Well in my imagination Shanghai was like this, perhaps I've seen too many old movies or too many new ones set in the 30's, anyway the modern Shanghai is everything but a disappointment!
But before that a few words about Odette's outfit: it is a reproduction of a fashion from Kenzo's 2013 Spring-Summer collection. Her shoes and bag are by TheVogue HK.
I picked several ideas from this collection, more Urban Safari to come!!! Carlo is wearing an IT t-shirt and a beautiful pair of jeans by HazelStreetDezigns on Etsy, I bought this and a couple of corduroy trousers before I tried my hand on male fahions. She sews beautiful clothes!
Thanks to his new hands Carlo can now hold his camera, as I wrote on his profile in the Mad about the boy page, he is a photographer. I found this lovely Canon Eos reproduction on E-bay. It is extremely detailed, in perfect scale and it came with several lenses and removable caps!!!! Of course this lovely object comes from China!!! LOL
Enough for the trivia. With their new clothes and accessories Odette and Carlo are ready to enjoy the last part of their trip to China.
Shanghai is a fascinating metropoli with its skyscrapers, the Bund with all its history and glamour, the elegant Nanking Road, the restored Old Town and in the midst the remnants of old and shabby houses (I couldn't take pictures of those). This is an exciting place, and Odette and Carlo didn't miss a thing!
But this is a place with at least two souls: and the Huangpu River flowing between the Bund and the Pudong Disctrict works as a very effective rappresentation of this. In fact the whole Shanghai has been undergoing a huge restiling since the 1990's, when the new urban planning was developed. A whole museum is devoted to this urban plan, and is very impressive!
Another museum not to be missed is the Shanghai Museum of Art and History, an amazing collection!
Shanghai Pudong skyline view from the Bund - Picture by Billa
Shanghai - The Bund - Picture by Sasha
Nanking road is the most elegant place in town, and Odette and Carlo went for some shopping, but came back empty handed....everything was soooo expensive!!!
Shanghai - Nanking Street - Picture by Billa
This is a view from the old town, this place is amazing, filled with little shops. In fact it is a big shopping center where you can find everything: green tea, dresses, wooden or jade artifacts, this the souverin's paradise! But the thing that impressed Odette is the feeling of modern Shanghai looming just outside the doors!
Shanghai - The old town - Picture by Billa
The last part of Odette's visit to China will be under the insigna of the Chinese Gardens, and in Shanghai she visits the first of them. Actually she already visited one in Beijing, but the Imperial Summer Garden is just too huge to understand the meaning of this kind of gardens in the ancient Chinese culture.
Shanghai - Yuyuan Garden - Picture by Billa
Gardens were intended as places to meditate, relax, listen or play music and of course they had to be build accordingly to the rules of feng shui. Chinese gardens are really different from European gardens, they look natural and they are a sort of miniature representation of a perfect world: with their small apartments, pavillons, mountains, rocks, lakes and rivers filled with lotus flowers and colouful fishes!
On their next stop Odette and Carlo are visiting the Huangang Park in Hangzhou on the West Lake (one of Unesco's World Heritage Sites) and everything looks as it is ready for a photographic session. Carlo is so thrilled. Now, this is a place to try his new camera!
Hangzhou - Huangang Park - Picture by Billa
Hangzhou - Huangang Park - Picture by Billa
Hangzhou has got its old town with shops and stands, and a picturesque network of channels. This town is renowed to be, along with Suzhou, one of the most beautiful cities in China.
Hangzhou - Old Town - Picture by Sasha
Odette and Carlo also visited an ancient pharmacy, where one could buy any kind of ingredients for the Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Hangzhou - Old Town - Picture by Sasha
Just outside Hangzhou is the Lingyin Temple, wich means the soul retreat temple. At the entrance of the Temple are the Feilai Feng grottoes, where several Buddhas are carved. This smiling and happy Buddha is absolutely amazing. Nowadays the Temple is filled with Chinese pilgrims (very young ones) as it looks like the younger generations are redescovering religion (while Buddhist Monks are discovering the I-Pad LOL)
Odette and Carlo were very lucky to take this picture alone, as the place was buzzing with hundreds of people! As you can see they're trying to "pull an Avedon" (that's the reason why the Buddha is laughing so hard)
Hagzhou - Lyngin temple - Picture by Billa
Shuzhou is really one of the loveliest places on hearth. And here Odette and Carlo are going to visit what is the apotheosis of the Chinese garden, but first they are going to visit a very intriguing place: the Tiger Hill. To reach the pagoda at the top Odette has decided to try yet another mean of transportation, while Carlo prefers to jog a little to keep fit (Chinese food is very tempting).
