Fengjing June 29, 2010
Posted by freda in China.1 comment so far
On Wednesday, June 16th, Sharon and I went on a “field trip” to the village of Fengjing, about a 1 1/2 hour drive from the city. Sharon had the day off because it was the Dragon Boat Festival. Mr. Shi drove us. The town is famous as the peasant farmer’s painting village, and is also a small water village with a temple and other things to see. Sharon’s and my purpose in going was to view and buy the famous paintings, but first we walked all through the water village.
Fengjing water village
scenic bridges and canals
and ever-present laundry
I love the windows
this reminded me of the Tower Gate in London
scenic canal AND laundry!
Street scenes:
apple cart
Sharon got a great close up!
this lady was cleaning mushrooms
Sharon captured the full scene
roasted frogs for sale (we didn't buy them!)
the meat counter (unwrapped, in the open)
Mr. Shi buying some treat his wife likes (but I didn't)
the next six pictures are taken by Sharon – who is much bolder at taking intimate shots…
these people are playing mahjong - and shooed Sharon away when she took a picture
a sewing shop
when Sharon showed the woman this picture she didn't like it, so let Sharon take another
what a great face
plastic laid down in the main street of the village so this boy could squat and poop!
I love these rural scenes
garbage
and recycling
This town also had an important centre from the Communist Party’s time, including an air raid shelter…
Comrades Sharon and Freda
the whole room
a display of Mao badges
Then to the actual peasant farmer’s painting village…
an explanation of the painting style
buildings decorated in the painting style
more decorated buildings
the painters are also farmers - the vegetable gardens
more gardens
artist at work
detail
her work station
Sharon is thrilled to meet this artist as it turned out she already owned one of her paintings..
she picked cucumbers from her garden for us
We bought a few paintings from this woman – she was so sweet, and very happy to have someone in her shop – it was a quiet day. And then we wandered further down the path…
the path...
and ate lunch at a little local spot. Mr. Shi ordered for us, and Sharon worried about the cleanliness and food, but it was delicious. We shared a bottle of beer, so I figure that killed any bacteria! See us drinking our beer from bowls….
Mr. Shi enjoying Sharon's use of Mandarin
drinking beer out of bowls - and our feast
And again you ask, so what did you buy?? Two from the artist in the photos…
rice planting scene
laundry hanging and shoes drying on the roof
and one larger picture from a shop in the town…
blossoming branches in porcelain vases
The photos don’t do them justice, so you’ll have to visit me in my new home… once I have one! It was a long, hot day, but a very successful shopping adventure.
a shopping trip to the ’embroidery town’ June 29, 2010
Posted by freda in China.1 comment so far
On Thursday, June 10th, Janine organized a trip to the ’embroidery town’ on the outskirts of Suzhou. Janine and Robin (with whom I went to Jingdezhen), Rosemary (another GM wife who lives in our building) and I left home at 9 a.m. for the almost two-hour drive. I would have liked to have seen some of Suzhou, a city of canals and bridges and a lot of tourist sights, but this was a shopping trip! (Maybe Don and I will go later in August, when we’re back in China for our packing up.) The embroidery street is in the outskirts of Suzhou (so I didn’t get a glimpse of the city at all), and in a manner I have learned is typical in China, shop after shop line the street, all selling the same things. One side of the street was going through reconstruction, and was a mess. Luckily it wasn’t raining.
the street and broken sidewalk
at least the other side of the street was okay
beautiful lamp posts
We spent about three hours going in and out of all the shops, assessing the work, deciding what we liked. There was everything from tacky tourist souvenirs, to the most exquisitely-detailed pictures that looked like paintings, the embroidery work was so fine. Original pictures, and copies of Van Gogh’s and Monet’s. And everything (or almost everything)done by hand….
work shop and gallery all in one
at least these women can chat while they work
fine detail
it really is an art form
aren't these kids cute?! They were doing desk work while their mother worked in the shop
So, after much deliberation and hard bargaining, we came away with a few lovely pieces. I love both of mine. This first one is a fan, in a stand, and the kind of embroidery where you don’t see any of the work – it looks the same from both sides.
fan, in the stand
a closer look at the detail
And the picture is of a water village, which you’ll have to see in person, because the photos don’t do it justice….
full picture (with my shadow)
detail
detail
We were hot, tired and very hungry after our afternoon of shopping, and stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at a Sofitel hotel restaurant on the way home, which was lovely. All in all, a very good day!
