Greetings from Shanghai.. The trip has been very easy so far even though the plane was packed.

 It was just about a 15 hour flight. I probably slept for half of it. It went by relatively quickly. ..  At one point  I woke up just as the map on the screen announced we were going over the north pole. I even got a picture.. It looks a lot like our back yard.

 

No one around my seat spoke  much English, so I just sat peacefully and was alone with my thoughts. I did some catching up on email and read a bit.. but mostly I just meditated. It’s a funny feeling heading this far from home so soon after Sam’s passing..  At one point , I opened my eyes because I had this very strong feeling that someone was standing  over my left shoulder.. No one was there.. but the feeling persisted. I kept looking around.. then I realized it felt like Sam.. It was a good feeling.  I guess this means I’ll never feel like I’m traveling alone anymore.

    I got to the hotel at around 5ish and unpacked.. then took a short but great run along the Huangpo river which is just next to my hotel. The river has lots of great walking promenades. From there you can see the whole skyline of Shanghai.

It’s really a remarkable city. It’s grown visibly since I was here in 2005. Te air is filled with construction crane. Many of the new buildings are so beautiful. They incorporate curves and angles you just don’t see anywhere else They also do wonderful things with light. Their use of neon is impressive.. but what’s really dazzling is their use of multi color LED’s.. The building next to me is like a 10 floor tall TV..

  

I ran into a group of gigling chineese tourists who asked me to take a picture of them with their camrea.. (or at least that’s what I think they asked me to do). I could’t resist taking a picture of my own.. Note: Making silly faces is a unviersal language…

One other cool thing I saw. pocket size McDonalds… The world truly is flat..

Right now I’m going to see if I can find my friend Steve for some dinner.. then hopefully a full night’s sleep..

     I feel peaceful here… but already I miss my family. I miss my friends.  Thanks to everyone who’s been writing me.  I’ll keep sending pictures !  Thanks for flying with me Sam.

Ps.. my sister Mary is going to have her 2^nd kid either Tuesday or Wednesday.. I’ll let you know

Pss. Here’s some unedited video from the Samstone party at the house last night ..  I like the circle of shocks part !