We have returned from our first "outside Shanghai" traveling adventure. It was not exactly what we expected and we are glad that we went.
Our trip started out a little frustrating as we arrived at the lake and had a hard time finding our hotel. The description said it was "over looking the lake". When we finally found the hotel our driver said "not exactly on the lake"....... I wanted to say "NO KIDDING!!!!" It was "over looking the lake" after you looked over and through about five city blocks of high rise buildings. Now let me explain....we thought we were going off to a quiet lake with mountains and beautiful gardens and walking and hiking paths. None of the pictures or descriptions mentioned that the lake is on the edge (literally on the edge) of a city of 6 million people. I am not joking!!!! So.....we left the "big city" 17 million people to go to the quiet "little city" of only 6 million people. Let me set the stage for you......people everywhere, traffic, more traffic, disappointment about our hotel, and a few glimpses of a lake as we drove through all the traffic.
We were able to change our reservation to a different hotel and on the way to the new hotel Tim asked me if I brought my passport. Nope! He did not either and was pretty sure we could not check into our hotel without a passport. A PASSPORT....why would we need a passport?.....this is a domestic trip not an international trip. Well....guess what? We needed our passports. They really don't care that we have ID in the form of drivers licence from the United States. The hotel staff were very nice but...no passport...no room. They said they would get in trouble with the authorities if they checked us in without our passport. I am guessing that you really want to stay on the good side of the authorities in China. Note to self: always carry your passport when traveling even if it is only 2 hours away. So........here we are just a little on the frazzled side of the emotional spectrum. After much discussion we learned that they did have to have the actual passport if we could give them our passport and visa numbers. Lucky for us Delia was at our apartment and could look up the numbers for us. We got a room!!!!!
The rest of the trip was relaxing and the lake is very beautiful. We took a boat ride on the lake and walked through the gardens. The lake has a long history that has been passed from one Dynasty to another and I would tell you more about it but I could not understand a word that the boat guide said. We are all ready for language lessons.
It is hard to describe what it feels like to be out in the community here. We are a curiousity to most people. We are watched, pointed at, staired at, and today Abi and I were followed into a store by several teen girls. We were shopping in a "womens garment district" with Tim (poor guy!!) and we found a small clothing store that Abi wanted to look in. So.....we went in. Tim sat on the step outside the store while Abi tried on a jumper. Shortly after we went into the store three girls came in. They wanted to see what we were shopping for.....that was it....curiosity. While everyone is very nice it is a little unnerving at times to be watched by so many people.
We can still hear an ocasional firecracker in the distance but I think the fireworks have slowed considerably.
Our trip started out a little frustrating as we arrived at the lake and had a hard time finding our hotel. The description said it was "over looking the lake". When we finally found the hotel our driver said "not exactly on the lake"....... I wanted to say "NO KIDDING!!!!" It was "over looking the lake" after you looked over and through about five city blocks of high rise buildings. Now let me explain....we thought we were going off to a quiet lake with mountains and beautiful gardens and walking and hiking paths. None of the pictures or descriptions mentioned that the lake is on the edge (literally on the edge) of a city of 6 million people. I am not joking!!!! So.....we left the "big city" 17 million people to go to the quiet "little city" of only 6 million people. Let me set the stage for you......people everywhere, traffic, more traffic, disappointment about our hotel, and a few glimpses of a lake as we drove through all the traffic.
We were able to change our reservation to a different hotel and on the way to the new hotel Tim asked me if I brought my passport. Nope! He did not either and was pretty sure we could not check into our hotel without a passport. A PASSPORT....why would we need a passport?.....this is a domestic trip not an international trip. Well....guess what? We needed our passports. They really don't care that we have ID in the form of drivers licence from the United States. The hotel staff were very nice but...no passport...no room. They said they would get in trouble with the authorities if they checked us in without our passport. I am guessing that you really want to stay on the good side of the authorities in China. Note to self: always carry your passport when traveling even if it is only 2 hours away. So........here we are just a little on the frazzled side of the emotional spectrum. After much discussion we learned that they did have to have the actual passport if we could give them our passport and visa numbers. Lucky for us Delia was at our apartment and could look up the numbers for us. We got a room!!!!!
The rest of the trip was relaxing and the lake is very beautiful. We took a boat ride on the lake and walked through the gardens. The lake has a long history that has been passed from one Dynasty to another and I would tell you more about it but I could not understand a word that the boat guide said. We are all ready for language lessons.
It is hard to describe what it feels like to be out in the community here. We are a curiousity to most people. We are watched, pointed at, staired at, and today Abi and I were followed into a store by several teen girls. We were shopping in a "womens garment district" with Tim (poor guy!!) and we found a small clothing store that Abi wanted to look in. So.....we went in. Tim sat on the step outside the store while Abi tried on a jumper. Shortly after we went into the store three girls came in. They wanted to see what we were shopping for.....that was it....curiosity. While everyone is very nice it is a little unnerving at times to be watched by so many people.
We can still hear an ocasional firecracker in the distance but I think the fireworks have slowed considerably.
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