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Published: July 30th 2010
Anyone For A Ride @Switzerland Pavilion?
Here we go....... the chairlift at the Swiss Pav was cool!Here we go again. Just had to go back to Shanghai and cover more ground at the World Expo as well as spring a surprise to visiting friends who dropped by Manila on their way to China. What a pleasant time to be with friends who have become family over the years!
The Pavilions I Missed Last Time
Last time I was here with family, we covered all of 16 pavilions in 3 days in 3 zones: Asia (
Shanghai Expo 2010: Asia, Middle East and the Pacific), Europe (
Shanghai Expo 2010: European Pavilions ) and the Americas (
A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the World Expo @Shanghai ). While viewing the varied architecture and design of the many pavilions was a thrill by itself, it was quite an experience to actually get inside the pavilion (time permitting, what with the long lines) to view the exhibits and know the countries more intimately. We must have grown more efficient this 2nd time around. After 16 pavilions the last time we were here, we covered 29 more pavilions (about 85 countries including the 42 in the African Pav and 16 or so in Caricom Pav) with some "repeats". We were also more adventurous with our meals as we sampled the local cuisine inside some of the pavilions.
Colombia, Inside the Colombia Pavilion
Illuminated photos inside of cable cars, forests, waterfalls........ Chile, Mexico and Argentina are neat additions to
Brazil and USA Pavilions which we earlier visited in the American Zone. I have to admit I was "pleasantly distracted" by the bottles of wine on display. Lunch was in Chile Pavilion , with all its pine-smelling wooden ramps, where we sampled a drink and a platter of empanadas, some skewered meat and seafood and what looked like a hamburger patty to me. The next day, lunch was at the Mexico Pavilion for some nachos, quesadillas and fajitas.
In Asian Zone, we added
Japan and
Indonesia. Japan is one pavilion not to be missed for the amazing technology of turning sewage water to potable water. Inside, one feels like you are outside China and in some small village in Japan. The mood is created by the serenity and simplicity of paper walls and bamboo architecture . Then, all's transformed from a simple, quiet Japanese village into some modern urban Japan. We love its futuristic, robot technology. After a visit to this "purple silkworm island", one wishes to have a "partner robot playing violin" as care assistant in old age.
Indonesia had a lot of stuff inside it--- enough
Borobudur @Indonesia Pavilion
No airconditioning, so it was humid and hot! Food at Enak Restaurant was good, but it was so hard to enjoy Nasi Goreng in sweltering heat! to introduce the diversity of the country's landscape and culture. The
Borobudur section reminded me of my recent visit to
Yogyakarta and how so impressed I was to find Indonesia so rich in history, art and culture. We sampled the Indonesian lunch at the
Enak Restaurant inside the pavilion.
Nasi Goreng never fails, especially after 2 days of empanadas, fajitas and nachos. But it was simply too hot --- and I'm not talking about spices. Thank God the lime drink was so refreshing . We also visited
Australia. Now, who would have thought that Chinese is the 2nd most commonly spoken language in Australia?
In the European Zone, I was so happy to finally get inside the pavilions of
Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Iceland, Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Serbia and Austria. Belgium (and the European Union) Pavilion had a wall made entirely of ice. That, plus all the chocolates, wine and diamonds maybe hard to forget ;-) In the Czech Republic Pavilion, we were given free music CDs and movies. Inside, there was a small corner dedicated to Czech cartoons, and another to Czech art (cubism), and yet another to that
Inside Italy Pavilion
Very very classy. A Versace gown, shoes galore, an orchestra section on a wall, replica of Roman walls, fine dining outlet, art pieces, etc. famous Charles Bridge and clock tower in Prague. I have been to Prague, and those 2 landmarks are what I remember most about Prague. The Pavilion brought me back to these landmark sites. We also had fun in the Finland Pavilion where we tried out some of the gadgets, had our photos taken, and had a big surprise finding some of our photos in "bubbles" floating like an apparition on the interior walls.
