STOC Tags 'The Boyz' in China
So we are there at NatSTOC and George is doing his speech and asking if anyone is going to an interesting place that could take the tags along. I asked if it had to be on a motorcycle. George said 'Where ya goin'? I said 'China' and he said 'They're goin with ya'!! So I grabbed them and they rode back to Granbury, TX, in the rain, with me. It wouldn't be until the middle of August that I would be heading to China. Trip was to attend the wedding of our son and his finance.
So flight is booked for August 18th to Shanghai, we get to DFW without any troubles and head to LAX. Check in and ready to head to China although it was in the back of the plane with about 250 Chinese. Yes it was fun--NOT. 14 hours is a long time anywhere, but cramped in those little airplane seats is more than enough. Our son tried to upgrade us to business but none available. So glad that he was able to upgrade us to business on the way back. In fact when we were at LAX, getting ready to board, they had overbooked the flight and was asking for volunteers to take the same next day flight with a stay in a hotel overnight and $700 for future flights. Boy was that tempting but our son was expecting us so we resisted the temptation.
After the 14 hour flight it was so great to finally get our feet back on the ground. As we had already been to Shanghai in April for the proposal, we knew all the ropes to get through customs. It was a breeze. Picked up our luggage and headed out to the throng of hawkers, trying to get you to go to the hotel that they were working for. Our son stands out in a crowd, especially Chinese, as he is 6' 4" and his finance is quite tall for a Chinese. We spotted them right away. His driver grabbed our bags, threw them in the car and off from the airport in PuDong into Shanghai to his apartment at the Ascott Hotel.
Our plan of attack was to take the tags with us when we went out walking and take as many pics as we could. Following is the progression of our picture taking.
First three are over on the other side of the river by the Shanghai World Financial Trade Center, the one in the background with an opening at the top. And what is to become the second highest building in the world. It's still in progress as you can see on the right. That is our DIL, YingYing, holding the tags. Then Carole is holding them in front of a row of scooters, the most common mode of transportation in Shanghai.
The 4rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th are at the place where all go to get their passports. Our son, who works for Apple, had to have his Visa renewed, so we tagged, pun intended, along. We placed them on the sign of the Bureau Exit-Entry, also in Chinese.
8th, 9th, and 10th are taken at one of the largest fire houses in Shanghai. Our DIL went to college with the one in the army garb. He gave us a complete tour of the Shanghai Chinese Fire Museum and then took us into the fire house. As you can see, they had 2 BMW's fitted with a lot of fire equipment. Quite a site to see. Some of the fire trucks were very impressive. The ladder truck would go up 30 stories high. I talked her friend into writing something in Chinese in the book.
11th and 12th were taken on our walk to the Bund. Saw this sign of a high school that dated back awhile so though it would be a good photo shoot. My son is holding 'The Boyz'.
13th and 14th are myself and Carole holding them up at the Bund looking across the river. Once again you can see the Shanghai World Financial Trade Center, the one with the opening at the top, which BTW, is where our son proposed to his girlfriend. We were there back in April and it was quite a deal. The other building is the one that is going to be the second tallest in the world, still under construction.
15th is our son holding the tags in front of the Ascott Hotel, which is where they are living at the moment. Their apartment is on the 34th floor, which you will see in the next set of pics.
16th and 17th are taken from their apartment in the Ascott, looking down and out on Shanghai.
So 'The Boyz' are resting now, waiting for our flight back to the US when I will be sending them back to George.
