An update: Huangshan (again) and Dalian

Well, so much for keeping up a journal about my China adventures, I just got lazy. AGAIN! Let's see what I remember, just for my own memory's sake.

Huangshan: The Climb
We went back to Huangshan that last weekend of October (26-29th?), this time we took a bus that only took 6 hours! We arrived in the nearby city of Tunxi and were driven to the base city of Tangkou where we spent the night. We got up early and, with Mr. Hu's help, booked a hostel on the top of the mountain before actually heading toward the mountain. We got dropped off on the wrong side at first (Eastern slopes), the easy side that only takes 3 hours to climb up, it was already noon by the time we started going up the Western slopes. This mountain climb, was like.. 6 hours of stairmaster. All stairs, all the way up. It was quite an adventure/work out, after a while we had to rest every ten minutes so our legs wouldn't cramp up. But the views were amazing, the mountains, sky, NATURE were just incredible, completely worth the more difficult climb. We got to witness sunset on a cliff and took some cool photos. We finally got to our hostel at around 6 30pm when it was already dark, those last few km were a bit treacherous in the dark. It was rather chilly, and I certainly didn't pack for chilly weather, but it was doable. We then had dinner in a dark restaurant where we got to witness a shouting match between a tourguide and waitress, rather annoying, yet interesting, we just wanted our food. We did a bit of star-gazing and went to sleep early in preparation for sunrise. We got up at 4am and headed out to find a good mountain peak on which to witness sunrise. When we got to a relatively high peak, we were the only ones there and it was extremely cold, again I had only a sweater and jeans to shelter me from the cold morning. We sat there for about an hour and a half, then we saw a sliver of light in the distance and realized that there were too many clouds in the way and we couldn't see sunrise. It was rather sad, we stayed there for about 2 hours and decided to head back. We had a breakfast buffet at one of the larger hotels and a few of us headed down first. The descent was down the Eastern slopes and only took an hour and a half, but our legs were shaking the entire time because it was down stairs the entire hour and a half. Supplies are brought up the mountain on the shoulders of men, easily a hundred pounds worth of whatever (fish, eggs, propane, vegetables, water, etc) on each side and these guys are carrying them up stairs across their backs. I guess that 10kuai bottle of water was worth it then... After arriving back to Tangkou, we hired a car to take us to the village of Hongcun, a city where they filmed some of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. A very quaint and cute town with a lot of character and decent shopping (50kuai delicious tea!). We then went back to Tunxi, found a hotel, and explored their Old Street, which is just a street full of tourist shopping. The next day, we had street food for breakfast, a lot of delicious dumplings and a lot of sweet, oily sesame balls, so good and cheap. Then we got on the bus headed back to Shanghai, 6 hours later and we end our Huangshan trip.

Dalian November 2-5
The UC EAP mandatory field trip was to the city of Dalian, a special economic zone North of Shanghai, directly across from the Korean Peninsula, on a clear day, you can see North Korea. Very exciting because we got to fly their. The first day was a bit of a bummer, we got to see the building where the Russians and Japanese signed a treaty to end the Russo-Japanese War, where the Russians LOST. We then went to a battle field wrought with remnants of the War, lots of trenches, fortifications, machine gun stands, barracks, rather cool especially because the walls show bullet holes. The hotel we stayed at was very nice, much different from traveling individually where we only stay at the cheapest hostels that might or might not have showers.. The first night we explored the city and saw a bunch of people ballroom dancing in one of the city's many squares. Dalian is known for its squares, it has the biggest square in China, 4 times bigger than Tiananmen in Beijing (the second largest in China). The next day we were taken to Golden Pebble Beach where we finally saw a beach in China and rode a speed boat. The speed boat driver was insane, I literally got thrown across the boat when he decided to make a sharp turn at a ridiculously high speed. FUN! I'm pretty sure we visited some other things, but at this point I don't particulary remember. We ate really good Manchurian dumplings and this fried dessert thing with condensed milk, highlight of the meals. The next night we went KTV-ing, lots of fun. And the next night we went to a bar, not so fun and very, very expensive ~500kuai for a bottle of Malibu and there were go-go dancers and super loud music. Meh, an experience at a Chinese-style bar I suppose. The next day, or was it the day before, we went on a tour of the city of Dalian, which looks much like San Francisco or some other metropolitan city. We went to the very large square that contained a large open book structure that was really fun to run across. The square also contained carnival games and rides, reminded me of Santa Monica pier. There was a castle in the distance and a strange bridge, reminiscent of Las Vegas. We went to the castle thing and snuck into a tower that smelt of urine. We went to a fish market where I bought a big bag of dried kiwi, good stuff, they then took us to the Russian Street. Lots of Russian products (furry, leather hats; babushka(sp?) dolls; lighters; flasks, tasers, etc.). It was rather chilly in Dalian, but I overpacked thinking it'd be a lot colder. We saw a bunch of cool places and learned a good deal of history. Educational and fun trip. We took a plane back = more fun. Thus, the end of the Dalian Trip.

