Day Eight - 25 November

Ni hao (hello) !

We got to sleep late this morning! No work today! But, I still got up and went to the gym! I have worked out every morning so far --- except one! These hotels are nice enough to have really good gym equipment! I was so afraid of going to flab over this month away from Troy! But , if things continue as they have so far ... no problem!

Debi and I went to the Shanghai Museum this morning --- where we saw bronze sculptures, early Chinese paintings, the history of Chinese coins, Chinese sculptures, and amazing jade carvings! Afterwards, we went to the Bund district and looked around ... and then found the Portman Ritz-Carlton --- which is not too far from Malone's --- a restaurant that serves western food --- and after last night's Shanghai authentic dinner --- we needed a burger, club sandwich , fries, and an American soundtrack playing in the background! Oh, home ... do we miss you!

We then went to Yu Garden --- which is the original Shanghai city that existed before any westernization! Man --- this is what I imagined China to look like! What a trip! Debi and I stopped in at the Golden Crab for another Tsingtao --- and ... although I didn't get it on camera, we saw a Chinese wedding happening! She was dressed like an American bride ... but the limousine was something else! A Mercedes 500 series --- with this huge wedding bouquet on the hood of the car, bows and flower on each door handle, and another big bouquet on the trunk! It was so a big deal! I likened it almost to a burial in America. It's amazing what other cultures can teach you!

Tonight we went to the Epicure 45 --- on the 45th floor of our hotel --- and bid Shanghai goodbye!

Gotta go ... we have an early flight to India tomorrow ... the adventure continues!!

Thinking of you all --- and zai jian (good-bye) !!
Phillip