Saturday April 8 - Shanghai [Updated]
[Updates at the bottom of post]
OK, after crashing last night and getting some great sleep for the first few hours, it became an series of short naps until 5:00AM at which point we are up and I figured it would be a good time to update the blog.
Note: I am not able to access the actual blog posts for some reason (China censorship of blogs, or just hotel computer DNS foul-up), so I will post em and refine them later after I have a chance to browse. In general, I will try to make a new posting each day to create the time stamp and sequencing of blog posts, and will make updates later as there is more information of interest to fill in.
Nancy and I will be heading into downtown Shanghai this morning for food, some shopping, and a bit if sightseeing. Then head back to the hotel after lunch and start to see about connecting up with the other Heartsent families. We know that some should already be here as of last night and others will be arriving through the day and evening.
Nancy being a native of Shanghai (came to the US in 1986), always loves to see her home city and the changes taking place.
Daily updates!:
Spent the early part of the day getting live with our cell phone in Shanghai. Easy here to get local SIM cards to put into your phone. HOWEVER, newer cell phones are designed with firmware that prohibits you from just removing your provider SIM and installing a purchase-n-go SIM card with local minutes. We did not know this until we popped the new SIM in and the phone (a Motorola V550) demanded something called a Subsidy Password. This is a lockout code required to allow the phone work in any local cell region and is done to allow phone companies to keep you captive to their regional net. So, after getting mad at Cinglular and Motorola, we just went shopping and picked up a cheap local phone and off we go :) I do not recommend local cell phone service unless you are fluent in Mandarin, since Nancy is, this is a great safety net for us and the group.
After phone shopping, we headed into downtown Shanghai along the shopping district (WaiHai Road). There is a famous open market there that Nancy likes to shop and haggle at. We hear the market will close in another month though due to government pressures. It is possible to buy "seconds" and "gray market" designer products like Prada and Gucci there (many of which are actually made in China). Nancy is usually able to buy anything she likes for about 90% discount off the "caucasian" price :) as long as I am not standing near her as she puts the Shanghaineese shopping moves on the merchants. I went and toured the local city park down the street, plus shopping for snacks and water, and left her to shop for a couple hours. After shopping, with a bag full of gifts to take home, Nancy and I reconnected and we headed off for local food at one of the many great local restaurants (where I am usually the only non-Chinese in the room).
Later in the Afternoon we went back to the hotel and then to the Waterfront walkways across from the hotel for some fresh air. Later afternoon, we started connecting by phone or phone message with the rest of the families (some not arriving until mid-evening yet). Nancy called Chris to confirm if he would meet us in Shanghai or in Changsha. He told us he will meet us in Changsha at the airport and be with us from then on. So we let all the other families know that Shanghai means we will all be on our own, and need to plan on taxi or car service to the regional airport no later then 11:00 to give the usual time to check-in and loiter at the gate.
Evening time gave us the opportunity to Meet Kai Wong and his family (Fair Oaks office) and chat and catch up on events together. Kai and his wife were in China traveling to take their adopted daughter (Katie) to see her home city where her orphanage was (insert city name here later). Katie, and their other adopted daughter Hanah are adorable and having a blast in China. We went out to dinner with Kai and his family at night down town and had a blast. Great food, great conversations and fun.
After a long dinner, we taxied back to the hotel, by which time I am on chapter 2 of jet lag and needed to show and crash for the night :)
(refined updates later, as time permits)
OK, after crashing last night and getting some great sleep for the first few hours, it became an series of short naps until 5:00AM at which point we are up and I figured it would be a good time to update the blog.
Note: I am not able to access the actual blog posts for some reason (China censorship of blogs, or just hotel computer DNS foul-up), so I will post em and refine them later after I have a chance to browse. In general, I will try to make a new posting each day to create the time stamp and sequencing of blog posts, and will make updates later as there is more information of interest to fill in.
Nancy and I will be heading into downtown Shanghai this morning for food, some shopping, and a bit if sightseeing. Then head back to the hotel after lunch and start to see about connecting up with the other Heartsent families. We know that some should already be here as of last night and others will be arriving through the day and evening.
Nancy being a native of Shanghai (came to the US in 1986), always loves to see her home city and the changes taking place.
Daily updates!:
Spent the early part of the day getting live with our cell phone in Shanghai. Easy here to get local SIM cards to put into your phone. HOWEVER, newer cell phones are designed with firmware that prohibits you from just removing your provider SIM and installing a purchase-n-go SIM card with local minutes. We did not know this until we popped the new SIM in and the phone (a Motorola V550) demanded something called a Subsidy Password. This is a lockout code required to allow the phone work in any local cell region and is done to allow phone companies to keep you captive to their regional net. So, after getting mad at Cinglular and Motorola, we just went shopping and picked up a cheap local phone and off we go :) I do not recommend local cell phone service unless you are fluent in Mandarin, since Nancy is, this is a great safety net for us and the group.
After phone shopping, we headed into downtown Shanghai along the shopping district (WaiHai Road). There is a famous open market there that Nancy likes to shop and haggle at. We hear the market will close in another month though due to government pressures. It is possible to buy "seconds" and "gray market" designer products like Prada and Gucci there (many of which are actually made in China). Nancy is usually able to buy anything she likes for about 90% discount off the "caucasian" price :) as long as I am not standing near her as she puts the Shanghaineese shopping moves on the merchants. I went and toured the local city park down the street, plus shopping for snacks and water, and left her to shop for a couple hours. After shopping, with a bag full of gifts to take home, Nancy and I reconnected and we headed off for local food at one of the many great local restaurants (where I am usually the only non-Chinese in the room).
Later in the Afternoon we went back to the hotel and then to the Waterfront walkways across from the hotel for some fresh air. Later afternoon, we started connecting by phone or phone message with the rest of the families (some not arriving until mid-evening yet). Nancy called Chris to confirm if he would meet us in Shanghai or in Changsha. He told us he will meet us in Changsha at the airport and be with us from then on. So we let all the other families know that Shanghai means we will all be on our own, and need to plan on taxi or car service to the regional airport no later then 11:00 to give the usual time to check-in and loiter at the gate.
Evening time gave us the opportunity to Meet Kai Wong and his family (Fair Oaks office) and chat and catch up on events together. Kai and his wife were in China traveling to take their adopted daughter (Katie) to see her home city where her orphanage was (insert city name here later). Katie, and their other adopted daughter Hanah are adorable and having a blast in China. We went out to dinner with Kai and his family at night down town and had a blast. Great food, great conversations and fun.
After a long dinner, we taxied back to the hotel, by which time I am on chapter 2 of jet lag and needed to show and crash for the night :)
(refined updates later, as time permits)
posted by Emily's Parents at 2:12 PM
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