Shanghi

Shanghi... Well it's big but easy to get around, the pollution is awful, but the streets are relatively clean. It is very western with shiny shopping malls with western goods at western prices, a McDonalds on most corners, and an incredible rate of development. We went to the urban planning museum complete with a scale model of the entire city. Pretty impressive. The development plans are huge. Many areas have gone from farm fields to high rises in just 15 years, and there is no slowing down in the near future. Also went to see the touristy acrobatics show and it was awesome with plate spinners, contortionists, gymnasts, and even a guy who tossed and spun huge ceramic planters on his head. Now that is entertainment! Will try to get some pics up soon. Miss you all terribly!!!!! I'm looking at lots of cool presents to get you all, so let me know if there is anything in particular you would like!

a few more "parting shots"

from the underware party

Chinese Container Store

Well shopping in Yangshuo is a little different than at home. I wanted to buy some sort of hanging organizer type thing to keep things sorted in our office at chinaclimb, so I asked the staff where to look for it. Kristie being helpful said walmart of target! For better of worse there is not a walmart within many many many kilometers of here. So I was off to downtown Yangshuo. Well my search did not yield the fruit which I sought, but I did take this picture which I thought you would enjoy of a chinese container store.

Underware Party

Well China may be fairly conservative, but Chinaclimb is not nor is Yangshuo. So last night we had the second annual sexy skivvy soiree (aka an underware party). Simple rules, you must be in your underware to attend. So all the chinaclimb staff worked hard on "costumes" for the event, and we invited friends, and travellers from town to join provided they followed the rules and stripped at the door. As could be expected the street in front of china climb was packed all night, and a good time was had by all. As most of us are climbers It was a pretty good show.