kindergarten – keeping warm – fish – mahjong June 26, 2010
Posted by freda in China.3 comments
Shortly after we moved here I learned that Tina (GM wife) did volunteer work in a local Chinese school and I expressed my interest in doing the same. But then we had our first visitor, Elsie, and after she left a few other activities intervened, and my good intentions were put on hold. Finally, during my mother’s visit, I made it to the school with Tina and two other women she had recruited, Rachel and Shelley. The school we go to is small, only a few classrooms, and we do our time in the two classrooms of the youngest children, kindergarten age approximately. The children are absolutely adorable. Shelley and I took the youngest class that first day, and have continued in the same class. For 45 minutes to an hour, in English, we sing songs, read stories, recite the alphabet, count, and do shapes and colours. The kids repeat after us, or sing along with us – at least they do the actions to the songs – or listen to us read the story and then the teacher translate the story into Chinese. Sometimes they fall asleep! (See “Sleeping Chinese” blog.) But, I was not offended by what appears to be boredom, because I’m pretty sure the reason they nod off is that they’re too hot. My first time in the classroom was in April and it was warm. I was wearing pants and a tshirt. All the kids had on jackets in the classroom. When one little girl finally struggled out of her coat, I saw she was wearing two sweaters underneath!!
The Chinese are very concerned about being cold and catching cold and consequently the children are always over-bundled, particularly in the spring. There was an article in the newspaper about keeping warm in early spring. To quote: Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors say the average daily temperature should be above 15 degrees C. before people start taking off the wraps and wearing lighter-weight clothes. A Chinese proverb goes, “chun wu qiu dong” or bundle up in the spring and stay cool in autumn (literally spring muffling, autumn freezing). According to TCM, spring is the season for new growth when ‘yang’ (“hot” energy) rises in the universe and gradually builds. But in early days the ‘yang’ is still too weak to resist the still-cold environment, just as vegetable sprouts need a greenhouse in early spring. ‘Wu’ (bundling up) is necessary for people so the ‘yang’ energy can gradually reach its peak in summer. Low-level ‘yang’ in early spring can mean lower immunity and the body can be vulnerable to “invasion of pathogenic energies” that cause illness. Today TCM practitioners say the reasons for keeping warm are frequent temperature changes. “The body’s temperature adjustment system is still in the winter mode, so heavy clothes help keep in the heat,” says Dr. Zheng (from Shanghai University of TCM). The article went on to suggest which body parts needed to be kept warm to protect against different ailments. Fascinating. (Of course the children are not the only ones overdressed. Older woman will never be seen with bare feet; in the summer they wear ankle-length nude socks inside their sandals. )
I just have to add how impressed I am with the children in the classroom I “entertain” in. (It does feel somewhat like “entertainment” as we “perform” at the front of the classroom!) Most (though, not all) of them know how to count to 10, recite the alphabet, colours, shapes, and animal names in English, and know at least the chorus to a few songs that we sing. (They love the hokey-pokey!) And that’s their second language. I’ve worked in enough schools to know not all of our children can do the same in their own language at this age.
Here are the children, all adorable.
singing "five little ducks went out one day...."
down to three little ducks now
you can see some children wearing coats, though some not
and this little guy will soon be asleep!
And one last picture, to illustrate the “nude ankle-socks” (which I actually took two years ago when Don and I were in China).
this was taken in Taikung Lu, one of my favourite areas of the city
A few days after my large balcony pot (that I purchased in Jingdezhen) was delivered, Mr. Shi told me that in China this pot is not for plants but rather for water, lotus flower and fish. That seemed like a great idea to me, and even though I only had one month left in the city, I decided to become a pet-fish-owner. Mr. Shi took me to the flower market to buy the lotus flower. The market is also where you buy the fish, but first the water had to sit in the pot for three days, to be safe for the fish (!), so I window-shopped the fish, but didn’t buy. Mr. Shi did all the work….
llotus plant in the pot, and then rocks to hold the roots down
a closer look at the rocks holding down the plant
Mr. Shi filling the pot with water
fish for sale in the market
and happily swimming in my bowl
I had no idea there would be such ‘trauma’ involved in having pet fish….
Mr. Shi bought me two of the orange fish (I don’t know what kind they are, but they look like baby koi, or large gold fish) and one mottle-coloured one with buggy-out eyes. Not long after they arrived, one morning I went out to feed them and the mottle-coloured one was floating. Ewww. Luckily Don was home; he scooped it up by the tail and flushed it down the toilet! When I told Mr. Shi one fish had died, he asked “red fish??” (I think they’re orange, not red, but whatever.) I said no, the other one. He said, “red fish good, other one not so good.” Hmmm. Makes me wonder why he bought that one!! Anyway, a few days later he arrived with three new fish! So, then I had five, though I couldn’t tell I had five fish because the water had become very dirty.
