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Published: June 21st 2005
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10:00am Xintiandi
I got up, and headed towards the Jade Buddha Temple. Apparently according to this magazine i read, they have a 1.2 meter fully jade buddha statue there and i thought what the hey, lets just go! Took the subway from Huai Hai to HangZhong and walked aimlessly for another hour. Fuck. The TOURIST MAP SUCKS. There are WAY too many roads here than drawn on the map. After walking and walking i stopped and asked a traffic attendant for directions. I showed the map and he didnt know what i was talking about. I closed my hands together and mimicked the kow tow to buddha action. He said Phu Sha!! Which i assume means Buddha. He pointed down the street and i walked aimlessly another thirty minutes. Finally i decided, FUCK im gonna get a fucking cab.
12:00pm Arriving the Jade Buddha Temple.
As soon as i got off the cab, a woman was standing in front of me begging. I hadn't had time to look around so i dropped 2 yuan coins into her plastic cup. Then i realized that that was a big mistake. 5 more beggers came and said 'shieh shieh' many many times
which was wierd. I thought shieh shieh means Thank you. Now why would they thank me if i ain't givin them any greens? I picked up my pace and about a minute later (which felt more than minute mind you) they gave up. I stood at the entrance of the Jade Temple and talked to a swedish lady. I asked her where she got her bycicle and she told me she borrowed the concierge of the hotel she was staying in. She also said that the bycicle chain came off twice, the brakes arent working but it sure BEATS WALKIN. I felt like she was mocking me. Finally i went in the jade temple.
12:30pm Jade Buddha Temple.
This temple predates Shanghai itself but much of it has been destroyed since in the early 1800s, the temple was converted into a storage facility but reopened in the late 70s. I've never been to a temple before, even in malaysia. But i guess it looks the same everywhere. People kow tow-ing the golden statues, tree trumps carved beautifully into a statue, chinese architechtural design much like the Yu Yuan Garden. I took many pictures. Finally, i visited the Jade Buddha
room. No pictures were allowed in here. As i stare into this century old statue i feel eerie and comfort at the same time. It was a real experience just being in that quiete room and looking at the statue. I cant even describe it in words.
2:00pm Outside the temple.
I caught a guy that should be given the best spitter award. He did it in three sequence. Reminded me of a man lifting weights. First, he made about five throat sounds. Then he faced upwards and gargled his mucus. Finally he faced downwards and let it all go like as if he was puking it out. It is the MOST DISGUSTING SIGHT I HAVE EVER SEEN. But i LOVE that i experienced it. Thats Shanghai man..
I decided to take the cab back home. My sister urgently needed me back and i wasn't about to walk around looking for the subway.
3:00pm Xintiandi
Im back at my sisters place. She had left to Bangkok with her husband so its just me, my sister that came with me and my sisters in laws.
3:30pm Plaza 66
We had some dim sum and headed back to
Yu Yuan garden for some last minute shopping since my sister is leaving the next day. Yu Yuan garden looks so different at sunset. Very well lit. She shopped whatever she needed to shop and we took a stroll from Yu Yuan, to the bund which is about a kilometer away.
6:30pm The Bund
The bund is a place along the Huangpu River which has beautiful French architechture due to the migration of french, british and dutch during the opiom war. We booked tickets at the Shanghai Ferry Company Aquatic Tourist Bus Branch (thats the company name which mind you is DAMN LONG) and took a ferry tour along the Huangpo river. It was BEAUTIFUL. I think this was my favorite part of all since my visit here. We could see the French concession buildings on our left, and Pudong on our right. Pudong is like Putrajaya but much closer to shanghai old town. Their Radio tower puts our KL tower to shame. To my suprise, we saw a big MALAYSIAN AIRLINE buildboard there. Just check out the photos and you will know what i mean.
8:00pm The Bund
Then, we walked pass the French buildings and headed
towards the Nan Jing Pedestrian Walk. On the way there we passed Peace Hotel (Oldest hotel in shanghai 1929) and watched an old jazz band play. We were there for about ten minutes. That place really brings you back in time and plays with your imagination. The live music and the ambience is so GEMPAK.
9:00pm Nan Jing Pedestrian Walk
I was extremely hungry. We walked into this noodle shop and ordered curry prawn noodle. Unfortunately when the dish came there was pork in it so we paid freakin 50 Yuan for it (which is about 25 ringgit) and left. We had Fish Fillet at mcdonalds instead. Nan Jing road reminded me of trafalgar square. Advertising splashed everywhere, shops left and right, theres even a small tourist bus (the ones you see at theme parks) that takes you from one end to the other which is about a kilometer only but hey, my feet was beginning to hurt.
10:30pm At the end of Nan Jing Pedestrian Walk
Got a cab. Went home. Here we are. Tomorrow im going to Hooters!!!!
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aedewan
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Yo Mail, havin lotsa fun eh? i just wish i could trek along with u man, best!next year Nepal jom! :) the city nampak happening gila! reminds me of Singapore lak. Anyways have fun backpacking in Beijing and travel safely dude....will be waiting for updates on ur trip there :) ps: gila ko posing maut depan Starbucks tu, siap kangkang lagi.....:)