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Here’s a collection of scenes from various neighborhoods in Shanghai that I enjoyed, and I hope you do too….

Thomas here again - the other day we went to Dino beach water-park. It was pretty cool. We went on the wave pool which happens to be the second largest wave pool in the world. The waves were like real ocean waves. One girl who was in an inner tube going over a huge wave got flipped over and her head crashed into mine. I felt like I was having a concussion.

We also went on the big inner-tube water slide, but it wasn’t very long ride. They also had this little pool that had floating rubber lily pads and you had to cross the pool by walking across them while holding onto a rope. It was kind of hard to cross because they kept tipping over. There was also this big Tiki tower with a barrel at the top that would fill up with a whole bunch of water and then dump on you if you’re under it.

Yesterday we went on a boat trip in a little six person sampan boat in Rivertown. Then after a while the boat driver dropped us off at a little part of the town that had a ‘shopping street’. Only this town’s idea of a ‘shopping street’ was my idea of little huts along an old cement road with people selling all kinds of stuff. Most of it was either junk or stuff that had prices that were not worth the quality of the item. Also this was the first place I’ve been to that allows you to haggle prices down to an amount you and the shop keeper agree on. So we walked around the place just for the heck of it.

I got up early this morning before the boys woke to go out and capture some scenes of the early morning time in Shanghai…

Construction is happening everywhere - bamboo scaffording and cranes are seen across the cityscape. I’ve heard that at any one time there are more cranes in Shanghai than in any other city in the world.

Parks are filled with people walking, riding bicycles & scooters and exercising in unique ways, and with students in uniform on their way to school.

For those that want to know about the real basics, here is a view into a modern and clean but traditional Chinese public bathroom…

While walking through a Shanghai park this afternoon we came across the following proclamation from the Chinese government, which I think speaks for itself: 

The Seven Don’ts

Each day when I first wake I hear a multi-layered din that seems futuristic and Orwellian. First there is a low foundational rumbling from traffic and general urban activity. This is overlaid by a constant reverberating tone from one or more loudspeakers out on the street – some hawker advertising products or some paternalistic government drone intoning advice on how The People need to learn how to clean up their act (no spitting out on the street or in stores and office buildings, no cutting in line in the subway and in store check out lines) before Shanghai plays host during the World Expo in 2010. I realize that I actually have no idea whether it’s one or the other - or both. Then there’s constant honking from cars and a medley of sirens - police cars or ambulances probably, but certainly a variety of home-grown ones designed to warn and ward off other cars in the bumper-car activity that is Shanghai traffic.

For several months before coming to Shanghai we had several concerns about our time here that we now realize are mostly unfounded or insignificant, including: 

1. Hot Weather - We expected 100+ degree weather and very high humidity, but it’s been in the low 90’s with about 65% humidity. And though it is quite hot out when we’re out in the direct sun, it’s not too bad in the shade and there’s often a refreshing breeze. There have also been two brief rain storms that helped cool things off. 

2. Grey Skies & Smog - We’ve been pleased to see blue sky with nice white clouds just about every day for most of the day. And although there’s more smoking here and odors we’re not used to out on the streets, there doesn’t seem to obvious excessive smog or unhealthy air. The only people I’ve seen wearing face masks are the street cleaners. 

3. Crowds - There is certainly more activity out on the street than we’re used to, with lots of people out walking or riding bicycles, mopeds or motorcycles. Also there’s continuous honking from cars and the drivers here are shockingly aggressive and seemingly careless - you get the impressions they’d just as soon run over you then wait or maneuver around you. But after just a few days we’re up to speed on the ins and outs of taking taxis and the subway - so even the busiest subway stops during the end-of-workday rush hour doesn’t faze us much.

 4. Our Boys Getting Separated From Us - We already have a system worked out with the boys that we’re all used to. When we’re out on the streets or in the subway I hold Lucas’ right hand in my left hand at all times and Thomas always stays on my right side within reach - so I can always see him quickly and easily, and hold his left hand or just help steer him around obstacles or through crowds when necessary. Each of the boys also has a special pouch inside the waistline of their shorts that has a card with my cell phone number and the address and phone number of our hotel, and they understand what they should do if they were to get separated from us.

For these reasons and others Shanghai doesn’t seem quite so “foreign” any more. I think we’ve begun acclimating to being in China!