Author Archives: simmywillemann

Olympic National Park – Hoh Rainforest

Posted on November 16, 2010 by simmywillemann

As you walk through evergreens shrouded in club moss and witness elk munching on the low-lying branches of century-old trees, the Hoh Rainforest may feel otherworldly. Avatar or Tolkien’s Middle Earth come to mind. Within the diverse patchwork of Olympic more »

Posted in West Coast USA | 1 Comment

The Old Town – Famous Shanghai Cuisine

Posted on January 4, 2010 by simmywillemann

The Old City of Shanghai is bordered by street shops selling all sorts of cheap items ranging from silk pajamas to imitation watches and chopsticks made of bone. At the center lies a giant “food court” with popular Shanghainese delicacies. more »

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Yuyuan Gardens – Preview

Posted on January 4, 2010 by simmywillemann

MVI_4502 The wind managed to die before I could film these red lanterns on the crooked walkway to the Yuyuan Garden Palace.

Posted in Places of Significance | Leave a comment

Shanghai Railway Station

Posted on January 4, 2010 by simmywillemann

January 3, 2010 Sunday morning, I was excited to take a train to a neighboring water town, Suzhou. Unfortunately, assuming that I understood the woman helping me with the Chinese ticket machines, this weekend the trains were so busy that more »

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The Chinese Take on American Fast Food

Posted on January 4, 2010 by simmywillemann

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Starbucks, Haagen-Dazs, and McDonalds are among the most popular chains in Shanghai.

Posted in Western Influence | Leave a comment

Jinling Lu

Posted on January 4, 2010 by simmywillemann

Jinling Lu, my favorite road, is lined with music shops. Below, a man plays the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument also known as the Chinese violin. Jackie, the manager of a restaurant on Jinling Lu that I happened to stop more »

Posted in Music & Art, Shanghai Adventure 2010 | Leave a comment

Christmas in Shanghai

Posted on January 4, 2010 by simmywillemann

The commercial Christmas spirit is very much alive in Shanghai. American Santa stickers adorn almost every building or shop of prominence in the Pudong Financial District. Above, the Christmas tree is brilliantly celebrated in a shopping mall.

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Shanghai Metro

Posted on January 2, 2010 by simmywillemann

As a New Yorker, I have a preference for the NYC Transit Subways. However, as an English-speaker, I find it much easier to navigate the Shanghai subway system. Hardly a soul you encounter on the street may speak English, but more »

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Dim Sum Restaurant

Posted on January 2, 2010 by simmywillemann

12.31.09 – Mei took me to a Dim Sum Restaurant in the the Lujiazui financial district in Pudong. The specialty was an animal I had never tried before. It was tasty but not at all lean … see below. When more »

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The Company Apartment, Shanghai

Posted on January 2, 2010 by simmywillemann

12.31.09 – Ying Mei, an HEC employee, picked me up from the airport and gave me keys to the apartment. Aside from the chill – space heaters are the only sources of heat – the apartment is very comfortable. Being more »

Posted in Places of Significance | 2 Comments

Flight to China

Posted on January 1, 2010 by simmywillemann

December 30, 2009 The airport had a few artistic comfortable hang-outs like this one. Overall, it was much nicer than American airports.

Posted in Shanghai Adventure 2010, Transportation | Leave a comment