At the ripe age of 26, I took a trip of a lifetime through China. I had spent the past several years traveling to Hong Kong for my job and on one particular trip, I decided to take an extra week for vacation to tour several cities in mainland China.
In the Spring of 1991, my childhood friend, Cheryl met me in Hong Kong, where she spent the last of my three week business trip with me, and from there, we began our China adventure to the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and the ancient capital, Xian. I kept a very detailed journal from start to finish of my awesome journey, nearly twenty-five years ago, and decided this would make a great travel series for Travelin' Cousins. Over the course of the next two months, I will post chronological segments of my journal on my respective Throwback Thursdays. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed re-living my trip! - Elisa
In the Spring of 1991, my childhood friend, Cheryl met me in Hong Kong, where she spent the last of my three week business trip with me, and from there, we began our China adventure to the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and the ancient capital, Xian. I kept a very detailed journal from start to finish of my awesome journey, nearly twenty-five years ago, and decided this would make a great travel series for Travelin' Cousins. Over the course of the next two months, I will post chronological segments of my journal on my respective Throwback Thursdays. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed re-living my trip! - Elisa
Saturday, May 18, 1991
We woke up at 7:00AM today, because the tour was leaving at 9:00AM. However, as usual we were not ready. Actually, it was not our fault. We called for an adapter for the hair dryer at 7:30 and finally one hour later (and 5 phone calls later) it came.
We ate breakfast in the Tea Garden in the Hotel. It was a buffet. We had french toast, cereal, hash browns and fruit - not bad!
We were checked out right after breakfast and met up with Dong (who was chasing us all morning since we were running late).
We woke up at 7:00AM today, because the tour was leaving at 9:00AM. However, as usual we were not ready. Actually, it was not our fault. We called for an adapter for the hair dryer at 7:30 and finally one hour later (and 5 phone calls later) it came.
We ate breakfast in the Tea Garden in the Hotel. It was a buffet. We had french toast, cereal, hash browns and fruit - not bad!
We were checked out right after breakfast and met up with Dong (who was chasing us all morning since we were running late).
 THE BUND, SHANGHAI  SHANGHAI HARBOR |  SHANGHAI STREET NEAR THE BUND  THE BUND - FAMILIES AND CHILDREN GATHERING |
The first stop was The Bund (The Waterfront). We took a lot of pictures of the harbor and the fountains around . There were many people out taking pictures and just hanging out enjoying the beautiful day. Cheryl and I were being stilly and I pointed out some guy who pulled his little daughter's pants down and held her over the dirt to "relieve herself" It was pretty gross, to say the least.
While we were walking around, some young guys came over to us, asked us if we were American and then proceeded to fire questions at us - what state we lived in, what school we went to, if we ever went to Ohio and many more. At first we were a bit stand offish, but then we warmed up to them. This one guy told us how he was applying to study at Bowling Green University in Ohio, as well as Georgetown. Then he went on asking even more questions. His friend started a separate conversation with Cheryl with more questions, as I continued chatting with the original fellow.
Before we knew it, Dong met us and told us we had to get going. We attempted to walk across the street from where we were at the Bund. Crossing any street in Shanghai is like taking your life in your hands. There are no rules, no lanes, no pedestrian signs. The cars just come very close to hitting people walking and on bicycles. And all the cars do is beep!!
While we were walking around, some young guys came over to us, asked us if we were American and then proceeded to fire questions at us - what state we lived in, what school we went to, if we ever went to Ohio and many more. At first we were a bit stand offish, but then we warmed up to them. This one guy told us how he was applying to study at Bowling Green University in Ohio, as well as Georgetown. Then he went on asking even more questions. His friend started a separate conversation with Cheryl with more questions, as I continued chatting with the original fellow.
Before we knew it, Dong met us and told us we had to get going. We attempted to walk across the street from where we were at the Bund. Crossing any street in Shanghai is like taking your life in your hands. There are no rules, no lanes, no pedestrian signs. The cars just come very close to hitting people walking and on bicycles. And all the cars do is beep!!
 ME AT THE BUND |  CHERYL AT THE BUND |
Our next stop was a shopping area. I was mesmerized by all the amazing things there were and the craftsmanship. I bought my father a cloissoine statue of a Chinese woman and for Danielle, I purchased a jewelry box.
