NYC

posted by Alan
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It's been about a month since the last post on here. The main reason being that we weren't in China for the past three weeks. We were blessed with a nice, long, restful vacation BACK home in NYC. I thought about posting while we were in New York, but I realized that people in China can't see the blog and we'll see everyone at home anyway. We just arrived back in Shanghai two nights ago. It's great being back, but jetlag is a butt-kicker.

One of the great joys of living abroad is coming home. Relationships just seem that much more special and you realize that closeness has nothing to do with distance. Loved seeing the family, all the babies (born and not yet born), playin ball with my boys, going back to CEMCQ (my home church), going to a Mets game and enjoying the heatwave. Coming from the humidity of Shanghai, the NYC heatwave felt wonderful.






The second best part about living abroad is coming home and binge eating guilt-free because you're on "vacation." Both my dad and dad-in-law can work the grill, so we had BBQ galore. Steak, chicken, ribs, oh yes. I already miss it. Also NY pizza, Taco Bell, White Castle, Shake Shack, Arby's, Crif Dog, Rutger's Grease Trucks, deli sandwiches, Chinese take-out (not the same as here) and good old home cooking. I ate so much that even my dad remarked at how much I was eating. He's used to my monstrous appetite and even this impressed (or maybe disgusted) him.

Fat Darrell at Rutgers Grease Trucks; BBQ at the Chan House; BBQ at the Gong House

Mom's Chicken Parm; NYC Hot Dogs


Special thanks to my mom and cousins Jennifer and Shirley for putting together an awesome baby shower for Daisy. And thanks to everyone for coming and all the generous gifts. Afterwards, Daisy just kept mentioning to me (more than once) that she felt so loved.





Click here to see more pictures from Daisy's NYC Baby Shower: Daisy's Baby Shower

This last trip home was different than any other before it. It felt like we never left New York. It instantly felt like home, still knew where everything was, how everything worked and things were just really easy and comfortable. Although I've lived in China for extended periods before, it now feels like both Shanghai AND New York are home. It feels like we belong in both places. No awkward transition periods. It was a peculiar and very welcoming feeling.

The kicker was watching the New York skyline out of the window of the airplane at JFK and the Shanghai skyline out of the window of the airport bus just hours later. They're both incredible and both felt so familiar. This world is an incredible place, with so much out there to see and do. But when it comes down to it, it's not so big at all.

$20 BILL

posted by Alan
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We've hit jackpot on our last two China trips. The small river town of Yangshuo is easily one of the coolest places in China. As tacky and overdone as many popular tourist destinations in China can be, Yangshuo manages to be low-key and casual, but still very tourist oriented and comfortable. Daisy and I went down there with three of our friends for a five day trip of river rafting, cave exploring and hiking and biking in the amazing countryside of Southern China.

YuLong River and Mud Cave in Yangshuo
On top of Moon Hill; at the entrance to the Water Caves

The normal trip to the region is between the cities of Guilin and Yangshuo, with the Li River running from one city to the other. What makes it such a popular destination are the crazy looking limestone karsts that are jutting out of the ground like mini, individual mountains. They are literally EVERYWHERE you look. And they're amazing to look at. They've become such an iconic part of natural China that an image of the Li River and karsts is on the back of the 20 Chinese RMB bill.
The famous Li River


The city of Yangshuo itself is nestled into a small valley in between these karsts and along the Li River. There is a section of the town that is completely built for foreigners, with Western and Chinese style restaurants, cafes and hostels lining the cobblestone no-cars-allowed streets. Most of the local Chinese places have also adapted with English menus and English speaking waiters and waitresses. But like I said, just a really relaxed atmosphere. And because it's in Southern China, near GuangZhou and Hong Kong, the cantonese food is really good too. The mountains are lit up at night and the rooftop bars are awesome places to hang out. I totally recommend a trip to Yangshuo for anyone that is coming through China.

The city of YangshuoYao Mountain in Guilin; scooters in Yangshuo
Hot Springs Cave; Claypot spot in Yangshuo

Highlights from Yangshuo:
- My favorite part was the Mud Caves. Natural caves that had a "natural" pool of mud and "natural" hot springs inside of the cavernous caves. The mud was disgustingly fun.
- Climbing Moon Hill. Although the mosquitos were a lowlight. But the use of electric mosquito racket zappers is not only useful, but oddly enjoyable. Another invention the US needs to import.
- Bamboo rafts along the Li River.
- Renting bikes and scooters and taking them out into the countryside to explore.
- Awesome food.
- Browsing Chinese saying Tshirts. Bought a few as gifts....i'll show you mine on here.
- Talladega Nights in the middle of the day.
- Giant spiders in hostel rooms.
- Awesome food.
- NBA Finals and WORLD CUP watching.

