Busy Busy Day

So today is Monday January 11, 2010. We are still currently in the wonderful city of Shanghai. This morning we woke up to excitement and fun!


I woke up and immediately realized that I had heard horns beep, all night long. Shanghai is like New York, the city who never sleeps. I Skyped John and My mom and dad. It was so nice to talk to them!


We got ready and left the hotel. We visited the Yu Garden today. The architecture was so fascinating and interesting. Everything was over 400 years old (older than the United States!). This is one of the only gardens left in Shanghai, because many have been destroyed from the Opium Wars and World War Two. There was a bazaar at the Yu Gardens. We were able to go to a freshwater pearl store. I was given a price of 280 RMB for a pearl ring. I bargained the lady down to 80 RMB, which is about $12 USD. Jin Jang said that was “awesome bargaining skills”. We continued to tour around the market and then went to lunch. While we were shopping around it started snowing on and off. This would be like it snowing in Charleston, because Shanghai is a coastal city!


Lunch was at a very nice Chinese restaurant. Much nicer than last night. Everything here is served on a lazy Susan. They bring out about 9 dishes and place them on the lazy Susan and we served ourselves family style. It was so neat, probably the best meal we’ve had in Shanghai so far.


After lunch we visited the Shanghai museum. There we saw coins, statues, bronze figures, furniture and porcelain all dating back from 1600- before Christ! It was so interesting and neat to see the Chinese History and Culture.


After the museum we went to the French Concession. This was a very nice section of Shanghai. There was a Land Rover car dealership, Rolls Royce and Lamborghini. It was so cool! It was definitely an upscale part of Shanghai. Even the architecture closely resembled the French.


We went to dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant. Some of the other students tried duck tongue and chicken feet. They thought it was somewhat tasty. I however, refrained from tasting such food.


As we were walking out Victoria saw a panda hat that she wanted. Two Chinese women were trying to sell her one. Not knowing what to do, and who to buy from, she thrust a 10 RMB bill at each. They both handed her a panda hat. One lady realized she had bought from the other lady as well, and took the hat Victoria had bought, and gave her a dirty one in return. We laughed on the bus about it for a long while!


We left dinner and headed to our “night cruise in Shanghai”. On the way we got to see lots and lots of the city’s lights. Shanghai by night is much prettier than in the daytime. The boat cruise was freezing cold, but neat to see all the buildings lit up from the water.


We got back on the bus and came back to the hotel. Some of the guys were going down to the bowling ally in the bottom of our hotel. However Emma, Victoria and I are worn out and need our beauty sleep for tomorrow.


So far in China I have only spent 96 RMB, which is about $15 USD. How cool! I’m trying to save my money and shopping for Beijing!