We got back on the bus and went to lunch next. Neither me nor Cheryl could remember the name of the restaurant, but we took a picture of it. In general, the food was gross, but we managed to get noodles and some egg and tomato soup, so it wasn't a total loss.
 ON WAY TO RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH |  SHOPPING AREA IN SHANGHAI |
Cheryl and I basically laughed and made fun of things and joked all the time. Mostly, we laughed about what shopaholics we were.
After lunch we went to a cloisonné factory . It was very interesting to watch the way it was made and the various applications. Once again, we bought a few things. For me, I got a few vases for the girls in my office. I was tempted to buy more but then realized we still had two cities to visit. Cheryl bought her mom a cloisone vase.
After lunch we went to a cloisonné factory . It was very interesting to watch the way it was made and the various applications. Once again, we bought a few things. For me, I got a few vases for the girls in my office. I was tempted to buy more but then realized we still had two cities to visit. Cheryl bought her mom a cloisone vase.
The guys in the stores were really funny - they said we spoke English very fast and if they were practicing their "listening". The said if they could understand us, they could understand very hard English. They even imitated the way we said things - you know, with our New York accents. Cheryl and I took a long time in here and everyone wound up waiting for us - which will be a recurring event going forward on this tour.
 CLOISONNE FACTORY |  |
It was a very busy day of sightseeing and shopping. Next stop was the Yu Yuan Garden. This site was build over 400 years ago, which in China history is not that long ago, but as Americans, it was extremely ancient. It was also quite lovely and I managed to get some nice pictures.
YU YANG GARDENS, SHANGHAI  ONLY PICTURE OF ME & CHERYL AT YU YANG GARDENS AND I BLINKED |  BEAUTIFUL YU YANG GARDENS |
Sixth on our sites today was the Jade Buddha Temple. We took as many pictures as we were able to since they don't allow anyone to photograph the Jade Buddhas. But it was here that Cheryl decided that she wanted me to take it easy with the photos. (We had originally calculated that 4 rolls over 6 days worked out to 36 pictures today, so she was concerned that we would run out of film).
 PHOTO TAKEN FROM BUS - LOVED THE BALLOON |  JADE BUDDHA TEMPLE - NO PHOTOS ALLOWED |
This tour had us hitting a lot of sites in a short period of time. Cheryl and I were so parched by the time we arrived at the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Center (our seventh and final stop for the day). Basically this was a tourist trap, but we looked around and ultimately, to our surprise, did not buy anything. However, we decided to get sodas since we were dying of thirst.
CHERYL IN THE ULTIMATE BIKE SHOT IN SHANGHAI
The most exciting things that happened from this point on was the stretch Cadilac that pulled up to the shop with some Indonesian VIP. We had no idea who he was, but figured he must have been someone important if he was in such a fancy car. The other was fulfilling Cheryl's quest to get "the Ultimate Bike Shot", which we managed to do. (Thank goodness we saved some film!)
While we were waiting for the others to finish shopping (which was a rarity, since it was always me and Cheryl who made everyone else wait, Cheryl and I struck up a conversation with Dong. I was listening to my walkman and I let him listen to my Madonna tape. He had never heard of her and this was 1991, at which point, she was pretty iconic worldwide. He told us that country music, was popular in Shanghai, especially John Denver. Of course, Cheryl found that very funny, having a vision of Chinese men in cowboy hats singing southern sounding songs.
While we were waiting for the others to finish shopping (which was a rarity, since it was always me and Cheryl who made everyone else wait, Cheryl and I struck up a conversation with Dong. I was listening to my walkman and I let him listen to my Madonna tape. He had never heard of her and this was 1991, at which point, she was pretty iconic worldwide. He told us that country music, was popular in Shanghai, especially John Denver. Of course, Cheryl found that very funny, having a vision of Chinese men in cowboy hats singing southern sounding songs.
PHOTO TAKEN BY DONG IN THE AIRPORT - ALITTLE BLURRY
I have to tell you, it was Africa Hot here as we headed for our last stop - the airport. We were going to be on our way to Beijing, or "Peking" as the Chinese call it. Andrew and Janice were with us for the balance of the tour, and Cheryl and I were next to them on this flight.
Dong got us checked in immediately and off we were to another exciting Chinese city!!
-Elisa