7 July 2015 - Second Day in Shanghai

This morning was very easy.  We had to have luggage out at 8:45 and be in the lobby by 9:15 to take care of any bills paid to the hotel.  I owed for the first night dinner and some phone calls that were made to enable me to have internet access.

The silk factory was a distance from the center of Shanghai. Once we got there the building was not very impressive.  As is usual, we were given a lecture on how silk is made.  We were shown the eggs and then they got larger until they formed the cocoon. They save about a quarter of cocoons to hatch and create the next generation.  The larvae in the cocoon used to be killed by throwing them in boiling water.  Now they use the microwave.  We were shown how the women weave the carpets and were told that the value of the rug increases with the number of knots per square inch.  I wandered around looking at rugs and they had 9 by 12 rugs and they had a few whose primary color was green.  I bought one, which while I like the rug, I bought, I am concerned about the price.  They started at $11,000 and immediately came down to $7,000.  I managed to talk him down to $6,000 although I really don’t know how much it will cost me since I don’t know what the exchange rate will be when the bill hits the credit card company.  Then they took us into the other room where they were selling silk comforters as well as other items.  I bought one item and I am annoyed that I put it on my credit card.  I should have paid cash.

The silk cacoons-starting with the tiny eggs up to cacoons

Spinning - From Cacoon to thread

Weaver working on a rug

Shaping the rug to give it texture

Rug I bought

Looking at rug from other end - note change in color

 Silk Factory

We finally left the silk factory and headed to the airport.  It took about an hour to get there.  We had to hang around till it was time to board.  The city that we were heading to is E-Chung (best guess at spelling).  Apparently the airport was on the other side of the city.  We were driven into the center of the city where we were taken to a restaurant for dinner.  The food was acceptable.  

We arrived at the ship and our cabins were ready.  We just had to be given the cabin numbers.  I immediately headed up to the 5^th floor to use the internet since I don’t have internet access on my machine.  The internet was not very fast, but it worked.  I then headed to my cabin where I did some laundry, showered, worked on blog data and now am going to sleep.

6 July 2015 – First Day in Shanghai

I got moving early primarily because I couldn’t fall back asleep.  I showered, dressed and headed up to the eighth floor for breakfast.  I wanted to get there a little early because we were scheduled to meet with our tour leader at 8:00 am.  I think that this tour will be successful based on his no nonsense attitude; namely warning about spending too much money too soon. I don’t remember all that he said. I meant to have a little notebook with me to take notes but I forgot.

At about 9:00 am we walked over to the Bund which is right outside the hotel, which is the Fairmont Peace Hotel.  We staid long enough to take a few pictures and then headed back to the hotel where the bus was parked owing to the rain.  

On the Bund looking across the Yellow River

Looking across the river

Me on the Bund with other side of river in background

Looking down the river from the Bund

Hotel on the left - Originally built by Sassoon Family

 Square devoted to first mayor of Shanghai

Our next stop was the Shanghai Museum, which has a nice collection related to Chinese art. I went through most, but not all, of the galleries. I particularly liked the Jade and Ceramics Galleries.

Shanghai Museum

Next stop was lunch.  The food was good and there was only one dish that I couldn’t eat; namely, pork dumplings.  We were given a choice of beer or soda with the meal although tea was included. 

After lunch, we went to the old Chinese City.  The construction was what we think of as typical Chinese construction.  The whole area consists of relatively small shops.   

Old Chinese city of Shanghai

Old City of Shanghai

Central square in old Chinese city of Shanghai

We were taken into a typical Chinese garden which consists of many small buildings. One was the family study with Ming Dynasty style furniture.  Nothing was in a straight line to prevent ghosts from entering.  There were ponds with Koi Fish, which are considered lucky.

In garden originally built by merchant for his family

Koi Fish in pond

Dragon (in garden) with four claws (5 claws would only be permitted for Emperor)

 

Second Dragon

Flower that is Shanghai flower

After we left the garden we went to a Tea House.  This was originally schedule for Beijing, but our tour leader felt that we wouldn’t have the time.  I bought some green tea for Marcy.

In Tea House - Tea that becomes a flower

Serving tea

When headed back to the hotel where I loaded my pictures to Picassa and wrote my description.  I actually rested for a few minutes. I dressed and headed to the 9^th floor for dinner.  I spent most of the meal speaking with two sisters from Sachcasiwan.  Dinner was followed by a very good acrobatic show performed by the Shanghai Acrobatic Troup.  Unfortunately I was so very tired I kept falling asleep!

5 July 2015 - Leaving Hong Kong

After dressing I got to work on my blog.  When the wake-up call came at 7:00 am, I finished what I was working on and went down for breakfast.

View leaving at the airport in Hong Kong