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- Duo Music Exchange
Piano-driven instrument rock by Schroeder Headz had audience bouncing in time, and waving right hands. Pianist Shunsuke Watanabe had extended pattern between songs, entertaining audience with humour. Japanese audience was more subdued with opening act ADAM At. Venue had excellent sound, no seats. We didn't stay for third band on bill, Sono Sukimakara. (Duo Music Exchange, Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo) 20160311 - TiTech Ookayama
Kyoichi Jim Kijima delivers final lecture on Systems Theory, Thinking and Sciences, in Japanese. Formal retirement is at end of month. Lecture auditorium is full of colleagues, former students and friends, both locally to Japan, and internationally. (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Japan) 20160312 - ANA Lounge, Haneda International Terminal
Curry rice, chicken karage, fried noodles quite standard. Hot and sour soup a funny Japanese thin variety. Haven't tried udon noodle bar. Buffet low on food with fibre, no fruit. Late night flying westbound into Asia. I will be back in 6 days, on connection eastbound home. (ANA Lounge. Haneda Airport International Terminal, Tokyo, Japan) 20160313 - The Me, Tongji U College of Design and Innovation
At Tongji University, working to improve Internet access over the hotel like we have in the West. Configuring VPNs on Linux laptops and Android phones. (The Me, College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai, China) 20160314 - Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
Queued at gate 13 for high-speed train to Wuhan. SN showed electronic image of ticket on WeChat and our passports, while most people had paper tickets for the inspector. Smooth ride initially crossed flat land, gradually rising into mountainous region. Train reported speeds up to 210 km/hour. Lady with cart going up aisle sold grapes, mangoes, longan and cucumber, not junk food. (China Railway train D3094-3095, Shanghai Hongqiao station to Hankou station) 20160315 - Luoshi Road north to Luoyu Road, Wuhan
Foggy early morning from 25th floor of hotel near university district in the Wuchang district, on the southeastern bank of the Yangtze River in Wuhan. Traffic noise and honking comes through the apartment windows. Wuchang has a population of 1.2 million, within the 10 million in the provincial capital of Wuhan. (Future City Hotel, Wuchang, Wuhan, China) 20150316 - Noodle shop near Future City, Wuchang
Simple lunch of wheat noodles, chilis and mock duck at local kitchen specializing in only that. Recommended by SN as a place she frequents, weekday midday not as busy as later, when there are lineups. I had a slight coughing fit as the chilis hit the back of my throat. (Noodle shop, Future City, Wuchang, Wuhan, China) 20150316 - Wanlin Art Museum
Modern "flying stone" building in sharp contrast to more traditional architecture on university campus. Large boulder nearby inscribed with recognition of donor of initial art collection, leading to opening of the new museum. Our stroll around the scenic university campus didn't leave enough time to view the much-cited gardens. Terrain is hilly, so retreated to hotel for a short rest after walking for 2 hours. (Wanlin Art Museum, Wuhan University, Wuchang, Wuhan, China) 20160316 - Wuhan U of Technology, School of Art and Design
Long preamble to lecture, explaining career and why an ethnic Chinese professional doesn't speak Mandarin. Graduate students now have a limited knowledge of the history of computing, and don't know what a punch card ever was. Speaking on the shift from an industrial economy to a service economy, the issues in China seem similar to other leading industrial nations. Hosted by Susu Nousala, now in her second year of appointment. (Wuhan University of Technology, School of Art and Design, Hubei, China) 20160317 - Calligraphy studio, Wuhan U Tech
Informal tea led to exercise of writing my Chinese name in a variety of styles. In central China, Mandarin speakers seem more comfortable formally addressing me as Wu, rather than the anglicization of Ing derived from the Cantonese Ng. For future visits, I'll need reactivate spoken Mandarin that i last studied in 1980. (Calligraphy studio, Wuhan University of Technology, Hubei, China) 20160317 - Calligraphy studio, Wuhan U Tech
Stylistic interpretation in Wuhan, of a sinicized name given by professor in Shanghai. The studio is a quiet oasis at the university, in a city where the disorder and noise of China can be exhausting. Susu has been developing Chinese brush painting technique, and plans to practice over the month that she's resident. (Calligraphy studio, Wuhan University of Technology, Hubei, China) 20160317 - Hankou Railway Station
Ground travel day Wuchang to PVG. Student guided me to train station. Chose subway over taxi in rush hour, won't next time as had to wait multiple full trains. Good to have translator to pick up rail tickets. Glad for reserved window seat, some rode standing room. At Hongqiao, ticket line short, annoyed that machine switched to coins only. Missed Line 2 change at Guanglan Road on first try, so backtracked. Da Zhong hotel at PVG said reservation cancelled at 6 pm, relented when I showed hold to 10 pm. (Hankou Railway Station, Wuhan, China) 20160318 - Air China First Class Lounge, PVG
Recliner sleeping pods at Pudong airport in Shanghai, in a secluded corner of the Air China Lounge. Checking in at 6:20 a.m. for an 8;20 a.m. flight after a full night's sleep means the affordance unfortunately wasn't useful this morning. Would have liked this feature later in the day in Tokyo. (Air China First Class Lounge, Pudong International Airport PVG, Shanghai, China) 20160319 - Sake bar
Samples of alcohol in Japan not an attraction. Six hour layover have opportunity to clear up email unavailable when in China. (ANA Lounge, International, Haneda Airport) 20160319 - YYZ International Arrivals
Landed in Eastern Time in Saturday daylight, having started on subway 22 hours ago in China time. Expect to be back in this airport terminal in 14 hours, for short hop in the same time zone. Cooler here than my Asian destinations, still feels like spring. (Toronto Pearson Airport Terminal 1 international arrivals) 20160319