Blogs from Shanghai, China, Asia - page 4

First full day in Shanghai, our friends arrived safely after a delayed flight late last night. Today we had a full day tour visiting sites in and around Shanghai. Firstly the water village know as the Venice of the East where the people live along the canals and Asian gondolas ply their trade, still smoggy even though an hour or more out of Shanghai, lots of security as the expected locals to converge early. They were right, it be came quite crowded early afternoon. We went for a ride on a gondola up the canals then wandered the laneways filled with shops giving a market atmosphere. Some interesting food for sale, octopus on skewers, chicken feet on skewers just to name a few. The people watching was amazing, every shape and size of mankind. The guide ... read more

After a short 2.5 hour flight, I had arrived in Shanghai. It's starting to get dark and I find myself queuing for ages to get a taxi to take me to my hotel. I am so grateful to Elaine for writing the address of my hotel on a big sheet of paper in Shanghainese, the local dialect, as I now find myself in a country where they speak literally no English. Upon arriving at my hotel, I find the reception staff speak a little English. I notice my internet on my phone has become very restricted in which applications and internet search engines I am allowed to use in this communist country. Elaine has very kindly brought me this Hong Kong sim card that I can use in China and it literally lets me use all ... read more

Wir waren also zurück in Guilin, im gleichen Hotel und kalten Zimmer. Am Abend unternahmen wir einen langen Spaziergang in dieser Stadt der 2 Flüsse und 4 Seen. Die Seen mit beleuchteten Brücken und Türmen waren wirklich bezaubernd. Zu Nacht assen wir in einem chin. Pizza-Hut. Am nächsten Morgen besuchten wir den Elefantenrüssel-Berg-Park, bewältigten die 305 Stufen auf den Fubo-Berg und besuchten noch eine grosse Tropfsteinhöhle. Dann ging’s zum Flugplatz für den Flug nach Shanghai, wo wir gegen Mitternacht anlangten, zum Schlafen kamen wir aber erst gegen halb zwei ins Bett. Die Koffer aus Peking waren wirklich da! Am nächsten Morgen gab es zuerst wieder ein herzhaftes Frühstück im Hotel gleich neben der Shanghai Railway Station - ich liebe Reisnudelsuppe (mit Chili!) zum Zmorge! Dann bekamen wir einen kleinen Eindruck von Shanghai durch den Besuch des ... read more

Our flight from Chongqing to Shanghai arrived at 11:30. Barb experienced some ear problems while in flight and after landing discovered she was very dizzy. We got to the Baggage Claim but Barb was not feeling well at all and Bonnie had to do the bag grabbing as well as be nurse to her ailing sidekick. Everyone was concerned because Barb was "out of it" but managed to get on the bus, lay down on the back seat and close her eyes. We arrived at the restaurant and luckily there was a couch that Barb could recline on and try to get back to normal. After about an hours rest, while the others enjoyed their lunch, Barb was feeling some better. Back on the bus to the Shanghai Museum. Barb contemplated staying in the bus but ... read more

After almost two years on the road, the time had finally come; one last long-distance, overnight train journey. And from this experience, it had better be the last. For a country striving to be so far ahead, it is annoying in the extreme that they are so far behind with regard to smoking policy. Breathing in second-hand fumes makes it harder than it already is to get to sleep on moving transport. The train operator doesn't really help you either by leaving the lights on full blast and inconsiderate locals are never going to let the fact that people are trying to sleep stop them from having their loud conversations. The last hour of the ride seemed to take forever but once it was finally over, a queue to leave the station and then three manic ... read more