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  • Shanghai onto Hong Kong

    We were joined today by a relatively new employee

    Walk on the Water Front

    Shopping in Shanghai

    Yu Gardens

    Uniquely shaped rocks with wonderful plant gardens.

    I did not bring my camera, but if I had, I would have used B&W film.

    Lunch at The Oldest Shanghai Restaurant

    Mr. Cheng had problems with the original waitress, and complained to the manager.

    From what I understand, we were first told by the waitress to look in another area of the
    restaurant, but when Mr. Cheng persisted, the waitress did not wait to work because she was tired.

    I could understand her plight, but if this had not been a Communistic country, she would have been right on our party.

    More shopping in Shanghai

    Bought the jade pendants for Amy & Debbie

    Flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong

    Hotel Limo from the Airport

    Black Stretch Mercedes-Benz

    Back at The Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong

    The person at the front desk knew Dad visually as her approached the front desk, and she walked us up to our room.

    Talk about Service!!

    At the hotel bar

    Dad and I had a wonderful conversation, while I was eye flirting with a blonde in a red dress.

    There were definitely points in our conversation, that I wished Dad would disappeared and gone to bed!

    After Dad left the bar, I meet Ian Crinters. He claimed that he was the retired Ex-president for CitiBank, Hong Kong.

    Ian also introduced me to Dr. Wally.

    Apparently, Dr. Wally is one of the leading Dentists in Hong Kong.

    Dr. Wally and I ended up having a conversation about China and food. I mentioned that in the today’s paper, I had read about how to make snake soup, he offered to take me to a restaurant that served an excellent good snake soup.

    The bill for Dad & I comprised of 6-7 beers for me, and 3 Scotches for Dad. I signed for the bill and it was for $766.00 plus tab!!!! Grant it, it was Hong Kong dollars, but it is still a shock!!

    – Andrew
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  • From Beijing to Shanghai

    Flew from Beijing to Shanghai

    Got my watch battery changed

    Another informal Dinner in the back streets

    Again we were severed by two very cute waitress!!

    I sat by the window, and was able to look out and watch what was going on in the streets below us.

    This was actually a Shanghai style feast!!

    • Raw Crab
    • Small clams
    • Pigeon
    • Sparrow
    • More Fish

    After dinner, we went to a Fair/Carnival Place

    This Fair/Carnival place was run by the government, so that families could have some place to take their families. It only costs $0.50 per ticket, and people can see anything from distortions mirrors, acrobats, juggling, Chinese theater, Fashion shows, Chinese dubbed American films, etc.

    The American movie that was showing a Jean-Claude Van Damme in it.

    The fashion show illustrated Western influenced Chinese designers, and there were some beautiful women modeling the clothes.

    It started to rain while we were in the amusement park, so we headed back to the hotel.

    Back in the room, I watched several movies as I laid in bed an wrote down thoughts of my journey so far.

    I finally fell asleep around approx 02:00am.

    One of the movies was Die Hard II with Bruce Willis. The sound track was in English, but at the bottom of the screen was the Chinese character translations.

    When Bruce swore, just below him, you would see the characters!!

    – Andrew
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  • Tiananmen Square and The Great Wall

    Note – All images are scanned from slide film.

    Tiananmen Square – Overview
    Monument to the People’s Heros
    Museum of Chinese Revolution & History
    Working People’s Cultural Palace
    Great Hall of the People
    Map of the Tombs
    Walking up to the tombs
    Walking up to the tombs 2
    13th Ming Emperor’s Tombs – Looking Out
    13th Ming Emperor’s Tombs – Looking Out 2
    13th Ming Emperor’s Tombs – Looking Out 3
    The Great Wall – Tower
    The Great Wall – Walking View
    The Great Wall – Looking out
    The Great Wall – Stairs
    The Great Wall – Walking Surface
    The Great Wall – Looking Out 2
    The Great Wall – Looking Out 3
    The Great Wall – Looking Out 4

    Tiananmen Square

    • Tiananmem Square Overview
    • Monument to the People’s Heros
    • Museum of Chinese Revolution & History
    • Working People’s Cultural Palace
    • Great Hall of the People

    13th Ming Emperor’s Tombs

    • Map of the Tombs
    • Walking up to the tombs
    • Walking up to the tombs 2

    It is very hard to show pictures of the Tomb because they are all underground.

    At the entrance, you walk down about 100 feet of stairs, and then opens up into a series of large vaults.

    In these vaults are the various items buried with the Emperor.

    Back above ground, one is treated with a great view of the surrounding country side.

    • Looking Out
    • Looking Out – Detail 1
    • Looking Out – Detail 2

    Lunch in a ‘tourist trap’

    Lunch in the upstairs portion of the building.

    A tour bus of Chinese tourists came in toward the end of the meal.

    Shopping around the International Store.

