First day in Shenzhen

I love it here! Brad and I (and George) arrived in Shenzhen yesterday afternoon, after a one-hour ferry ride from Hong Kong. Brad's girlfriend, Xian Xian met us at the ferry terminal on her tiny bicycle, and we took the metro back to their neighbourhood. From the metro we walked down what Brad likes to call "China Street." It is a street just behind where he lives, and it has a different pace of life - it is both chaotic and relaxed. There are food stands and pedlars scattered along the street, and small shops lined up side by side, selling anything from luggage and backpacks to buckets and household goods, food and clothing. Cars and electric bikes dart around pedestrians in a very organic fashion. It was surreal to be dragging my suitcase down this authentically Chinese street, drenched in character. I felt like I was floating in a cloud, (probably still a little jet lagged!), as we sauntered our way through this neighbourhood to the more western side of town where Brad and Xian Xian's apartment is. There is so much to soak in and observe, it leaves me speechless and dazed. We dropped our bags off at the apartment, and then went out for a bite to eat. We had a delicious meal at a Chinese restaurant just around the corner. Not surprisingly, the Chinese food we eat in Canada is nothing like what the food is really like here. We had bean curds, green beans, spicy squid, potato "noodles," Peking duck and sprigs of cucumber and onion rolled up with a sweet sauce in small wraps. Everything was scrumptious and I thought to myself, "I can get used to this!"

There were tons of freight ships anchored out in the ocean, on the ferry ride from Hong Kong to Shenzhen.

Xian Xian, Brad, and George

George on "China Street"

Our feast - the table wasn't big enough!

The 7th floor of the building on the right is where Brad and Xien Xien live.