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Published: September 21st 2006
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GET ME OUT OF BEIJING!!!
SERIOUSLY…I’VE HAD ENOUGH SMOG AND DUST!!!
7pm. That’s all I’m waiting for. 7pm.
I RAN to the Beijing Train Station. Caught once again amidst the currents of fellow travelers, obnoxious tourists, and the pushing and shoving of the average Beijing-ian. Having left the beauty and tranquility of Mongolia, I had reached my breaking point with Beijing; I had had enough of their culture and lack of etiquette and truthfully couldn’t wait to reach my next destination: Shanghai.
But wait, let me just say to anyone who has randomly stumbled upon my blog: this is the FIRST city I’ve ever been to, that I couldn’t fully appreciate. I don’t regularly dislike anything enough to write about it like this. Usually I fully appreciate each new country I visit; I accept their culture as unique, and work with it. So, to any new readers, please don’t think I’ve closed myself off to the differences of other cultures, just accept my absolute frankness: I don’t like Beijing. Done. Enough said.
On that bummer of a note, let me recount to you the delights of my week in Shanghai!
Not even the rain could ruin my mood as I left the Shanghai train station in search of a taxi to take me to the Pudong district where my hosts for the week live: family friends, Mack Zavitz and his girlfriend Christina. They live in an AMAZING apartment in a gated community and I was spoiled rotten with my own room and bathroom. Coming from a tent with 5 other people and no running water… I was certainly feeling like royalty!
I took a couple days just to relax and get settled in. (Which was easily done with the temptation of their wide selection of movies...and of course the blogs I had to write!)
My first day out on the town took me to Renmin Square where I visited the practically brand new Shanghai Museum. I browsed through the Bronze Gallery, Chinese Sculptures, saw the ceramics in the Zande Lou Gallery and topped it all off with some familiar Chinese Calligraphy. The furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasty was so royal…too bad the guards wouldn’t let me sit on anything😞
I also meandered through the Shanghai Art Museum, which is now
housed in the former Shanghai Race Club. The exhibits they had on display were wild! I don’t know what else to say about what I saw in there; just take a gander at the pictures below.
The next night, Mack treated Christina and I to a wonderful night out on the town. We ate at Kathleen’s 5, which was on the rooftop of the Art Museum. We had a gorgeous view, and let me say, it was SOOOOO nice to have a nice dinner out. This trip so far has been mostly about eating cheap and exploring native cuisine, so to be treated to a fine dining experience, I was very appreciative! (Thank you, Mack) We then headed over to an Arabian styled bar called “Barbarossa”, where ladies drank for FREE! Christina and I took full advantage of the ‘bebot’ drinks (whatever they were) and relaxed in the stylish atmosphere.
On Friday, I ventured into the French Concession and wandered around the colonial styled buildings for hours. Just walking the streets was a great way to spend the afternoon. Stopping in a small café for lunch and then finding a VERY cheap hair salon! I got
the cheapest haircut of my life…only $6 and they even washed my hair on TOP of my head. I wish I had taken a picture of this, but you’ll have to just use your imagination!
Friday night, Mack and his friend Paul and I went to Simply Thai for dinner, and then to a cheesy dance bar called “rendezvous”, where we were treated to ridiculously flashy cover songs performed by two ‘semi-talented’ Filipino girls. All in all, fairly entertaining but the seizure-inducing strobe lights were a bit much.
Saturday morning I had to leave the comforts of Mack and Christina’s fantastic apartment so that I could round off my last week in China in the beautiful city of Huangzjou, 2 hours away.
Having my own room for a week was amazing, and it was nice to be in Canadian company for a while as well. Mack and Christina were excellent hosts and I look forward to being able to return the favour someday. Maybe in France next year!
As for me, I'm off to Huangzhou!
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Chee Keong
non-member comment
Hi baby! Shanghai seemed to me more "international-friendly" than Beijing, right? Yeah, Beijing people are not very unfriendly. I had been there once and had the same impression. Perhaps that's the difference between Southern Chinese and Nothern Chinese - two types of people in one country! Hopefully, Malaysians would give you the warmest hug when you're here. Love. p/s did you contact any HC members there? Where are you now? Hong Kong? China?