.Mythmaker

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This teahouse sits atop the Shanghai Yu Gardens Tourist Markets. Not the ideal place to capture passing tourists. So, the teahouse hires Chinese people with good English skills and a smooth patter to roam the streets and alleys of the Markets striking up conversation with tourists and inviting them up to the teahouse. Quite a trek it is too, getting up there. I know because I succumbed to the patter and found myself up there enjoying the tea ceremony. During which I drank at least fourteen or fifteen different types of tea. I have a photo of the table after the ceremony was finished, must find that one soon and share it to illustrate the point. The tea ceremony isn't really the main point, the main point is that after being thrilled and inspired by the great mysteries of the teas and the ceremony, which is indeed fascinating and deeply cool, you will buy some of the assorted tea accoutrements in the shop. Which I did not, not from lack of interest but from lack of time, I like to take my time making a purchase decision and the teahouse was closing. I did come home with some beautiful tea cups and tea, still hasn't replaced coffee but certainly has risen in my estimation. Back to the picture. The background skyline is across the Huangpa River, it's Pudong area, a former marsh now the home of various astonishing architectural feats and soon to be home to the tallest building in the world and also one of the funkiest towers you'll ever lay your eyes on as it's designed to evoke bamboo in it's design. This shot was taken from the deck of the hotel I stayed at for a couple of days, right next door to the Markets and the Yuyuan Gardens.

Enjoy.

Mikel.