Starting out in Shanghai

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To say that Shanghai is massive is an understatement. The extent of the height and spread of the buildings is unlike anywhere I've been before. It was also very hot and humid and very crowded - resulting in minimal photo taking on my behalf. My venture out on Sunday night was like being part of a sweaty, moving mosh pit (yes, I can still remember my mosh pit days although it was such a long time ago for a nana like me) migrating along the footpaths and several lanes of the road down Nanjing Road to the Bund. I was also followed half of that way by a guy who thought I was bargaining with him after I mistakenly took an interest in his glow in the dark parachute thingies and then said "no, I don't want to buy one".

On Monday we ventured out into the heat and went to the Yuyuan Gardens, where a Japanese tourist asked to have her photo taken with me. We suspect it was because of my newly blonded hair (although I didn't have the heart to tell her that it wasn't natural and that my hairdresser had taken my request to refresh my blonde highlights a lot further than I'd anticipated), although I am still a little paranoid that she wanted a photo with the gross sweaty European girl.

After deciding against waiting in an unbelievably long line for the reputedly best dumplings in the area, Caleb discovered a Haagen-Dazs, which quickly became a favourite for ice cream in Shanghai and in Europe.

A highlight was going to a circus / acrobatics show, a little bit like Cirque de Soleil, which was amazing. We were pretty creeped out by this acrobat who was balancing on a massive pile of chairs as it didn't look like the top chair legs were quite aligned properly with the next chair down, but it seemed he knew what he was doing and ultimately got up and down without any apparent issues.

The low-light was our Shanghai to London flight. In a stressful and lengthy process, British Airways cancelled our flight at the last minute and transferred us to China Eastern Airline (which it turned out was over-booked, although we managed to get onto it). Then when we got to the boarding gate, they scanned my ticket and let me through, and then upgraded Caleb to business class! I don’t think they realised we were travelling together and they had run out of seats in economy - made me wish I'd adopted my married name! Unfortunately there wasn’t another seat in business for me, and I instead got to enjoy my seat by the toilets and several small children. Meanwhile Caleb was given a nice drink and warmed face towel while he waited for take-off.

We did change seats for a while, so I got to enjoy a 3-course dinner meal in business, while Caleb had the economy pork + rice special.

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Photos

Pudong
After the long, hot, walk there

Suspected culprit for Fiona's European food poisoning
A photo was taken after we were surprised that a cafe could serve a burger that was more disgusting than a fast food joint

Comments

[carina]

nice entry. I especially like the bit about your blonde hair and the fact that you didnt get upgraded. jutted!!

[Augusta]

Yep
That is one carbo-loaded creepy burger.

[richard]

Life as a blonde...............