Talking about "class", France Pavilion's fishnet lattice covers up an entirely different world inside as we were welcomed by a square complete with a water fountain and plant-covered walls. This "space" , much like a courtyard inside the pavilion, is such a welcome respite from the sweltering heat outside the pavilion. The theme "Sensual City" is very evident as one glimpses ideal urban living with the recreational space and art pieces found inside France Pavilion. And these are art pieces from no less than the Musee d' Orsay. In the Germany Pavilion, we again shook off some of our "aggression" (this is China, so be prepared to be pushed around and lose your "personal space") as we screamed at the top of our lungs
Africa Pavilion
A total of 42 African nations under one roof. Very interesting. And while there, try their rwanda coffee. to get this "energy ball" moving. In Iceland, we were hoping to feel really cool as the pavilion is designed like a giant ice cube, but have to say the airconditioning couldn't cope with the outside heat. Not to be outdone, the Italy Pavilion showcased the Italian achievements in the fields of fashion, food and technology. Beautiful , tastefully designed pavilion, if you ask me. So with the Switzerland Pavilion where we viewed the Swiss alps, meadows, complete with the scent of herbs inside the cool interiors. To top it all, we even had a chairlift ride at the rooftop!
We also found time to visit the combined
African Pavilions where 42 African countries united under one roof . Outside of the China Pavilion, this is the biggest overseas pavilion where the outside design reminds one of a safari complete with baobab trees, giraffes, elephants and other African animals. The facial sculptures make for a superb background amidst all that African music. We also didn't skip
Angola, Tunisia and South Africa. Tunisia was a pleasant surprise. It is a small pavilion, but very well-designed. Compact that it is, they showed a video of Tunisia's rich history and heritage.
Inside China Pavilion
That giant silkscreen with animated images is a class A act! No other pavilion tops that! One can also wait for his own personalized pottery being made, but be sure you are prepared to "take care of it like a baby" throughout the afternoon. Don't ask me how I found this out.
The music in the
Joint Carribean Community (Caricom) Pavilion perked me up for the rest of the day. Hey, that saxophonist inside the Caricom Joint Pavilion was really good. And so with the rest of the band. If you need to take a rest, listen to good music to perk you up, go check out Caricom. The band there plays with so much gusto you'd be tempted to dance to their music. Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Dominica.......did I miss any?
I did not mind repeating
China and
Saudi Arabia Pavilions --- two of my favorites from the last visit. Some tips: Don't sit on the moving walkway inside Saudi Arabia Pavilion. Take your best shots of the China Pavilion from the rooftop of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion. Inside the China Pavilion, be sure to stick together with your
Rooftop @Saudi Arabia Pavilion
After that roundabout on a moving walkway, we were met by "dry heat" at the rooftop. Easy to think we were in the middle of a desert. Camels resting. group lest you "lose" them. If some in your group opts to take the elevator while others take the escalator, don't expect to meet up in the same exit nor in the same level. If u wish to save time, take mini-meals rather than a sit-down lunch. Hot dogs at 25 RMB are everywhere, pastries at the Bosnia-Herzegovina Pavilion are good and reasonably priced, or try the Belgian waffles right outside the Belgium Pavilion. Off the side of the Philippine Pavilion, try their local drinks (mango, coconut, tapioca) and rice cakes. Beat the heat with the ice drops and Sofie Mix ice cream, cheap at 15RMB a pair Better still, leave room to taste all the local snacks available inside the pavilions. Not the sit-down dining areas, but the stalls selling many of their local products. You get a taste of their culture, plus you fill up a grumbling stomach. You also spare burning a hole in your pocket ;-)
The Philippine Pavilion
I have added an Addendum to my earlier blogs to include this "sequel" to my World Expo adventure. It is so much easier to review by Zones or country groupings, so feel
Philippine Pavilion
Inside you'd find a section showing local guitars and other ethnic instruments, a display of Filipino products from foodstuff to handicraft. "Hilot"or filipino massage is one of the attractions, as well as the dining outlet where one can sample local delicacies such as bibingka (rice cakes), sago at gulaman (a local drink with tapioca balls), etc. free to go back to my earlier blogs if you wish to check out the countries classified by zones : Asia, Europe, America/Africa. I have also uploaded more photos there.
