Suzhou the final post.

Shanghi / Suzhou from outypants on Vimeo.

It was so interesting to see how people still live alongside the canals. This boat ride was more of a sampan style not a gondola.

Suzhou is known for pearls and silk. Shops had these on display, you could also choose oysters kept in tanks.

Our dinner at the Japanese restaurant. The adults enjoyed the kids 'brain box" game. The object is to memorize the photo, then you are asked questions about what you saw. It was a great party game. The cards had Chinese and English written on it, so everyone could take turns reading and guessing.
Lisa ( in the green) came to the U.S a couple of years ago along with Candy and Jesse. I remember her daughter was going to school to be a doctor and I asked her -in Chinese- about it her.
How nice it was to communicate something without help.


it isn't uncommon to see 3- 4 people on a scooter. I cringed at all the kids I saw riding without helmets.
Is that Fred Macmurray on that scooter?


Elliot and Queenie playing paper scissors rock at the Sichuan restaurant.
Scooters are a major mode of transportation in Suzhou. Crossing the street or walking on the side walk can be a bit scary with the kids. Some scooter drivers zip through lights and they tend to travel wherever people can walk.




This is potty training in China.

Suzhou part one

The Family got the opportunity to be all together in Suzhou China for a couple of weeks. Nathan has been visiting Suzhou since we lived in the States, so it was great to finally be able to see all the places I have only heard about.


A little history on the region.
Located in the Jiangsu province, Suzhou is known for its gardens and canals.
Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Suzhou has been an important center for China's silk industry. The city is part of the Yangtze River Delta region.
It is sometimes known as the Venice of the East or the Venice of China, as a result of the canals.


This was our visit to Panmen. One of the main attractions is the gate, it is the only well preserved water-and-land city gate in the world now. It is believed to be over 2000 years old.









One of the highlights for me was being able to climb the Pagoda. The Ruiguang Pagoda was built in 241 originally 13 storeys tall. In 1100 B.C it went into disrepair and the man who funded the reconstruction made it only seven. The kids kept wanting to go higher and higher, I started to get nervous around the 4th level. The stairs were narrow and there was only one set, so if any one was coming up or down you had to make way for them. We were surprised at the graffiti scratched on the walls. I imagine in the States a plastic barrier would be built to keep that from happening. The ledge was not that high when we walked outside, in the States artificial railing would be in place to make up for this. In China I find myself approaching ancient structures charmed by them being in their original construction but with some trepidation. I was a little disappointed and a little relieved when we discovered that at the upper levels you were not allowed to walk outside.











Queenie ( her English name) works with Nathan and was very kind and helpful to us. She accompanied us to Pan Men it was her first time there as well. She bought the kids these souvenirs.






We were given a boat ride. The man was singing as we went. Queenie said part of what he was singing was simply about rowing the boat.