Marvelous Trip to China

Dear Linda -

As promised just to fill you in on our trip.

Nancy and I were very pleased with the arrangements that you had made and organised.

Danny was an excellent guide in Shanghai and we would recommend to our friends if travelling to Shanghai - and we felt that I had made the right decision with staying at the Broadway Mansions Hotel as we had a perfect room overlooking the Bund, and it was like fairyland every night. Mind you not everybody might enjoy this but we loved it!!

Also enjoyed the gardens in Suzhou on our extra day. We felt that we really got to know Shanghai and would love to see more now that we have a feel for it.

The Yangtze Paradise was quite comfortable, and no more or less than expected. Most people were in tour groups but we were at a table with "free" travellers and had a great time with them.

A couple of the guides went over the top with supplying facts and figures on our transfers - it felt like being back in the class room! But they were alway there waiting to transfer us which we appreciated, and were happy to improvise if asked.

Echo in Chengdu was marvellous!! We felt that she knew what we would like, and was right on all accounts. For us I think Chengdu was the perfect ending.

I managed to pat and cuddle a panda and the red panda also as I was hoping. Nancy did some patting.

We had some time in a local tea house at the Monestery, and Echo taught us how to drink tea like the Chinese - and visited the park with a wonderful display of flowers and mixed with the local people which was just what we wanted. When we travel we love to interact with the locals where possible.

Echo then suggested a concert that was taking place that evening and organised for us to attend. It was a really great show and we appreciated her suggestion as we would not have know about it otherwise.

The hotel was really nice and central, although we didn't have much time to walk the streets. I would be quite happy staying there another time. Besides they had a panda at the entrance!!!

The only problem we had, and you could do nothing about it, was the smog!! It gave me sinusitis the moment I arrived in Shanghai, and spoiled our photographs!!! I was expecting some brilliant scenic photographs on the Yangtze but not so!! It was nothing we could control so went with the flow!!

Will send a couple of photos separately - Thank you for your help in organising our holiday and we would suggest your company to our friends if they decide to visit China - and I guess some may do for the Olympics.

Hope to meet up with you next time in Guilin! Would be happy to keep in touch if you wish.

Warm regards Marie..................and Nancy
From Australian
Nov. 03, 2007