June 18

Class. Weeeee Chinese. And yes, I was 45 minutes late. We asked our teacher all about the Dragon Boat Festival, which we are planning to attend tomorrow. We’ve even gotten classes cancelled for it. That might not have been necessary, since the majority of us have never missed any class so one day wouldn’t be a big deal, but I guess for the sake of the two people who have missed 3 or 4 days already, we got permission first.

Since this was the non-English speaking teacher, he didn’t know what we were talking about, so I had to draw him a dragon boat.


In the afternoon we decide to go to Old Town. We also made plans to do a Huangpu River Cruise that night, which had been suggested because the Bund is apparently very pretty at night. We arrange that through the hotel, an 8 o’clock hour-long cruise, and plan to meet at 7:30 pm, since not everyone is going to Old Town first. The four of us that are catch a cab to some famous dumpling restaurant. We get the set menu, despite it including spring rolls stuffed with crab ovary. It ends up being quite good actually, as do most of the other items. Yet another successful meal in China.





Making dumplings





We then walk around the surrounding area, which is filled with shops, because there are still some gifts and souvenirs that we “need”. An hour or so later, we are carrying a bunch of crap that we bought for our friends and family, and are out of money.



Stringing pearls in a shop


Tea


We also walk a street of antique shops, but on the way there walk through a street of locals, selling food and washing clothes. China presents a real juxtaposition with the mix of old and new.

Kid sitting in rickety cart…playing on a cell phone






Every good traveler has a map and a camera (I’m holding these for Frank)




Then we go into a fish/bird/animal/insect market. It is odd. Crickets in little wicker boxes, the cutest kitties and puppies you ever did see, and birds that say “ni hao” (how are you?) and “tai gui le” (too expensive).









We then catch a cab down to the river, but our driver can’t find the address, so get out too far away from the cruise place and have to catch another cab. Luckily, cabs are cheap here. We find the cruise boat place, but have an hour, so we decide to step into a bar called “I <3 Shanghai”.



We order half-priced drinks because it’s happy hour. Chocolate martini for me. People also get the “I <3 Shanghai” shirts (in Chinese). I don’t think I had enough money with me to buy one, so maybe I’ll go back another day. Frank buys a round of Absinthe shots, so now I can say that I’ve had some of that. It’s rather disgusting, tastes somewhat like licorice, and you can literally feel it course through your veins. No hallucinations though.

Absinthe


Yum yum


We added four shots to the chart, making 150 (I think Frank got it to 152 later)

And yes, that does say Republic of Texas



Girls in the ceiling


We make it to the cruise, feeling all warm and fuzzy. We’re not late, but people have already filled the top deck with chairs. So we opt for the lower deck, out in the front, which is a small area that no one has claimed yet, so we pull out 6 chairs and have a seat. The cruise was fantastic. Boozing and cruising, that’s what LSU Tigers do. We took lots of fun pictures, the lights were gorgeous, the breeze was nice, and we almost forgot that all surrounding buildings pump their sewage into the river.



The Bund


Pearl Tower




After the cruise we headed back to the I <3 Shanghai bar, since it was only 9pm. We left a few more drinks and shots later, around 11pm, and we almost made it home without anyone vomiting. Crashed, even though it wasn’t even midnight, but we were pretty spent.

And remember I said we’re supposed to do Dragon Boat Festival tomorrow? Well, we had spoken to the concierge about when and where all that stuff went down, we found out some disappointing news. The Dragon Boat festival is apparently all week, but the actual race isn’t til Saturday. So we have a day of classes cancelled, but no longer have plans. I think a trip to the zoo is in order. I have vowed not to leave this country without seeing a panda. Read more!

June 17

Got up early so we could head to the peak, but first we had to pack and check out (check out was noon, and we didn’t know if we’d be back by then, so we got it over with).

Dayview from our hotel


Saying bye to Jimmy


But then he walked us to the ferry, and said bye again


Caught the ferry across to HK Island, and met up with our friends/classmates at the Peak tram. THEN, in response to my suggestion that everyone put their return ticket in a safe place, Sarah said “mine’s next to my passport” and an alarm went off in my head, because Jenny and I had left our passports in the hotel room’s safe. As much as I expected them to still be there, or be found by the staff, it was still a worry, so the two of us bailed on the peak and headed back to the YMCA. Our passports were at the front desk. Whew. Now with some time to kill, we walked around and took pictures and bought a few souvenirs.



Inside the Peninsula Hotel


We had lunch at TGIFriday’s (we weren’t in the mood to be adventurous with a plane ride in our near future) then met up with the rest of the crew at the hotel, to take the bus to the airport. Low and behold, our flight was CANCELLED, so we have to take a later one. The girls all bought books in the airport store, and we ate at an Italian restaurant. Although upon finding a Popeye’s and another Ben & Jerry’s, there were mashed potatoes and single scoops to be had.



Ended up reading an entire book on the plane (flight was about 2 1/2 hours), but I have another one. Guide was there to take us back to the hotel, not home until about 11:00 pm. Probably won’t make it to class on time. Read more!

June 16

Wake up, meet downstairs at 9am, walk to Starbucks for breakfast. Walk to take the ferry, and low and behold, I see a panda!



Then, I see MORE PANDAS! They have one for each year that they've been free of British rule. Seems to be a lot of celebrating, as this is the 10 year anniversary.



So I take a picture with the purple ones (the blue one was a purpley-blue)


Ferry across to Hong Kong Island



We walked around and looked a buildings, antique shops, and art galleries.









Picked a Lebanese place for lunch, and they have a set menu that includes hummus, salad, and a wrap of your choice. The hummus was delicious, the salad apparently was too (everyone raved, too bad I don’t like lettuce), and the chicken schwarma was phenomenal (I just ate it out of the wrap).


Jimmy really didn’t have huge plans for us, and we really didn’t have any idea what to do. But in the post office we saw a post card for this huge Buddha statue, so we decided to go check that out on the island of Lantau. We heard there was a new skyrail that gave you the scenic tour up to the monastery. First we took the metro over to the island.







Turned out, the skyrail was going through “safety trials” so we had to take the bus. It was still a pretty ride though.

The Tian Tan Buddha statue is the world’s largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha statue




260 steps








Have I mentioned that Hong Kong looks like Hawaii


Frank and Jim, sporting Jansports and their sunblocking hats, burn incense


my incense






Back to Kowloon to meet up with some MBAs who are in Hong Kong for summer internships. We clean up at the hotel, and head out for dinner. We picked a Thai/Malaysian place (they have a menu for each).

That tall tower at night


The “happening” road in Hong Kong, Lan Kwei Fong


Jimmy got his tongue into this one




Hong Kong money is pretty


Dessert


We then were going to attempt to go and visit the Peak, which basically overlooks the harbour, but when we got to the site of the tram for it, the line was ridiculously long. It was already late, and we were already tired, so we opted instead to call it a night, and meet up in the morning to try the Peak then. Read more!