My morning SMS to kids "sorry to be so wateful of yer yerushah (inheritance) but even at $1.59 I can't eat this breakfast - heading to the Shangrila Hotel" Good move as the breakfast there was sensational - as good as most lunch buffets in a five star hotel.
Bus leaves at 10:30 for a tour of the city and as I suspected there wasn't much to be seen. As I get on the bus someone says "are you Danielle's dad" seems he and his partner are very good friends of Dave and now Danielle and are coming to their wedding. Small world!
That said however the city, while big, is modern and very tasteful. Amazingly it is spotless - no rubbish or the like littering the streets.
Dalian is a port city - a small 4+ million people many of whom seem quite young. The bus then takes us to a pancake restaurant for lunch. We split into 4 or 5 groups in small private rooms. Without the recommendation of our hosts I certainly would not have given this place a second look. The crockery is wrapped in one plastic bundle and it is seriously down market. When I go to the toilet they are all squat - not a good combination with my now upset stomach!!!
Anyway looks deceive and the restaurant is outstanding. A dairy, pork and seafood free meal has been arranged and the tasty food just keeps coming.
It would be remiss of me not to point out that our hosts have, exceedingly generously, picked up the tab for everything this weekend.
I then go shopping to Victory Square which is 4 levels of underground shopping with small stall/shop holders. Apparently the largest underground shopping centre in the world. I buy two supposedly leather handbags for my iPad and head back to my hotel only to find there is a fault with one bag. I head back and they apologetically fix the problem.
A short rest before the evening activity which is a steamboat dinner where everybody has boiling broth to cook their food. I elect for the chili broth and the lamb, beef, noodles and vegetables are incredibly tasty. Our table elected for no seafood for dietary reasons but that would have been the perfect end.
The bus then takes those who wish to a bathhouse for a communal bath and massage. The bathhouses are very luxurious and open 24 hours and very busy I am told. I opt out being very tired and stomach still a little upset but do go to a bar near my hotel for a drink where I meet a guy who works for IBM as technical support for Australian Companies. He was very interested in life in Australia as was I in Dalian. He was born in Inner Mongolia and earns around $A600 per month of which he pays $A300 a month for his apartment. He says he only just gets by. He has a degree but not in IT and therefore his only prospects are in management.
Anyway now VERY tired I head off for bed before a sneak into the Shangrila breakfast.
Night all
David
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