The following is a brief summary of the formal part of our trip to China.
Dec. 8/9 – The trek to China
The Blue Line taxi picked up us promptly at 3am from home. The airport security was cleared without any body pat down or scan as we suspect those procedures are only carried out at US airports. Our flight from Ottawa to Newark(1 hr) went well. Our airplane to Shanghai was delayed one hour on the tarmac. This seem to make our flight even longer than its 14 hours. We were disappointing that our seat did not recline as these laid against a wall. Arriving at the Shanghai PuDong Airport, the immigration line-up was quite long as a number of planes had arrived from all over the world. When we exited the baggage claim area, we felt like in a parade with hundreds of folks lining up for 100+m on either side holding signs with names in Arabic, English and others. We taxied to Jenny’s brother’s place and experience the growing Shanghai traffic jams. At each visit to China, we keep on noticing fewer bicycles and more cars on the road. With barely our travel bags unpacked, we quickly headed to the local hair studio to improve (or attempt to) our looks for the upcoming wedding. The weather is clearly cooler than during our last visit during the summer months.
Dec. 10 – Getting exposed
Our first night sleep was, as expected, interrupted at 4am due to our jet lag. Early morning we went shopping for some curtains after which we headed to the YueYan Garden market. We were surprised to learn that we could now reach this market by subway route only (no additional bus route required).
We were looking forward to eating some great xiaolongbao at the Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. We exchanged some traveler cheques and explored the wrist watch and tablet(i.e. ipad) replica offerings. In the evening, we went to the restaurant with both of Jenny’s brothers’ families.
Dec. 11 – The Wedding
The Wedding Day started at 11am with a visit to the bride’s place where, the custom wants it, the groom has to pick-up his future bride not without a few hurdles. Plenty of pictures were taken. We were all buses to a downtown park for some additional wedding pictures after which we were brought to the reception hotel, the Aston House Hotel right in front of the Hupuo riverfront. At 5pm, the other guests started to arrive and the reception geared up. The Wedding supper was comprised of a least twenty plates of food for each 15 tables at which 10 people were seated. Jenny and her siblings greatly enjoyed seeing and talking to their childhood neighbors who had come out for the reception. The reception ended around 9:30pm and we were bused back home.
Dec. 12 – Half century celebration
It was nice to sleeping late this morning. Since a birthday cake for Jenny’s 50th birthday had to be picked up downtown, we invited Jenny’s brother’s family at Pizza Hut on Nanjig Road. We arrived there after the usual 20 mins. subway ride and we were pleased to be seated without any wait. Everyone enjoyed the pizzas. After lunch Victoria joined her cousin to a birthday party at a Karaoke facility while the rest of us went shopping for candies and treats that we can enjoy later on our trip. Back at Jenny’s brother’s place, we enjoyed a bit of rest for the first time since arriving in Shanghai. Jenny chatted with her brother and sister in law while I wrote some trip journal. For supper, the entire family gathered at a fancy local restaurant for Jenny’s birthday. Food and atmosphere were great. The evening continued at a Karaoke facility for a few more hours. Although a light rain fell throughout the day, it was a very enjoyable and memorable day for all of us, and especially for Jenny.
Dec. 13 – Visit to cemetery
Another prearranged activity with Jenny’s siblings was a visit to their parents cemetery in the outskirts of Suzhou. Another day of light/moderate rain. After an early morning trek to the train station, we all met for a 40 mins ride and another 30 mins. bus ride to the cemetery. It had been quite some time since Jenny’s sibling had all gathered at the same time for a visit. They seemed to have a lot to shared with their parents. Back in Suzhou, the moderate failing rain prevent us from doing any souvenir shopping. After a long walk under the rain, we had lunch at a restaurant and try to warm up. We headed back to the train station for our 4pm departure. The Suzhou train station is under major upgrade as it now looks more like an airport than a train station. The train we took back to Shanghai was one of the newer high speed train which took only 20 mins to arrive in Shanghai (twice as short – barely anytime to sleep). In the evening, we gather at another local restaurant for a family reunion as this is the last time that all the siblings are together before everyone departs in different direction.
Being somewhat disconnect from the Internet for a few days was a refreshing thing. And I’ve now stopped reaching at my side for the addictive BB. We look forward now to a bit of adventure…and the start of our more informal part of this trip.