Hangzhou Happiness

We have landed in Hangzhou, after one missed train, and arriving rather late after inadvertently getting on the slow (three hour instead of 1.5 hour) train to Hangzhou. But, all worked out well. Our newest friends, Jessica and Martin, picked us up at the train station (the generosity is overwhelming) and immediately took us to a FANTASTIC hot pot restaurant. Individual hot pot was served, and we chose from a row of nearly 30 sauces in which to dip our American beef and Chinese mutton. Ahhh...glorious night.

Today we spent the day wandering Hangzhou with Jessica: our fearless tour guide, translator, and friend. We wandered Hefang Old Street, ogling the pashmina scarves, fortune candies, and Nepalese jewelry. Nathan bought a fantastic pair of chopsticks with an engraved rooster...I have yet to find my perfect pair. The search is more fun than actually deciding on a pair. :)

Tonight, the four of us cooked an "American" meal: pork chops in a creamy sauce with pasta, raw cucumber and tomato salad, garlic bread, and steak with mushrooms on the side. Our feast was seasoned with cajun spice that we travel with, eaten with chopsticks, and washed down with BIG snow beers.

Now we sit in the warmth of Jessica's lovely apartment with three laptops spread out in front of us, listening to and trading music. Although we began our journey with our 250GB hard drive nearly empty, our stay with Benson in Shanghai left us with tons of new music. Combined with an eclectic mix from our desktop (from Eminem and Toots, to the Stones and the Gladiators), Martin is really rockin' out. As are we all.

Along with themes of universal cuteness, food, and big smiles, music once again proves itself to break through the language barrier. We all bob our heads to the same beat.

much love from Hangzhou.

xoox

p.s. check out http://honeyserviceyear.shutterfly.com for some new photos from Nanjing and Shanghai.