Good morning people.
We have experienced expo in a way that can only be described as saying china is light years ahead of us in so many aspects of our sheltered canadian ways.
The line up to pay was organized to the point where police wouldn't allow people to butt in. Try to go somewhere like under a rope to get ahead, chinese no nonsense cops dressed in green complete with hat and white gloves, there to stop that activity.
Even on a sunday, children walking in an ordely way, seeming disciplined , having fun inspite of minding the adults.
We weren't able to get into the main china bldg, advance tickets required.
Walking around was quite an experience. Doug is a tall white man, carly as you know are also white.
Telling you this for a reason. In a massive lineup of 1400 people there were perhaps 6 white faces, 3 of tem were ours.
We had random people who would either click their camera and point to one of their family members indicating a group shot
Or funnier was just doug on his own. At first it was a little un nerving , then we realized how we are such a minority that they would just be happy to show all their friends.
Little kids want to speak english with you. I proudly wore my canadian pin on my cap,
Which I would forget. We would hear giggling from a group of chinese people, turn around and see a little kids getting up the courage to say ”hello!
English!”
Got into vietnam exhibit. Entire bldg was steel girders with rows of bamboo on top of it.
Beautifl pool, pink light and lotus flowers floating in the middle. Massive buddah in the middle.
Pottery os large proportional sizes along the sides.
Into laos as well, sized down temples, incense burning.
Many exhibits were over 6 hours wait.
We stood in line for water and solar exhibit. Good choice, as we stood we were sprayed in various locations with cool air spray.
Doug is here in china teaching the canadian building code to students who live in shanghai.
There seems to be 2 groups of people , poor and wealthy. By teaching this course they will be able to build a middle class housing which is needed.
Condos here cost easily a mil canadian, so many family members live under one roof.
I digress.
On to another exhibit. Isreal . Funny for me to hear an israeli male speaking mandarin and having such a command of the language to make jokes!
Now that impressed me!
Israel pavillion huge disappointment. Very little to see and no gift shop.
Toliets for the masses, squatting room only. Needless to say, quad muscles a good thing to have.
Nice ferry ride over, a sea of umbrellas in a rainbow of colors all oblivious to how many eyes could be poked out.
Funnier, speaking english openly at times loudly with the possibility of only a handful understanding us.
That feels oddly liberating.
One exhibit 6 families from all over the world tracking a day in the life of.
Rotterdam, phoenix, jamaica, australia, china and africa.
The theme of expo is better city, better life.
Interesting as we learned statistical facts of each family, life expectancy, water availibilty,
%of university educated people, ok you get the gist.
This is a popular format of exhibit at most expos. Does put things into perspective.
Weather has been nice and sunny. Expo day warm 27c , breeze.
After many long hours of walking and seeing we hailed a cab and headed for the hotel.
I threw my suit, bathing cap, no cap no swim.
Olympic sized pool several bldgs over , but still a part of this massive hotel\apt complex.
Beautifully maintained. People swimming laps, no one just hanging out either in the water or on the pool edge.
Indoor pool, training room with serious equip, and yes, 2 romms of men playing mahjong. Chinese tile game , which I play but not their way.
Poked my head in to see. Heard the familiar click of the tiles, my heart skipped a beat.
Joined GB people particularly the little short rotund caucasian prof who speaks mandarin. He has been our tour guide and what a lovely man
He is. Reminds me of a truman capote look alike.
Took the subway, what a difference from ours. There are no doors connecting cars, one
Long car, tv installed into the walls, no channels or buttons to change news only.
Normal doors close, but glass sliding doors first. Moves faster than ours.
Arrived at a place ike the old movenpiks at home.
Issued a card, walk around choose your meal, cooked in front of you, sit at tables.
Well, I must have walked the food tables 12 times to make my decision. Not because I couldn't
Decide, I don't speak mandarin, could not understand or recognize what the hell they were cooking.
I must have really looked flustered, along comes the GB prof, takes my arm and guides me to a
Lady behind a tofu veggie counter. Tells her what's what, in 3 mins I am eating miso soup and tofu with veggies done to perfection.
Fat noodles with peanutsauce, cashews and crisp green peapods. So good!
Cost rougly 4$.
Walked around but early night as all GB people start monday morning classes.
Today heading out later 2 hour flight to beijing where the official tour will start.
Just mom and her kid, no father but more importantly no chinese speaking prof from /!.
I can say thankyou, hello and how much.
We should be ok.
