The VGs diverged in a number of different journeys on their last day in China. In the morning, Joe, Dreddy and Kevin went off to the fabric district to pick up their newly tailored suits. They returned around 11am as the rest of the VGs were just waking up. Our hostel rooms don't have windows so it is actually impossible to know when or where we are.
Most of the guys then went to McDonald's (the embassy) for a dependable meal to try and settle our collective stomachs. It didn't really work. Upon returning to the hostel, I joined Logan, Keith and Harry and we immediately took the metro to East Nanjing Street in the heart of downtown. From there, we walked to the old colonial side of the Huangpu river, the Bund District, and enjoyed some of the best views of the Shanghai/Pu Dong skyline that exist. It was a perfect day weather wise and we took many photos (all posed, some model shots... to be revealed soon.)
We walked a couple of kilometers down the Bund parallel to the river and then turned back inward toward Yuyuan. That area has been converted into a very pretty but VERY commercial and packed market center that is built to look like traditional old town Shanghai. We found the most famous dumpling place in the city and stood in their fifteen minute line - it was worth it! Next, we went to the Yuyuan Gardens, themselves. The gardens were the former estate of the Pan family who built them in the mid 19th century and modeled them after the gardens in the Forbidden City. You need pictures for this but we can't really upload any here in China so check this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Garden
The gardens were absolutely beautiful - I loved the meshing of traditional Chinese pagodas with the grey quarried stone and the green trees and shrubs. The fact that all of this was on water just made the gardens that much more scenic. I think this is where Microsoft goes to get all of their screensavers.
We left the garden and took the metro back to the hostel where I begin the long and arduous packing process... a process which I've just finished. We did take a dinner break, heading to get some traditional Chinese noodles, before returning to charge all of my electronics and pack them safely away. The laptop will be last.
Our flight tomorrow leaves at 3:55PM local time (3:55AM EST) and will go through Chicago O'Hare. We are supposed to arrive in Chicago O'Hare at 4:32PM CST (5:32PM EST.) We then depart ORD at 6:10PM and should get to Dulles Airport in Washington, DC at 9:01PM EST.
I'll keep you updated about our flight progress and we'll see you all very soon!
-Simon & the VGs
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