Anshun Bridge

I switched over to a new hotel with a Tibetan theme. Well decorated but not really close to anything.

A place for prayer in the hallway.

The view from the room

13th floors exist in China.

 

Joni is happy we stopped for Japanese food.

Just as I am feeling comfortable eating like a Chinese, she shows me that I suck at eating like a Japanese.

 

Off to a grocery shop because I’m thirsty and I can’t drink the water from the tap…. so every night before bed, I have to make sure I pick up a bottle of water for the night and juice for the morning. At my previous hotel there was a closet-sized window of a shop I could buy drinks from. This new hotel only has a giant 3-floor grocery complex nearby.

Camera’s not allowed, but i snapped a few photos. They are usually on multiple floors, within a mall-like environment, often surrounded by food vendors, small jewelry shops, tea shops, pharmacies, and restaurants. I guess they aren’t too concerned about the competition, which seems to be normal in China.

I can’t say their supermarkets are much different from ours. It’s really just the selection of products. Mostly everything else was the same. The produce and meat sections of these grocery shops have much much more than what we have. Also, in Chengdu at least, preserved (dried) meats, fruits and vegetables are a whole isle or two. Another startling difference is the number of staff and how helpful they are. The candy isle of the local TrustMart (owned by Walmart) has a staff of three working it. One Hershey’s girl handing out samples and answering questions, another girl dedicated to Nestles, and a general store employee. There are employees everywhere and the are very pro-active about helping.

 

We meet up with Jing and her friend (I don’t remember her name) and head to Peter’s Text Mex for some american food.

I don’t recall what everyone ordered, but I recall we managed to sample a decent amount of items. I had a Cheesesteak, which wasn’t great, but that can be said for some made in the States as well.

As you can see, Jing is hit with some – gastronomic shock– success!

 

We then head over to the night entertainment district along the river

I noticed a lot of these bars bring in American musicians to perform. I saw 3 or more along this street… and on my flight from Shanghai to Chicago and then Chi to Rochester I met a jazz guitarist (mostly does covers) who is from Rochester that was hired to go to Shanghai to play for a club.

 

The Anshun Bridge, home to one of the most prestigious restaurants in all of China. The bridge was constructed in 2003 to replace a really old one (that was more than 200 years old).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Designer Cakes

 

One of the most impressive “cakes” I have ever seen.