Today we went to the Pearl Tower which is the tallest point in Shanghai and third tallest tower in the world. 
You start in the first large ball, then travel by elevator to the second, and finally another elevator to the third, which is the highest. You can really lose your breath there. Of course you are enclosed inside--you can't go outside, but you really feel like you are on top of the world...literally. The tower is over l,550 feet high!
You start in the first large ball, then travel by elevator to the second, and finally another elevator to the third, which is the highest. You can really lose your breath there. Of course you are enclosed inside--you can't go outside, but you really feel like you are on top of the world...literally. The tower is over l,550 feet high! 
The thing that is so sad is how polluted the air is here. Otherwise, you could have seen forever. Still, it was so fascinating to see what we could. 
We could see where John works--the Bund Building, which is the building that looks like a flower on top. 
The Bund is the "financial district" of Shanghai. Also, we could see the current tallest building in Shanghai, with the newest one they are constructing right next to it. 
After the tour to the top, we saw a mock-up of it to show exactly how it is shaped. 
Then we visited the museum they have, which shows the history of Shanghai. You walk through streets from earliest Shanghai to today. It was wonderfully done with statues, sounds, and music, and took about half an hour to go through. The most interesting thing about the museum is that although many of the things have become modernized, many of the old techniques are still used today and in so many places.
We could see where John works--the Bund Building, which is the building that looks like a flower on top. The Bund is the "financial district" of Shanghai. Also, we could see the current tallest building in Shanghai, with the newest one they are constructing right next to it. After the tour to the top, we saw a mock-up of it to show exactly how it is shaped. Then we visited the museum they have, which shows the history of Shanghai. You walk through streets from earliest Shanghai to today. It was wonderfully done with statues, sounds, and music, and took about half an hour to go through. The most interesting thing about the museum is that although many of the things have become modernized, many of the old techniques are still used today and in so many places. We saw a wedding chair...
...which I highly doubt is used today, but it had 100 babies on it. Today they can only have one child unless they pay the government for more. The early rickshaws and bicycles are certainly still used. I don't know what the people would do without their bicycles! They load everything on them--they look like little ants with huge boulders on their backs. 
I haven't seen any horsedrawn carriages in the city, but probably would out in the country. 
...which I highly doubt is used today, but it had 100 babies on it. Today they can only have one child unless they pay the government for more. The early rickshaws and bicycles are certainly still used. I don't know what the people would do without their bicycles! They load everything on them--they look like little ants with huge boulders on their backs. I haven't seen any horsedrawn carriages in the city, but probably would out in the country. The pharmacist with all his little drawers, and pounding things looks just like the pharmacist Alison gets her "medicine" from today. 
Alison says she has seen women using those electrical wiring things on their heads in some of the shops. Wow! Now that is a hothead!
Alison says she has seen women using those electrical wiring things on their heads in some of the shops. Wow! Now that is a hothead!There was a mock-up of a whole opera hall. The Chinese sure do love their operas. 
We are actually going to a musical Tuesday night with music from all the dynasties. I am so excited about that.
We are actually going to a musical Tuesday night with music from all the dynasties. I am so excited about that. One of the things that hopefully is not a factor anymore is the opium parlors. When they were, however, the parlors almost became this country's undoing. 
It reminded me of the wonderful Pearl S. Buck book of "The Good Earth," one of my favorite books. And of course, the thatched huts of yester-year are still seen in so many places--although many of them not even as nice as a thatched hut. 
There is so much poverty, but basically the Chinese people don't know anything else, and amazingly, they have made the best of what they have. They are a friendly, warm people, and we truly are enjoying getting to see them and their country.
It reminded me of the wonderful Pearl S. Buck book of "The Good Earth," one of my favorite books. And of course, the thatched huts of yester-year are still seen in so many places--although many of them not even as nice as a thatched hut. There is so much poverty, but basically the Chinese people don't know anything else, and amazingly, they have made the best of what they have. They are a friendly, warm people, and we truly are enjoying getting to see them and their country. We came home and George and I took Roscoe, the dog, and Preston on a walk. Everyone in the neighborhood knows Preston and were yelling "hi" to him. This neighborhood is made up of people from all over the world. I will take a picture tomorrow to let you get an idea of where John and Alison live. Each house has a bicycle or scooter in front, which belongs to the "helper" that comes in each day to work. They call these helpers, "IEs". (That's not the Chinese spelling, but that's how it is said.) No one is without their IE!
In the evening, we had a wonderful dinner, which Anna, the girl from the Philippines (who is John and Alison's IE) made. She is a fantastic cook! We then had Family Home Evening which Bracken was in charge of. He gave the lesson on "putting on the whole armor of God". Alison has little packets which everyone in the Branch prepared for visual aides and lessons. So each week the boys just choose which packet they want to give the lesson on. Bracken did such a great job--he got everyone involved and we all had a great time. Then it was time for bed and lights out. That's a wrap-up for the day! Bye for now!
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