SH beauty - Xitang, Tongli Old Water Towns

The world is filled with astonishing occurrences of coincidence. It happened to me just recently, which led me to SH and met up with 2 pals whom I have not kept in touch very much over the last few years. A tiring weekend, nevertheless, a very enjoyable one.

KH, not one whom I know to cook, whipped out a very delicious meal for us! Perhaps getting a balance back into his life after quitting his tiring job, has given him a chance to explore other joys in life! :) And Nance, had to put up with him for messing her kitchen and apartment! ;)

We visited 2 very beautiful old water towns, about 1.5 hrs ride from Shanghai - Xitang and Tongli. Though these 2 towns are beginning to lose their authenticity, with commercialism creeping up in many corners, but still exquisite compared to their more commercialised counterparts - Zhou(1) Zhuang(1) and Zhu(1) Jia(1) Jiao(3). A must for everyone who has a chance to explore a couple more days during your visit to Shanghai.

Xitang - Xi(1) Tang (2) - this is where Mission Impossible 3 was filmed. It is more beautiful in the late afternoon to early evening, when the red lanterns that lined the street/river lights up, adding an authentic feel to the place. We spent about 2-3 hours here, before leaving at 8.30pm to Tongli.

Tongli - Tong(2) Li(3) - unlike other water towns which have a key canal or many canals and bridges criss-crossing the town, Tongli has more differing historical sites to visit - beautiful gardens, collection of wooden carvings and many more... We stayed in an exquisite 3-star hotel - Shi(4) De(2) Tang(2), inside the Tongli town itself, which offers basic ammenities but very clean rooms, friendly service and good food. We arrived late at night, around 10pm, but the kitchen prepared food for us... and a late breakfast too! I love this service! This is a far more ideal place to stay, compared to the other 5 star hotels which are located a distance from the town. The next morning, we stepped out of the hotel onto one of the key attractions of the town - Ming Qing Street where you find architecture dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties!

To Russia, with love

St Petersburg - Parade Square & The Hermitage





Moscow - St Basil Cathedral & the Kremlin @ The Red Square

Another trip with mom!

Russia, the largest country in the world, and by far, one of the most beautiful European country that I have visited! A short trip, we only managed to cover Moscow and St Petersburg. I had wanted to do the Trans-Siberia trip but perhaps I will save that for another time. My deepest impressions of Russia are: the carnival of onion domes, the church architecture, Kremlin, the russian cabbage soup which we have at every meal, the Hermitage museum, and most of all, the awesome Moscow's metro stations!

I really enjoyed these trips with mom! Since staying away from home, I really missed my family and look for every opportunity to spend time with dad and mom especially.

Other thoughts:
When was the last time you closely observed your parents' faces - and I don't mean look, but noticing every detail on their faces?

I have never done it, until the day I sat next to my dad in the Peking Union Hospital - Xie(2) He(2) in Jan 2006. I still recalled how sick and how frail dad was, and when the doctors told me how bad his condition was, I could not stop crying and at that moment, was the first time ever I took a long look at my dad and noticed how he has aged. I really thank God for pulling dad and the family close together and through this very difficult period. Praise God that my dad is now healed though significantly weaker, and he also came to believe in God!

Now, I make it every effort to closely look at my dad's and mom's faces everytime I am home. Though I can tell how much they aged, I wish I can forever behold the beauty of my parents that compasses not only their features, but their lives, their hardships and most of all, their love for us. We can never out-give our parents what they have taken their lifetime to give to us! How I love them!

"Yet God so loved the world, that He sent His only son to die for our sins, that those who believe in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16)