Travels in China - Shanghai Water Village

Having explored some of the major sights of Shanghai such as the Museum, the Yuyuan Gardens and the Bund, HWMBO and his group also managed to tour a nearby water village.  These waterways are often referred to collectively as "Venices of the East."  As can be seen, a water village tour is not a unique idea and the lines can be long.

The canals and bridges of the water villages are indeed reminiscent of Venice,

even when there is a little "something extra" added.

Here are the sightseeing boats - looking fairly serene here, as they queue up for sightseers,

and the polers guiding them along the waterways look very much like their Italian gondolier counterparts

until one is reminded that one is, after all, in the Orient.

The boats glide serenely along tree-framed banks

and under bridges

while those along the banks ply their trades

and go about their daily business

as they have for centuries.

Travels in China - Modern Shanghai

It's time to return from the frenzy of toddlers' birthday parties to HWMBO's China travels, which almost seem sedate in comparison.  As portrayed in earlier photos, Shanghai is a city of spectacular scenery and contrast, a blend of cultures and traditions, often referred to as the "Paris of China."  As China's largest and most prosperous city, Shanghai also serves as a base for several multi-national corporations and thus boasts a modern infrastructure to support their needs along with those of its residents.  Thus it was that HWMBO and his group went to visit the 101-story World Financial Center there, which is considered the world's tallest building.

Such a visit is not for the faint of heart - nor for those with acrophobia,

especially because one can view the breathtaking panorama

from an all-glass Sky Walk, literally suspended hundreds of feet in the air.

Here is one view of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, at 1,536 feet (468 meters) the third tallest TV and radio tower in the world, surpassed only by towers in Toronto, Canada and Moscow, Russia.

The waterfront area around the west bank of the Huangpu River is known as the "Bund" and has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years.

Here is the Bund with a little something extra added!

Just to clarify, that "something extra" has not been in Shanghai for hundreds of years, so it was indeed a rare sighting!

Party at the Gym

After the sedate celebration at home, Prince Tyger, by specific request, officially feted his fourth birthday with a gala party at the same gym where he had celebrated his third birthday.  His guests were accompanied by their parents and the gym was full of activity.

This decision met entirely with Little Prince Lightning's approval.  After all, this year he was just big enough to participate - and he participated with great glee and gusto!

The brothers and their friends adored crawling through the monstrous "caterpillar"

and Prince Tyger also practiced on the balance beam

before checking out a trampoline.

Meanwhile, Prince Lightning discovered tamer pursuits - that he livened up a bit.

The day's activities finished off with the guest of honor partaking of pizza, while wearing a pirate hat,

before the obligatory candles and cake.  Whew!  Another year down!

Becoming Four

While on my brief hiatus from HWMBO's China travels, I have to note that one very important birthday occurred earlier this month.  My very special Prince Tyger turned four.  From this very sweet baby

to this giggling and very active four-year-old,

closing his eyes to make a wish before he blows out the candles on his birthday cupcake.

And then, the best part - eating the birthday cupcake.

Even if there is a bit of residue left over.

Of course, Prince Lightning had to help celebrate too,

especially with eating birthday cupcakes.

Mmm-mmm- good!

Happy Birthday, sweet Prince Tyger!

Autumnal Rites

I'm taking a brief break from the China tour to note that we are experiencing typical Fall weather hereabouts.     It's been much cooler generally and we've had quite a few showers.  I'm hoping that we'll have a spell of what we in North America call "Indian Summer," that last gasp of Summer warmth amid the splendor of blazing Autumn colors.

Vintners have officially begun les vendanges (wine harvest) this week, although they have yet to start on "my" vines.  Since my return to Switzerland, I've been enjoying seasonal goodies such as muscat grapes, which I can only find in the late August-early October period, as well as the last of the Reine Claude (greengage) plums, which I adore!

Autumn also signals the return of hunting season, which means that grocery stores and most restaurants also feature game entrees that can be very tasty.  I am particularly fond of roast sanglier (wild boar).

