And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

This is the thirteenth of 17 essays that cover our Southeast Asia cruise (March, 2010).  The first paragraph of the thirteenth essay reads as follows:  "We are walking through the Yu Garden in Old Shanghai.  The buildings of the Yu Garden were all of vintage Chinese style with dark brown tile-like, fancy roofs, white sides, and perched on stones.  Most overlooked small pools of large, golden carp, and the pools were outlined in rocks of various sizes and shapes, brought down from the surrounding mountains.  Some rocks, our tour guide said, were taken from the mountains then put into lakes for 200-300 years so that the weaker soil and rock would be eroded away and an artistic limestone shape was left that revealed holes and crevices that made them especially attractive and unique.  Some of these were massive in size, and the garden area was absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful — a clear reason why the crowds of tourists were there."
                                       

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

Even though we missed a great deal, we had a valuable and worthwhile opportunity to see downtown Shanghai and where it is heading as well as various parts of Old Town.  This was not just an adventure but a real look at contrasting cultures where a city treasures and preserves its past while moving rapidly into the future.

And Then Some News