(From Phil's camera...as a continuation of what I was realizing yesterday...Phil didn't change the date on his camera, either...as a result, the date changes mid-afternoon. I could probably do the calculations to figure out which day these events were actually taking place on...but I figure it doesn't matter enough to warrant the time it would take me, and heck, I've already started with the it being off and no one has complained, so...)
The photos from yesterdays post in Jing An Park were actually from this morning...we got up early to go explore before the day officially began.
Once the rest of the group was up, we had the official start to the day exploring in Old Shanghai
While we were there, we got to see the gorgeous Yu Yuan Garden. It's a walled - in garden with a lot of history...the details of which I don't rember well enough to regurgitate here. I'm glad Phil got so many pictures of it, but even so there was just so much to this place...I totally fell in love with it.
That was it for the garden pics...I wish I had more pictures of the garden itself, it really was awe-inspiring.
Anyway, back in old shanghai, Kir was on a mission to find a specific kind of film that was not readily available. But this guy was working hard to help her track it down.
Then we headed to a museum...it was a shame (though also totally understandable) that you couldn't take pics anywhere but the lobby, 'cause they had some really cool exhibits.
At the bund
So anyway, that is it for Phil's pics this day. BUT, after our foray into the Yu Yuan Gardens, we stopped by a (different) kodak kiosk, and I was able to get a replacement memory card. So here are my photos from the rest of that day.
I'm going to go ahead and assume that the grumpy look on Kir's face here is because I was being a brat about not having the memory card before we went into the garden. That place really had a lasting effect on me; I still think about it and talk about it fairly often.
The chaperons Pari, (Kir, help me out, I don't remember the name of the gentleman in the middle! I'm terrible!), and Arnie enjoying a drink in old shanghai
These gentleman were artists selling their wares to the tourists in old shanghai. The guy on the left spoke english and did calligraphy, the guy on the right made grass sculptures but spoke no english. His sculptures were AMAZING...his biggest piece on display was a tall dragon, twisted as if in flight or dance, balancing on one foot and holding a pearl in his mouth. The intricacy of the design, especially when you take into account how well it had to be balanced in order to stand on one foot (really five toes, the whole foot doesn't touch the ground) and how delicate the medium must be, was really breathtaking.
(I ended up buying it, pictured here on my parents' mantle...[I really should get a better shot of it, this seriously doesn't do it justice]...there is a 3 tiered pricing system in chinese markets, one price for locals, one (higher)price for non-local chinese, and a third (much higher) price for foreigners. You are supposed to haggle down, too, so the the price quoted to me as an obvious foreigner is usually ridiculously inflated. This guy quoted me the equivalent of $20 for that sculpture. I thought he deserved a lot more for it, and thought I must have misheard his price quote. I hadn't, and decided to support him and his work and didn't haggle. He was very grateful and threw in a couple of small ornaments and a stand, and wouldn't take no for an answer. By their standards I'm sure I was ripped off; but by mine, I got quite a steal, and heck, if it helps him in the process, why should I care that I could have gotten it for less?)
We stopped to see this puppy, and the shop owner came out and tried to sell us something (I don't remember what...) but asked us to follow to the back of the store...and then took us into this weird maze behind the shops...we were pretty sure it was a BAD idea to go back there, called ouselves naive dumb tourists and managed to get out unscathed.
I know these next too are redundant, but I decided to put both on because the subtle difference in the expression on Kir's face is priceless.
don't play koi...
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