A Lazy Saturday in Suzhou

For once I didn't have a mountain of work waiting this weekend, so I took a ride...

...through Dushu Lake Higher Education Town (Soochow Uni. above)...

... along the shore of Jinji Lake...

...to Au Chan for some western food...

... and dog-sat for a friend.

I'm leaving for Japan next Wednesday to see No Use for a Name. Hopefully there will be some more interesting blog entries.

Day out in Shanghai

Last weekend, I took a day off and visited Shanghai with Michelle and Caren. Its changed a lot in the four years since I was last there. I seem to remember there is a Taco Bell there -- I must find it!

We took the 200KPH express train to Shanghai

One of many Impressive City Views

Wandering through the alleys of the French consession

A Shanghai Sky-Scraper

Busy Shanghai streets and the Peal Tower in the distance.

Sight Seeing and Dinner on Jinjihu Lake

Its a holiday week in China, but I'm still working on my teaching :-) still, today we escaped to do a bit of sightseeing at a nearby 'water village' before having a yummy dinner overlooking Jinjihu Lake. Photos below:

Enterence to the Water Town

Traditional Canals

Accross Jinjihu Lake to the Neon-Soaked City

Some photos of SIP

Here's some photos of the Suzhou-Singapore Industrial Park where I live:

My University as Seen from my Balcony

Times Square: A Neon Bathed Center with Reseraunts and Shops

Looking Along the Canal to the Lake

Coffin-Shaped Neon Sky-Scrapers

A Cheap and Awesome Thing I Bought

Working in Front of the TV now rules...

My New Office

I moved into my office today, which I think it pretty nice. Here are a few photos...

Danny's View

Visitor's View

View from my Window

Beisi Ta and Xuanmiao Guan

Yesterday I checked out some of the historic sights in Suzhou with some friends from XJTLU. We had a yummy lunch on the main shopping street, then checked out the Xuanmiao Guan (a Daoist Temple of Mysetery) and Beisi Ta (North Pagoda), which were both built during the 3rd century AD.

Offerings Outside of Xuanmiao

One Horned Cow Statue in Xuanmiao

Giant Stone Statue in fron of Beisi Ta

Beisi Ta (North Pagoda)

Budda Statue at the Base of Beisi Ta

View from the Top of Beisi Ta

Golden Budda in the Temple Adjacent to Beisi Ta