Tuesday 26^th June, 2012

First we wanted to go by train from Kunshan to Shanghai. But Caren told us that we better take a taxi as it would be quite complicated by train. After a last walk in Kunshan the taxi was awaiting us. We started after our destination address was rewritten in Chinese on the reception. We got to Shanghai without any problems. At one point the taxi driver explained us in Chinese that we are there. There were a few small shops, but not a house which could host a youth hostel at the sixth floor. We tried to explain that we are wrong. So we called the phone number of the hostel and he called to ask for the way. He also asked a few taxi drivers and other people. Konrad told me that we are wrong as he drove through the tunnel to the other side of the river. Konrad was already once in Shanghai ten years ago. He gave up after we went back through the tunnel to the center. We were also glad to be able to change the taxi. The new driver did not speak English either, but with calling again the hostel she managed to find it. At the youth hostel we got a very nice room with balcony. After a short break we went sightseeing despite the rain. On the way to the Urban Planning Museum three young Chinese asked us if we could take a picture of them. No problem and after they made some small talk with us. Then they apparently got the idea that we might visit together a tea house. The museum would anyway close at 4pm. We thanked for the suggestion but wanted to go to the museum. Konrad told me that it is part of Shanghai that students try to get you in a restaurant or an exhibition. The museum was open until 5pm and so we could at least see the city in miniature. In the museum Konrad found a bit an expensive, but water-proof city map in English. With that map we could explore Shanghai walking. On the way to the old town another group of students started to talk to us. Konrad took kindly the picture. I continued walking and also Konrad left out the small talk. In the old town we walked over the Zig-zag Bridge. Then we went to the Bund, the river promenade of Shanghai. From here we could see the many colonial buildings on our side of the river and the new skyscrapers on the other side of the river. Here we met another ominous group of three, but I looked so grimly at the girl that it did not dare anymore. And now we know why the skyscrapers are in German called Wolkenkratzer (cloud scrapers). The really big ones disappeared in the clouds. Our dinner we had in a small restaurant in a side alley. We did not order much, but we got so much rice that the leftover is sufficient for the breakfast of tomorrow.

Monday 25^th June, 2012

We experienced our most beautiful day exactly one year ago. Now we enjoyed our first wedding anniversary together with lovely friends. In the morning we strolled a bit through Wuzhen. We wanted to buy something to drink, but it was a bit more complicated that expected. Talking with hands and feet to the lady we managed to get a cool drink. After we drove to Lake Tai. On a small island we enjoyed a fine lunch. We were glad that Caren mostly ordered the meals. At Lake Tai we stopped to walk a bit on a boardwalk. Back in Kunshan we experienced a traditional massage. First we enjoyed a warm foot bath with a neck and arm massage. Then it started, at the feet were kneaded, pressed and a few points were hurting a bit. It continued up the legs to the bottom and then the back. It was very nice to get the tense muscles kneaded. After 100 minutes we were relieved and felt light like a feather.

Next was our last meal with Caren and her family. We got Peking Duck and many other tasty things.

Friday 22^nd June, 2012

This morning we did not have more time to further explore Hong Kong. We went to the escalators to get to the train station. On the airport we had more time than expected as our flight was late. After a very shaky flight we got to Shanghai. To enter we required a visa which we issued in Sydney. Caren and her boys were already awaiting us. As Caren spotted us, she came towards us. In front of her was man which started to talk in German to us. We were so perplex that we did not even answer. As Caren then look at him inquiring, he realized immediately that we did not wave him. Caren lives in Kunshan. This city is about one hour outside of Shanghai. In the car I thought “something is wrong”. I soon realized that in China they are driving right. From Australia I am still used to driving left. We saw people which were hitch-hiking on the motor way, some were also selling food. In the city itself there some motorcycles, but the drivers do not seam to need helmets. Caren book a hotel for us and brought us there. After check-in we went to dinner with her family. She told us that it will be simple. But our menu was much more. There was freshly pressed apple juice, soup, a plate with prawns, salad, meat to choose and pudding with tea. Not really simple food.