Wuxi

Beautiful city + amusement park + 4-star hotel = A very happy Beaver.

Wuxi is one of the top ten tourist cities in China, and for good reason! The city is very clean--there is still smog though.

Our hotel is just amazing. In fact it is called Picturesque Hotel. As I said, China is constantly under construction so it isn't really a surprise that our hotel is the only building surrounded by open lots and a nebula of steel.

Our 4-star hotel might be the norm for the rest of the tour, as our tour manager is making deals with our promoters to keep living standards high.

There are 3 fancy restaurants within. One in particular caught my eye: Western Restaurant was the name. Shavar and I were excited, our minds filled with images of burgers, steaks, and BBQ; a taste of home.

Some more Chinese culture tidbits: some restaurants require a reservation. Not so different. However, when you call, the guests are expected to quote the restaurant a certain rate and how many drinks they will purchase. If the price is right, your reservation will be made and an ecstatic staff will serve your every whim or desire.

Of course, I didn't know this until after our experience.

As we walk to the restaurant doors, we ask for a table for two and are immediately escorted to the downstairs escalator. The waitress tells us that there are restaurants downstairs that do not require reservations. Well I didn't want to pass up my opportunity for some delicious American cuisine! I continued gesticulating back towards the door with puppy dog eyes. She let us back in.

The manager sized us up, decided they weren't that busy, and escorted us into our own private dining room. We had a staff of four waitresses at our disposal. Our table was like any other Chinese restaurant--round with a giant glass lazy susan in the middle.

One of the waitresses approaches us and asks if we would like the 100 yuan or the 200 yuan meal. We lean towards the 100 and wait. In comes plates and plates of western Chinese food.

I should have known better.

 

 

 

 

 

My dreams were crushed, but my appetite sure wasn't. We have had some nice genuine cuisine as of late, but this was by far the best. Steak, fish soup, shrimp, noodles, fruits, and vegetables all prepared the Chinese way were placed before us.

The meal also happened to be 100 yuan each. That doesn't matter so much though, since 200 yuan comes out to around $30 for the both of us. When you think about it, you spend at least $15 on yourself at an Applebee's or Friday's, and that food and service is no where near this caliber.

Not far from our delicious lunch lay a small amusement park. For those of you who don't know, I absolutely love amusement parks with an insane passion. There is just something about rides and activities that are built for no other purpose but to entertain that makes my soul smile.

The Taihu Zhi Xing Park consisted of a swinging pirate ship, a mirror labyrinth, a double-decker carousel, a shooting dark ride (the actual name of the attraction. Much like Buzz Lightyear in Magic Kingdom), and one of the tallest ferris wheels in the world. This thing was massive! Called the Star of Lake Tai, this observation wheel stands 115 meters. At night, it produces a very impressive beam of light that shines over the city and Lake Tai.

 

 

 

 

 

We rode the giant wheel, which takes 18 minutes to rotate from start to finish. Each cabin had it's own air condition unit and was made entirely of glass. At night, the cities of China are all lit up. It was a beautiful sight. Now if only the Chinese would convert some of that night light electricity to their air conditioners during the day and I will be a very happy camper.

-- Nathaniel Beaver

Comments

[E]

Your food looks so fancy!

I'm glad you are being treated well.

-E

[Aunt Lisa]

Hi Nathaniel- I just read a few of your blogs. I am at your folks house now.

Just want you to know that I AM jealous about the big ferris wheel. Want to buy me a ticket so we can go on it together?? Hahahahah

Seems like you are having an experience of a lifetime that you will not forget. Just think you have 2 more countries to do the same thing and add to your experiences. OH I expect a souvenir from each city you visit in each of the 3 countries. Hahaha JUST KIDDING.

I have to tell you a story BUT you have to promise me that your head will NOT swell !!!!!!!!!

ok Alyssa, William, my step-dad John, my friend Vicky and I went to eat at Perkins after church last Sunday. Guess what ?? There was a balloon guy there. So Alyssa was waiting ALL meal for the guy to come to the table she wanted a balloon. When John went to pay he told the guy to come to our table.

When he came Vicky asked ”Hey. Where did you learn to do that?” He said, “Balloon College of course.” I asked him what company he worked with. He said that he did not work for a company but he was associated with Balloon Distractions. I said really wow my nephew worked with the same company since he was in high school. And actually the last time I saw my nephew he was making a training video for Balloon Distractions with a few of his friends.

So the guy started to talk to Alyssa and I started to tell Vicky about some of the clips I remembered you showed us. Then I asked the guy if what I said sounded the same as the video he saw he said yes.

Then he asked me what was my nephew’s last name. I said Beaver. He said Nate Beaver. I said yes my nephew is Nathaniel Beaver. Other people call him Nate but I will always call him Nathaniel. The guy looked shocked and awed. He said “YOU KNOW NATE BEAVER. YOU KNOW NATE BEAVER. NATE TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I KNOW. I LEARNED EVEYTHING FROM THE VIDEO. CAN YOU PLEASE GET ME HIS AUTOGRAPH !!! NATE IS SO FUNNY !!” I said you were out of the country.

I proceeded to describe your job to the balloon guy and Vicky. Then the guy said “ YOU KNOW NATE BEAVER !! WOW !! YOU KNOW NATE BEAVER !! CAN YOU GET ME HIS AUTOGRAPH ??” I told him I was not sure when I would see you next.

So I went back to talk to Vicky. I then paid the balloon guy. He made Alyssa the monkey in the palm tree. William did not want one.

He said thank you to me for the money and asked me a third time for your autograph. (OK now at this point I did not know if I wanted to throw up or just laugh I wanted to say IT was JUST a balloon making video not a Blockbuster movie !! Get a Life. But I didn’t. )

Really- Nathaniel I am very proud of you. You just made a training video and someone wants your autograph. I have seen many training videos in my life and I want to PROMISE you I never wanted someone’s autograph.

HOWEVER I do have to say that if you trained this person whether in real life or through video he needs more training. I remember that in your video you said that the balloon maker should wait until the customers ordered their food and while they were waiting to approach the table, This guy was in our section at first when we had our menus and I did not expect him to approach us. But then he was in our section 3 times while we waited for our food. He did not approach our table OR the table next to us who also had 2 kids. He came in our section scanned the area and left all 3 times WITHOUT approaching our 2 tables. Dad John had to ask him to come to the table. This guy needs to view your video again.

I am calling him "guy" because I do not know his name.

Sorry for the length but I thought you would like the story. I do not know if I can get back on your blog at home. Can you e-mail me instead ??

Come home safe and healthy. Remember to wear your surgical mask. It IS quite flattering. Hahaha

Love
Aunt Lisa