HagoodShattuck675
Following a 5 week Rotary Group Study Exchange Trip to Japan -- it was a pleasure to meet my Japanese pals -- and go off with them for three days in Shanghai and in to the surrounding Countryside.
The international organization recognized as Rotary promotes yearly travel that all men and women amongst the ages of 26 and 40, male and female, and of all backgrounds - ought to know about - simply because it is a Rotary-funded six week study aboard and anybody can apply to be a component of this significant life practical experience. For anyone who is this age group - you may take pleasure in the form of knowledge that may be described in my notes within this post. To learn more about the plan visit the international Rotary internet site and look for GSE - Group Research Exchange - and make contact with your community Rotary Club for extra facts. Just after becoming the GSE group leader to Japan for our Rotary District, the following travels have been an invitation from Japanese friends to go with them to China.
And more adventures come from Rotary GSE.
November 9th - Thursday, and 11th - Saturday in Shanghai:
Dennis and I left at midnight from LA on Asiana Airlines - on a fourteen hour flight through Seoul, Korea -- Incheon Airport - and on to Shanghai - Pu Dong Airport. Having a 3 hour layover in Seoul -we initially got a glimpse in the Asian culture, and walked the long corridor of the Duty Absolutely free Shops and stopped in the Wendy Café for latte and tea. When we landed in Shanghai - Mr. Gao Mim met us - with a sign that Ai told me to view - with huge letters saying "Dennis and Joan, Welcome to Shanghai". Delightful to have Mr. Go - who works for Kobayashi San - and Lilly, who's Chinese - meet us and spirit us away. Our luggage went by auto towards the hotel - and Dennis, Lilly and I rode the Maglev from the airport to the west side of Shanghai - a train that price 9 billions to build from the Chinese Government and flew to a highest of 424 Kilometers more than the seven minute ride. They mentioned that it would take 45 minutes by automobile - using the site visitors within the City - to cross from the river and reach our hotel. An Australian sat across from us - and we marveled in the whiz from the train - and the instantaneous zip of a train passing within the other course. Off the train and into a cab to the hotel, the Ramada positioned within the western side, Pu Xi - the old element - involving the People's Square along with the Bund - the waterfront in the Huangpu River. The four of us enjoyed a late lunch inside the restaurant, Nan Xinya, around the fourth floor in the hotel - with the round serving in the middle on the table filled with Cantonese flavors - like a fried fish with a red sauce - delicious. Dennis and I napped - and went for any lengthy stroll down the Nanjing Rd - the pedestrian street behind the hotel - for the Bund - and enjoyed the array of colorful lighting down the street and around the waterfront - and also the blue boat that sailed across our view. It was a wonderful evening - and also the long stroll back took us for the People's Square - when we realized that we'd gone also far and retraced our measures. We slept like babies around the firm mattress with the coverlet - and were welcomed to China.
November 12th - Sunday in Shanghai:
We woke to a misty sky - and planned to meet Lilly at 9AM - and very first enjoyed breakfast in the hotel. Lilly took us in the morning to City God Temple Bazaar - and the Yu Garden. The Garden was the home of Mr. Pan, constructed in 1559, within the Ming Dynasty. Garden in China consists of the trees, plants, rock and buildings - and is definitely the household where nature is brought in to be seasoned in the residing. We walked the path and by way of the Chinese structures - around the pools - by way of the gateways - and enjoyed the beauty in the development, the lots of turning paths, the circular entry strategies - the rocks from the bottom from the Taihu Lake (1 in the 5 largest fresh water lakes) with a lot of fascinating shapes from the erosion from the water - piled higher - and oftentimes using a "tower of happiness" in the clouds (around the rocks) and Exquisite Jade Stone. 5 dragon walls, dragons with three fingers (for typical people) - a pearl in the dragons mouth - and one using a frog in a sympiotic partnership - and tails that ripple the walls leading down the paths. Around the corner, we exited the Garden in to the lots of shops - and entered the Silk Factory - to see how the silk function spins itself in silk thread within its cocoon - and is cooked and placed in water to ensure that with a brush the ladies can stir the cocoons and uncover the silk threads. Then six or eight threads are spun together to produce the wonderful silk thread - and we saw the bedding and garments that happen to be traditionally made from the fine silks of China. Earlier, before entering the Garden - we spotted the Nan Xiang Dumpling Restaurant with a long line, and Lilly told us concerning the yummy crab and pork dumplings. Just after some buying inside the division shop - and searching at pearl, jade and precious stones in jewelry - we tried the dumplings, using a bit of ginger inside - and they were scrumptious. We returned to get a silk blanket and cover in the Silk Factory - and they even had "California king". We hurried by cab to return to the hotel - simply because Kobayashi San and Gao San had been waiting for us for some lunch.
The company van - Fukuoka Knit Firm, Kobayashi San's business - took us across town - views of the streets of your City, the tall apartment buildings, the theater and workplace buildings for this City of 16 million individuals. We traveled for the Hong District, close to the Embassies, including the Japanese Embassy. The restaurant was Chizhen in Hong Qiao - and we dined inside a smaller room - and have been amazed from the array of foods around the round glass serving piece in the center in the table - and including the shark fin soup (highly-priced and a delicacy in China). We changed the plans for your afternoon - superior transform - and from the hotel walked up the Nan Jing to Shu Ya Liang Zi - a classic Chinese massage - on the eighth floor - and all five of us sat inside the room every in our personal reclining chair - with hot water at our feet - and after that the foot massage, deeply baring into our feet - and ear cleaning, a lot to our surprise. We were effectively rested and massaged and returned for the hotel, happily - and Dennis and I stopped in Yong An - the division shop - and I enjoyed purchasing "hair toys" to hold my hair in place - plus the woman who showed me the way to do this. Lilly taught us to say "Bu Ya Xie Xie" (no thanks) to all the vendors who had been looking to sell us fakes, watches and purses. As well as, Bu Xie (thank you). And "Ni Hao" (Mandarin for Hello). That night we dressed and went for the Ritz Carlton for the Acrobat Show and for the Grape's Garden on Xinle Rd. for dinner - and had our initially taste from the Chinese delicacy of "river crab". Dennis and I required some lessons on ways to consume this, and that the component in the middle is regarded as the very best. It is all exciting as well as a uncommon expertise to be so generously hosted by people who know Shanghai and it life, and an addition to my Rotary GSE practical experience in Japan with several associates there.
This article could be the first within a series of two -- so read on and enjoy.
