Ancient Gardens...and ancient sex

As yesterday was our last day in Shanghai, we thought we'd cram as much in as possible! So, I went out during the day to the Yu gardens, the Temple of the Town Gods, the 'old' shopping town surrouding the Yu Gardens and then I went home to rest, and get ready for the night of touristy stuff!


The Yu gardens were pretty amazing. They were created during the Ming dynasty and - if you try to forget the huge amount of people everywhere - very relaxing to walk around! There are lakes and streams running throughout and buildings that have been restored and preserved that you can walk through. Everything that is there has been planned perfectly, down to the last rock, according to feng shui. It took 18 years to finish! There were a lot of little paths and doors to walk through. When looking back at the photos, I realise I have an affection for doors! These gardens have so many that symbolise different things (I know they do...I just don't know what they do!!)

I'll just put some photos in and let them speak for themselves!

There are so many fish! They really get snappy too!

I sat on a verandah looking at this view for ages. As one of the signs said, I felt carefree and joyous.

I'm getting good at taking phtoto's of scenery and me!

Here are two vase shaped doors. They are pretty famous, I have seen this picture several times in books.

This is me. Behind me is the Huxinting Teahouse, one of the most famous in China. The bridge is profoundly named - 'the zig zag bridge'!

The next thing I bumped into was the Temple. There were people there making offerings with incense, it smelled amazing. Again, pictures tell a thousand words...

I then found my way back out to the Yuyuan 'old street'. It's done up in Ming dynasty architecture. It is really good to look at, and there's good shopping there too. I bought lots...! Bartered hard! I'll tell you about that later!



The best part about the 'old' shopping centre is that Nanxing steamed bun restaurant is there. I have been craving good steamed buns for a while (these are more like little dumplings...I'm still working out the difference). I had heard about this place, and finally found my way through the crowds...it was worth it! There were sooo many people lined up it was crazy. There was a downstairs line for takeaway and I asked a lady in the line if I was in the right place (still in mandarin...no one spoke english, except the tourists and they weren't going to be any help to me!!) she recommended that I stay in the line coz the buns are really tasty. So I lined up with the other 100 people waiting! She sent her daughter upstairs and we realised that there were seats up there and that we could order and eat upstairs. She invited me to come with them which I thought was lovely! Once we pushed our way upstairs, we found out it was going to be at least a 45 minute wait till the next batch was cooked. They didn't want to stay that long, so I bought the minimum 16 buns for 20RMB (about $3aud) and then had to stand in the crowded dining room waiting for a seat. I didn't know what was going on as I had paid for my meal and was given a ticket and, although I could speak mandarin, they just pointed to the back of the room. I eventually spoke to one of the waitresses and she found me a seat with a family. We started chatting and I found out that one of the ladies were from Guangdong province and that this was her first time eating the buns too. I must admit that I stood out up there. I was the only westerner and I later found out there was a certain way to eat these buns without making a fool of yourself. Needless to say, all eyes were on me when I put on in my mouth. A collective gasp went around the tables closest to me and a lady waiting for a seat behind me actually stopped me and said "too hot, a little at a time!!", so with everyone still watching (and my mouth burning) I tried the next one. Now, these little buggers are little 'bags' of soft steamed pastry with a little bit of meat inside and a yummy liquid. It was the liquid that is the trick. So I took a little bite, not easy as they are slippery little things in chopsticks! The liquid exploded all over the table. The lady sitting next to me from Guangdong was giggling and said she was glad that I went first.......ok, so I think I learnt my lesson. They were awesome though. I wish I could go back and wait all over again!





I'm using the last of our free internet in Shanghai to write this, but we have to check out soon, so...that was the ancient gardens...stay tuned for ancient sex!

TO BE CONTINUED...