Shanghai Nights

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Today we woke fairly early to catch our train down to Shanghai. It was a bullet train that topped out at 243 km/hr yet it still took 10 hours to get down there. I was able to keep myself entertained on the trip down while some movies I uploaded onto the ipod and some soduku puzzles. Lunch on the train was very interesting, I ordered a microwave meal with more than one mystery meat but I was able to push through. The thing I wasn’t able to eat was the chicken leg that was packaged in a vacuum sealed bag. This thing was disgusting; it had a film of this waxy gel substance that had a weird flavor. I took to bites and called it quits.
Once we arrived in Shanghai we hopped into a cab and took it to our hostel. This hostel had the best layout; it had little coy ponds with bridges and all sorts of Asian themed décor. The only problem is that it was all OUTSIDE and it was like 10 degrees there. Needless to say we were freezing again. Shanghai is an awesome city, but make sure you visit in the summer. We visited the Huangpu River which has an enormous board walk with food carts and people selling little trinkets but the view of the skyline is unreal. We took a ferry across the Huangpu River along with some motorbikes and a few cars and then headed to the Oriental Pearl Tower. The Pearl Tower is probably to most recognizable tower in Shanghai. We didn’t go into the tower because they wanted the equivalent of $50 US dollars. So, we took a few pictures then headed over to the Jin Mao Tower, which I believe is the second most recognizable tower in Shanghai, it looks like a giant pagoda. We did go into the top of the Jin Mao, which I believe is 88 stories. The coolest part about this tower is that you can look down from the top all the way down the center of the building to the lobby.
Shanghai reminds we of a very clean version of NYC, it’s crazy busy with people, there are lit up signs and lights everywhere which makes for a great atmosphere. We had a bit of trouble finding a way out of Shanghai because trains don’t run to Bangkok from there, which we should have looked into to begin with. We ended up biting the bullet and paying top dollar for a direct flight from Shanghai to Bangkok.

As that this was the last stop in China, I’d like to go over some of the poor translations in which I encountered.

-The ATM asked me to “please dip my card into the slot,” the funny thing is that once I did this, it game me money!

-I picket up a packet of cookies at the market and they said, “fragile fragrant walnut meat biscuits,’ needless to say I put them back where I found them.

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Photos

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Restaurant Translations

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On The Bund at the Huangpu Riverfront

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Oriental Pearl Tower

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Looking down at the lobby from the top of Jin Mao Tower

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Shanghai skyline at night.

Comments

[nkk]

English translations are so funny
I have even collected some funny translations in a website, www.chineseenglish.com Thx

[Jess]

Hi little brother!
Just came on to check your blog. I am so proud that you are keeping up with it! I hope you all have a killer time all over Asia. Don't slack on the blog. It's nice to get to experience some of your travels. Also, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I talked to Dad and he told me you got accepted into the Peace Corp. I am so stoked for you Cam!! You endured a lot of shit to get through that application process, but it was totally worth it! Congrats again. That's a really amazing opportunity, and it will be prefect for you. Love you hermano!!!!