Yangshuo at night from the rooftop bar of our hostel

Reflecting in Yangshuo brought this quote to my mind:
"We stand in awe of the ocean,
the thunderstorm,
the sunset, the mountains,
but we pass by a human being
without notice
even though the person is God's most magnificent creation"
- St. Augustine

My prayer after this trip is to allow people to amaze me even more than these incredible landscapes. I do believe that if we give them a chance, they really will.

Click here to see some more pictures of our trip to Yangshuo: Yangshuo 2010 Picture Album
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What a great few weeks for sports. Waking up and watching one of the most memorable NBA Finals in years at the hostel flatscreen and all of the bars, cafes and restaurants in Yangshuo setting up flatscreens and projectors outside to watch the World Cup games. Not to mention the awesome Mets' win streak. I was in Shanghai during the last World Cup in 2006. Watching the World Cup out here is SO much fun. And that USA vs Algeria game was possibly the most dramatic sports moment I've ever seen (surpassing Endy Chavez' catch because the Mets lost that game). Not because I'm so into soccer (which i'm slowly warming up to and starting to appreciate), but because everyone is just so into it. The city is made up of internationals from all over the world, so our community is all rooting for their respective countries. But what I've also noticed is that the US audience is starting to get into it as well. How is it back at home? We gonna have some World Cup watching parties while we're back in July? Mid-summer baseball isn't much to get excited over.. GO USA.

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No love for Steven? How discouraging for future guest bloggers.

A Guest Blog

written by Steven Gong
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“Don’t let a grain of sand in your shoe distract you from the beautiful beach…” (said by someone at small group)… Humidity, bugs, dirtiness, weird food, and a social culture that we Americans cringe at… but living the day-to-day with Alan and Daisy made me realize how much more there is to a “life in China” versus a “visit to China”.

I used to tell NYC visitors, “after your exhausting trip to the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty etc, come stay for a week and be a local.” I visited Shanghai four years ago and saw all the sights and sounds in a span of 2 days, but this time was a different experience. After getting a glimpse of the ex-pat life, I’d compare it to going away versus staying home for college. Sure, it is fine to stay in one place, but starting a chapter somewhere else is a whole new and fun experience.


Seeing young non-Chinese people walking to work with their iPods and coffee made me do double takes, but I was the only one staring. Shanghai is such a modern and diverse city yet so rich in culture. Alan and Daisy’s church friends include Americans, a Korean, a German, a Canadian, and many more… Again, it felt like the college experience on overdrive. It was refreshing to be surrounded by diverse, open minded adventurous people. Their zest and passion for their community was obvious.



It took me a few days to adjust, but I was driven by my insatiable desire for Xiao Long Baos aka Soup Dumplings from the corner shop (70cents/order, sure beats Joe’s Shanghai in nyc!). Being a Chinese person with zero Mandarin skills was frustrating: I think I said ‘May-gaw” or “ABC” about a hundred times.

We also got a glimpse of the legendary night-life thanks to our friend (also named Alan) and let’s just say there’s something for everyone here! Note: Green Tea and Whiskey is delicious, except for when it comes back up the next day during Ultimate Frisbee!



“It’s a small-world” has a whole new meaning when you're half-way around the globe as everyone seemed to be connected by just a few degrees of separation. The people you meet and the commonalities are astounding. Not to mention all the new relationships formed because of it.



Getting to experience the evolution and growth of China firsthand was awesome and if Shanghai is what the rest of China is supposed to be in 20 years – we better start paying attention (I’ll spare the business school analysis). An example in a recent gizmodo.com post - http://gizmodo.com/5558350/shanghai-skyline-before-and-after

Other Highlights: McDonald’s 24/7 delivery, Shopping, Meat Knuckles (including the bone marrow through a straw!), Scooter/biking, Ultimate Frisbee, World Expo, Daisy Prego…





Click here to see Steven's facebook photo album of his trip to Shanghai: Steven in Shanghai