A few days later, before taking me shopping, Mr. Shi came early on purpose so we could clean out the big fish bowl. The water was very dirty and slightly brackish. So the fish were caught and put into one of the smaller bowls – I could finally see I had five! Then water dumped, lotus plant and rocks taken out, pot cleaned, plant back in, rocks back in, new water – which has to sit for two days before it’s safe for the fish. So, gave the fishies a little food in their temporary small pot and went out shopping.
five little fish in a little bowl
going after food
Came home rather late (6:00), checked the fish before going next door to Rosemary’s for a glass of wine, only to find three fish in the bowl!! HUH?!? I have suicidal fish!! I look behind the bowl, and there’s one lying dead beside the bowl — but no sign of the fifth fish! So, where it has jumped to I’m not sure, though there is a crack in the patio, on purpose, for draining water, and I guess it could’ve slipped through the crack. 😛 Good grief! Fish parenting is tough!!
Mr. Shi came the next day, lifted up the cement block of the patio, and yes indeed, the fish had fallen underneath the block. I was down to three fish. (Echoes of the song “five little ducks went out one day, over the hills and far away, mother duck said quack quack quack, and only four little ducks came back.” How to re-write it for fish?!?)
Once again Mr. Shi went to the market and came over with two new fish, one orange and one multi-coloured (not with buggy-out eyes, though, so I guess it’s an ‘okay’ kind). Is five a lucky number?? Not to my knowledge. I have no idea why Mr. Shi thinks I should have five fish, but five is the number, and the number is five. (That’s a variation on a Monty Python line, though my boys would have to tell me from what skit.) And today, when I woke up, my lotus flower was blooming! I’m so glad I got a flower before I leave on Saturday for Canada….
the flower
only one, but it's lovely, surrounded by huge leaves
and you can see one of my fish
just a head poking out, looking for food
a little hard to see, but here's the multi-coloured one
In case you’re wondering – no, I couldn’t obtain Canadian passports for the fish, so they are going to a new home at the end of the week. My friend Kim’s three children, Aimee, Hanson and Cadence will be foster parents. I will take a picture of their new home and post it. Fish-parenting has been a story-filled experience!!
As already mentioned in previous blogs, part of my Shanghai time has been spent learning how to play mahjong. I really enjoyed it, and hope to continue playing in Detroit. I’ve now got all the paraphernalia needed for playing – a table, the tiles and rails and a beautiful box to keep them in, and even a tray with a tile showing mahjong-playing ladies, for serving drinks on.
the box, made especially for a mahjong set
inside the box, compartments for the tiles and wooden rails
the table (excuse the plastic wrap still around the table legs)
the serving tray
A few weeks ago we had our last mahjong afternoon before everyone goes “home” for the summer. Our host, Dorothy, decided we’d have a potluck lunch before playing. We were all thrilled with her contribution: a box of chocolates decorated like majong tiles – gorgeous works of art and sinfully delicious too!
almost every tile represented in chocolate
Janine, Raquel, me and Dorothy
Okay, that’s all for now. Don is ‘home’ for the weekend. Today he is golfing and later today we’ll have massages. Monday (tomorrow) is his ‘going away’ party with his Shanghai office staff, which we will both attend, and then Tuesday morning he’s back to Detroit. I have many errands this coming week, and a lot of packing to do for my upcoming six weeks in Vancouver-Detroit-Venice. I will try to finish the blogs about my day trips to the “embroidery town” outside of Suzhou, the peasant famer’s painting village of Fengjing, and to Hangzhou before I leave town…. I will try.
Until then, cheers!
The sleeping Chinese June 23, 2010
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Last week, in one of the Shanghai magazines, I read about a website that I recommend you check out. It will keep you busy until my next blog is finished. Check out: www.sleepingchinese.com It’s true that the Chinese are masters at sleeping in any location and in what looks like uncomfortable positions. I’ve seen many examples, mostly when I don’t have my camera, including a street cleaner inside her garbage cart, another street cleaner sitting on the curb, head on his knees, and Mr. Shi in our van, waiting for my return. Everytime I see something unique I wish I had my camera, but the photographer of this website has captured some fantastic examples. I do have a couple of my own “sleeping Chinese” photos for your viewing pleasure.
I hope he's not guarding anything important!
I love this shot - snoozing in the sun
I’ll be back soon!
Jingdezhen June 21, 2010
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When Janine (a friend – and GM wife – who lives in the same apartment building) called on Saturday, May15th, to say she and Robin (another friend in the building) were planning an overnight trip to Jingdezhen because their husbands were out of town the following week, and would I like to go too, it took me about 5 minutes to decide it was just what I needed to take my mind off the impending move. Don would be out of town as well.
