New friend in Shanghai

Recently I was looking back at my blog entries and realized that I really have strayed from original objective of this blog. That objective was to share stories of the people I meet during my travels. Instead my blog has become more of a snapshot of my travels.
So here is an entry to bring you back to the people I meet.



Near my apartment in Shanghai is a "legitimate" foot massage shop. There is a pleasant young lady from Sichuan province near Chengdu that worked at this shop. She is typical of the many migrant workers, especially the women. She worked for about 2 years in a factory manufacturing electric toothbrushes and shavers. Tired of the long hours and poor working conditions she took this job giving foot massages. She has an older brother, also working in Shanghai, and with him she shares an apartment. Since this posting I learned she recently moved to another shop that pays a little better. She will go back to her hometown later this month for about 4 weeks and will learn cosmetics. She plans to return to Shanghai and work as a beautician.
A cute girl, but streetwise; I suspect the factory and foot massage parlor had much to do with that.
Her name is Ling Li. Attractive but not beautiful. Dark skinned with contemporary short haircut.
Good taste in the clothes she wears and recently discovered makeup. It will be interesting if she makes it back to Shanghai, and with new job.





Jet joined Evan and I following spicy Sichuan dinner near my house. We do not
see Jet as often as we used to. Hopefully he will be back with our team soon.
The "traditional chinese man" now has a family. A young wife and daughter back
in Wuxi.

Qingdao Penglai Weihai Yantai (Click here for more info)

First week of Oct, I visited with a small travel group Qingdao, Penglai, Yantai and Weihai on China's east coast, roughly halfway between Beijing and Shanghai in Shandong province. A beautiful area with comfortable weather, clean cities, and nice beaches. Of course Qingdao is China's beer capital, home to Tsingtao Beer. Much European influence remains in Qingdao as it was occupied by Germany in the 1800's.

Here is a photo from the mountains north of Qingdao in the area called Laoshan. A wonderful place for a long uphill hike and fantastic view of the sea.

Here are some intersting rock formations in Laoshan.Me with Qingdao syline in the background.

Sun setting in Penglai at the temple of the 8 Immortals. See description below.

A beach front in Weihai just as the fog begins to roll in.

An afternoon snack in Weihai.

From Weihai our group took a ferry ride out to Liugong Island, a former fortress and HQ to Chinese Navy's northern fleet. The cannon below was built by Krupp Company in Germany.

Apartment in Shanghai

In July I finally managed to move into a small apartment so that I now have a place to hang my hat. Located in an apartment complex overlooking Jin Qiao Park, I am only about 10 minutes by bicycle from my office. With no foreigners in the community, I am forced to make-do with my limited chinese. I am a regular at the local laundry, grocery store, fruitstand and a handful of small restaurants in the neighborhood. Here are a few pictures. I am thankful to Evan for helping to find this place, away from the high priced expat areas that I considered earlier.

I even have a bicycle now and have made several long rides around the Pudong section of Shanghai, including a ride out to the Yellow Sea.

Eastern Pudong not far from airport. Not a place that many tourists see.