These expensive western style homes are atypical of Shanghai in
general and China in particular, but they an indicator of the inroads
being made in architecture. It was the first and only development of
this style I saw on the trip.

We visited a preschool called the "Children's Palace" and found the students to be quite precocious. They were singing in English (B-I-N-G-O)
and were informed that all Chinese schools now taught English from an early age. Most children have "adopted" western names.

Another silk factory visit, but no carpet here. Blankets
and covers, linens, etc. Very interesting process, especially
the method of making blankets. Even the fill is silk from
individual cocoons dried, stretched, and layered one atop
the other until a specified weight is reached. It's a long
and tedious process but it makes a wonderful end product!

To the left is an area seen from the Bund--Shanghai's waterfront promenade.
The sloped glass roof across the way is the one Tom Cruise slid down in the
latest Mission Impossible movie.

Below is XinXing (Jin Jing) our local guide. She was very talkative. By her
own admission, she likes to eat and her moderately Rubenesque figure attests
to that! I only mention this because in all of China (the cities that I visited) I
only saw one other native (a male on a bicycle) who seemed to have some of
the extra weight Americans pack on .
Seriously, though, she was quite a lovely and friendly girl who loves her job.

Caroline indicated several times during the trip that she thought the Chinese
must be malnourished because their scapulae were visible! :-)

Again the lazy susan table (as always) loaded with ever changing items of a great variety of textures and flavors. Thought I could lose weight on
this trip but actually gained 4 pounds! Nuts! Yuyuan Garden is a lovely garden in Shanghai, finished in 1577.

Guilin

A short plane ride to the south from Shanghai is Guilin and the Li River. While in Guilin we visited the famous Reed Flute Cave before taking a
several-hour ride down the Li River. Harvesting the green plant on the river bottom could be seen everywhere. The shot to the left below shows
a man pulling an inner tube loaded with the stuff. It is used as animal food. The birds tethered to the bamboo logs in the shot to the right are
fishing cormorants. A snug ring around their neck prevents them swallowing the whole fish they catch as the fisherman hold their leashes. They
are fed small cut up chunks which they can swallow. These lon

I really liked the beauty of the Li River countryside, it's high peaked mountains and tranquil waterway.

To the left below are a few of the hundreds of water buffalo we saw on the Li River cruise. The eat the aforementioned green vegetation.
To the right, Indira inspects a rice paddy just outside Guilin.

Hong Kong

Another short flight brought us into Hong Kong where Cantonese is spoken, as opposed to Mandarin for the rest of China. Oddly enough, Although
the two languages are as different as Spanish and French, the symbols used in the written word are nearly identical. However, not to fear, travelers,
everyone in Hong Kong speaks English. A Google search on Hong Kong listed just short of a half billion sites, so there's no lack of material for
those wishing to research it.

The picture to the left was taken at a large market on Hong Kong Island; part of a very colorful street show. Our hotel in Kowloon faced the
water front where there is a "Walk of the Stars" much like the Hollywood Stars. I was surprised at how many Chinese actor's names I actually
recognized. This beautiful little girl on Jet Li's star was having quite a time of it.

Indira and Vikram, our Toronto representatives, and Susie, (Gerry's better half) are shown here at the fish restaurant we visited on our 15th
evening of the tour. On the right, a picture of Terry (hidden behind the pole), Harry, and Caroline, and I believe that's Terry with her back
to me. Harry is from Oklahoma and Terry and Diane from New York City.

Caroline hoists a champagne toast to her daughter Becky, who provided us with Business class upgrades for the trip. What a difference all
that legroom, reclining seats, super service... and more makes in traveling. But that's another story.

The setting sun was taken from our train window as we neared San Diego. What a beautiful ending to a wonderful trip.

Rick Swallow out of disguise as a world traveler--who is going to Antarctica Jan 31!