Our Shanghai adventures have taking a turn for the positively luxurious, thanks to Ellen's sister Nic who flew out to be here for Ellen's birthday. Thanks to a very kind heart and a large number of air-miles she has enabled us all to stay in the ultra-swanky just completed five star Le Royal Meridien overlooking People's Square, about 10 minutes stroll from The Bund. It is incredibly sumptuous and palatial, with back-lit agate walls, carpets you could loose ferrets in and the biggest, most fluffy bed I have ever been in. Absolute luxury that has enabled us to experience yet another facet of the world in the most international of cities, and we are especially grateful as we would never have been able to add this kind of variety ourselves. Thank you for making our trip even more magnificent, Nic!
The three of us have had great times here, including a visit to one of Shanghai's few active temples, Jade Buddha Temple, and a day trip to Suzhou - a dirty, noisy, uninsiring Chinese town on the outside, studded with some real gems on the interior. We ostensibly went there to explore the famous Ming dynasty gardens but for me the highlight was certainly strolling through the well-preserved mazy alley-ways that accompanied a complex network of canals and waterways, equally well preserved despite the industrialisation that has ruined the exterior. We also managed to eat on the famous M On The Bund for Ellen's birthday, courtesy of her mother, and it was a real treat: very good quality European food in a wonderful Victorian setting right on The Bund, overlooking the river. A very suitable way to spend a birthday in this most high-rolling of Chinese cities.
Today we leave for a 28 hour train journey to Yichang on the Yangtze, from where we hope to travel by boat along the Three Gorges region and on to Chengdu. The Yangtze is another of those fabled places I have wanted to visit for a long time and so I am really looking forward to it. Let's just hope the glorious weather (high twenties and fairly constant sunshine, if you're interested!) continues...