Sunday, November 7, 2010

China trip summary

Many folks have commented they loved the humor in Part 1 and Part 2 of the China trip, however, it was just too long. So I have created a summary. Obviously, if you want the details, you can scroll down and read the whole story. I have received great comments, like "very funny," "hysterical," and "really got a kick out of it" on my cartoon video: "Rennie does not want to go to China." But you have to click on the link to see it:http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7442923/

Day 1 in Shanghai: Lot's of tall new buildings. Arrived at the hotel and cab driver left with our luggage. Wanted us to pay the meter fare when he came back. We got our luggage and laughed at him.
Day 2 in Shanghai: Went to the Jewish Museum and the 2010 Expo. If you don't like someone, send them to the Expo. Drivers here are crazy. Traffic lights, lanes, one way streets, cross walks, and sidewalks are only suggestions. As a pedestrian, on a one way street or sidewalk you can be hit from any direction at night by electric scooters none of which use their headlights.
Day 3 in Shanghai: Tour started. Went to Shanghai Museum and silk carpet factory. Didn't buy anything.
Day 4: Took bus to Suzhou, pronounced Sue Joe. Went to the Master-of-the-Fishing-Nets-Garden-Home-and-Tourist-Destination. Dianne bought silk paintings.
Next was a silk spinning factory. Dianne bought silk scarves.
Day 5: Got on the riverboat for a 4 day trip on the Yangtze River.
Day 6: First stop, The Three Gorges Dam. Amazing structure and potential ecological disaster. No one drinks the tap water in China, not even the Chinese.
Day 7: We took an excursion up the Shennong Stream. Dianne purchased porcelain shoes.
Day 8: Shore excursion to the Ghost City of Fengdu. Saw a wonderful example of a Chinglish sign: "Beacuse (sic) being under constrction (sic) cause inconvenience to you, invite respectively forgiving." Dianne bought a wooden face mask.
Day 9: Arrived in Chongqing (pronounced Chung King) Saw the pandas. Wow! They are like big cuddly koala bears on drugs. Dianne bought an umbrella.
Day 10: Arrived in Guilin and took a ride on the Li River. I bought post cards. Dianne bought four wood carvings, an old watch, vase, bracelet, other stuff, a partridge in a pear tree, and a suitcase to hold it all. We learned how to get ripped off by the vendors even when you negotiate the prices.
Day 11: Arrived in Xi'an. (pronounced She Ann) Visited a tea plantation. Dianne bought a tea strainer and Osmanthas tea. Dianne bought all sorts of things like Tiger Balm and silk gift bags.
Day 12: Walked on the ancient city wall of Xi'an and visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. I purchased a jade chop. (You will have to ask me what that is.)
Day 13: Saw the Terra Cotta Warriors. Very exciting. I bought a book and Dianne bought miniature Warrior figures.
Day 14: Beijing: Went to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Nothing to buy.
Day 15: Went to the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall and a cloisonne factory. I purchased a collapsible walking stick and Dianne bought cloisonne jewelry.
Day 16: Visited the Summer Palace and a pearl factory. Dianne bought two pearl necklaces. Most of what Dianne purchased were for gifts, and if didn't say that I would be in a lot of pain. Tell her you think this was funny. PLEASE!
Day 17: From Beijing left for home, Whoopee.