DAY ONE - IS THIS REALLY CHINA?

The smooth flight on QF129 to the Orient enables one to catch up on Detective Banks and Hamish Macbeth. In between such literary delights I enjoy the culinary feast of Slow Cooked Beef and Barley Casserole with Mashed Potatoes and Peas whilst my lady tingles at Steamed Fish in Five Willow Sauce, Fragrant Rice and Greens. More chop stick practise thrusting at Fig and Honey Rice Pudding. What Chinese delights, to be washed down with James Squire Golden Ale and Appletiser Sparkling Apple Juice! Do the natives of China use knives and forks? 


Shortly, time requires us to turn back the clock 3 hours. Is this before or after we cross the equator? And where is King Neptune? Let's have some on-board excitement! The best this flight can provide is a disgruntled Chinese chappy who hurls (maybe he is of Irish-Muslim extraction) his dinner tray at the Steward's trolley spraying quite a carpet of Slow Braised Pork with Caramelised Chili, Ginger and Shallot Sauce and Steamed Rice down the aisle and trolley. Perhaps he needed to order, as I did, Chicken Seared with Lemon, Oregano and Honey Sauce served with a selection of Roasted Vegetables. Then he'd wash this sumptuous meal down with Ballantine's Scotch Whisky and Tsingtao chaser. 


The time is 18.30. The Captain informs us we are landing in Shanghai. Can I believe him? How will I know? Perhaps I'll find myself in Little Bourke Street, Melbourne! We disembark. We approach immigration and customs. The writing is all Chinese to me! These chappies are clothed in uniform; very smart. "Passport, Boarding Pass." Don't smile at the camera. And I can keep the duty free whisky and wine! Follow the signs and we collect our luggage. Follow the crowd and hunt for the Derry placard. 


Surprise!! Tanya, Geoff and Arlo materialise at the barrier. Wonderful hugs, cuddles and kisses.Yes, this is really China! Yes, this is really Shanghai! Our Taxi-van driver loads our luggage into the van as we 5 shuffle into the various seating compartments. The driver sits in the wrong seat and then drives on the wrong side of the road! Certainly this is Chinese to me. 


We speed along a modern expansive freeway for 2 hours. In the darkness Geoff indicates many Shanghai points of interest. Suzhou appears through the gloom with twinkling neon lights. Our safe arrival at the Suzhou apartment is celebrated with a wee dram of the Dalmore!

We enter the outskirts of Suzhou.

Suzhou neon signs seem to be Chinese to me.

Wow! Is this New York, or Suzhou?

Crickey! At night some of the road directions are in Chinese!

Welcome from the Cook, the Chef and the KID at our new home.

This is the way to our Chinese home for the next 4 weeks.