Next to come will be the Nanjing and Suzhou trip, I should really start my paper now. Only one more month left for this trip, it's gone by way too fast, but it's been so fun. Can't wait for more Shanghai shopping and the Beijing trip this weekend! Woot. Time is going by too fast! Last year of college where did the time go?

國庆節: Part 2- Huangshan

Wednesday night, 8 of us got on a train headed toward Huangshan. The ride was a glorious 12 hours of cramped spaces and uncomfortable sitting. It was only soothed by the constant games of Big 2 and delicious tubes of peanut butter. We left at 10pm so I was able to catch sunrise from the train, because I couldn't for the life of me sleep. We had planned to climb a mountain right when we got off the train, but that wasn't a good idea because none of us had much sleep and it was to be a several hour climb. Instead we randomly got into some people's cars and they brought us to their little hotel and set us up with some rooms and a tour. It was already mid-afternoon at this point so we drove an hour to a river and got to go rafting. Rafting was immensely fun. The initial struggle for the raft itself started the fun and being dragged off by the flow of the river continued it. We stayed til dusk, when all the mosquitos came out to feast and were rightly bitten to shreds. We got back to our tiny hotel and had a rough night before knocking out. We were rudely awakened in the morning at 7 and then driven off to a mountain. We paid our admission to get into the designated mountain tour area and proceeded to walk around and take a few pictures. It was a very nice place with a river running through it. We were then carted off to another mountain/forest area. This was the place where they filmed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (臥虎藏龍). There were many small waterfalls and pools of water amdist a forest of bamboo. A very serene place despite all the tourists. We took a great many funny photos and I bought some tiny mountain kiwis that were delicious. We then went back to the hotel and had lunch in the city around it. We had some mountain people food that consisted of some strange bamboo root and meat. We then had to cut our vacation short and hop on a bus to get back to Shanghai. The bus was at 4 30pm ish and we got back to Shanghai at around 2am. We were exhausted to say the least. In comparison, the Guilin trip was way better, but we do plan to go back to Huangshan to climb the real mountain before we leave Shanghai. Hopefully after midterms, definitely. It's been a tough couple of days afterwards for reasons I will not mention here. But I now know how blessed we all are to be healthy in mind, body, and soul. I miss everyone back home, especially my family. So drop me a line so I know who's out there! Also, a second typhoon has rolled in with strong winds and crazy rain. I had the distinct pleasure (*sarcasm*) to be able to run through pouring rain in leather flip flops and glasses. Good stuff. Anyway, bye kids.

Guilin and Yangshuo: Beautiful Mountains, Climbing Waterfalls, Fun

It's National Holiday, so we have an entire week off. A group of us have already come and gone to Guilin (桂林) on a 4 day 3 night trip. We got on an airplane at Hongqiao Airport at around 10am and arrived at noon. The first day we went to Elephant Trunk Hill and climbed a steep hill. It was super hot and humid. We then went to another scenic park where we bought oil and watercolor paintings (pretty and cheap. ) We continued on to a cave area that had a bunch of buddha carvings and a cool rock formation that looks like it's hanging, but only because it was used to test swords. We then ate and went to our hotel. It was a nice hotel and two of us shared a room. After that, we went to downtown Guilin (Guilin is a small city so it wasn't very far or large). We saw the river side lit up, which was very beautitul and a hotel that had a water show (Bellagio-esque) and a waterfall that came down off the side of the building (very cool). Went to the night market in the area (not as cool as Taiwan), drank coconut juice (delicious), and our one white guy in the group was mobbed by little girls who wanted to hug and kiss him (amusing). Went back to the hotel room and knocked out.