I pulled out my China travel guide: For centuries the ceramic capital of China, Jingdezhen is still one of the country’s major porcelain producers. Although pottery kilns were operating here as far back as the Han dynasty, it was the discovery of real porcelain, during the Five Dynasties (907-79AD), which depended on locally found clay rich in feldspar, that brought Jingdezhen its pre-eminence. During the Ming dynasty, its location near the imperial capital of Nanjing increased its importance and it became famous for fine porcelain with a blue underglaze.
We were going porcelain shopping!! Janine had been to Jingdezhen a few years earlier, so she was our expert, and a superb planner she turned out to be! We booked our flights (only one flight in and out each day from Shanghai), booked a hotel, and packed wine and snacks, and camera. We left early on Tuesday morning, the 18th. Our flight out was delayed an hour. We knew we were going to be waiting awhile when the flight attendants handed out the small meal while we were sitting on the runway. (And yes, you read correctly. Even on a one-hour flight in China, you always get served a small meal.) But, we arrived late morning, (not too much time lost), were met at the airport by the tour guide we had hired for our first day, and taken to the hotel to check in. Jingdezhen is a “third-tier” city, which refers to the population, and reflects the ammenities. Janine had booked us into a fairly new hotel, and it was very nice for small-city (a few million) China, though the beds were harder than rock, (typical in China), and made sleeping rather difficult. The staff bent over backwards to make sure we were happy.
Our first stop was the Museum of Ceramic History. Our tour guide walked us through, giving small explanations. It wasn’t very big – actually, a little disappointing given we were in the centre of porcelain production. The Shanghai Museum’s ceramic display is more impressive. But then we wandered along the main street lined with shops and galleries, and checked out some very exquisite porcelain – way out of our price range, for the most part, but absolutely stunning. Our next stop was a porcelain factory, where we could see the process of making what China is famous for, through all the steps.
first the pottery wheel
creating the same piece over and over, by hand
drying racks
more drying, or waiting to be glazed
row upon row upon row
racks of pieces drying inside this window
the painting area
he's putting the signature of the factory on each piece
the painting is done in a few stages
many different styles
with Robin and our tour guide
Seeing the process of making the porcelain gave us a huge appreciation for the pieces we then went shopping for in the markets. Our guide took us to a four-floor market, every shop selling pieces similar but different. The pieces ranged from factory-produced to one-of-a-kind pieces by top-rated artists. We spent a couple of hours going from shop to shop, looking at everything, asking prices on some things, our tour guide trailing behind us and helping with translations if we needed. But, we didn’t buy anything our first day. It was better to just get an idea of what we liked, what our choices were. (We also thought we probably weren’t getting the best prices with our tour guide with us.) After this indoor market, we went to a street market, where most of the stock was displayed outside. Aren’t the colours great?!?
endless selection - all the same
seems dangerous to me to have breakables on the street
these carts were in use everywhere, all pulled by hand
Janine and Robin
I love all the colour!
street workers
We went back to the hotel overwhelmed by choice and exhausted. How lovely that we’d brought wine in our suitcases. We uncorked a bottle and had a much-needed glass and some nuts. Then we went to the hotel restaurant for dinner. The hotel had two restuarants – one Chinese and one Western. We’d tried to reserve in the Chinese restaurant but it was full (!), so we went to the Western one – we were the only people in the restaurant!! They allowed us to order from the Chinese menu, though, which was great because the “western” choices weren’t very interesting. The Chinese food was excellent.
Then, back to our rooms for the piece de resistance: Janine had organized for foot massages in our room. This was a production! First, booking three massage therapists to come to the hotel had the hotel staff in a tizzy. They couldn’t believe we were willing to pay 200 RMB each ($30), which was the cost for transportation to bring the women to the hotel, and to massage us for 90 minutes!! At the appointed time, a young fellow showed up with the three women. He was likely the driver and the safety net in case we proved to be three men (that’s our guess, anyway, and we called him the pimp). Where we were all going to sit, how the massage would be given, was an issue that required a lot of conversation. It was finally decided we’d sit at the end of the two beds in the room, and the women would be on their knees on the floor (though we’d offered chairs). Then the buckets had to be filled with hot hot water for the customary feet soak – which was another production as kettles of hot water were brought by hotel staff. Finally the room quietened down, our feet entered the hot water, the woman massaged our arms and thighs, and then feet out of the water, we lay back on the beds and the women massaged our feet. And then, feet done, we lay on our stomachs and they massaged our backs, and then we sat up and they finished with our necks and shoulders. Ahhhh! Can you believe all that for only $30!! Unbelievable.
