^
But as an American the shock value is less when I do it as a Chinese.
;)

I was the original Chinese Mythbuster.

With all the CCTV around it probably was.

day 13 in Suzhou
 

Suzhou is a lovely city. We are staying within the old part where tall buildings are prohibited so it has a small town feel. We got up and went across the street to the Master of the Nets Garden. Nice quiet place. Then took a bus down the road to Humble Administrator's garden. Very crowded with noisy Chinese tour groups using portable speakers. As we walked to the Silk Museum, we popped into a local little restaurant where they were frying dumplings out on the sidewalk-had a bowlful for RMB 6. Delicious lunch. Got stared at by the oldsters in the restaurant. Said ni hao and waved at them.

Silk Museum was a waste of time-half the museum was closed for renovations.
Walked back to the main road and to the Lion Grove Garden. Cool place with all the rocks, but very crowded. Took the bus back to the hotel and went to a place across the street from it for massages- 1 hour for RMB 79 each.

For dinner we went to a hot pot place. We weren't sure how it worked and tried to ask the waitress. She got a look of panic on her face and ran off. She came back with a college girl who spoke some English, and she helped us figure it out. We chose the broth (bu la), a dipping sauce, and then loaded up the plates with what we wanted to eat from a refrigerated case. I'm not sure what everything we ate was but it was fun and tasty, and including beverages and beer was RMB 97. This made up for the overpriced meal the night before.

Observation: I cannot believe how much food the Chinese pack away. We'll see 2 people at a table order 8 different things. And portions are large. I don't know where they put it; it's a wonder they are all not fat. When the food comes, they dive in and don't come up for air until all the plates are empty. It's like they have never eaten before. At the hot pot place which was all you can eat, massive quantities of food were inhaled. They are also very messy eaters, throwing food, napkins, cigarette butts all over the floor.
Waitresses really ear their money.

And while eating they are slurping, loudly chomping, and making a lot of noise all the while talking loudly and smoking. Bob and I order no more than 3 things to share between us and we get plenty to eat. I have seen the Chinese taking "doggy bags" home though. :D

Try the split hot pot, one side spicy the other
regular. Some items are much tastier cooked on the spicy side. There's a good, all you can eat, hot pot restaurant in Al Hambra called New Chong Qing if you visit LA.

Then there are the personal hot pot where everyone gets a mini pot with the exact spiciness of the broth and the base that they like.

Only issue with AYCE hot pot is all the mis-handling of the RAW food which is even worse than mis-handling of cooked food at a buffet.

AYCE doesn`t seem to have as good quality ingredients...but its cheaper price.

Lower grade/Less fresh ingredients and the patrons picking through them is one reason I stay away from hotpot place with a pick your own system.

AYCE hotpot places where you order the ingredients which are brought to you is OK. Many North American jurisdictions has banned open hotpot raw buffets.

The one in Al Hambra they bring ingredients...but ingredeints not too great. But 20/person is not bad.

Yes, ask for the price beforehand for everything in China.

Don't give them the chance to rip you apart.

Anyway, Bob did well, I believe the train stops in Suzhou for about 5 minutes and will head to Shanghai.

:D

day 14-train from Suzhou to Hangzhou
 

I had the hotel in Suzhou get the train tickets for Hangzhou. I chose a D train that left at 10:45 so as not to have to go rushing off. I didn't know it went to some other Hangzhou station, far away from the city, very small. The lady who ordered the tickets didn't tell me. We arrive at this run down small station and take a taxi into the city. The taxi driver has to call the Courtyard Marriott to ask how to get there. it takes an hour and costs RMB 76.

As it's now late afternoon we take a walk to West Lake, 20 minutes, sit and watch the sunset, then walk back. I was tired from all the traveling and schlepping so we made a dinner out of the snacks in the club lounge.

Observation: a;ways ask for train tickets to the MAIN station in the cities you plan to go to.

day 15, last day in China, Hangzhou
 

After breakfast we take bus K12 from in front of the hotel to West Lake. It is so crowded, but it is Sunday. It's a bit hazy out so picture taking isn't very good. We took one of the ferry boats over to an island and got off and walked around. Then took another ferry back to land and rode one of the electric trams halfway around the lake. Walked up and down Hefang Street, packed with people. Walked back by lake for a while, then boarded bus K12 for the ride back to the hotel late afternoon.

I cannot believe how many people the bus driver allowed to board. He just kept crammin them in. When it stopped, people couldn't even get to the door to get off. What an experience. I imagine people in China have to do this everyday to get to work. No way I could do it. Ansd it got real hot on the bus-the drivers never turn on the AC.

This evening during dinner, there was a big long fireworks show at the shopping center where we were dining. We could see some of it out the restaurant window. Quite impressive. Lots of oohiing and aahiong from the locals. I have no idea what the occasion was, but thousands of people were there. Early to bed as we have to get up at 5:00 am tomorrow for our return flight to the US.

It's only October! :D

Sounds like Susie (and Bob) survived China, and vice-versa. :p All in all, it seems they did pretty well at navigating around most of the potholes of China travel.

I do hope that a third visit is in the planning for some point in the future, so we have months of entertaining lead-up to the trip, and these excellent field reports during the main feature.

Maybe this time, a trip to the west of China.

Seconded. Safe travels back to US to them both.

tb