But I wouldn't want to leave this subject without saying my piece on the Philippine Pavilion. The first time we visited, I admit not having much to say about our very own pavilion. This second time around, I was pleasantly surprised with the changes they have made. The outside "hand" design looks much, much better at night when the lights are on. The theme "Performing Cities" is exhibited in the various product displays inside such as guitars from Cebu and various handcrafted items from all over the 7,107 islands. Beadwork, south sea pearls, wood and wicker furniture, fabric from tropical plants, local snacks (most famous is the Oishi brand which has a plant in China) such as dried fruits (mangoes, pineapples, guavas, etc) from the Philippines, elicit much interest from visitors to the pavilion. So with the local musical instruments on display amidst photos of our local jeepney (found all over the country), beautiful beaches (remember, we have 7,107 islands) and lovely ladies in local costumes. And then
there is the "free massage" called
hilot which I would have loved to try myself after all that walking! The coffee shop serves many local delicacies such as
bibingka which is a kind of rice cake. Refreshments include a drink with tapioca balls called
sago at gulaman and the more familiar and refreshing coconut drink (
buko juice)one finds in many tropical islands.
Highlights of My Expo Experience
Maybe the best, but not necessarily so. I just happen to have picked my own favorites based on my own experiences. To each his/her own preferences, right?
Top off the list of course is the "don't u dare miss"
China Pavilion. I love the animated giant silkscreen as well as the garden and "Dialogue" ride inside the Pavilion. Of course, who can argue about the structure of this pavilion with its dominating size in all its Forbidden City-redness? I took many photos of this impressive structure but I like best the one I took at the top of the Saudi Arabian Pavilion.
Speaking of which, the
Saudi Arabian Pavilion is another must-see though I hear the wait could be as long as 9
Tunisia Pavilion
A pleasant surprise. Tunisia is so rich in history and its pavilion packed all the essentials inside : pottery making, video clips on history and heritage, local products, etc. hours! I cannot imagine myself waiting in line for that long!
Japan and Korea, another set of favorites, may have long lines too, but the wait would most certainly not take that long. Besides, if u have kids with you, they'd love the interactive games here.
No lines, no waiting or at worst, very short lines and waiting...............I suggest one visits the combined
African Pavilion. Finding all of 42 countries united under a single roof with all the diverse cultures, not to mention the convenience of a walk-through of all these exotic cultures. Amazing how one's mood can be so easily influenced by music and dance. Just when I was about to verbalize my wish for African music, a group of musicians began their drum-beating. Variety, diversity under one roof! You can take your time here to cool your heels.
Tunisia makes my list too, if only for the pottery! But no, Tunisia made my list as I gained much knowledge in the little time I spent in that small pavilion.
The "seed cathedral concept" of the
UK Pavilion is really cool. Over 60,000 seeds inside! The outside design may actually look
Flying Latvians!
A good show. Kids loved it. I was waiting for them to ask for volunteers.......no luck. more like a porcupine, but this Pavilion is truly cool. There is also a lot of open space where many chose to sit out or lie flat. Those folding stools I saw almost every Chinese tote around certainly came in handy. I also like the
France and
Italy Pavilions .
The
Austrian Pavilion wins in my book as our first experience inside allowed us to throw snowballs as we walked through its landscape of snow-capped mountains. We were fortunate that there was a mini-concert during our visit, complete with audience participation. It took some of the aggression out of our system as we joined the chorus in shouting "Anton, Anton" . Don't ask me what it means, or whether it was really "Anton, Anton" but that was what I was shouting ;-)
And who'd forget that chairlift ride at the rooftop of the
Switzerland Pavilion? Love that ride, especially since the stop before the ride preps you for the ride as you view slides of the Swiss alps and meadows while sniffing some herb scents!
Thailand and Korea are good for the kids who love 3D movies and interactive games.
Philippine Inside Chile Pavilion
Lunch of empanada, some patty and skewered seafood and meat. Drinks? Take ur pick. Pavilion's
hilot is good for the nerves, along with all the open space within the pavilion --- compared with some of the cramped space in other pavilions.
Latvia has a show both adults and kids would like.
Turkey has a rich history and its pavilion proudly shows it.
Estonia has a very simple theme, but the message nails it . You should check out the "pigs" when you get there. ;-)
The list is growing longer than I expected. Well, it was a good 3days and yet another 3 days spent here at the World Expo with a long break in between. Time enough to rest and reenergize. There's more to tell , but I'd put that in another blog. ;-)
For those who grew tired waiting in lines, you may want to check out these shots inside more than 40 pavilions we have visited by clicking this link
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