The second day, we started out early to get on a ferry that took us down the Li Jiang river to Yangshuo. There's a Chinese saying that goes, "Guilin is the most beautiful under heaven, but Yangshuo is even more beautiful." Kind of doesn't make sense, but I guess I get the point. It was definitely an amazing, albeit long (4 hours) boat ride, all the mountains surrounding the river were picturesque. The boat we were on had a bunch of Portuguese tourists, a few English, us Americans, and, about, 4 Chinese tourists. Nice. We got to Yangshuo, got off the boat, and were plopped in a tourist trap. We walked to the hotel, rented some bikes and took a ride through the countryside. Best bike ride ever. I feel like I saw so much just by taking an alternative way of transportation. Lots of farm land, animals of burden, rock climbers, and just amazing views. We got back and ate dinner before going to see a show. The show was Liu Sanjie, directed by Zhang Yi Mou (director of Heroes and a bunch of other Chinese movies). The production was incredible. It was right on the Li River with mountains in the background and had a few hundred people in the cast. The lighting and everything was done so well, I was just amazed at what people can do. It was a story that featured the many ethnic minorities in the area (Guilin is in Guangxi province, an autonomous region run by the minorities, Zhuang, Yao, Miao and something else). We then took a walk around the city and bought some souveniors. Got back to the hotel and knocked out again.

The third day I'd have to say was the best. I did so many things I've never done before and saw so many things I've never seen before. We road a while through the countryside. Then took a short bamboo raft ride to the area with many waterfalls. We got grass sandals and helmets to climb waterfalls with. We climbed many a-waterfall, just about the funnest thing I've ever done, for real real. I wish I could do it all the time, with my straw sandals (which were so comfortable, I think I'll wear them in Shanghai). After lunch we went to this tacky park/zoo, which was a disneyland knockoff, only because it had extremely weird disney characters all around. We saw a red panda (cutest thing ever) and a bunch of other animals (that don't compare to the panda). We then went to a cave with a bunch of carvings and a windy tunnel. When we walked to the top of the hill, the breeze was wonderful and the view was great (entire city). After dinner, we went ktv-ing with some of our other schoolmates who also came to Guilin and our tourguide (really cool guy, about the same age as us). I sang my heart out and made a complete fool out of myself, but it was lots of fun. Got back super late and KNOCKED OUT.

The last day we started off by going to the Reed Flute Cave (I know lots of caves, but this one was actually a cavern), not unlike the Carlsbad Caverns. Just amazing what the earth does, the rocks were insane and we just had a lot of fun dancing in a cave. We then went to the rice terraces after going through a small rural village, where we ate. In the restaurant that we ate at, the local waitresses (ethnic minorities) gave us rice wine (very tastey) and had us drink with them. This is where we saw first hand, many different minorities. The Yao grow their hair super long, never cutting it, and comb it up in a pile on their heads, very cool. We went up to the rice terraces in a little bus, the driver was bumping techno music and driving extremely fast on the mountain roads (scared the crap out of me). We hiked up the mountain when we got to the village and went through the village on the side of the mountain that grow rice on carved out parts of the mountain. Amazing AMAZING scenary and very eye opening being able to see how ethnic minorities really live. Lots and lots of walking. Also bought a woodcarving and a bunch of little souveniors, including a wooden sword. We barely got back in time for dinner and had to rush to the airport. The airport in these rural areas are very different and no one cared that I had a wooden sword sticking out of my backpack. We were all very sad to leave Guilin. This was definitely one of the best trips I've ever gone on. I saw and experienced so many new things. If anyone every gets the chance, they should definitely visit Guilin, it's just amazing what is on this Earth.

