The first thing Carmel and I were greeted with on arrival was an electric water fountain with only warm,17deg and hot water, 60 deg options. It was really funny! We sure know about the Chinese desire for hot water and this dispensing machine proved the point. Wish we had taken a photo now!
First impressions was the calm of the Shanghai international airport. V efficient and very helpful people. As soon a we stood still people were asking us if we needed help!
Laura , The agent who organises school visits and her partner Richard soon appeared. Off we trotted to the car and then the super dull 2.5 hr highway trip to Jiangyin in Jiangsu province took place. I was hanging by this point. Trying to be pleasant but feeling knackered.
Freshening up at our hotel was good. A solid business hotel. as they say in the brochure ,built by "Jiang nan mould plastics group as a five star hotel." Next to my bed is a sign saying "Warm Prompt. Please don't smoke in bed." Interesting.
Laura has taken us to two fantastic restaurants today. I've had fish hot pot, DELICOUS! lotus stems,DELICIOUS green veg in all kinds of forms, rice, Sichuan sauce, pork sweet and sour, more fish, chicken, local noodles with more spice, some local in season green stuff DELICOUS, beer, water and some crap tea. Richard was most upset by the standard of tea served today...hopefully we will sort it out tomorrow.
After a half hour power nap we went off to the river and climbed up a road to a fort. Two massive guns left there by the Nationalists in the 40s. Nothing much else apart from some stonking brutalist towers but some nice trees about and spring has arrived. V. Similar foliage to Britain.
lots of wide roads and cars but not too many people around. Seemed a bit eerie out for a lovely Sunday evening. Thought more families would be in evidence...but no.
Red strip lighting neon lighting everywhere. it's big and brash here. Wide roads..big shops but no one about, maybe that's because it's a Sunday.
Time to sleep now. I'm exhausted. Up early tomorrow for school and presentations. Night.
Our first hotpot. To be honest, the only proper one I had all holiday. I never got the chance to have a good one again, because it is not a meal for one.
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