#1 

#2

There is a costco type store called "Metro" here that sells in bulk.  It is on the outskirts of town so we don't ride our bikes there very often.  However, once every two months when we do venture out, we pass new buildings and think "was that there the last time?"  This question comes up a lot that's why we are going document two different sites in Wuxi to show you how fast buildings are built here.  In the 5 months we have been here, the pillars of a metro have been built.
 My guess is that #1 and #2 will both be high rises halfway built before July 1.

one large pagoda

harvesting grain

It's harvest time in the small villages between Wuxi and Changzhou.  We were lucky to experience this as we rode through them.  On our way their, many farmers were busy cutting and stacking grain. Every driveway was covered up by rows of grain waiting to be ground and put into bags.  On the ride back, their was a lingering cloud of white smoke in the air.  This was because, after harvest, the fields are burned to add nutrients back to the soil and make it easier for planting the next crop.

This past weekend, we took a 20 mile bike ride to our neighboring town, Changzhou, a "town" of 4.5 million people.  For some reason, I am unable to upload full sized pictures but here is a pixelated photo of Mark and our friend Justin resting on an old bridge under a modern one.  We were told that the fence below the bridge is to keep the fish out of this area and guide them into another so they can be caught easier.
           I read a story once about a man who was in charge of testing all the water in China to know how polluted it was in certain areas.  He came across a man who was fishing in a river which was pretty much a factory dump site.  The guy who was testing the water asked the man fishing if he knew how bad the water was.  The man replied, "if the fish live in this water, they must have special properties to keep them healthy so, they must be really good for me." He continued to fish.  Whether or not he caught one, I don't know.
 I don't think there is any better way to get out and explore a place than by bike.  We have seen so much that we wouldn't have seen on a fast train.  I love these weekends when we pack up our sleeping bags, strap them on our bikes and head out.

Heading out to Changzhou,  this weekend.  

These are some of Mark's students dressed for Halloween.
Jackson

Max

Tom

Suzhou

Bike ride from Wuxi to Suzhou.  

I like this picture because if you look closely, you can see cranes and high rise apts being built  behind these old houses.     This is what is happening in a lot of places in China.  

Watertown hostel, Suzhou

Happy Halloween!