Sep 2008

The Shanghai Museum is a must see in China. Entry is free and don't be put off by the long queue to get in. The queue moves quick enough.

The museum takes you through China's long history. The museum shop is worth a visit for some memorabilia. I was going to sit and have a coffee in the tea house because I thought it would be a nice way to end the museum but the prices were astronomical!

The Bund is a great place to stroll.

We took a trip to Pudong via the Bund sight seeing tunnel. The return trip was Y50. It was typical tacky Chinese where you are transported on a train through a tunnel of lights and blow up dolls. We never did make the return trip.
When we were in line to buy our tickets the person in front of me turned around to have a look. I assumed he heard my voice. It was Bernie ??? who I sacked at the bank in, I don't know, maybe 2002 or 2003. Not someone I want to ever see let alone in China.

When we got to the other side we went to the Jinmao Tower. It was Y50 to get in. It is China's tallest building at 420M, the 53rd to 87th floors are occupied by the Hyatt. The observation deck on the 88th floor gives you views to every country around the world! Well apparently! I couldn't see my home back in Australia but I was looking in the direction.

Whilst we were in the building we thought we would eat dinner at the Hyatt.

Another great attraction in Shanghai was the Yuyuan Gardens. It had shaded alcoves, ponds with with biggest goldfish I have ever seen, pavilions, rockeries, bamboo and jasmine. Apparently it took 18 years to be nurtured into existence but was then bombarded during the opium war.

On our departure day we went to the Jade Buddha Temple. It is one of the few active Buddhist monasteries. The Jade Buddha is a 1.9M tall pale green Jade Buddha. Understandably you are not allowed to take photos and you pay an additional Y10 to see the Buddha.

At was at this temple where we tried some traditional Chinese Teas and spent a small fortune buying them and the cups to go with it.

We never realised that eating in Shanghai was going to be so difficult. We wanted breakfast on our first day and we were looking for a cafe. We actually did the walking tour of Shanghai without realising it looking for food.

Eventually we found a cafe called Cafe Mojo that we would visit daily.

On our first night we eat at the Grand Hyatt. We were in the building and thought - 'What the heck?' The restaurant is a place you would go for a special night out and you wanted a view. They have so many different restaurants to choose from. We decided Italian. I had pasta and tiramsu. It was sensational. The red wine was even better. My bill was Y450. I think Barbara's was about Y900. She had a salmon steak.

The miserly teachers income bank balance was already broken we might as well stretch the boundaries and after dinner we went to the Cloud 9 Bar. The Cloud 9 Bar is on the 87th floor of the same building. Another glass of red for me. This time the cost id Y90! That's almost double what you would pay for a glass of red at home.

We did eat breakfast one morning at UBC. Can't go too wrong with Peanut Butter toast. Somehow they did though.

After some shopping we stopped in at Starbucks for a Mango slushy and a scone.

The Big Bamboo Bar also became a regular haunt at which the food was good. One night I cured my craving for Mexican and had Nacho's. It was fantastic.

Whilst we were at Yuyuan Gardens it was lunchtime. The queues were very long. So we opted for something easy and headed to Starbucks. Whilst waiting for my coffee and scone I met a couple who had been travelling around China for the last month and they were from Brisbane. Lutwyche actually. I just wanted to hug them. It's strange but when you met a fellow Aussie it's as if you know them. There is some form of familiarity.

It was the 08/08/08 and the Olympic opening ceremony was tonight. We decided we would go to the Bamboo Bar as it had a good atmosphere the night before. We caught a taxi to the Bar. When we arrived the place was packed. You could not get a seat. So I suggested that we go to Malone's American Cafe. It was only around the corner.

Malone's American Cafe is also a sports bar with a huge expat society. We found a table and ordered dinner. I had the chicken burger. It was sensational. A whole chicken breast with salad on a roll.

When we finished exploring the Jade Buddha Temple it was raining. We had some time to kill. We decided to go to the chocolate shop hoping it might be as good as the one in Qingdao. We were disappointed.

From the chocolate shop it was a short stroll to the Big Bamboo Bar. The football was on again tonight and Australia had to win to stay in. They played against Argentina and were knocked out. After watching the game and having a couple of beers we had dinner here. Food was exceptional. Then it was back to the hotel to get our luggage to catch the train home.

We stayed at the New Asia Hotel. Established in 1934, the nine story hotel is located in the CBD and near the bund. The hotel is a 3 star hotel. We check in and have a little rest until 8 am when we went in search for breakfast.

Sunny, a Chinese Teacher, had arranged train tickets for us to Shanghai. We had the new flash overnight train. We had bottom bunk hard sleepers. I think we left about 10 pm and arrived at 6 am.

When we were leaving the school campus we ran into Sunny, Bill and James. They were getting out of a taxi. So we jumped in it. We asked Bill if he could ask the taxi driver to take us to the train station. All was good. When we got to the train station the taxi driver wanted to charge us Y10. I argued with him and got the Y5 back. He must of thought that because Bill asked him we didn't know the deal! This was to be the first of our taxi dilemma's on our Shanghai trip.

The trip to Shanghai by train is a good trip. It leaves at sleeping time and arrives at waking time. The bottom bunk hard sleeper is the prime sleeper. It was Y235 there and Y245 return. Haven't worked this one out yet!

On the train I had settled and off I went to sleep only to be woken by a symphony of snoring. It was unbelievable. These people are happily snoring away as I am shushing them.

We arrived in Shanghai with a little sleep under our belts. We head out of the train station only to be accosted by taxi touts. The first tout told us the hotel was a long way away and that he would do us a good deal at Y200. I said no and kept walking. He then came down to Y150. I still said no and kept walking. The next tout said Y100. I said no and kept walking. He came down to Y80. Barbara thought we should take this. I said no and kept walking. I hailed a cab from the street told him where we wanted to go and we wanted the meter. With the meter on we paid less than Y20.

Shanghai is famous in China as a shopping city. Most come here to buy clothing and shoes. Not me I bought 6 books for Y500. Fuzhou Rd is the book shop street. In Tai'an you are deprived of any English literature so to find an English book shop was words to my eyes.

This was not my only shopping in Shanghai. I bought place mats, chopsticks and magnets in the streets in Shanghai.
I bought a Malone's T-shirt as a reminder of where I watched the opening ceremony for the Olympics. Whilst at the Yuyuan Gardens I bought a Jade Dog and some silk scarves. At the Museum I purchased book marks and handkerchiefs for my Grandmother.

In Tongli I bought a bottle that has been painted inside of a dog with my name and some silk wine bottle covers.