5_BLHguANRVgb28_m8ezckl0a1v/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixC9kI1mDqCWHcgU6-AJVDt8x_9rBSuccKNgEJp8yPVQW5-u-TIcHianycZcTPE9cTa6wJ9LCccPwyCF1JXwic2ZacOxmwcotT2HDr4j8Ghl7Uo6Mna5_BLHguANRVgb28_m8ezckl0a1v/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292424484722360370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A Changle Lu streeet scene taken from a taxi window. I was taking Paige to an event at school, and this traveling BB</span>Q<span style="font-size:130%;"> stand was set up just a block from our house. The raw meat is sitting right next to the BBQ, and the chopping block is next to that - in front of the men enjoying the skewers. A fun sight.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdjWTEiYUFYZ8to_5YnjslNLUBzewUnLHhdl7VmiBsOPvWUDLeMnjDxWL1A4MFESi_ECKYwUc5VZ8B7jkr4C_T_dEkdtt4rUeBnj6HQOwatqpFbX09sX1v5KSU6H46KMaJTwLxZP-orBu/s1600-h/IMG_0317.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdjWTEiYUFYZ8to_5YnjslNLUBzewUnLHhdl7VmiBsOPvWUDLeMnjDxWL1A4MFESi_ECKYwUc5VZ8B7jkr4C_T_dEkdtt4rUeBnj6HQOwatqpFbX09sX1v5KSU6H46KMaJTwLxZP-orBu/s320/IMG_0317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292424127249838706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Friday night traffic on Changle Lu is bumper to bumper for blocks. We got to enjoy this scene for awhile!</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Of course Paige was mortified by my picture taking out the window. The taxi driver got a good laugh out of it.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsWWnIMohV3jWubkVz0EriHkCFrDQ3zLuVQWyYo4BuK63WUuxBlYGUJuwbzj6HRUPAeMImUT5PQ7wDrlAbXiWlBghuw7Lm0AtjTwvZ9RKnCwUPfkBGoY38dlzbMksFd9fukn1RdgxwwbO/s1600-h/IMG_0316.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsWWnIMohV3jWubkVz0EriHkCFrDQ3zLuVQWyYo4BuK63WUuxBlYGUJuwbzj6HRUPAeMImUT5PQ7wDrlAbXiWlBghuw7Lm0AtjTwvZ9RKnCwUPfkBGoY38dlzbMksFd9fukn1RdgxwwbO/s320/IMG_0316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292424125602146178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Paige had her last x-ray for the confirmation that she is perfect, and while waiting for the doctor, we looked out onto stunning Shanghai. We never stop marveling that we are here.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcj1svoZiXaj1UwiT7fhUz0AaNhRmlu-fZWvGgYEzceSHmB4riV3bb4bjnx8qBVgdpiVsNAuxMFyxte9duJWAm5NJUE_6u5xbrkz9DNiyU2Q2N1BtuDvnGrnn8QeKLblQB2Ycfn-GK2YO/s1600-h/IMG_0315.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcj1svoZiXaj1UwiT7fhUz0AaNhRmlu-fZWvGgYEzceSHmB4riV3bb4bjnx8qBVgdpiVsNAuxMFyxte9duJWAm5NJUE_6u5xbrkz9DNiyU2Q2N1BtuDvnGrnn8QeKLblQB2Ycfn-GK2YO/s320/IMG_0315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292423797243608418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The intersection below. It actually seems tame from up here. Paige and I rode our bikes here. The streets seemed a little trickier to negotiate when we were down there in the midst!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqvkw4Gy5Cni-WHP6BudiiyZxl_mvxjSKwtCL4f0qN0uzNcJTaaEVmPAT-2-K53-77IkEfm_TeYaF-djyObDts0S10EIk7S4Z-IsR0R_1MaP447HOlcyj_YURU8rhKnGZKk3ZIyj6Qxv0/s1600-h/IMG_0314.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqvkw4Gy5Cni-WHP6BudiiyZxl_mvxjSKwtCL4f0qN0uzNcJTaaEVmPAT-2-K53-77IkEfm_TeYaF-djyObDts0S10EIk7S4Z-IsR0R_1MaP447HOlcyj_YURU8rhKnGZKk3ZIyj6Qxv0/s320/IMG_0314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292423794269118082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Caught up with vacation! We have one more week of school and then off to Hong Kong on Saturday for Chinese New Year. We are hoping to avoid some of the noise we have heard goes on for the entire week of New Year celebration here. We'll see.</span>Marcellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505310563511296282noreply@blogger.com0