*Blonde* in Shenzhen

(I did not eat any of this!!!!)

3 weeks ago I returned home from China. It took at least a week to get over the jet lag (it's tomorrow there right now), finally got the suitcases emptied, and the laundry done. There's so much to say...it's difficult to know where to begin.

China was an amazing experience. Only saw the tiniest sliver, and will definitely go back.

Trained from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. What a difference 60 minutes on a train makes! Hong Kong resembles Manhattan....all cosmopolitan, except different currency, language, customs, and the cars were on the other side of the road...leftover from the British rule.

Hong Kong from our Hotel window .

Shenzhen from our Hotel window.

Another photo from our room in Shenzhen. Gasp! Gas masks. Now that's something I have never seen before in a hotel closet. Wasn't sure what to make of them, but figured I would just put one on if some siren went off.

Okay, so this was my first trip to a communist country. Big, big language barrier and the first time I felt like the only Western person in a community (outside the hotel....but even there, there were very few, if any, Americans). When husband had his business meetings I ventured into the streets of Shenzhen via subway. Holy Smokers! People really did stare...but in a curious way. I smiled big and they smiled back. That was it: smiles back and forth, because no one spoke English and I could pretty much only say hello, please, and thank you in Chinese.

Here are a couple of pictures from the streets of Shenzhen.

I made it back from the main Shenzhen marketplace, emerged from the subway station only to get caught in the biggest, baddest downpour EVER (and I live in Portland where it rains ALOT). My umbrella didn't help much, and I ran to the hotel...about a mile from the subway station. The rain came in sheets, and the many buses on the boulevard made miniature tidal waves of Chinese gutter water. It was a lucky sign for me (!) because just to the left of the sidewalk was a bike path that didn't get touched by gutter water waves. Obviously, no pics of that, but, hooray, my treasures (tucked under my arms) made it back safe and dry!

Language barrier: Get to hotel and Michael (one of the many friends I made) said to me: "Ms. L******, you are all wet! Would you like a bottle of water?" The Chinese are so gracious and kind all I could say was, "Yes. Thank you!" Then I went to my room and took a hot bath. Amazing bathroom!

Still have stuff to say about Hong Kong and the secret Chinese sauce my other friend Sean from Shenzhen surprised me with at breakfast....but it's late.

Good night and lovely dreams!