Where is the Pearl Market at?

I'd be shunned for life if I didn't see at least one Disney park while on this trip by at least 80% of my network. Well... Guess who made it to Disney Shanghai? Yep, I did! Like every Disney park complex, it was definitely the happiest place on earth and only half as crowded as Orlando. While trekking through the wind and cold was NOT fun, the rides, views, and company were a blast. We hit just about every ride, saw the fireworks, and had two meals. If you want a cheap but fun Disney experience, skip the States and hit Disney Shanghai! Tickets to get in were only approximately 60 USD.

We left the park at about 2200 and made our way to the ship via subway (it was SOOO much easier than Japan's train system). Once at the ship, we switched bags and headed to the Airbnb. Here came adventure time! We walked to the train station to find out it was closed. After hailing seven different cabs and Listening to each tell us "not possible" or something else that basically meant no, we walked to a nearby hotel and asked the concierge to call us a cab to the address. The taxi came and dropped us off at what we would soon find was a 25/30 minute walk from where we needed to be. So after an hour of asking security guards and trying to find this address when we heard people speaking English, we called them over. This is where we met Edward and Brian who kindly helped us figure out where we were going and called us another cab. Brian even gave us his WeChat( this is the social media app that everyone in China has because it does everything) in case we needed help later on. Brian was an American in Shanghai and his friend Edward was Chinese but studied in Rochester NY where the two met. Americans abroad are the nicest people. Traveling really shows you the best of humanity and how willing almost everyone in the world is to help out a fellow human. Anywho, after our encounter with Brian and Edward we found our Airbnb!

The next morning we woke up at 0530 to hail a cab and book it back to the ship where I once again switched bags (yes I packed these all before we docked in China). This time the cab took me to the bullet train station where I left Shanghai for Beijing. The train had assigned seats (unlike in Japan) and it took 8 hours to Beijingnan station past clumps of skyscrapers and pockets of snow filled fields. The view was both spectacular and peculiar as there were many times I would look outside and start to see civilization - thinking we were getting closer to the outskirts of the city.

Eventually, we made it to Beijing! Getting a taxi was difficult; we found that most people in China don't speak English at all - not even English letters in Chinese. This made getting around via taxi a bit challenging. Eventually, we split up into two taxis (Deanna, Kelly and I in one and Chantal and Laurel in the other) and made our way to the hostel.

The hostel was super cool. We stayed there for three nights - everyone except me was in bunk beds in one room and I had a room upstairs. My room had four beds. The first night it was just me and a guy from Chile who is traveling Asia from China to Malaysia. The second night and third nights Jackie finally made it to Beijing (she missed our first train) and there was one other guy staying in the room as well.

The first night we just wandered around the district that the hostel was in. This was one of my favorite nights because the district is not foreign touristy, the whole area is mostly targeting locals and Chinese tourists from other parts of China. We walked past local pastry shops and lots of street food. The next morning we woke up and went to the pearl market and the mall. For lunch, we found the most amazing cheap dumpling and noodle place in the SoShow mall. No seriously, ask Chantal about her dumplings :) Jackie and Brendan finally joined us after lunch and we wandered around the shopping area. After we went back to the hostel where we ate and had a beer at the restaurant/bar attached to the hostel. There was a market across from the hostel which was full of a variety of authentic Chinese snacks, candies, and beverages all at a low price. I think I spent at least 30RMB there every day.

The next day we had an early day - 0530 wake up! We went on a tour of Tiennamen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and a traditional tea ceremony (all for 36USD). The tour had four other groups - there were two other SASers (they happened to be Kappas), a couple from the states (the girl was from Jersey), a family from Chile, and a family living in Hong Kong but originally from South Africa. In total there were 18 of us so it was still a pretty small group.

We didn't get to go into Tiennamen Square (let's be honest it might be for the best I probably would have said something I shouldn't have) but the Forbidden City is across the street and it felt like we were there forever; it was freezing. At one point my hands were starting to turn purple. I used our walk looking into building built hundreds of years ago getting to know the family from Chile and the other America couple. Both groups were remarkable and were super fun to get to know. You never know who you'll meet on a tour in China! After freezing our selves into oblivion we headed back to the bus where we took an hour ride to lunch just under the Great Wall. Lunch was traditional Chinese food - mostly types of vegetable plates and chicken plates like sweet and sour chicken. The food was presented family style on a turn table in the middle of our table. We each got a bowl for rice and a side plate for the dishes. I tried every plate - part of my "try something new everyday challenge."

Finally, it was Great Wall time! I finally checked off my next world wonder!!!!! I was hoping they would stamp my passport like they did at Manchu Picchu and the Equator in Ecuador but not to worry the experience was still cool. First, we took a cable car up to the wall, then spent two hours walking around and taking pictures up on the wall. After we got to toboggan (slide) down the wall back to where we started. It was soooo cool and the wall went as far as the eye could see and no, the pictures do not do it justice.

After the Wall, we drove about an hour and a half to this tea shop where we learned about and tried five different types of traditional Chinese tea. I learned what was important about each tea - like how it helps different systems in our bodies- as well as how to make and drink the tea. Each tea helps our bodies in a different was, for example, some help with insomnia and others help with high cholesterol and bp. Nevertheless, eventually, we had to leave. The bus ride back to each groups hotel is when I got to know the last family the best. They have two small children and have lived all over the world - trying to show their kids different global perspectives and not to one story people. It was truly eye opening and I loved hearing their take on different countries - plus they gave great advice for places to go in Hong Kong and South Africa.

We said goodbye to everyone, made our way to the hostel after a quick stop at McDonalds. Yes, we ate classic American food but interestingly enough their menu is slightly different in China. They had chicken and rice bowls as well as fried fish sandwiches along with all the typical items on the menu. Afterward everyone except Jackie and I called it a night. Instead, we went to the restaurant/ bar area of the hostel where I taught her how to play Chinese checkers - something I've always wanted to check off my bucket list. While playing we met a man from Tibet who told us to call him Thomås. Our conversation was one of the most interesting of the trip so far - we discussed soulmates, love, and what its like in Tibet which was slightly easier since he spoke a bit of English. He also spoke about how he wants to visit America but cannot since he is from Tibet and visas are extremely difficult. Eventually, we went to bed for our 0400 wake up - we were headed for Hong Kong! We made it up and out of the 365 Inn by 0430 so that we could taxi to the airport 40 minutes away in time to check in, go through customs and immigration, sit through security, and find our gate. We ended up spending a brief amount of time in security and still having enough time to grab tea before boarding the plane to Hong Kong where I watched Pitch Perfect 3 and Red Sparrow before writing this blog post. We are about to land - more updates from Hong Kong! Zai Jian for now!