Four Points By Sheraton Hangzhou Binjiang

... and silk comforters are made. When the silk caterpillar spins its cocoon, it does so in one solid strand of silk which can be over one kilometer in length. We were able to see how the thread for the cocoon is harvested. It was an informative morning. We were then ushered into the store to purchase silk comforters, bed spreads and silk clothing.<br><br>After escaping the store, we lingered at the Lingering Gardens. It ...

... Most narcotics aren't going to cut it. I had no idea when it was going to end. The entire building was empty with the exception of our room, which kept on rocking until after 2am. Guantanamo Bay detainees have caved under less pressure. Jill had a great time. <br><br>We are very grateful to our employers for the invite and their generosity but here's hoping that there will not be a TGH3.<br><br> <br><br> <br> <br><br><br><br> <br>

... to crash dock it, which panicked the guy we were renting it off. He was screaming at us 'RUDDER RUDDER!' but I thought he was yelling at us to turn the engine off, so told Dave to do that... and, well, we went nose first into the dock.<br><br>We spent over a week in Hangzhou because we were waiting for the Tai'an hostel to send my iPod which I left there (oops!). But I'm glad that it was in Hangzhou that we had to wait. It is definitely my favorite place in China so far ...

... br><br>After lunch we journeyed onto the West Lake area and a cruise on the lake. West Lake covers over 8 square kilometres and is situated at the heart of Hangzhou. Originally the lake was an inlet off the estuary of the Qiantang River, becoming a lake when the river began to silt up in the 4th century. The lake had a tendency to flood, so several dykes were ...

Departed Suzhou at 9am for a 2 and a half hour drive to Hangzhou, we said goodbye to Grace our Local Guide for the past two days but we keep our driver Mr John. On arrival we meet our new Guide Rain and we are taken to the restaurant for lunch, then onto a local market area where we visited some Chinese medicine shops and an art gallery with bronze sculptures.<br>Arrived at the Hotel at 2pm and did nothing much, went walking and later found a Subway so that was dinner.

... at constantly by everyone around. At times people would stop us and ask if they could have a picture with us. So we would gather together in a big group and have a huge laugh as we had pictures taken. People would come up to us to say hello, trying to practice their English. At times we almost felt like celebrities with all of the attention. They would shriek with shock and delight when Jordana started speaking Mandarin with them. She was a hit ...

... Jen and I could share a bed and he could take a bed. We'd have a room for the night and it wouldn't be too expensive. But wait..... we just met this guy only 2 hours ago. He seemed quite nice... but sharing a hotel room? We thought back to some stories we had heard in other hotels throughout China about travelers becoming friends only to have their camera or cash stolen from their room. [One really disturbing story we heard from a student in Beijing who had been ...

... who meet weekly to practice there English. They are very excited to have me join there group. I am very excited as well, the students are all very respectful and eager to listen to what I have to say. Last week we worked on introductions, I brought my laptop and showed pictures of my family, friend, and random senic pictures of America. I asked the students to Indrtroduce themselves and tell me something they like to do, my ...

... at first bite). They're so big on tea, have it with every meal, you don't even have to order it. They pour it at first like they normally would pour you a glass of water. And as the finale we got watermelon slices sticking out of a decorative bucket of ice and watermelon rind and flowers. So fun! Yes, we get stared at everywhere we go, but this was entirely expected. I had to take advantage of the beautiful ...