2015 Still in Shanghai

It has been over a year since our last post, our apologies.  It has been a busy year for Baba with a new job (VP of Strategy and Advanced Technology), Mama writing her books and the kids being in school, sports, ballet, etc.

Some highlights since the last post are:
- we moved from Green Villas to Viscaya.
- kids went back to Florida for the summer.
- we went to Macau for the October holiday.
- we went to Bali for the Christmas holiday (Ubud and Nusa Dua)
- we went to Cambodia and Vietnam over the Easter holiday.
- met with my cousins in LA, then Parker, AZ and the Grand Canyon.
- we received our driver's licenses and have been driving now for about 4 months.
- Will went on a 2-week SCUBA trip to live aboard a boat in Thailand.
- ... and many more adventures in Shanghai.

.... Not sure why the photos are distorted. 

Old Portuguese Church in Macau.

Mens Tennis in Shanghai - Dvokovic vs Ferrer, Quarterfinals.

Mark's 10th Birthday - Nerf gun wars in Viscaya

Friendly Monkeys in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

Cookie Exchange Party

Christmas Morning 2014 in Viscaya.

My home team beat her home team - Good Job Pats!  Watching at the Kerry Center.

Baba hosted the company Chinese New Year party for 3rd and last time.

Back streets of Ubud, Bali.

Dead skin eating fish in Bali.

 

On the Beach in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Angar Wat in Cambodia

Temples around Siem Reap.

Danita, Stella and Danita's Mom met us in Hoian.

Lunch on an island in Hoian, Vietnam after 2 Scuba dives.

Our first Chinese Wedding of our friend Zong Zong.

Boys loved baseball this spring!  Shanghai Sluggers.

Baba ran the Great Wall 1/2 Marathon in Tianjin.

Flag football in the spring for the Shanghai Dragons American Football.
Baba to be commissioner next season.

Kentucky Derby party in May 2015.   Go American Pharaoh! 

Will heading off to Thailand for 2 weeks of Scuba to measure the reef.

Shanghai Formula One (F1)

The Formula 1 circuit goes through Shanghai on it's world tour.  A few years back Shanghai built a $1 billion track and stadium to attract the race.  Since it was in town, I bought 3 tickets for me and the boys.  We mostly did it to say we had done it and we will probably not do it again.  It was 2100 RMB ($350) per ticket for 3 days of races - 2 qualifying and the final race.  It was cheap getting here so I could justify the expensive tickets since it was still cheaper than flying to Texas (only USA location).  

We wanted to see the race so we got the grandstand seats to allow viewing of the pits and more of the track.  The cheaper seats are in other stands or even on the grass.  It was a great view and there was a roof to cover us from the rain.

The cars were very loud but not as loud as the previous years since the changed the engine.  It wasn't a very interesting race since Hamilton from Mercedes was on the pole position and led the whole race.  There were also no crashes and very few passings.  But hey, "I've done it" and the cars are very fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The drivers circled the track in a double-decker bus.

At the start of the F1 race.

This bringing the tires out to the starting positions.

The pit stops took less than 3 seconds to change tires.
The rules say you have to use 1 tank of gas for a race.

Mark and his friend Markus.

There was big pavilion for shopping, etc.

Friday was practice, Saturday was qualifying and Sunday was
the race.  Saturday it was raining.

This was after qualifying.

He wanted Ferrari, I took Mercedes - Dad won!

To fill the time there was a Porche race.  

Looking out over the parking lot.

The track is less than 10 years old, maybe less than 5.

The stands were full for the Sunday, F1 race.  

The winner's circle - Hamilton from Mercedes.

Daisy's Daddy Daughter Dance

The Girl Scouts here in China are strong, at least in Shanghai.  They even have a group for the young girls below Brownie which is called Daisy's.  Dagny is in her second year and has really enjoyed it.  She has a wonderful vest that has a bunch of patches on it, including a "Daddy Daughter Dance" patch.  

This was our first 'Daddy-Daughter' dance.  It was a formal event at a local hotel.  

Note: Captions from Dagny

This is me (Dagny) going to the Daddy-
Daughter dance.

It was very cool that I (Dagny) got to ride with
my friend in the car who is also going to the
dance.

One of my cats came in the picture too.  He
is called Russ.

I was very excited for the Daddy-Daughter dance.

This is my friend and my other cat Ben.

I went to the hair salon and they did something
very fancy to my hair.

I like my hair a lot so I took a photo of it.

We were going to look for my dress and my Mom
choose a white sweater and blue dress with
very fancy fabric.

And this is me with my friends at the Daddy-Daughter dance.
I was very playful!

I was having very much fun at the Daddy-Daughter dance.

We even got candy!  

I was not just me, the other Daisies did it too.

I had a bag so I could put my candy inside.

The Y - M - C - A song was very fun.

Another dad taking pictures of the girls.  He won the prize for
the tackiest tux.

A selfie with Dad.  I had very fun!