Note from my cousin in Shanghai




...after work, I jumped on a city bus with no idea where it was headed. I just wanted to experience the freedom of seeing new sights while taking in the familiar sounds of the city. I ended up getting off in a very old, established part of town. It was dark by then and all the beautiful lights and Chinese Lanterns were aglow with vibrant colors. I meandered through narrow, stone streets lined with open air eateries, little flower shops, fruit stands, and vendors from every corner of China. Since I was already bundled in my winter garb I decided to have coffee and plate of local Chinese food at an outside table set up for pedestrians. It was so cold that I could see my breath, but very exhilarating.

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