Layla and I ended our Hangzhou time with a lunch at this totally in retrospect not for tourists restaurant. It was like in a walled off and guarded area once owned by some general or dignitary or something. The guard at the gate looked real confused, and our driver didn’t have anything to offer. I managed to communicate “lunch,” and we were in. As you can see we got numerous amazing weird dishes, tea and beers, really great views of the grounds, and of course Santa all for like $93 total.
These posts are going up late because China blocked my WordPress access, and my VPN, and Facebook, and now all of a sudden Gawker. This is turning into a Sally Field movie. But no matter! We woke at the butt crack of dawn and ventured out to see what this city was all about…
1. Fast walk at all crosswalks as if a motorbike is about to run you over. Because one probably will. Do not get distracted by street fights. Do not comment on how many Starbucks there are. Do not trust street signs.
I’m always a little weirded out arriving in a new city at night, especially abroad. You can’t visualize the geography from the plane, and dark areas feel closed off.
Well Shanghai was nothing like that. Continue reading
Lady Boy Time 