March Showtime

For the last three years, I have been going to Shanghai for the R + T and this year was no exception. I made a stop in Busan, Korea to meet with my dad first to visit a factory and potential vendor and flew over to Shanghai for the show. Dad had to fly back to Hong Kong from Korea to spend time with my stepmom before his absence from home for the week. I stayed in Busan for one more night as suggested by my dad. Busan is more of a suburb in Korea, less-metorpolitan, more industrial. They compare Seoul to Shanghai and Busan to Guangzhou. It a little like Hong Kong, they said. We stayed at a hotel call Hotel Illua by the beach. It was very nice, cozy, and just enough to make you feel comfortable. A

lthough we were there when they were doing renovation at the lobby, and no breakfast. But like I said, good enough. When my dad left, I walked down the hill and wondered around the stores nearby and found a lot of clothing stores with US brands and golf clothing. I stumbled into an "E-Store" which was a 24hr department shop with a supermarket, home goods and cosmetics. Just what I wanted. Sometimes, there is just too much to see to actually make a purchase of anything. So I spent almost an hour walking around and left the building with nothing. Before I went back to the hotel, I went into a noodle shop and randomly picked an item on the korean menu. But the most memorable thing I experienced in Korea was eating LIVE seafood - not fresh of the water, but the creature is still alive on the plate. We had these octopus tenticles delivered on a plate, moving and struggling. It was sad but exciting to eat them! The next morning, it was pouring rain and the taxi driver cruised to the airport with no traffic. Thank God - traffic in Busan was horrific.

Shanghai came next and this time I got to explore the city a lot more than my last 3 visits. Had the chance to catch up with 2 of my friends and went to some chic place for a drink. Hong Kong was the last stop and I walked along the Shanghai road to find the Egg Waffle maker! It was heavy and going to be well worth it! O the trip was seemed so long and felt like I was away from home for ages. It was like a grand union to see Scott and Sleepy.