Water Town 5/9/14

There are a number of 'water towns' in China, ancient fishing villages with narrow canals running all through like streets; this one is Zhouzhuang, located a couple hours drive from Shanghai.

Shannon and her brother Reid

 

 

Many narrow lanes offer stalls of food, art, artifacts, clothing.

 

Lunch among the locals

An excellent opportunity to practice chopstick skill with peanuts, one at a time.

When they say ancient water town, they mean it.

 

It was a rainy day, as befits a visit to a water town.

 

Asia

As soon as I took this shot, I knew it would likely turn out to be the best of the trip

Asia 5/5/14 to 5/23/14

 

TOKYO,  JAPAN

Here we are at the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace, downtown Tokyo.  Much has changed there since I was stationed in Japan in the Army forty-odd years ago.  Most noticeable was the improved appearance of the average Japanese person's dentition.  

First full day there we rode the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Shinagawa Station down to Kyoto, where Reid had business to conduct.  Shannon and I toured the Old Imperial Palace and grounds, after obtaining 'Special Permission.'

Of course there are classic gardens as well. 

Then we went on to the Nijo Castle, a famous specimen of architecture from the Samurai days 400 years ago, complete with floors purposefully built to squeak so as to prevent sneak attacks.

Now this was a very neat place.  Classic gardens of its own, of course.

After three days in Tokyo we flew on to Shanghai.