in our pj's, ready to relax
the massaging begins
The next day, after breakfast and checking out, and arranging for our suitcases to be stored at the hotel for the day, and making a reservation for dinner at the hotel for that evening (our flight wasn’t until 9:15 p.m.), we were off. First stop was a large market that turned out to be still under construction. Some of the shops were open, though, and in another few months this will be a great little “village” of shops.
lots of little bridges between the shop-lined streets
this shop had lovely pieces, though we didn't buy any
at the end of the little village, a small exhibit in this pagoda
Robin and me
Robin found a beautiful plate in this market, which she then lugged to another market Janine had been to before. But, then we decided we’d grab a taxi, take Robin’s purchase back to the hotel to store, and we’d sit down for a quick cup of tea and a snack before venturing back to our four-floor market.
drinking jasmine tea with bendy straws!
In the centre of the city is a great artistic commemoration to the making of porcelain: several statues that show the process, and then a humoungous sculpture of a tiger (because this is the year of the tiger; this centre piece changes every year), made entirely of porcelain dishes….
statues showing the process
painting
carrying the product to drying rack
the tiger made of porcelain dishes
it's absolutely HUGE
close up, you can see plates and coloured lids of pots
Another unique aspect of the town was the light posts, which were all covered in beautifully-painted porcelain, and had different designs in different areas of town.
me and Robin again
Once again we spent a few hours going through the four-floor market, and this time we all bought pieces (though, not always what we had thought we liked the day before – it was definitely a good idea to look one day and buy the second day). We arranged to have them shipped back to Shanghai.
After we’d had enough shopping we toured an ancient kiln area. The on-site tour guide first showed us the process of making the pottery – like we had seen the daybefore, but this was mostly a demonstration, rather than a factory- and then to see the walk-in kiln – absolutely massive.
first a demonstration of the pottery-making process
and then the artists
amazing detail and a steady hand
every artist a completely different style
the wood-burning kiln is in this building
the workers walk into the kiln and load it up
the grounds were lush and beautiful
tour guides on the site
our tour guide with Robin and Janine
After our tour we taxied back to the hotel to have dinner. We had an open bottle of wine from the night before that we wanted to finish before our dinner. We asked if we could sit in the lounge area and have a glass of wine, but apparently that wasn’t allowed. Hotel staff came to gingerly carry the opened bottle and take us to a private back room where we could have our drink (out of sight!) and then stay and eat our dinner. Another delicious meal. Then we organized our bags and had a taxi take us to the airport. Unfortunately, when we got there we discovered our plane was delayed and they weren’t allowing us to check in until they knew an approximate time we would leave. Finally we could check in, but… turns out they still didn’t know when (if?) we would leave. After an uncomfortable wait in a very basic waiting room, with very little information – and our flights posted on the blackboard…
flights leaving Jingdezhen posted here!
we departed four hours after our scheduled time. We finally arrived in Shanghai at 2:30 am. And Janine’s driver, poor guy, had been at the airport the whole time, waiting for us. We were home at 3:30, exhausted, but it had been a fantastic two days.
And what did I buy, you’re asking?!? Well…
a beautiful large pot for the balcony
an exquisite tea set and tray, hand-painted
and three very different display pieces
A month of visitors – part four – the boys’ last few days in Shanghai June 19, 2010
Posted by freda in China.1 comment so far
On Monday May 8th, the four of us went to Expo. It was a perfect day – a little cool in the morning, very warm in the afternoon, blue sky and sunshine (such a rarity in Shanghai!). We took the local ferry, one block from our apartment, to the Expo grounds.
on the ferry, approaching the Expo grounds
Nanpu Bridge
a view of the Expo Cultural Centre, with the China pavilion to the side
Don had arranged timed tickets for the GM Pavilion, which is where we started our day. It was well done – a look at what the future might look like for the automotive industry. The woman at the GM pavilion who had organized our “easy-access” entrance, also managed for us to go to the Canadian, U.S. and UK pavilions by the “easy-access” route, so off we went to Canada.
Cirque de Soleil performers outside the pavilion
Canada's cedar pavilion
We are "Cha-na-da" in Chinese
inside Canada's pavilion
The easy-access entrance included a VIP tour of the pavilion. We had a lovely young woman, originally from South America, but growing up in Canada, give us the tour. She not only spoke Spanish and flawless English, but was fluent in French and Mandarin as well.
