Shanghai in the Fall

Its almost the Fall season late in September here in Shanghai but by the weather you would never know it.  This past week temperatures have been over 30 degrees Centigrade something near the hundred mark on the Fahrenheit scale with very high humidity.  As a matter of fact I mentioned to Jennifer that it felt like monsoon season and sure enough the rain was awash withing the hour cooling things down for a bit.

Bicycle riding here in the Old World is still an expected mode of travel but the gas guzzlers have come a long way in the last few years.  Every year the number of bicycles is going down and the motor-driven cycles, mopeds and scooters not to mention the cars and trucks have taken over the road ways.  Here in the great city of Shanghai bicycle traffic still is important for commerce but the writing is on the wall.  The world’s oil reserves are going to be taxed by the hungry giant that has awoken from a long slumber.  China is 21st Century and Shanghai is leading the Country into it with a vengeance.

Here the streets are clean.  Every day hoards of street cleaners roam the sidewalks and gutters hand collecting discarded debris while street sweeping trucks take care of the roadways.  In the few pictures that I have taken over the past week I have been astounded by how really neat the streets are throughout Shanghai.  Even the spitting is down.  You know that spitting has been a national past time here in China for centuries and is a very hard habit to break.  The Central Government has issued statements decrying this habit and in preparation for the recent Olympic Games in Beijing has outlawed this disgusting past time.  Old habits are hard to break even for those who are 100 percent human.  I found a You Tube Chinese video anti spitting campaign cerca 1950.  It didn’t work. The Chinese Spitting Image is long standing and reported on internationally even if they are 100 percent human. I refer to the Chinese.  Here is another You Tube Spitting video that is hilarious.  So like the rest of the world we really are a mix.  I love China and love spending time here, after all my wife is Chinese and 100 percent human.  Someday I hope to rise up to maybe 90 percent but Jennifer doubts that I can get any higher than that even if I spend the rest of my life in China.  The other 10 percent is animal.  They don’t call me Tiger for nothing!

This afternoon we travel to Qingdao a beautiful coastal beach and harbor city up the coast.  The two hour flight will bring us to this wonderful city and cooler temperatures ranging in the low 20′s and down to 17 degree C. overnight.  Finally!  Qingdao is famous for its beer.  Now that’s what I’m talking about!  The yearly International Beer Festival that is held in Qingao runs this year from September 19th through October 5th.  We will be there in the midst of it.  One of the worlds great beers in brewed in Qingdao.  the Tsingtao Beer factory was founded in 1903 by German immigrants.  The taste and style of the beer is distinctly German reminding me of Becks.

So its off to the Beer festival and then on to Yellow Mountain district for a hike.  Jennifer and I will be keeping track of our travels and pass along the dialogue if interesting.