Day 4 - Southeast China

Ok, before I begin I really have to apologize. I just skimmed through some of the blogs I've posted and realized I haven't been proofing them. You have to forgive me, but once we get to the hotel I am really exhausted and do my best to at least put some of my experiences into words to share with you and selfishly save for me later to remember.

So, again here I am very tired - but it is a happy tired. Our day started very early this morning - 4 a.m. - packing our bags and heading to the Beijing airport. I know I said this earlier but I just have to say it is truly unbelievable to see. It is an incredible structure. Our group boarded a plane bound for Shanghai and didn't realize that in and of itself would be an adventure. When breakfast on the plane was served Terri and I opted for the traditional Chinese breakfast. What it was, I'm not really sure. The porridge looking stuff was very bland and I think was rice and some kind of a bean. The round purplish colored ball we think is an egg (however you slice it like cheese) and the package of 'vegetables' looked like (but wasn't) green beans in some kind of a salty, vinegar preservative. Oh, and the roll had some kind of sweet compacted powdery substance. If my descriptions sound vague, that's because I'm finding it hard to relate what exactly I've been eating for the past few days. Actually, the majority of food has been delicious and not completely bizarre. That is yet to come as our new tour guide - Jimmy - has given us an agenda for the next couple of days. Included on our itinerary is a trip to a marketplace in Shanghai and I am working up the courage to try something funky. One of my new friends on the tour, Wayne, has already challenged me to eat a fish eye. Hmmm, I don't like to turn down a challenge ... but really, a fish eye? I'll let you know how that goes.

OK, I've detracted from our day. So, we arrive in Shanghai to a regular ol' airport - nothing as awe-inspiring as the Beijing airport. We met our new tour guide and boarded a bus headed to a small city Suzhou.

Here's the interesting part. According to our tour guide, Suzhou - with a population of 1 million - is considered a small city. Our next stop, Hangzhou, has approximately 3 million and is therefore considered medium-sized city. A large city in China has a population of 6 million. Once a city reaches that number they would be able to get a subway system. A city like Beijing (pop. 14 million) is considered a great city.

We learned all this and more as we took a drive through the country to Suzhou. The trip was about an hour and a half and we were able to see the way rural Chinese live. It was far different and less attractive lifestyle. Homes were dilapidated and rundown. Oh, and then there are all the factories we passed by. They really do produce so much smog. It's unreal. Although there was a lot of smog in Beijing we luckily had a beautifully clear day on the Great Wall. I actually think it is worse here. It has really bothered my eyes more than anything. One of the places we went this afternoon - Tiger Hill - is a fantastically beautiful place. There is a Pagoda there (see pictures) that is place on the top of the hill. Once you climb a little way up to where the pagoda is located there are or rather should be some fantastic views of the city. Unfortunately there is no sky - only haze. This sounds so strange coming from a Republican whose job it is to fight for less government regulation of business and believes in progress and economic development/growth. But really there needs to be some kind of standard and environmental regulation. Their progress has definitely come at a price.

So again, I've deviated from our day ... Once we arrived in Suzhou we enjoyed lunch. The food is a little different here. There is much more seafood and vegetables incorporated in our meals. I suppose that makes sense because, according to our tour guide, the name Suzhou means fish and rice city. Apparently fish and rice is the best translation of the word Suz and hou means city.

We then went to the Lingering Garden which is another tranquil and beautiful place to visit. It once was a private garden hidden behind walls in the middle of the city. It is surprising when you enter the gardens and discover rock paths, a large pond and wonderful trees and greenery.

After our tour of the gardens we went to Tiger Hill to see the leaning pagoda which is a 1,000 year old Buddhist pagoda. We then came to our hotel to check in and unpack (but not too much because we are only staying one night). We later went to dinner.

Terri, Matt, Colleen and I decided to roam the streets around where are hotel is located before joining the group for dinner. I purchased some Chinese candy (it was tasty and I am going to try and bring some back to the U.S. to share). We almost got hit by a car - several times. It is the craziest thing. People drive insanely in all cities I've now been too in China. There is no respect for lanes or right of way or anything like it. It's more of a free for all. It's also very dangerous because there are people on bicycles, motorcycles, rickshaws, mopeds and just plain pedestrians all sharing the same rode with cars, trucks and buses. So crossing the street you do at your own risk. And it is a risk!

Oh, also wanted to follow-up on the shortage of artificial sweetner, diet coke and wine. Found all three! They are scarce and not prominently available, but you can legally purchased all of them. In fact, I could purchase a bottle of Great Wall wine that is bottled in China (that's the only English words written on the label). Colleen did find a Diet Coke in the airport and we found another in one of the random food stores we went to this afternoon. I also saw a couple packages of equal on the table at the hotel. So, I apologize for not giving you the facts - I'm just conveying what I know to be true at the time and what I've observed.

Then, I have another update. Apparently toilets are fascinating to me. At our hotel we have what is called a Bidet ... If you don't know what it is, google it. It's interesting.

OK, my eyes hurt and I'm ready for a hot shower and bed. I'll write more later - including a traditional Chinese birthday celebration ... I like how they celebrate.

Tomorrow we tour a silk factory and the Grand Canal before making our way to Hangzhou.

Have a GREAT DAY ... I know I will!

Actually, my camera battery is dead and needs to charge. So I'll post pictures in a few minutes.