Shenzhen and other thoughts

Monday June 2, 2008, Tuesday June 3, 2008, Wednesday June 4, 2008,Thursday June 5, 2008
Days 16, 17, 18 and 19?

So we packed up from Dongguan and took our trusty buses back to Shenzhen. The ride was interesting since (a) our bus driver didn’t know where he was going and (b) some of the freeway entrances aren’t finished yet. That was some trick driving the buses over what essentially was an empty lot. Anyway some of the highways are toll roads – heck, they may all be and I just didn’t notice. I took some pictures from the bus of the area but I still haven’t actually seen the sun for 3 weeks.. it is always either overcast or heavy smog, I can’t tell which. Oh, did I mention I have a fabulous 90 minute foot massage in Dongguan for only $7? It was great. She massaged my shoulders, back, arms, feet and calves. So relaxing and my feet had been hurting something horrible. Big relief I can tell you.



The driver got us to “our hotel” in ShenZhen only to find out it was the wrong place. We are staying at the Grand View Hotel …. However, what the grand view is, I have no idea because it is in the middle of a brand new area and all you can see are tall buildings and a new shopping mall. I have tried to insert a picture here. Hope it works.




Once we got our rooms – more like a bat cave – there are no windows in the rooms. I feel like I do in Las Vegas or Reno – can’t be sure what time it is or if it is day or night. This is very unsettling to all of us. Anyway, the room is small but exceedingly clean and tidy. The hotel is pretty new. Did I mention that all the hotels have this card slot where you have to put your hotel key card to turn on the lights and power? It is most annoying because in some of the hotels it is tied into the air conditioning as well … so if you leave your room, it gets hot and stuffy.

My hotel room in Dongguan was quite spacious and had a vaulted ceiling and a huge block of windows out overlooking the street. I really enjoyed watching the traffic. In Hongzhou my room was on the 22nd floor and if you could see out the window because of smog and such, the view is nice. At least I think so. They had a restaurant on the 34nd floor which revolved in the evenings. It would have had a lovely view if you could have seen anything out the windows.



Here in Shenzhen we loaded into the theater. The theater is only about 6 months old and the staff are extremely protective of it. It looks like an egg to me but the staff say it is referred to as “the pear.”

It is interesting that here in china every store and building has, oh about 3 times what you would encounter in the US. There are people whose jobs are just to stand by a doorway … did wal-mart get this idea from china or vice versa? Anyway, the clerks follow you about … I think I mentioned this already but if I did I have forgotten it – and either are there to help you or be sure you don’t take anything. Oh well … at the Shenzhen Poly Theater they are so protective that Les our SM had to sign a paper saying we wouldn’t damage anything. Now she laughs that she will either be jailed or caned if something goes wrong. And, of course, it did. Apparently the dressing room side lights are high intensity bulbs placed too close to the plastic shade and the lights melted right through the cover. Now what? The theater people said they would fix it right away.



We are “a big deal in China” (?) ….I don’t think so. The two performances so far have gone very well all things considered but sadly these are 1400 seat houses and not much audience. This kind of depresses the dancers but by the time we all get to the German-style (yes, german!) beer place we all shake it off with a few beers (white wine for me) and hanging out. I am generally the first to leave since I like to sleep but I understand several people routinely stay til closing. The crew has gotten on a first name basis with the staff there and Amy brings me just what I want … the rest of the servers can’t understand I just want a single glass of wine, not a bottle. Anyway, we have one more firebird tonight and then we load out and head to Wuhan. We have to travel back to the airport and we fly to Wuhan. Goody, back on our beautiful plane! The staff there think of everything. Its great.


Talk to you all soon.