Sorry the post on my amazing trip is so bland, I'm very tired, which is good because that means I used all my energy to play. We're leaving for Huangshan (黃山) later today (Wednesday) and have to go through a 12 hour train ride. It's going to be fun. I love China again. LOVE IT.

Mooncakes, Volunteer Work, Good Saltines

Another Wednesday night/Thursday morning, up writing the weekly paper for developmental economics. So naturally, I'm on xanga blogging. And before, I even caught the season premiere of Heroes on tvlinks. The day before (9/25) was 中秋節 (Mid-Autumn festival, or rather Mooncake day). A bunch of us had Korean BBQ and the place gave us moichi (non-ice cream) and mooncakes (strange flavored ones). Didn't think I was going to do anything else for the night, so I planned to finish my homework. But, of course, something came up and ended up going to a 中秋節party at someone's apartment. These were all UC students so it was a beer and mooncake filled night. Played a little beerpong and a lot of drinking games. Got back at 2am and couldn't believe how full the moon was and how clear the sky was. We normally can't see any stars in the Shanghai sky, but unbelievably we saw the big dipper and orion's belt constellations. It was a beautiful night sky to say the least. I then had to wake up for an 8am class, which I did wake up for, but decided I was too "sick " to go. I guess beer and night air disagree with my throat because now I have an irritating dry cough. I really don't want to get sick in China, much less right before the National Holiday.

Wednesday I was supposed to spend doing homework, but saw some people I know get on a bus, so I got on with them instead of eating. Don't worry, it wasn't completely random. They were on their way to an orientation to volunteer at a migrant workers' childrens' school. I've been looking for something to do since I'm only taking classes right now. So volunteer work is perfect. We took the subway all the way to the end (opposite from Shanghai South Railway station) to the boonies of Shanghai. Completely different from the rest of Shanghai, rundown, dusty, not modern. The school was in the middle of the rundown residences. When we went through the gate, two rows of little kids holding pompoms greeted us with 歡迎關臨 it was the cutest thing ever. I wanted to take one. The orientation consisted of the principal introducing the school to us and explaining to us how he got to create the school with no government help. We then got a tour of the school which is just one building surrouding a courtyard. All the kids kept looking at us while smiling and waiving, with the occassional, "HALLO!" so cute. Like I said, I wanted to take one. I have the opportunity to teach English on Tuesdays and play with the kids of Fridays. I think I'm going to really enjoy this, and earn a few karma points. Volunteer work where you get to see the result of your contribution is the most satisfying.

I got back and lounged in my room for a bit before going to another Korean restaurant where I spilled my cold noodle soup all over my lap. My shoes smell like kimchi. I took a much wanted shower and watched Heroes. And now I'm blogging and snacking on some delicious Saltine crackers. I hesitated in eating these because they're all carbs and it's 1am, but I'm hungry and working. I'm glad I opened them because they were the best Saltine crackers I've had in a long time.

Okay, I guess it's back to the paper. Starting school off on the right foot, right people? Have Fun!

P.S. Expect my aggressive soliciation for donations for the kids' school in the future. You are now forewarned, get those pocket books out. Please.

Around Fudan

I really enjoy living at the foreign student dormitory here at Fudan University on the outskirts of Shanghai. Today I met 3 Liberians (West Africa) and had dinner with a Mexican from Chihuahua at a Muslim noodle place. The area around our dorm has food from almost everywhere. Korean restaurants are the most popular besides the Shanghainese places and there are plenty of coffee places. There is also street food which consist of skewers, 包子 (bao zhi), and the like, which are delicious if you have the courage to try them and the stomach. This Muslim noodle place we went to is very popular among the foreign student set, apparently.. or maybe just us UC students. Four of us ordered a huge thing of Xinjiang Dapanji (Chicken, potatoes, bok choy, an array of spices and noodles), and it was indeed delicious. Also, fyi, Xinjiang is the Uigher territory in China, if that rings any bells.. no?

