September 17, 2025

Dumpling making class in a Shanghai home! Meet Bonnie & her Mom.

(L to R) Spanish visitor Monica, teacher / host Bonnie, Bosco, Me, Gary and Christy. Photo at end of class when we are about to eat the bounty of our 3 hours of lessons in dumpling making. This is inside Bonnie's 2 room apartment in typical high-rise city building, units are a mix of residential and small business. Aisle kitchen, good size bathroom with tub and washing machine. This is her living room/ work / demo everything room and other side of glass partition is her bedroom - which is 1/2 full of stuff she is storing of her sisters - who lives on lower floor and owns this unit too. Wanted to take class for cultural insight and seeing how people live behind the walls we see from street. Dumplings are delicious so it was a win win - especially since I asked before booking if her place was air conditioned! Great activity to escape heat of day. Have you caught onto that theme lately in my post? It's really HOT here in daytime!

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We went back to Hotel stuffed and had a little rest, then met up with the group and all went to Shanghai Acrobatic Circus to see the Sunday Night ERA Show. It was fantastic!! Unbelievable skill and precision!

PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA

By Patricia Patrick • December 16, 2025
This is an usual day, it's our second December 15th! We crossed the international date line last night around midnight and therefore we get to live December 15th, twice in 2 different locations. Freaky Monday! We also lose our 18 hour time difference of being ahead of the east coast of the USA, and will now be behind them in time. Time zones drive me crazy on this trip - trying to coordinate with the folks at home and keeping a relevant calendar!

SAVAIA, LEFAGA, UPOLU ISLAND, SAMOA

By Patricia Patrick • December 16, 2025
Today we went to see giant clams and turtles at a protected reef area on the southwest side of Upolu , very near where Return to Paradise is located. We would have done yesterday, but it is protected by a village and like almost everything in Samoa , closed on Sundays. Sunday is just for Church and Family in Samoa ! Our guide was Chief Tupu and he had his son driving one of the vans with 5 of us and his daughter in law driving the other with our 4. He was so animated and ran a first class operation. The SUV was comfy and roomy, he provided snorkel gear and towels, that they handed to you as you came out of the water. His information and insights were fascinating as were the local tales he shared with us. Would highly recommend him and Tupu Tours !

RETURN TO PARADISE RESORT, UPOLU ISLAND, SAMOA

By Patricia Patrick • December 16, 2025
After Mass on Sunday, I traveled across the island with friends to enjoy the Return to Paradise Resort. The ride took about an hour and unfortunately, it was pouring rain the whole time. So our day pass vision of relaxing pool and beach side got replaced with day drinking yummy cocktails and playing phase 10 cards in a beach side palapa. They filmed a movie here in 1953 and this remains one of the nicest resorts on the islands of Samoa.