Suzhou - Tiger Hill - Picture by Sasha
The Yunyan Pagoda's lean is just 3 degrees, but it looks like it's quite a lean!!!
Odette believes she's in Pisa and tries to straighten it up!
Suzhou - Tiger Hill Pagoda - Picture by Billa
At the foot of the Hill, is the Wanjing Villa with its huge collection of Penjing (literally "tray scenery"), also known as penzai, which are potted landscapes. This is the ancient Chinese art of depicting artistically formed trees, other plants, and landscapes in miniature from which the Japanese Bonsai originated.
Suzhou -Penjing garden - Picture by Sasha
Odette and Carlo having some fun with this scenographic door: The Vitruvian Dollz
Suzhou - Penjing garden - Picture by Sasha
And finally they visited the Humble Administrator Garden. I think these pictures give a rough idea of what I was talking about speaking of a perfect miniature world:
Suzhou - Humble Administrator Garden - Picture by Sasha
This is a female room in one of the Pavillons, Odette can't really figure out how to play this instrument, I believe it is called a Guzheng.
Suzhou - Humble Administrator Garden - Picture by Sasha
Suzhou - Humble Administrator Garden - Picture by Sasha
There's a wonderful book, one of the great classics of Chinese literature, which takes place almost exclusively in a garden like this. It is called The Dream of the Red Chamber, I would highly reccommend it, is a great reading!
Suzhou - Humble Administrator Garden - Picture by Sasha
Before leaving China, Odette and Carlo can't miss a visit to Tongli, the Venice of the East. The town is built on seven islands and is crossed by 15 canals. Wooden tour boats ease down the waterways, duck under bridges, and glide past residences, stores, gardens and restaurants. Most canals are no more than 30 feet across affording intimate views of the passing scene.
Tongli - Picture by Billa
This is extremely romantic, and by now it is clear: Odette and Carlo are an item!
Tongli - Picture by Billa
of course they pay a visit to the local souvenir's market.....last minute shopping
Tongli - Picture by Billa
As she really loved everything about China, Odette wants to leave you with this beautiful traditional song played on the Guzheng: High Mountain and Flowing Water, listen and just imagine slowly boating down the Li River.....
After her visit to the two capitals, Odette is now in the south of China, here we have a huge change in the background, as she's going to see some of the most amazing natural landscapes of the world!
In Guiling she's pretty close to the tropics, so the climate is hot and damp, she's going to have to drink a lot of water to keep the pace!
This wonderful painting is the main reason why Odette wished to go to the south, to see the wonderful River Li
For her visit to the south Odette is wearing a jersey silk dress, I loved this patter at first sight, with a matching cloche hat and paul-zangby shoes. She's going to do a lot of walking but it seems like she doesn't care....Carlo has reached Odette on this trip, he's wearing a cotton casual outfit, with a pique t-shirt. I think they make such a lovely couple!
Guiling is a nice town, there's an incredible market going on until the late hours where you can find everything, and after Odette and Carlo took a straw along the river banks.
Guiling - Picture by Billa
Guiling - Photo by Billa
In the early morning they visited the zoo, to meet Mr Panda in person!!!!
Guiling - Picture by Billa
Mr. Panda is a bit of a lazy fellow, so they had to go early in the morning, while he's having his breakfast, and before he begins his nap!
Before their cruise on the river they are taking a bus ride to see the Longji (Dragon Backbone) rice terraces: among the many great things about China are the evocative names of the places. They plunge you into the magic of nature, in a parallel universe where dragons, fox-women, and spirits are possible and live among us.
Longji village - picture by Billa
China is not only rich in diverse landscapes and attraction, but for its PEOPLE! This is a lovely Miao Lady showing her traditional dress....
Miao tratitional costume - Picture by Billa
Longji rice terrace - Picture by Sasha
Longji rice terrace - Picture by Sasha
Before leaving Guilin for their cruise on the river Li a brief stop to pay a visit to the Elephant hill. In fact the whole area of Guilin is very rich of wonderful caves, they are just too difficult to photograph for Odette and Carlo, so you'll just have their word for it!
Elephant hill - Picture by Billa
Now they are ready for the climax of this trip: the cruise on the river Li! There are no words to describe it, Odette and Carlo hope that the photographs shall give you at least some of the emotions of this place
River Li - Picture by Sasha
River Li - Picture by Sasha
River Li - Picture by Billa
The Cruise reaches Yangshuo, a beautiful village (300.000 inhabitants) among the river and fields. Once upon a long ago they were peasants and fishermen. Today they also are merchants!!! Here there's everything you need for a whole day of compulsive shopping!!! You can see the mountains in the background of the village.
