The Dragon Lady and the Imperial Elder Burn Shanghai to the Ground...

The Imperial Duo and Jase the Ace

Hello and welcome back!  As you may or may not have noticed the YRC was offline while we hosted the Elder Kressleys as they visited faire Shanghai for the past two weeks.  It can all be summarized in one word....epic.

Preparation for the journey included long discussion, debate and many Skype calls for culture briefing.  The jet-lag will be tough so hydrate and try to sleep. Check. The Chinese are somewhat indifferent and can be unfriendly, so be patient. Check. The Chinese "norm" on manners is different, so don't be offended if someone drops their briefcase on your head on the plane. Check. The service industry does not benefit from tips, so expect to fend for yourself. Check.  Be sure to bring your medicine.  All of it. Check.

Do We Need to Dress for Dinner?

Fast forward to Pudong Airport, 3:45 pm our time, 3:45 am, their time.  After a 20-hour journey with +14 hours in the air, they drifted off the plane like Tracy and Hepburn at the Academy awards.

Jet lag?  What jet lag? After a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep, they arose to expresso and croissants. So, where are we going today?

Shanghai in Bloom

As they toured, the city of Mayhem was magically transformed into the Paris of East.  Peach blossoms graciously framed quiet streets.  That sort of thing. The traditional Chinese efficient but indifferent service was replaced with, well, the sort of service one gets in the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok.  Doors swished open and shop keepers scrambled to find seats for the marauding Imperial Duo to rest while someone scurried to the back of the store to find just the right item.  Cab drivers skidded to a stop in their haste to assist the Imperials and gave them correct change.  Restaurants took them directly to the best open table while the owner came out to say hello.

Citizens were wreathed in smiles as the Imperial Duo wandered down the street admiring the architecture.  Children stopped to say hello.  Family groups stood aside politely to let the Duo pass.  The "thumbs up" sign was seen everywhere.

The Duo inspect the Qing Dynasty influences in the temple architecture

They marched through a highly detailed and challenging itinerary like Patton heading for Berlin.  Temples were visited, tea ceremonies were attended, dragon purchases were negotiated and purchased at antique markets, food markets were reviewed, the Bird Market was a hit, the Huang Pu was boated, and supplies purchased for the calligraphy lesson.  They were showered with gifts, including many dragons.

For the Dragon Lady's birthday and their final night in Shanghai, the always alert YRC hospitality staff had booked a dinner at one of the better restaurants in town.

The view from Table Five

They were awarded with (of course, we're used to it now)  the best seats in the restaurant. There was a spectacular view of the neon-lit boats parading on the river.

When the time came, the lights went off, the house went dark and AC/DC was cranked up as The Dragon Lady's desert danced out garnished with sparklers.   The lights came up and there was deafening applause from the crowd as she bowed politely to accept the birthday wishes.  Applause, indeed.