The UK pavilion may be the most intriguing.
from a distance you can see the Union Jack
up close you just see hundreds and hundreds of prongs
another view of the outside
inside, the walls were covered in seed pods embedded in plexiglass
close-up of the pods - every one a different seed
the light changed the look every time we turned around
We couldn’t stop taking pictures in the UK pavilion – it was fascinating. Our tour guide told us that each of those plexiglass rods, with one seed at the end of each, and no two seeds the same, will be distributed to classrooms in China and the UK, a symbol of working together for a sustainable planet.
Wandering the Expo grounds was just as interesting as going inside the pavilions.
the grounds are vast
and filled with intriguing looking pavilions
Of coure, being half-Dutch, I had to check out The Netherlands’ pavilion, called “Happy Street.”
the 'houses' reminded us of a development in Rotterdam
up the wandering street we walked - turns out it's in a figure 8 shape
more of the Netherlands "Happy Street"
looking in each window of the little houses we saw typical Dutch scenes, or artistic interpretations
a 'character' from a Dick Bruna children's story
and of course tulips in a greenhouse
We stopped for lunch and we stopped for the toilet. Always happy when we find the “chinglish” signs!!
Tum left
okay!
Our GM contact miraculously managed to get us into the China pavilion – definitely the biggest and best!
the China pavilion
inside, looking up at the structure
I think this captures the sentiment
Our last pavilion of the day was Italy – very intriguing and artistic….
inside Italy
orchestra on the wall
fashion on the wall
pasta on the wall
and of course wine on the wall
After a long and excellent day, it was time to go home for our own glass of wine!
exiting the grounds
On Tuesday, the boys and I went to Jiashan, to be guests of the English Major students that Rob and Dave teach at Guangbiao University, (named after a rich Hong Kong fellow who thought it would be fun to own a university). Originally, when Rob and Dave asked if the boys would be willing to visit their classes, and maybe talk with the students, answer questions about what university in Canada is like, etc, we thought we might be having to talk in front a large group of students. It turned out, the students wanted to have a celebration (they don’t get many foreigners!) and they entertained us. (The Chinese love to put on a show!) Even though these kids are 20 or 21 years old, they are endearingly innocent, and more like North American 14 year olds. They were very sweet.
waiting for the show to begin
Tai Kwan Do demonstration
solo act (with Rob on guitar)
group act
hip-hop dance routine
Tai chi
Lucas sang too!
and they called for an encore
The last “event” was a kind of challenging game. Everyone sat in a circle, leaned back and joined hands, and then the chairs were pulled out and it was a human bridge, of sorts….
first everyone sits in a circle
getting ready is half the fun
joining hands
all chairs out, a human chain
After this last game, everyone took many, many pictures – us with them in a variety of combinations – and we were presented with a small gift of a homemade chinese food, and then we said goodbye and were off for the 1 1/2 hour drive home. As Lucas said when we were back in the van, “that was strangely fun!”
On Wednesday morning, the boys and I went on a tour of the old lanes and alleyways with Shanghai photographer Gangfeng Wang. (Check out one of my earlier blogs to see one of the photos of his I bought.) Because Gangfeng Wang grew up in the area, he was very comfortable talking with the locals and we were able to enter some of their homes – a real experience.
Gangfeng Wang
old alley
this is where she cooks her meals
from the rooftop 'balcony' of one home, viewing the the other balconies, and new Shanghai in the background
'balconies'
I love the mop used as clothesline
no modesty for laundry in Shanghai!
alley restaurant - the menu
the dishes...
and the cooking area
we were graciously invited into this woman's home
a communal kitchen
pet birds
Gangfeng talks with a local resident
slippers drying in the sun
the plane trees are in full leaf now
The tour was informative and fascinating. Three hours later we were off to play mahjong for the last time. Then home for packing and a final family dinner. The boys left early Thursday morning to return to Vancouver, suitcases loaded down with new clothes, souvenirs and snack foods.
I’m so glad they had the opportunity to visit us in Shanghai and see a little of China, because the next day we got life-changing news: Don’s boss told him he was being moved out of his job to make room for a female executive that needed a position, but where we would go was not yet determined. We were devastated! (I still am, for that matter.) After almost four weeks of high stress, with Don talking with his boss, and me crying off and on, it was finally announced that Don would be the VP of U.S. Sales Operations (an excellent opportunity and challenge for Don) and we would be moving to Detroit. My “Shanghai Adventure” is quickly coming to an end. However, stay tuned for more blogs about the places I’ve visited and the shopping I’ve done in the mad rush to do as much as possible before I have to leave!
