The Anderson's target Asia: August 2013

Back from an almost 6 week break with lots more stamps in my passport. Gwen was traveling for 5 weeks for work, but took full advantage of the nights and weekends to enjoy her travels.

This will take a few blogs to cover, and we will start in Shanghai - 10 nights.

The big challenge of the trip was 5 weeks and only 20 kg (44 lbs) of checked baggage. Some how I did it with no excessive baggage fees (last leg was over by 1.5 kg, but they did not charge me).

The luggage ready to go.

One of Gwen's colleagues from the US discovered Din Tai Fung in HK, and it became a traditional stop for the team - we ate there in Shanghai and Seoul. We've posted from there in ealier blogs (one of our favorite places). It is the Taiwanese Dumpling chain restaurant I believe Michael ate hear 12 times before he went back to the US.

Morag and Michael with the menu waiting to eat dumplings.

Pork Truffle Dumpling

Stephanie & Michael enjoying their meal.

Here is the only picture I will post that I took in the office. Someone in the picture (I took a picture of) looked familiar.

More work pictures, but we are not in the office.

Lunch with the Shanghai team.

Yummy dumplings from lunch.

Dinner that night was Thai.

On Saturday Stephanie and I ventured out. We tried to see a museum, but got too late of a start - so we went to Yuyuan Garden for some snacks and tea.

Some street food we had to try.

Can not visit here without a traditional soup dumpling. Yes that is a straw in the dumpling to drink the soup.

Next stop was a tea house for some West Lake Longjing tea. With the help of google we were drinking it like a local before we finished.

More street food.

Stephanie eating a Cracknel with Leeks.

We then walked to the Bund (river front) and found a Brewery where we had to have some beer and a few noodles.

Sunday Gwen headed to the Shanghai Museum.

A Ming Vase

Tea Pots

Looking down from the 4th floor in the middle of the museum.

Dinner that night was Mexican. I remember my first visit to Shanghai with my friend Megan - Mexican was the only food we could not find. Well it is here, and it was good.

American Beer

Tacos

Another food tradition along the way became "Hot Pot". Here is Shanghai's version.

After Hot Pot came more beer at Dr. Beer.

To summarize Shanghai in July in one word - HOT. Here is a typical screen shot from Gwen's phone. Yes it does say 102, and it really does feel like 112 (below the 102 in blue)