Yesterday, we went all the way across the Huangpu River to Pudong to have Indian food. The place was called Punjabi Indian Restaurant, it was in a swanky plaza that also had a Jia Le Fu (家樂福), which if you know me is my favorite place in China (jk, its a chain store, kind of like a WalMart, but way cooler). The Indian place had a buffet that was 68 kuai (roughly $9.50) and had a mix of Indian and Chinese waiters. The food was okay, not as good as the Indian food in California though, hah. But there was a guy dressed in traditional clothing and when really hip Indian music played, he danced. It was rather amusing, some Chinese guy went up there to dance with him, very funny. I felt like dancing too, but I accidentally bit into an insanely spicy pepper. No idea what kind it was, but I felt like my mouth was on fire and my lips were bleeding. Most insane spiceyness I've ever felt in my life, gave me a headache . Besides that little episode, I had a good time.

So we've decided to go to Guilin for the National Holiday. Every October, China has their National Holiday, everyone has a week off and everyone travels. So about a billion Chinese roaming around the tourist areas of China is going to be crazy. Guilin is in the Guangxi province of China, close to Vietnam. It's known for its magnificent scenary, so I hope it's awesome and not boring. I also read that they have a lot of horse meat in their dishes.. Can't wait.

Alright for now then, term is starting for those in the Southern UC schools, so good luck everyone!

Shanghai Part One

These are old blogs from my time "studying" in Shanghai. I decided to move them over from Xanga in the hopes that they'll be of more use here...



I think I've decided to blog about my time in Shanghai, or else I won't remember much of it later.

I'm supposed to be studying right now, but this free internet shouldn't be wasted so here I am. There's a typhoon coming tonight. It's supposed to be the biggest one to hit Shanghai in a long time. and here I am in this cafe, which serves the best pork masala sandwich I've had in a long time. I hadn't noticed this cafe before, even though it's only a block from our dorms. I'm glad I went in though, it's a nice place to surf the web with a cup of chai.

So what have I been doing with my time abroad. We started classes three weeks ago and there is so much reading to be done already. The one economics class I'm taking has a paper due every week, keeps us accountable for the reading, which is good I guess. The other classes just have a lot of reading and the professors must have a Masters in boring the crap out of their students, because I've managed to zone out for at least 2 hours of every 3 hour class. I can't say that I've been keeping up on the reading though, just the Econ ones. However, I'm actively trying to make it up right now. Besides this little break to blog. The walks to class are killer. The Foreign Student Dormitory is located in this North most part of campus and the classes are in the South most. Makes for good exercise I suppose, except its hot and humid most of the time. The weather, besides the typhoon, has been clearing up as of late. It'll be fall soon and the weather should calm down.

I've been craving non-Chinese food lately, which has led me to a variety of different Korean restaurants, lots of stone pot rice and kimchi. The other day we even went to a Mexican place, the burritos were dinky looking and they used red bean in their nachos (weird), but the quesadilla was probably one of the best quesadillas I've ever had. We then went to an American diner. The blueberry pancakes were gigantic and even our resident eater couldn't finish it. The banana split was good though and the fries came with all sorts of different sauces, including tomato curry.

The places I've been to around Shanghai have included a lot of tourist attractions and shopping places. The most notable being the bund at midnight and Xintiandi, the trendiest place you can go in Shanghai I suppose. We ate at a German brewhouse (Paulaner Brauhaus) in Xintiandi and I had a munich lager with my mom (my parents were here for 2 weeks). It was the best lager I've ever had, which I suppose doesn't say much coming from me, but it was really good, none of that bitter taste I associate from most brews. On the way to the bund, we walked through West Nanjing Lu and there was a Chinese idol concert going on, we only caught the fireworks at the end, but those were awesome. I've been able to buy a lot of stuff from the usual TongYang market place, cheap designer knockoffs, which makes me happy. There's a dvd place near the dorm that has a decent selection of older cds and I got Fleetwood Mac: Greatest hits for 15RMB, which translates into about 2 bucks, best two bucks I've ever spent, love the music. And I also bought a bunch of dvds, that's a given.

Well, that's it for now, I really should get back to reading. If you miss me, drop me a line (comment)! haha