The Spectacular SHANGHAI

A few weekends ago, we went to Shanghai, and it was amazing! The skyline was beautiful, you could actually see the sky, and I got Starbucks for the first time since being here. It was wondrous haha. The hostel we went to was definitely the cleanest and nicest I’ve ever been to. And it had an actual mattress! I seriously didn’t want to leave. I forgot what real beds felt like. 

While in Shanghai, we had the chance to go to this wildlife reserve, and it was so incredible! I rode an elephant guys. An Asian Elephant. I could not stop smiling the whole time my dreams were coming true. And THEN. I got to pet and hold a baby leopard! It was seriously the greatest day ever. 

We also went to the Shanghai Underground Market. It was insane. I got really good at bartering, and Meagan and I would just go and barter to practice and not even get anything. One time, Meagan went in somewhere and looked at an iPad cover, asked how much it was, and then left. As we were walking the salesmen went down sixty and then eighty percent. Like, he yelled after us. It was hilarious! She didn’t even want it! But he kept trying to get her to buy it. 

Probably the best thing we did though…was sneaking up to the top of a hotel/mall. Haha it really wasn’t bad, we just thought it was at the time. We just acted like we were staying at the hotel..doing things like that is really easy when you’re American looking. Everyone just assumes that you’re rich and connected when you’re white, its great lol. But anyways, seeing the view from the top of that building...was incredible. It had a perfect view of the bund across the water, and we could see all of the cool buildings and boats on the river. I was so surreal, looking down and seeing ALL of those people. They were packed in, along the streets, in alleys, on the sidewalks. Always moving. It reminded me of 
Seattle, but on a much bigger scale…I guess that’s all I have to compare big cities to. 

On the way back from Shanghai, we went to church in Suzhou. I seriously love the members there. They drive us around, they feed us, they let us bake in their kitchen (that was so fun)…We just have the best time whenever we go to church. And its so great to have my spiritual cup filled too! I love hearing about the gospel, and I’m so blessed to even get to here. 
Overall, the Shanghai trip was a great success, and I’m hoping I can go there again before I leave!


View from the top of the hotel:

I've made some interesting friends here in China...some of them like to climb elephant statues :)