Public transportation

We are continuing to work out the best and most convenient route to church without a car. Each week is an adventure.

Last Saturday (September 12th) I took the High Speed train into Shanghai for the Shanghai District Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints (LDS Church) on Saturday and Sunday. A friend, Bonbon, showed me where the train station was, helped me get tickets ahead of time and then decipher what bus route to take to get there on time Saturday morning. The train ride into Shanghai was scenic and convenient.

Deqing Railway Station



Farms

High Speed Train

The train station in Shanghai is as big as almost any airport I have been in, but luckily I was able to find someone who spoke English to help point me in the right direction to the subway and how to get tickets onto the right one. Once on the subway, I mercifully ran into some members of our Hangzhou Branch and rode a few stops with them before we parted ways and I transferred to another subway line to get to my final destination at the home of some members (The Turners) of the Shanghai Branch of the LDS Church. they graciously housed me and two other members who were from out of town. They own and operate "China's First Cinnamon Roll Bakery" called CinnaSwirl (www.cinnaswirlchina.com) and were wonderful hosts.



Shanghai Subway (Line 7)

Exiting the subway (outer Shanghai - Not much of a view)

On the way home Sunday afternoon, the Turners sent me home with hard to find grocery items (tortillas, taco seasoning and cinnamon rolls (from their bakery - well worth the money if you are ever in Shanghai).
One thing I discovered on my trip to shanghai is that the first stop out of Deqing is Hangzhou, where we normally go to church each Sunday and the train ride there was only 20 minutes as opposed to two hours on the bus... Note to self. Try the train to travel to church next Sunday.


Saturday September 19th
We made the trip from our apartment on Bus 111, a small commuter bus to Deqing Railway Station and from there to Hangzhou East Railway Station the next largest train station I have ever been in, next to Shanghai... Big. I learned how to book my own train tickets online this week and made the ticket reservations several days in advance . We picked them up at the train station Saturday morning and boarded the train without any trouble. The train ride into Hangzhou only took us 13 minutes. NICE!

 

Once in the Hangzhou East train station, I went to the ticket office and sweltered in line for at least 30 minutes until I could get our return tickets for Sunday afternoon. Then we transferred to the subway in Hangzhou and rode it as close to our final destination as possible. From there Julie hailed a large clean Honda Odyssey taxi from the Uber app on her phone to take us to our final destination. Very convenient. We met up with friends from our Hangzhou Branch to let the kids all play soccer together, very fun 

 

Then, after depositing our baggage at the Phillip's house, we headed to the church for "Game Night". Super fun and crazy loud. Pizza was provided and everyone brought junk food. Sucha nice event, with several people inviting friends and associates to join them. Highlights included Klora as the new Hanzhou World Champion RPC (Rock, Paper, Scissors) Champion and the Egg Challenge (From Jimmy Fallon's late night TV show). What a fun evening.

The trip back this Sunday afternoon was really close, but thanks to the expertise of Brother Wood, we boarded the train about 3 minutes before it pulled away from the station and were home quick as a flash. Booking tickets on the train does not leave a lot of flexibility in the schedule for time delays, but no one has been left behind yet...

For next Sunday we are working on hiring a local driver take us to church and bring us home... That may end up being the most convenient, but perhaps we may also try a closer local train station with a shorter bus and subway ride...  so much yet to learn.


FYI: Carnival spot near our home made for a nice outing with the kids last week. Here are a few pictures:

These are water caltrops, not to be confused with water chestnuts, but similar texture. Harvested once a year here in the Zhejiang province of China. An old lady on the side of the street was husking these and gave Klarese a hand full because she said Nǐ hǎo (你好) to her. Chinese people are so nice and generous.