Feburary 2008, Paul and Carol experienced Chinese New Year in Shanghai with Matt and Renee and the kids.
Madness
EAT, EAT, EAT!!
The Gerkens and Van Huttens live to eat. The Lemckerts and Haveners exhibit a rather more sedate attitude towards food -- they eat to live. It was a sight to see the two very different food "cultures" demolish our Indonesian rijstaffeltje. Opa made kroepoek on the deck; Oma chopped meat and vegetables, and cooked for weeks ahead of time. Then, on the day of the event, Grace and Leanne pitched in. The results? Yumm!!!
We Be Crazy
We be crazy. No explanation needed. Fun was had by all. The cousins especially bonded. We be NUTZ!!
More Gerkens - Van Hutten Mania
What could be nicer than a world family sitting on a deck, getting reacquainted (or getting to know one another), and eating, drinking, and chatting away. Who came the farthest? Betty and Hank Lemckert, of course. Then Matt and Renee from Shanghai. We were a diverse group from Curacao, The Netherlands, Miami, Richmond (hah!), and Baltimore and surroundings. We might only see each other a few times per decade, but love was in the air. And we had FUN!!
Carts
Nowhere in Shanghai were old customs still so visible as in the various modes of transportation. Here then is a sampling of the carts I photographed. Some of the carts were heavily laden and pulled by men on bikes. Double click on the photos to get a closer view.
This 17 second video shows the various modes of transportation at an intersection.
River Walk and Ferry Ride Across the Huangpu River
The Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River
We strolled along the river, with the Pearl Tower in the background. The air quality was so poor, that it was hard to see its top.
River walk
We boarded the ferry along with a couple of hundred Chinese.
The ferry ride was short. The captain had to wend his way between barges. Very different from Hong Kong.
This is the HuangPu river.
Our destination was Old Town. You can see The Bund lining the water way.
Stroll Through Xin Tian Di
After we visited Renee in the hospital, we strolled through Xin Tian Di, a renovated district full of fancy shops and restaurants. The facades of old buildings remain, but everything else is modern.
We ate our first Chinese meal, which was elegant and delicious. About six waiters and waitresses hovered over us, catering to our every whim. They were mesmerized by the kids, and two even got to hold Jacob, giggling all the while.
Our last stop was the electronics market, just across the street. We strolled through three stories of densely packed shops, all containing bargains for the Western tourist.
This You Tube video is long (about 6 minutes), but if you view half of it you'll get an idea of our walk.
We ate our first Chinese meal, which was elegant and delicious. About six waiters and waitresses hovered over us, catering to our every whim. They were mesmerized by the kids, and two even got to hold Jacob, giggling all the while.
Our last stop was the electronics market, just across the street. We strolled through three stories of densely packed shops, all containing bargains for the Western tourist.
This You Tube video is long (about 6 minutes), but if you view half of it you'll get an idea of our walk.Chinese laundry
With so many people and children in one apartment, we had to take care of laundry every day. The stackable washer and dryer were in a convenient spot next to the kitchen, and the washer worked very well.But ask Carol about the dryer, which never quite dried our clothes, even after they had been hanging outside until almost dry. We used the "dryer" to soften clothes and reduce wrinkles, but mostly we had to hang our clean wash on the balcony for thorough drying.
In the streets and outside their windows and balconies, the Chinese hang their laundry in plain sight, inlcuding bras and underwear. Oh, my.
1 1/2 minute video of a walk through old Shanghai.
Third Evening: Maddie
Princess outfit and book for night
Bed time story
Listening intently
Ready for bedLast Evening
Our last evening together consisted of a delicious Sechzuan meal paid for by Oma and Opa, and a stroll down the famous Nanjing Road shopping district. The still photos don't do this road justice, so I have included two short You Tube videos.
The flaming dish is three times cooked pork. The top crust was so mouthwateringly crunchy that I could have eaten the entire dish by myself. Little Jacob was strapped into his high chair with a napkin, otherwise he would have slipped right through. The "cheesy" looking mound is actual a noodle dish with a thick cream sauce.
Whoops, I included the same dish twice. The crispy toasted sesame pockets could be filled with the crispy fried onions and fish (?), which tasted remarkably similar to the tiny fried Indonesian fish Bopie loves so much.
Nanjing Road has to be experienced to be believed. Paul, when standing away by himself, was accosted by several young women. We observed this first hand, much to our surprise, as they didn't seem put off at all by his Chinese haircut.
Here's a one minute video, sight, sounds, and all.
And this 2 1/2 minute video shows the Coca Cola sign (our favorite) in the middle of its run.
Walking to the restaurant, the buildings were so modern and the signs were so colorful. You can see the solar sensors for the street light if you look closely. I recall a woman walking her dog at this point. The only place pooch had to poop, was a tiny plot of grass at the base of one of these signs.
Throughout our trips together, the kids were so well behaved and accustomed to going places. Maddie ate the food and tried a bit of everything. So impressive for one her age.
A shrimp dish, which was delicious. Carol liked it best of all the dishes and ate a couple of portions. There was so much food, we couldn't finish it all.
As you strolled up Nanjing Road, which was cordoned off from traffic, men and women weaved in and out of the crowds on wheels attached to their shoes that flashed with colored lights. They kept approaching us to sell us a pair. Can you imagine Paul, Carol, or auntie on one of those things? We'd be dangerous!
The flaming dish is three times cooked pork. The top crust was so mouthwateringly crunchy that I could have eaten the entire dish by myself. Little Jacob was strapped into his high chair with a napkin, otherwise he would have slipped right through. The "cheesy" looking mound is actual a noodle dish with a thick cream sauce.
Whoops, I included the same dish twice. The crispy toasted sesame pockets could be filled with the crispy fried onions and fish (?), which tasted remarkably similar to the tiny fried Indonesian fish Bopie loves so much.
Nanjing Road has to be experienced to be believed. Paul, when standing away by himself, was accosted by several young women. We observed this first hand, much to our surprise, as they didn't seem put off at all by his Chinese haircut.Here's a one minute video, sight, sounds, and all.
And this 2 1/2 minute video shows the Coca Cola sign (our favorite) in the middle of its run.
Walking to the restaurant, the buildings were so modern and the signs were so colorful. You can see the solar sensors for the street light if you look closely. I recall a woman walking her dog at this point. The only place pooch had to poop, was a tiny plot of grass at the base of one of these signs.
Throughout our trips together, the kids were so well behaved and accustomed to going places. Maddie ate the food and tried a bit of everything. So impressive for one her age.
A shrimp dish, which was delicious. Carol liked it best of all the dishes and ate a couple of portions. There was so much food, we couldn't finish it all.
As you strolled up Nanjing Road, which was cordoned off from traffic, men and women weaved in and out of the crowds on wheels attached to their shoes that flashed with colored lights. They kept approaching us to sell us a pair. Can you imagine Paul, Carol, or auntie on one of those things? We'd be dangerous!
