A taste of China

Exploring the Bund

Even long after a trip to China has past, the flavor stays with you, setting your taste buds ablaze with spice and building a lasting impression. I'm talking not only about the Chinese cuisine from our recent trip, but about the experience as a whole traveling with our close friends who now call Shanghai home.

I'll admit it...China wasn't high on my bucket list. I knew I'd eventually make it there but figured it'd be part of a larger Asian exploration. But when you're best friends moves 7000 miles away, you bump China to the top of your list.

Slurp!

Maybe it was my lower than normal expectations about China (my expectation level before our trip to Japan almost reached Mt. Fuji!), but from start to finish, I found China to be strange and fun and far exceeding my hopes when I boarded the plane. Being greeted at the airport by a familiar face helped the transition immensely but once we arrived at Annie & Jay's apartment nestled on a tree lined street in the heart of the French Concession neighborhood I was ready to do it all! And did we ever! We packed as much as we could into the few days we had in Shanghai, tasting street food (yes please, egg pancakes with hoisin sauce) and dim sum (Din Tai Fung -- twice!), sight seeing (the Bund by day) and night clubs (La Baron by night), shopping the latest Chinese designers (Missy Skins among others) and even visiting a few of China's famous counterfeit markets -- twice!

The Great Wall of China! Yay!

Before we knew it we were off to Beijing to see the history and chaos. A day exploring the 798 Arts District followed by a day strolling the awe-inspiring Forbidden City and renowned Tiananmen Square followed by one of my favorite days of all - hiking The Great Wall of China. We entered the landmark at the Mutianyu Gate and were immediately able to enjoy the splendor and grandeur that is this engineering feat, nestled within some of the most beautiful and treacherous terrain I've seen. We walked all day, and then took toboggans down the mountainside to meet our guide before heading back to Beijing for some of the world-famed Peking Duck (Sijiminfu)! All and all, our day spent on The Great Wall of China felt like a (hopefully not) once in a lifetime experience.

Next, we were off to Bali...what needs to be said besides, it was BALI!

When in Beijing...

And then we were back in Shanghai. With tearful goodbyes and long embraces we said goodbye to our friends and hosts and as quickly (12 hours) as we had arrived...we were gone. Back to the embrace of our lovable two year old, who's first words when we arrived home were, 'are there presents!?!,' which of course there were in the form of trinkets and toys, clothes and instruments...but mostly the present I brought home was the knowledge that China is now a place I loved visiting and plan to return to again...hopefully to see our friends and hopefully with Everest in tow. Because once you get a taste for China, you'll definitely want another.