A month of family – part three – the boys in Shanghai June 17, 2010
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Because we got home so late from Beijing (2 in the morning), the next day, Monday, was a stay-at-home-and-rest day, except for Don, unfortunately, who had to pack a suitcase and fly to Detroit for the week. After he left, I treated mom and the boys to a foot massage – the perfect relax and rejuvinate activity. (Though, Lucas who is very ticklish, found it a little stressful. Oops.)
Tuesday was my mother’s last day in Shanghai – she left late Tuesday afternoon. The weather was lovely and clear on Tuesday morning so we decided we’d go up to the top of the Shanghai World Finance Centre for the views. Mom had already seen city views, but the boys hadn’t. In fact, they hadn’t really yet seen anything of Shanghai. We walked over – just a few large blocks – while the boys took in the variety of building architecture:
such a variety of architectural styles
and none of these buildings here before 1990
Jinmao Tower and the Shanghai World Finance Centre
and then ascended to the 100th floor of the SWFC, which is the floor right above that opening you see in the picture. I was worried about Lucas, who doesn’t like heights, but it was mom who was really shaken by the height. Not a nice thing to do to her on the morning before a flight (!), but she hadn’t expected it, either. Great views, though!
Pearl Tower, top of the Jinmao building, and the sweep of the Huangpu River
look down, look w-a-y down
the four buildings of our apartment complex - ours is the one of the right of the back two
bottom of the Pearl Tower
Lucas had no problem with the height at all
After descending, we walked to Element Fresh for lunch, then back to our apartment for mom to put the last couple of things in her suitcase before Mr. Shi arrived to take us to the airport. Mom’s 2 1/2 weeks with us flew by, and I think she thoroughly enjoyed herself.
The first place the boys and I went to on Wednesday was the fabric market – of course. That’s where visitors always need to go early in their visit, so there’s time to get clothes made. Over the course of the next two weeks both boys got cashmere coats, Lucas got two suits, Nico one, and they both got shirts – Lucas twice as many as Nico!
Then we were off to mahjong. I had asked Dorothy (wonderful hostess and mahjong teacher) if I could bring the boys along, and they could sit behind the table and learn the game. Well, it turned out she had a couple visiting her, so she taught the four of them how to play while the rest of us carried on as usual. The regular mahjong ladies were stunned, however, when Dorothy offered the boys beer – “hey, Dorothy, you never offer us beer!” someone shouted. Hmm. The boys, with those quick young minds, picked up the game that afternoon. When we went back the following week, they had no problem holding their own, and Lucas mahjonged four times in a row, while I never went out once!
The next day I first attended a going-away party for three GM wives being transferred, and then the boys and I were off to the Shanghai Zoo. It seemed an appropriate place to go, given how many times I took them to the zoo when they were young, and I was anxious to see the pandas. The Shanghai Zoo is a beautiful park and most of the animals have good homes, for a zoo.
zoo entrance
wide, shady paths and beautiful flower beds
sculptured plants
tranquil beauty
beautiful setting
Unfortunately, the pandas were all sleeping….
not a peep from these guys
sound asleep
this guy may have one eye open!
The weather was perfect, we enjoyed our outing, and it’s always fun when you can spot a “Chinglish” sign!
freight check??
The next evening, Friday April 30th, was the grand opening of Expo. We had been warned by the staff of our apartment building that the roads around our building would be closed to all traffic, including walking traffic, starting at 6 p.m., as the main road beside our building complex is the main route to the Expo grounds on the Pudong side of the city, and security would be very tight. We had planned to meet a few friends at the Blue Frog pub for drinks and dinner. New plan needed. We decided to meet for drinks and then order take-out and bring it back to our apartment, and stay put here, eating and drinking and hopefully watching the fireworks. So, Sharon (our friend who moved here from Florida with GM at the same time as we did, though had lived here previously for 3 years), the boys and I set off to Blue Frog at 4 pm to meet Dave and Rob.
(Brief interlude to tell you the story of Dave and Rob…. One Friday evening when our husbands were out of town, or otherwise busy, Sharon and I set off for Happy Hour (two for one drinks) at Blue Frog. We didn’t get there until 7 p.m. (HH starts at 4 p.m. at BF, and goes until 8 pm.), and the place was packed. Luckily the staff found a table for two and we squeezed in, only to find we were sitting very close to another table with two guys already well into HH. Well, tables being as close together as they were, of course we said a few words to them – I think a “cheers” when our first drinks were delivered. We exchanged some comments, and when it quickly became clear to me they were likely Canadian, I asked where they were from. Canada was the answer. So are we, we answered back. Where in Canada? BC. So are we. Where in BC? Well, Dave was from Kitsilano, Vancouver – which is where our condo is located!! Rob was from Trail, and Sharon had been in Trail many times when she was a District Manager for GM in BC, so they started discussing restaurants and pubs that Sharon knew. And then it turned out Rob had been in Pentiction for university and they both know a GM dealer that Sharon and I know well. (Isn’t it sometimes a very small world?!?) Anyway, they both teach English at a university about an hour outside of Shanghai and regularly come into the “big city” for western-style food, etc, and always hit the Blue Frog. I guess it was only a matter of time before we would meet them!)
