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Published: April 3rd 2014
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QM2 Coming to Shanghai
The sun was glimpsed for a small period only. No idea of location of Cruise terminal in Shanghai (smell high).
Queen Mary Day 16
The foghorn continued all night at roughly two minute intervals. We were supposed to enter the channel to Shanghai at 2.00 a.m., while we were asleep, however the Shanghai Harbour Master closed the port to all shipping because of zero visibility. The Captain advised us that we anchored in a designated place and awaited further orders from the Harbour Master.
At around 6.00 a.m. we were given the okay to raise anchor and we started up the river at about 8.00 a.m. The trip up the river to the port was four (4) hours and we eventually docked at around 12.15 p.m. We had a tour booked for 9.30 a.m. as had probably 1500 guests. Some were doing the bullet train, some we having all day tours and of course there was bedlam.
We had arranged for breakfast in the room so that we could make the tour on time and the tour staff did quite a good job in re-arranging all the tours, shuffling some here and there etc. The only thing that
QM2 Coming to Shanghai
What did we see? we saw the mist and the grey sea they could not change was the weather.
Our tour was “Shanghai Sampler”. We eventually boarded out tour bus at close to 2.00 p.m. and we had an hour’s drive to the first highlight, although the highlight was when the tour guide introduced herself as Hong, which means “Rambo”. Well at least that was what most people on the coach thought, but the English was slightly muddled in her accent and it really meant “Rainbow”. She laughed at everything she said and it was a laugh that we imitated. So on to the real highlight, the great Buddha Temple.
Her introduction to the Buddha and all that it stands for left us feeling somewhat perplexed with the pagan rituals that were or could be taking place. We decided not to go and how good a decision it was. Just as people got off the coach it bucketed down with rain and they returned to the coach very wet. However we had a great view of how the Chinese travel in the wet. Many scooters (Vespa, Lambreta types) drove passed the coach and the drivers steered with one hand while holding an umbrella in the other.
QM2 Coming to Shanghai
Visibility was not high. Similar scenes were seen with cyclists. There were some others more used to the conditions who had specially fitted plastic capes that covered their legs, head and back. These capes came in a variety of colours, red, yellow and blue the most common, with the odd purple, green or black.
The drivers know where the car horn or scooter horn is located as there was a constant cacophony of the horn orchestra. Why? Although there are designated lanes, why stay in the correct one? Although there are designated stopping and parking spots, why use them? Although pedestrians have specified crossing points, why use them? And then there are the traffic signals. Red in China does not necessarily mean stop, rather more beeping car horns, bus horns etc.
One good thing about the traffic lights is that when they are about to change, there appears a numeric countdown in seconds. We were sure if this was to indicate to drivers to find the accelerator or the brake or just pretend they were not seen. OPSM could have a great business, as would car repair places.
The second place we were to visit
QM2 Coming to Shanghai
Nearly 2000 people to offload and just one exit - poor organisation - no VERY poor organisation. was a bazaar, which led to a prominent garden area called Yew Gardens. Rambo really put a lot of people offside with her warnings about sticking together in the bazaar and the consequences of getting separated. Some of her descriptions of possible outcomes left a few of us shaking with disbelief. For example watch out for people who say come and I show you such and such merchandise, mainly watches, cameras and luggage. Quite often that could be a 20-minute separation and therefore a lost connection with the group. Also she said to watch out for bag thieves who like to separate the group and cause confusion.
We stayed on the coach with several others and we are glad we did, but how boring. We watched more Chinese traffic situations with rickshaw type vehicles, scooters where the young child sat on the handlebars and mum sat on the pillion seat. Some bicycles were like transporters with huge loads of things like water, cardboard, beer, etc. Some had dogs under their knees.
After quite a long period, about an hour and a half the adventurers came back on the coach and we headed back to
QM2 Coming to Shanghai
Cruise Terminal Building but not enough thought put into moving lots of people rapidly. the Ocean Liner. We normally eat at 6.00 p.m. and that timing was thrown way out of schedule as we did not arrive back to the terminal until nearly 7.30 p.m.
We lined up at a different eating place and had a meal with David and Allyne who reside in Brisbane.
Shanghai had a lovely shipping terminal and the lights of the city were magic, too bad about the weather and the fact that the terminal people decided only one gangway was needed when there were at least three available.
What an experience. Would we come back to Shanghai and its 23 millions? The jury is out on that question.
Goodnight 29 March 2014.
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