The most recent hunting season began on 9 September.  Even after all the years I've lived here, I didn't realize until today that the Canton of Geneva has actually banned hunting within its borders since 1974.  An article in today's Geneva Tribune described that.  It also mentioned that because hunting is allowed in nearby France and in my own Canton of Vaud, game animals such as deer and wild boar actually cross into Geneva to take refuge along the Versoix stream, where they cross paths with the occasional hiker and irritate any farmers whose crops they damage in their travels.

Over the past couple years, game wardens have been surveying the animals' movements.  As a result, they have concluded that in some cases, deer and boar have crossed into Geneva canton during the daylight and then returned to their regular habitat in Vaud at dusk, taking advantage of the "truce" after 20:30, after which hunting is not allowed.

Apparently those who survived hunts after 1974 have transmitted this experience to their young.  Geneva is not simply a refuge for human beings, but also for our animal counterparts.

Travels in China - Silk and Sericulture

"Silk" is a beautiful word that ultimately originated from Asian sources, primarily the Chinese word "si."  The textile it describes has always represented smooth, sleek luxury and is much appreciated by those who are fortunate enough to wear it on occasion.  Silk has long been considered the ideal for delicate feminine underclothing, and is particularly appreciated for fine blouses and evening wear.  So, when part of HWMBO's visit to Shanghai was a tour of a silk manufacturer, he knew how much I would enjoy and appreciate it - even vicariously.

Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China, with some of the earliest examples dating back to 3500 BC. Originally silks were used only for Chinese royalty, for their own use and for gifts to others.  Eventually the silk trade spread throughout Asian regions.  Silk became highly prized for its luxury and ultimately became a staple in international trade.  European merchants not only brought silk from Asia, they also imported the techniques of sericulture - the rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk.  Italy became an important silk manufacturing area in the Middle Ages.  Lyon, France - approximately an hour to the west of Geneva - has been a center of European silk production since the 15th century.  In fact, it was in the Lyon region that many tools were introduced in the 17th century to facilitate mass production.

But at bottom, it is the cocoons woven by the humble mulberry silkworm that are responsible for this sumptuous material.  Voici the raw materials: silkworms and mulberry leaves:

And here are the cocoons that the little silkworms spin.

The cocoons are dipped in hot water before the moths emerge.  The thread from the cocoons is unwound

and then spun into fine thread on spinning wheels,

stretched and layered,

and then woven into fabric or exotic Oriental carpets.

Such is the stuff of dreams ...!

Travels in China - Shanghai, Part 2

HWMBO's visit to China this Spring certainly ranks as one of the most exotic travel highlights of his life - and he has had an extraordinarily exotic set of travel experiences, so that is saying quite a lot.  He also loves to share his experiences with others and, as I mentioned earlier, I am the beneficiary of his generosity.  One not-to-be-missed site in Shanghai was the Yuyuan Garden.

The Yuyuan Garden is a classical garden dating from the late 16th century (1577), when it was finished by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as a place for his parents to enjoy a happy and tranquil time in their old age.  What a lovely son!  But once the official passed away, no one took maintenance very seriously.  Over the years, the garden grew quite delapidated.  During the Opium Wars of the 19th century, Yuyuan Garden was severely damaged.  It wasn't until 1956 that restoration began and the garden was officially opened to the public in 1961.  So here it is, 51 years later!

There were lots of well-fed goldfish swimming happily in the water passageways

with Oriental statuary featuring dragons

and quiet corners with intricately designed cut-out windows.

It is striking to view the 16th century architecture of the garden in the foreground, with modern Shanghai in the background

and to note the ornate roofs, with different slate patterns from those I am used to seeing here in central Europe.

Even so, the ubiquitous Golden Arches can also be found near the Yuyuan Garden

as can Starbucks.

Western "corruption" or simple convenience?  Whatever the reason, they are there.  But the group preferred to refresh themselves with Chinese tea,

albeit in a modern setting.