Back to Friday, April 30th…. We all had our HH drinks, or maybe four, placed our food orders and then walked our food back to our apartment. Fred (Sharon’s husband) joined us for dinner and a great time was had by all – I’m pretty sure (!). And we were able to see some of the fireworks from our balcony, though we don’t live close enough to the Expo grounds to have had the full view. Luckily Lucas had the presence of mind to take a picture.
the Shanghai World Expo opens!
Don got home from his week in Detroit on Saturday afternoon, his 53rd birthday. We went out for a celebratory dinner that evening, to a wonderful steak restaurant in the Jimmao Tower, and then had after-dinner drinks in the lounge, with a four-piece band of Chinese instruments, playing background music.
On Sunday we went out for Chinese DimSum brunch with a huge gang. The four of us, Sharon and Fred, Diane and Julio, and four members of Julio’s family visiting from Spain, as well as a friend of theirs. It’s a great way to sample a large number of dishes!
Totally stuffed, the four of us, along with Sharon and Fred, went for a long walk through the Old Town. We meandered through the Dongtai Lu Antique Market (though don’t expect to find “real” antiques!) and the YuYuan Bazaar.
typical parking situation
I never get tired of seeing pajama worn on the streets!
and I'm still amazed at the way they can load their bikes up!
entering the Dongtai Lu "Antique" Market
so many intriguing trinkets for sale
a multi-tasking vendor
Sharon checks out the wares
I love the Communist workers
YuYuan Bazaar area
don't buy the street meat!!
We had planned to go to the YuYuan gardens as well, but it was hot and we were tired. We went home on the ferry.
on the ferry (for the huge cost of 7.5 cents per person)
Don took the next few days off and we went to the fabric markets (again) and the fake market (always fun!) and the flower market, as well as doing a few other errands like furniture shopping and grocery shopping, and then while I had a hair appointment, Don took the boys to the Urban Planning Museum, which I had been to twice, but he had never seen. All the ‘boys’ loved it! I’ve posted pictures from this Museum before, but just to remind you…
the huge floor 'model' of the city of Shanghai
a portion of the Expo grounds
a view of People's Square and surround from the Urban Planning Museum
more of People's Square, including the Shanghai Museum
The rest of the week was a busy one for Don at work because several dealers and executives were in town from the whole region, as winners of the Grand Masters event (top dealers from all the countries). Don and I attended the opening night cocktail reception on Thursday; Don had to drop into a few of the dine-around dinners on the Friday (I stayed home that night with the boys) and Don and I attended the Saturday night gala event. We didn’t see much of Don, but the boys and I spent the day on Thursday at the Shanghai Museum (I’ve posted pictures from that day already – under my mother’s time at the museum) and then on Friday we went to Qibao, an ancient traditional town on the outskirts of Shanghai. There was a temple, small museums of interest, beautiful gardens and a canal where we took a little boat ride. Not as big as the water towns, but a good replacement as time constraints meant we wouldn’t be making it to a water town.
canal through Qibao
large pagoda outside the temple
a very long corridor of strange guardians (just outside the temple)
Mr. Shi was our tour guide, but unable to explain much about these "guardians"
entering the temple
Buddha
beautiful gardens
traditional architecture
canal scene
riding on the canal
canal scene
Mr. Shi waits for us while we ride on the canal
narrow shop-lined street
small roasted birds (what kind?)
I love the traditional look
After touring Qibao, we were off to the Jade Buddha Temple. I had been there in early March with Elsie, but this time we were lucky to find the temple full of chanting monks.
inside the main temple
chanting monks
inside the temple
outside, monks chant while a family burns paper money for a dead relative
the monks
burning paper money to send off a dead relative
rubbing the belly is good luck!
good luck for all of us...
inside temple courtyard
I love the combination of old and new in Shanghai
I’m going to leave the last few days of the boys’ visit here for a separate blog, because I have so many pictures to share from those last days (we went to Expo, Rob & Dave’s university, and on a guided walk with the Shanghai photographer Gangfeng Wang) and the blogs take a long time to ‘post’ when there are so many photos. To be continued….
freda's world adventures 