on 6 apr 2007, i visited the ancestral home/grave of my maternal granddad for the first time in my life! here's some pics from the trip. some pics of graves here.. those uncomfortable with these kinda things shld stop scrolling now

we like to make funny faces!

they wash clothes and vegetables in drains... urgh


in the courtyard of the ancestral home... it has definitely seen better days
nice intricate wooden doors though



in the drab dining area... but we are still happy to be there!


the reason for our trip... to visit the grave


the plague outside the grave


Exterior of the grave



late lunch at the home of another distant relative


met my granduncle at the place as well


inside granduncle's home.... we saw some old old pics!


visiting a second grave

the view from the 2nd grave, great view!


a bus shelter, it too has seen better days


a plague in memory of my granddad's contributions


and with that, we left shaoxing... back to shanghai! a 2 hour drive back


some decent looking houses in shaoxing

ok more pics from my mum's visit!

first up is cheng huang miao (city emperor temple) , taken on april fool's day 2007

checking out the waxed meats etc

starbucks in yuyuan (the 'old street' area of shanghai) ... how apt... and Mac's in the background as well


sucking it up! guan4 tang1 bao1!!! giant xiaolongbao!
kinda over rated.... xiaolongbao's nicer


check out the queues at the famous 'nan xiang' xiaolongbao place....
there are other stalls around yuyuan selling xiaolongbao which are cheaper and nicer, but this place attracts the largest crowds!

and the reward for queueing!


i had very yummy dumplings....stuffed with the ovary and digestive glands of a crab!!! wooo! wat a turn on! seriously, they shld change this sign...


most posing after eating!


checking out the famous xintiandi , not much activity during the day


visited my cousin after that... here's the place

and great! my mum's visiting from singapore!
despite whatever inconveniences... i'm happy to bring her around and try to let her relax and enjoy herself

but first as a treat for myself... i took the maglev to pudong airport! freaking 430 kmh!!!
yooo fooo! tat's life in the fast lane!!! strong vibrations! cldn't really focus for the shot of the speedometer below...


my mum and 3rd aunt below my place
they like greenery! and i lovingly cultivated and nutured that large pink flowerbed for her! NOT!


NOW THIS IS REALLY ONE ADORABLE PUPPY
awwwwwwwwwww!!!!
and only for sale at rmb 600 (pre bargain, which means u can probably get him for rmb300)
supposed to be some hokkaido special breed... but well.. it's ultra cute
i wld buy him if i didn't have to travel so much



bargain hunters on the prowl... checking out the street hawkers!
kenneth: hamsters 2 for rmb 10, including cage...
wanna get some home for u?


mum with the pearl of the orient
sorry it turned out blur mum!

rizhao is really a dusty drab agricultural town in the process of modernization and industrialization
to start it off... the dusty and cold surroundings to welcome the start of my 2 weeks there


didn't take any pics of the mill when i was there
too busy with work u see...
here's some from my weekend at the beach!
rizhao's actually quite famous for it's beaches
attracts tourists even from korea... kinda amazed
but the sea is really a premium for the landlocked regions of china
and did i mention the amazing corals

i'm alwiz happy at the beach
it's cold here though
gals flying kites at the beach
shandong gals are tall...

oh well, happy to be back to shanghai!

ok been some time since i last blogged
here goes

brunch at jean georges, 3 on the Bund



some of the stuff we had, yummy salmon, brunch set and dessert!
choc cake oozing with more chocolate inside!



exploring the bund after lunch
first stop... 'new heights' bar at 3 on the bund to view the pudong skyline across the river


next is the famous peace hotel
kinda shabby looking though



and other stately buildings along the bund
for the history , go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bund




and as the parting shot...