Yangshuo - Picture by Billa
Yangshuo - Picture by Billa
Climate is tropical so rain can set in quite suddenly!
Yangshuo - Picture by Sasha
A brief vistit to the rice fields neraby, to take another glimpse of this incredible landscape!
Yangshuo - Picture by Billa
And before leaving they can't miss this incredible show: Impression Sanjie Liu. The performance utilizes the natural surroundings to create a spectacular outdoor theatre which is the largest of its kind. The Li River itself is the stage and twelve mountains serve as the backdrop. The first show opened in 2004 and was directed by Zhang Yimou. This picture cannot do justice to it, as it is simply GREAT!
Impression Sanjie Liu - Picture by Billa
Impression Sanjie Liu - Picture By Billa
Odette and Carlo adored it! Such a great way to take leave from this amazing part of China.
On the next instalment Odette is going to visit the East of China and Shanghai: Odette in China part 3
Odette rested a lot in her last travel, all those beaches and pools.....so now she's bound for a truly bold voyage: China!!! When you visit a country like this, so vast it could be a continent by itself, you can't go wrong. China is rich in history, art, culture, nature and PEOPLE!
It allows the western tourist a healthy change of perspective on a lot of things, it forces you to change your frantic pace and in the same time it makes you wonder about China's own frantic pace. In a country where modernity and velocity tries to live along with thousands of years history, skyscrapers and mandarine's gardens, crowded working class districts and the forbidden city, the immense peace of the rice fields and the quiet majesty of the Li River and the endless suburbs and heavily trafficked higways of Beijing and Shanghai.
China is all of this, and a lot more! Odette and I have a huge task in front of us: we shall try to give you a rough idea of this wonderful country
Odette picked her brand new fashion and off she is in Beijing!!!
Her first goal shall be the historical buildings in the town, the remains of the imperial capital.
Outside the Temple of Heaven, hundreds of people excercise themselves with tai-chi, gimnastic...
Temple of Heaven's public gardens - Picture by Sasha - Hat by Mattel - Shoes Paul Zangby
...or endless majiong games.
Temple of Heaven's public gardens - picture by Billa
The Temple of Heaven was a temple reserved to the Emperor and his family, where he performed the yearly rituarls required to maintain the universal order. This magnificent building is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
Temple of Heaven - picture by Sasha
Odette is quite impressed by these guards on the Tiananmen Square, so she tries to look "martial".......The guards thinks she is not quite convincing
Tiananmen Square - picture by Sasha
The square is named after the Tiananmen gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its North, separating it from the Forbidden City. You can see the Gate in the background (with the huge Mao Tze Dong portrait). This guard was very amiable and agreed to pose with Odette
Gate of Heavenly Peace - picture by Sasha
The Forbidden City is an amazing complex of buildings, temples, public halls and private houses for the Emperor and his wives and concubines. Everything is so carefully restored it looks like its inhabitants just left for a vacation......
Forbidden City - picture by Sasha
Well, here's one of the vacation places of the Imperial family. This is the marble barge in the Summer Gardens the Empress Dowager used to treat herself in a luxurious fashion. Just Odette's style!
Sumer Garden - picture by Sasha
And this is a glimpse of modern China: The Bird's Nest, the Olympic stadium.
Olympic Village - picture by Sasha
Now is time for a trip in a rickshaw to visit old Beijin!
Rickshaws: Beijin Old Town - picture by Billa
This is the inner court of an ancient house, these houses are under the protection of the government and they are preserved in spite the huge value of terrain (luckily as the remains of ancient China are not that many....)
Beijin Old Town - picture by Billa
This place is so lovely, along the river are a maze of old houses, bistrots and restaurant. This city is efferfescent with young people, art and music! And great food!!!!
Beijin Old Town - picture by Billa&Sasha
On her second day in China Odette is going to visit the Great Wall!
Great Wall - picture by Billa
Speechless.....this place is a miracle....
Great Wall - picture by Sasha
Now is time to leave the capital. Odette heads for the first capital of the Chinese Empire: Xi'an.
These are the original (heavily restored, but yet, impressive) walls of the town. The Silk road started here!!!
Xi'an Town Walls - picture by Billa
The Wild Goose Pagodas are two astounding architectural examples of Chinese Buddhist Pagodas
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda...
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda - picture by Billa
....the Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Small Wild Goose Pagoda - picture by Billa
Just outside Xi'an there's one of the most impressive archeological sites of the world: The Terracotta Army!!!
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