Well we have been on the road for a few weeks now. And here is an update...

 

We started in Xi`an and really enjoyed the 'old' city. My parents were very impressed with the city walls, but more so with the terracotta soldiers. It was really incredible, although I though all of the empty shops lining the 1.5km walk up to the soldiers was a little much. From there we went on to Hong Kong.

 

My parents were put in charge of finding the hotels for the trip, and they have done a great job. In HK our hotel was right next to Times Square which had a major shopping center there. When we are not walking around the city to see the sights, they are shopping...buying electronics, jewelry, silk and medicines. Yes, medicines. My dad can't walk past a pharmacy without stopping in to load up on his prescription medicine. I started taking pictures of him in each one, but I finally got bored. About half of our time travelling has been spent on shopping. They are loving it, but it is a little boring for me. I mean, I can buy a camera in Beijing...why go all the way to Hong Kong to shop! haha The weather in HK was not too bad, but a little cloudy. After a couple days in HK we took the ferry over to Macau (Ao Men)

 

Macau/Aomen was great also. The weather was pretty warm, but cloudy most of the time. Our hotel was a block away from the new Wynn Casino, and seeing that we Carver's like to gamble, it was part of our daily routine. The first day I won 3000rmb playing 21, and the second day I won 5000rmb... it has been a good trip for me. I lost my camera in the hotel bar, but it was found the next day and someone actually turned it into the hotel lost and found. I got it back the next day!!! Year of the Golden Pig indeed! If the year keeps going like this I will retire by May !! We walked around the city for a couple fo days and really enjoyed the museums. We have been to the museums in all of the cities and my parents have been really impressed. They have been beautiful.

 

We are now in Shanghai, and will be here for the next 5 days. The weather has been crap so it's been difficult to walk around much. But we have been able to go to the TV tower, ride through the tourist tunnel, walk down Nanjing Shopping street, and visit the museum. If the weather is ok we plan to go to Suzhou and/or Hangzhou over the next few days.

 

If anyone is in Shanghai call me ! I need someone to go out with and have fun. My parents are in their room by 6pm and I spend most nights watch HBO :-P Bai ai de Shaun !

 

Hahaha Chun Jie Kuaile... and I miss everyone !

 

 

Well mom and dad arrived in Beijing this week. Unfortunately I have to work a few more days, so I was unable to spend all my time with them. But I have not finished work, more or less, and we will be travelling for the next three weeks around China. This week I sent them on a tour of the Summer Palace. My mom took a fall and hurt herself a little bit. Not a great way to start the trip! She banged her chin on the ground (big purple bruise in some of the pictures) scraped her shin, and injured her knee. She has been able to get around, but is a little slow going up and down stairs.

 

Today we got up, went to Starbuck's and then to the Temple of Heaven. It was a beautiful day in Beijing. The temperature was around the 50's, and the sky was blue. It has been really windy the last few days, so most of the pollution has been blown out...at least for now. Afterwards we went to lunch, and then came home.

 

A few more days in Beijing, then we are off to Xi`an to see the Terracotta Soldiers, and the last walled city in China.