Guess who's back...

Back in the U.S. and just cleared customs - suckers!! Just one quick flight from Chicago to Harrisburg and this trip is in the books.

Yesterday, I spent the morning in meetings and the afternoon enjoying my last meal with chopsticks for a while. I have got pretty good with those things - managed to eat corn on the cob and a chicken wing with them.

I have a bunch of random videos and pictures that might find their way online as a Miscellaneous Debris post, but until then, here is a cool random tourist trap store near the hotel:

Exploring Shanghai

Some of the highlights from my day exploring Shanghai: Oriental Pearl Tower, The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, and The East Nanjing Road shopping district...
http://youtu.be/GVSGoqhcees

My Morning Commute

Here is what my quick, quiet, peaceful walk to work was like in Shanghai...
http://youtu.be/0zahAwyYvVg

Acrophoria

On Sunday I spent the day exploring on my own: strolled through parks, waved off watch vendors, squeezed onto the Huangpu River Ferry, roamed the east river bank, waved off toy vendors, checked out the Oriental Pearl Tower...

...stood atop the glass platform observation deck 850 feet above Pudong...

...didn't crap myself, shot a ton of video/pics of the smoggy skyline...

...shot one pic of greasy photog...

...rode 1980's psychedelic Disney tunnel tram back to The Bund...

walked to Metro station, waved off iPad vendors, rode Metro to Malone's to get burger and beer, walked the gauntlet of East Nanjing Road, waved off vendors, and got back to hotel in time to Skype home to hear about the cupcake preparations that I was missing (bu hao!)

Hangzhou

Well, the Great Wall kept me locked out all weekend, but that's fine - I was field tripping the whole time anyway. Lucky for me (thanks GoTrusted) I poked a little hole this morning for a quick update.

On Saturday I went up to the city of Hangzhou to see "West Lake". I was thinkng this would be a nice, spiritual, and serence city. Nope. It was crazy. I went with my new friends Jerry and Jenny and they were great hosts and kept me safe and stuffed:

点心时间 (Snack Time)

After a nice walk around town I stopped by a market to pick up some snacks:

I went with the Bangkok Chicken Wing chips instead of the Salty Fish Soup. I'm sure my cubicle neighbor appreciates it...

Skyping With Max

I got to Skype with the family from 13 hours in the future. Sorry I screwed up your bedtime, but it was great seeing and talking to everyone.

P.S. sweet "Thundershirt" Max

Good Morning Shanghai

The weather here has been pretty cold and overcast, but today the sun made an appearance:

Here's breakfast this morning (cucumber and watermelon juice, dumpling, shrimp cake, fried spring roll, sushi, and some traditional western accessories):

Luckily I have a pretty treacherous 15 minute walk to the Armstrong office dodging bikes, scooters, and buses to help burn off this breakfast and the Roast Duck feast from last night. Video coming soon... (of the walk, not the duck).

Pudonged!

After all the traveling the past 2 days I actually got to start working today - I sat in a cubicle and went to meetings... I think I like being a tourist better!

I did get to take a trip out into the field and help with some acoustical measurements and eat some interesting Chinese food; although here in China they just call it "food". My chopstick skills are getting super strong but I am starting to get a little home(cheesesteak)sick.

After work I walked down to the Bund area (western bank of the Huangpu River) and saw all of the beautifully lit up buildings across the river in Pudong:

Hotel Views

Here are some pictures from the hotel. I don't know what these buildings or neighborhoods are (I'm sure @Dan Natkin knows), but looks nice, right? Somewhere out there is the perfect panda-themed irreverent gadget souvenir. Hopefully it will be mine before this trip is over.

The People's Vomit Comet

I decided to forgo the typical first time visitor car service from the airport and went with the public transportation option - Maglev (magnetic + levatation) and Metro. The Maglev really hauls ass at 430km/hr (267 mph):

7046 Miles!!!

This was my buddy for 14 hours:

I managed to get through: Win Win, Rise of the Planet of The Apes (Jay and Spence will love this), Google documentary, Moon, Freakonomics, Paul, and a bunch of lame TV shows. I also got about 30 seconds of sleep.

On my way...

First leg is underway (Harrisburg to Chicago).  Hopefully all of the technology I'm packing will last and keep me sane.  Have a great week Jen, Jayden, and Spencer.  Talk to you soon.