The Bund

The Bund reminds me of Pittsburgh! Great huge beautiful buildings lining the riverside, 100 year old banks along with the customs house on the one side, and the opposite side being the ultra modern skyline, that has grown up in only the last 20 years or so... This place is changing and building up FAST!!!

Take a look, and leave any thoughts or impressions below!!!

Re Nao !!!

This is the best visual definition of the Chinese word, Re Nao, that I can think of! This went on for hours! And for several days!

This was from the first day of the Chinese New Year, but in our city, the most "Re Nao" day is the fourth day when they set off the fireworks to the god of the city... We and other foreigners -high-tailed it out of there for that day. All day and night they set off fireworks were set off even more exuberantly than in this video - all to get blessings for the new year ahead....

Watch the video then leave a comment below... (Your email address will not be published...)

Wedding Boom

Well, here it is! Those fireworks we hear all the time for weddings and funerals. We were walking out of the front gate to start our day, when we came across this wedding party who just arrived--and were FINALLY able to catch it on film!! Check out the length of what Holly calls "Rambo reams" that are turned into the cute interlocking heart shapes..

This is only a sampling of the caucophony of sounds to come during Chinese New Year (Eve, Feb 14 Year of the Tiger!).. Where EVERYONE EVERYWHERE will be shooting these off for 24 hrs straight and then some... (ps. this video, and other female English speaker is courtesy of our friend who visited this fall. xie xie!!:)

HangZhou

After my long trip to Kiev, we took a few days as a family to go to a popular vacation spot - only 2 hours away by bullet train. Over 100+ miles per hour! Check out the water, and activities in the park. The last picture is typical of us going out. Everyone stops to take pictures of us - well, the girls that is... :D

Eclipse 2009

This was a total eclipse, where we were standing in the Umbra - thats where there is total darkness. In other areas, there is either light that bends around the moons surface, or a partial shadow - called the Penumbra. When you are in the Umbra, things get especially dark.

This all happened after 9am - and just to let you know, it gets light here at 4:50. Aah the joys of having only one timezone for a country with the land mass of the continental US. So, it was pretty light out - and it became really dark. Take a look!

Cross Country

We took the car from the south west to the east coast. All in all, I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the road system! At one point it was Tunnels to Bridges over deep gulleys to Tunnels to Bridges for almost 2 hours. The amount of money they spent on creating a modern highway must be amazing! Made for a GREAT ride! Check out the vid!

The Haircut...

Another look at how life here can be totally different than in the west! Something as simple as a haircut couldn't be more different!

A wonderful 56 minute ordeal. Haircuts in the country are not for those in a hurry!

Poor Cassie, you'll hear her comment in the end of the video, she was genuinely concerned!

Enjoy!