THE WANDERERS ARE HAPPY AND BACK HOME.

NOTE: DOUBLE CLICK ON ANY PICTURE AND IT WILL EXPAND TO FULL SCREEN. USE BROWSER BACK BUTTON TO RETURN.

A LOOK AT SHANGHAI

A view of a street market [not sure this is Shanghai].

I asked our guide--the rice harvest time is over and these men on a main street of Shanghai are hoping for work carrying some one's "bundles"---note the large baskets which each man has. [double click on picture to get the full effect!]

We went to the Shanghai zoo and saw the pandas!

We visited a jade museum in Shanghai and leaned that jade can be, and is, almost any color. These tiny musical instruments are all carved out of jade and were on sale at the gift shop. [no, we did not buy them--expensive].

Dee examines a duvet at the silk factory in Shanghai [she bought it!].

JUST A LOOK AT ONE SIGN

Often the signs were funny after they had been translated into English.

This one was in the area of the Three Gorges Dam information center. [The land dropped off steeply just over the railing.]

INTERACTING WITH THE CHILDREN.

Mary (Alaska) brought "bubble stuff" and was a hit anywhere she found kids to show her bubble blowing skills.

At one university, we each paired off with one or two students and walked around campus sightseeing and speaking English. I started with the two girls (college juniors) and picked up the young man on the walk. [the holding up of two fingers for a picture seems to be common in China but no one seemed to know why???]

These children all stopped to look and be friendly as we left a visit up the street.

One of our group talking to a group of young girls who have just performed for us.

VISITS TO OTHER REMOTE VILLAGES

We were greeted in this village by elaborately costumed dancers of all ages who later gave a nice performance. On arrival, we were offered a drink of the local, special "brew." [which was VERY strong].

In several places we visited the apartments of some local people. [Elderhostel pays them for this privilege]. Here, we have just visited this woman's apartment and are standing in the entry way admiring her grandchild.

Outside another village, we were able to get a great photo of this man plowing. We saw many, many people plowing with water buffalo but usually from the train or bus. Here we were walking back to the bus. We also saw one case [from the train] of four men in harness pulling the plow instead of a buffalo.

LOCAL LADIES GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN

In the same "earth opera" village, one of our group is checking her pictures of these two ladies. The Chinese were all very friendly and loved having their picture taken. They also wanted to see their picture.

MOUNTAIN VILLAGE TO SEE "EARTH OPERA"

These musicians are about to go inside to participate in the village performance of their "earth opera" which was performed for our group [i.e. no other audience].

Many of the village people came to watch with us. These men stood off to one side of the room.

On the other side of the room, the local people mixed in with our group. Note the several small children who have huddled up to one of our group members (with the billed cap).