Greetings; We just got back from a four day trip. Two days in Xiamen in the southern part of China (the mainland's closest contact point to Taiwan) and then Susan and I want on to Shanghai for a urban China fix.
In Xiamen with Kahla and her two youngest we stayed on the historic Gulang Island a short ferry ride from Xiamen. It is an island with no cars, just electric carts and shoe leather to get around. Gulang, in the twentieth century was the home of consulates from all over the world due to its activity as one of China's major ports. Today many of these magnificent buildings have morphed into guest homes and educational centers, both of which add charm and beauty to its tropical splendor.
A theme here and elsewhere when we have been with the kids is the way they generate attention. It is hard to walk along the street and not have people stop us and want the children to pose for pictures...this is flattering for a few minutes but then, especially when older men try to pick up the children for a picture, it gets a little aggravating. The rule is people can have a picture if the children agree and then only with the children standing or sitting... for the most part this worked out. We did select restaurants out of the beaten path and beach locations that were remote and sparsely peopled.

We saw two major churches on the island, one Catholic, the other Protestant. Our favorite moment was meeting an elderly Chinese woman (84 years old) on the street. She approached us, spoke English and informed us that she was a Christian and had learned her English in bible class. Her warm personality attracted other Chinese passersby and soon we had a cluster of about 10 people gathered around laughing, taking pictures and exchanging e-mail addresses.

In Shanghai Susan and I stayed the first night at a Hostel, a bad decision, half way through the night we woke up with throats parched, our eyes burning and our noses outraged by fumes that had backed up through a improperly vented drain system. We made it to morning but promptly walked across the street and booked a room for our second night in a Chinese three star hotel. Budget traveling is OK but $68 instead of $28 was a no brainer!

Highlights in Shanghai included participating in a classic tea ceremony and a visit to the wonderful Shanghai Art Museum. Next morning we went to central Pudong and watched our grandsons play in a big soccer tournament.

Tomorrow we celebrate our granddaughter's sixth birthday and then on to a grand slam badmitton game with granddad verses the grandsons.