Shanghai

In Shanghai I was met by Han Jun at the airport then Dong Yan who guided me around the city, went for a run with and gave me someone to talk to. Jing Ying and Jia Yongjun joined us in the following days as we tour the city. One thing that struck me was that not only were so many of the women dressed n designer type clothes most of them had high heeled boots. But I guess it is still winter so the boots made sense and it was fun to see all of the designs.

Yan and Jing took me to have Sichuan on my first day and showed me around Nanjing Lu (Rd), which is a big pedestrian mall in Shanghai. There are lots of stores, lots of food and lots of vendors. Some were a little too pushy so I learned to say "mei you chen", "I have no money". I don't think the vendors liked that expression, they seem to think all Mei Gou (Amercian) are rich and want to buy fake designer watches.

Jia Jongjun joined us the next day after he and Jing came from a job fair. We ate noodles on Nanjing Lu and headed to Old Town where the City God Temple a restored temple and other building of the traditional building style, have been turned into a market place. From there we headed to Pudong to see the Jin Mao building the tallest building in China and Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Only I went to the top of the Jin Mao. The others said that they have already been. It was impressive, especially looking down the interior.

I am now a "seasoned international traveler" I took a taxi, bought a train ticket, got on the right train and took the subway to my hotel in Shanghai all by myself.. Although I did have some friends write note to show people for me.