Travels in China and thoughts

I have always felt rather ambivalent about Shanghai, I love the pace, the vibrancy, the old memories that always surface when I walk down familiar streets, the energy of the people and the sheer choice of course the restaurants, the shopping, the entertainment, all these things make this city special to me. At the same time, I hate the excessive consumerism, the rat racy money is everything attitude, the politics and the rudeness.
Putting my minor peevish gripes aside, my recent trip to Shanghai was filled with moments of thrills, experiences and happiness ~
Having herbal soup with my cousins at a specialty soup restaurant, walking through Zhong Shan park with my dad and watching all the old people dancing, exercising with fans, swords and playing badminton, eating happy lemon pearl milk tea, taking the super fast sub way, buying books on Huai Hai road ~

China

It has been an age since I last wrote, despite purchasing several note pads and having both the intention and the time ~ when one lacks the spark of motivation little alas gets done.

I have now been back for two weeks, although it feels longer...perhaps it is the tedium of settling into the humdrum routine of working, or living breathing in a small city, the lack of momentous events to mark the days, hours and minutes that have passed...the memory of China and the cities I visited seem but a most distant memory ~

My recent trip to China encompassed, Shanghai, Zhang Jia Jie, Tong Li and Hang Zhou. The central purpose was to attend the burial of my grandmother, who had passed away on the 7 June this year. Without extolling her virtues too much here, I will share one small story...when I was much younger I remenber mentioning in passing to her when I was staying over that I harboured a particular fondness for savoury chinese egg custard, and hence forth from that point on until I left for overseas again she cooked that dish for me despite the fact that she did not particularly like it...it is only a small story but I think it shows how selflessly she loves....

Regret is futile, but I do wish I had spent more time with her, been there for her, and cared for her better earlier this year....to have repaid somewhat the love, affection and kindness she had shown me before we lost her to the unyielding steadfast horror of dementia. I was incredibly lucky to have had her in my life ~