    The Great Wall of China

    The drive north-west of Beijing/Peking

    There is some beautiful mountains that you drive through to get to the wall. I just kept looking out the window in the amazement of nature.

    I was also amazed to see portions of the wall traversing the tops of the mountains. Here was this extremely rugged terrain, and on top of it all, this stone wall!!

    Simply put, AMAZING!!

    Robert did have a problem with the tickets because of his nationality.

    Merchants selling picture books, buttons, and table cloths all along the wall!!

    The higher I walked, the more and more I was amazed.

    The Wall just stretches as far as the eye can see.

    • Great Wall Tower
    • The Great Wall 01
    • The Great Wall 02
    • Walking up some stairs
    • The Great Wall 03
    • The Great Wall 04
    • The Great Wall 05
    • The Great Wall 06

    Drive back to Beijing

    I saw a small fire in the under brush that no one seemed to care about. I did not see anyone tending the flames!!

    Formal Dinner

    Dad was the host for this meal

    – Andrew
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  • Tour of Beijing

    Note – All images are scanned from slide film.

    Roof Corner Detail – Forbidden City
    Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) – Gate of Supreme Harmony
    Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) – Bronze Lion
    Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) – Marple Terraces/East
    Dragon-Cloud Ramp Stone Carving
    Gold Guard Lion
    Carved Wood Dragon
    Iron Incense Urn
    Gold Guard Dog
    Main Enterence to the Forbidden City
    Guard Tower – Forbidden City

    Beijing/Peking, China – Day 2

    Walking around to the shops to view displays

    Drove around Tiananmen Square

    Forbidden City

    VERY LARGE. I can easily see why people were in awe back a few centuries ago!! I mean I was amazed here and now!!

    • Main Entrance to the Forbidden City
    • Guard Tower – Forbidden City
    • Roof Corner Detail – Forbidden City
    • Taihemen – Gate of Supreme Harmony
    • Taihemen – Bronze Lion
    • Taihemen – Marple Terraces/East
    • Dragon-Cloud Ramp Stone Carving
    • Gold Guard Lion
    • Carved Wood Dragon
    • Iron Incense Urn
    • Gold Guard Dog

    The Emperor Gardens

    Dinner in the streets

    We ended up eating dinner right across the street from the hotel.

    My introduction to the Mongolian Fire Pot style of cooking and eating

    Our waitress was an extremely cute Chinese girl, and we got her to sing a traditional Chinese folk song for us, and in turn, Dad sang a song back to her.

    After dinner we walked down the street, and had desert from the side-walk vendors. During the day, none of the vendors are there, but just before dawn, they start to set up, and by dinner time and up to 11:00PM they are still selling all sorts of food.

    Robert & I tried to barter for a scroll.

    Bar hopping w/Robert

    1st Bar – Sammy’s Hostess bar

    One of the senior hostesses was training. The proper way to pour a beer, to clean an ash tray, and at point, I do remember the teacher slapping the student.

    The where very quick with the lighter when you reached for a cigarette. It was rather odd knowing you are representing Zippo, and the hostess keep whipping out disposable lighters.

    Early in the evening, the power was cut off.

    Going to the bathroom with a flash light, and the guy in the bathroom with the flash light as you are doing your thing.

    2nd Bar – Hostess Bar

    They wanted 200 juan just to sit there!!

    3rd – Hostess Bar

    One of the first things that struck me about this bar was the collection of Camera in a glass display case as you walked in.

    At the door, one is greeted by one hostess greets you and then walks you into the lounge, and up some very elegant stairs to the second floor.

    At the top of the stairs, you are greeted by another hostess, who guides you down the corridor, and you try to decide what type of atmosphere you wish to partake in.

    We decide on going into the Karaoke portion.

    Several times, Robert got up to do some singing, and he turned out to be quite good!

    Our hostess, Melinda, know some English, and she studying to become a doctor.

    – Andrew
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  • Next stop… Beijing

    Beijing/Peking, China – Day 1

    China Southern Airlines – Flt#CZ3111 – Guangzhou->Peking (42E)

    Meet at the airport by 3 Black Mercedes Benzes

    Dad and Mr. Cheng were in one, while Robert and I were in another, and Brian in the third.

    Checked into The Palace Hotel

    Very formal Chinese Dinner

    The little green peppers appeared again

    Once again we had “Hung Fu”, plus some really good brandy.

    Introduced to Fruit tea with the dried fruit actually in your cup. One drinks the tea with the
    uses of the lid to strain the fruit. The boy pouring the water, had any attitude, but poured the
    water with a flair!

    Robert and I went to the Hard Rock Cafe

    Robert wanted to learn how to drink like an American.

    I drank him under the table to the point that he fell asleep at the table… The cab ride back
    to the hotel was very interesting… Robert spoke to me in Cantonese, Mandarin and English…

    – Andrew
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