A China Experience Pt 1.....Shanghai and Zhujiajiao!

你好

Nǐ hǎo.........China, our first ever organised package tour. As your aware dear readers I am much more a 'jump on a train, plane, automobile' kind of a simian, taking the sights in at my own (well Dad's own) pace, enjoying a little Merienda washed down by the local tipple. The concept of: this is breakfast time, need to be here by such and such a time, next stop is blah'd blah and so on, concerned all of us, well just a little bit! How wrong we (especially Dad) were!!!!!!!

To be fair our holiday started with a problem. We ended up in the wrong hotel at the wrong side of Shanghai. Never mind t'is good to be lost in a country you've never been to and only able to say Nǐ hǎo (Hello), still with the help of a local tour guide and a lovely chap behind reception we were bundled into a taxi and off towards the Jin Jiang Hau Ting Hotel and Towers complex (try saying that after 3 pints of Tsingtao), home for the next three nights!!!!

Opulent (that's a big word for a small monkey) or what????? Our rooms were situated on the 20th floor and the view of the sports stadium and road complex reminded us of our 19th floor apartment in Quezon City, Manila! Very weird but very lovely at the same time. After a quick wash and brush up, we ventured (not too far) into Shanghai City!!!!!

Speaking of Tsingtao, later that evening the folks decided to have a couple of cheeky sherbets in the hotel bar.

Crikey and Holy Moly £12.50 for two 296ml bottles of the local looney juice!

So the olds decided to have a few more.......t'is not every day you're in Shanghai!!!!

Next morning after a splendid sleep in my own big bed we faced a breakfast the likes of which I have next ever seen! Thank you Wendy Wu founder of the feast!!!

Next stop....Zhujiajiao Water Village!

Zhujiajiao is a water town on the outskirts of Shanghai, and was established about 1,700 years ago. Archaeological findings dating back 5,000 years have also been found. 36 stone bridges and numerous rivers line Zhujiajiao, and many ancient buildings still line the riverbanks! Zhujiajiao literally means Zu family Corner! At lunch time we again feasted on local dishes made with green soy beans, Zarou and lotus roots, yummy scummy!!!!!!!!!!

Some of my new best friends enjoying our first Chinese Lunch!!!!!

Oooooo 'ello slightly scary lady!!!!

That's ya lot for now!!!!

TTFN

ED xx