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Published: April 10th 2007
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The Yin and Yang must have been in perfect harmony for weddings today. I had not been on the Bund promenade more than 5 minutes and I saw at least 5 couples having their wedding pictures taken with the Yellow River and the fabulous Pudong skyline as a backdrop.
Yes, I made it safe and sound to Shanghai. The flight itself was uneventful, if crowded. We left at 18.30 yesterday and arrived at around 10.30 Shanghai today. Sleeping in cattle- (otherwise known as tourist-) class is for the birds! I spoke with several interesting people on the way . . . a Scottish man and his grandson on the way to a sewing machine plant so the grandson could apprentice there for a month . . . a Welsh man whose business is office equipment who had just returned from 3 months in China at his factory . . . interestingly, both said that a major market for their goods was education.
Finding the Maglev train on departing the airport was my first real challenge. Yes, there were signs. They pointed outside. The the only thing I could find (after walking the length of the airport twice) was
a parking garage. Inquiries led to one person pointing up in the air and the other person pointing across what must have been 10 lanes of very heavy airport traffic. Not to be deterred, I made my way back into the terminal and finally found the elevator (yes, the signs pointed outside, really!) to the train.
The Maglev is a fascinating train. It's the world's fastest train, taking passengers from the airport to the outskirts of Shanghai proper. I was the last aboard with the attendants shouting for me to hurry -- right, dragging my luggage behind me on the escalator -- and practically pushing me onto the train! Settled in, I watched the speedometer in the front of each car push up to more than 267 mph. Incredible! It made the cars on the expressway look like they were standing still.
After the train, a short taxi ride got me to my hotel, the Astor House Hotel. Very historic. Built in 1846. Aspiring to its former glory. Not quite there, but charming with huge rooms. I have to explore it soon. Famous former visitors include Ulysses S. Grant, Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein.
After a quick
Tired but happy
She's resting while her new husband is having his picture taken alone . . . clean-up after my lovely night on the airplane I set out to see the sights. The hotel is just over a creek from The Bund. I'll spare you the details about the Bund, but it looks like old-time New York facing the Huangpu River, looking to the ultra-modern Pudong on the other side. I strolled along the promenade, enjoying the mild (if rather smoggy) weather. Once I found the underground passageway to the other side of the very busy Zhongshan Dong Lu (read: very busy street), I was confronted with: ABN-AMRO. For my non-Dutch friends and family, that's the ubiquitous Dutch bank (which is also my bank) which has used the underground crossing as a very Dutch -- all van Gogh's -- advert for their services.
My destination was the famous shopping street Nanjing Dong Lu. Incredible. I hear it's even more impressive at night. I intend to check it out, but not tonight. I'm doing well enough as it is to get this blog written! I walked for an eternity and still didn't make it all the way to People's Park, which will be on the agenda for tomorrow.
After wearing myself out walking, I hailed a
taxi to bring me back to the hotel. There were a group of very unhappy-looking Chinese businessmen who were standing just at the wrong spot because the taxi stopped for me instead of them. They scrowled at me and I did what I have been advised to do while in China - I smiled at them (a bit smugly, I must admit!).
Back "home" I arranged my in-room internet access and also for my train to Beijing and a side trip to what many call Paradise on Earth, Hangzhou, capital of the Southern Song dynasty between 1138 and 1279. It has to be a quick trip, but I didn't want to miss it.
Before dinner I took my aching feet to the attached spa and had a truly luscious foot massage. For the staggering sum of about 12 Euro I enjoyed 35 minutes of podo-bliss!
After dinner in the hotel dining room consisting of Pork of 8 Heavenly Delights (or something similarly over-the-top), I've now retired to my room for the evening to keep my promise to myself to blog this trip -- and also eventually to fall happily exhausted into my nice, hard bed.
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Rob
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comment no 1
Well the first comment is from me, and while I'm writing this I'm having a "borrel" on your health and happiness and a safe trip. I'll take one every evening to keep our tradition alive just by myself. Your story and photo's are really nice and hopefully you will write a lot more as well as a lot of pictures. With the capacity of your SD card I expect at least 750 pictures. So do your best. It was very nice to have chatted with you this afternoon. Even though you where very tired you sure looked great. So with these couple of lines I will end my first comment. There will follow more. Have a great time over there! XOXOXOXO, R