Thursday, July 19, 2007
There wasn't much on Day 1. The plane was playing impossible-to-understand Chinese movies and the flight meal was uninspiring. Touched down at about 10pm and headed straight to the hotel to unpack and orientate myself to the environs of where I will be staying over the next one week.
The next morning, work started at the store. So I was there all the way till evening, which is so unbecoming of a tourist. But it really isn't a bad thing, considering I got to escape the sweltering 36degs weather outside and there's wireless broadband to surf!
And after the sun has set and the weather cooled a little, I started playing my role as a tourist. I needed food and I wanted to try something with the local flavour, so these were what I had. I forgot the restaurant's name.
Spicy shredded chicken
Spicy paddy chicken
Spicy fish head
Spicy duck's tongue
After the meal I was high on chilli and other spices. My first stop thereafter was Nanjing Road, which is a beautifully lit stretch of shopping street. Something like Orchard Road, except that not only do you shop, you also marvel at the architectural charm of its buildings. Which kept snap-happy me very busy.
And China won't be China without giantess malls like this.
The "train" that plies between the eastern and western end of Nanjing Road. Probably caters to those Japanese tai tais who want to be in the middle of the action but are too lazy to walk.
The temperature reads 37degs. And it's night time, mind you.
In such weather it will be Singaporean instinct to get a cheap 50cents ice-cream from Macdonalds. But guess what, they were sold out! Even the higher-tier sundaes have been depleted.
Thankfully on the way to The Bund I found another Mac outlet. There was a long queue for ice-cream!
And I reached The Bund, which basically is the western bank of Huang Pu river. Nobody leaves Shanghai without taking a picture or two of the Lujiazui Financial District skyline. So even though I have been here before and already have similar photos, I did all the same.
The obvious downside of travelling alone is the lack of a trustworthy photographer who will not run away with your camera, and whom you will not feel embarrassed asking for a take-2 if the shot turns out unsatisfactory. Therefore, I had to be self-reliant and put to use my zipai skills.
Teeming with people. It's funny how everyone just crowds around this particular part of The Bund, unaware that the northern side is empty in comparison and offers equally strategic views.
As you can see, the crowd thins out as you walk northwards. More, there are fewer peddlers here who would pester you to purchase their toys, lightsticks and other odds and ends.
This is the northern tip where very few bother to visit. Apparently, people are not interested in serious historical stuff. But I really like it here, because it's quiet and you get to enjoy the spectacular views in peace.
And the lovely European architecture along the bund. Among them are the Peace Hotel and Bank of China Building.
That's it for now. Will update soon!
The next morning, work started at the store. So I was there all the way till evening, which is so unbecoming of a tourist. But it really isn't a bad thing, considering I got to escape the sweltering 36degs weather outside and there's wireless broadband to surf!
And after the sun has set and the weather cooled a little, I started playing my role as a tourist. I needed food and I wanted to try something with the local flavour, so these were what I had. I forgot the restaurant's name.
After the meal I was high on chilli and other spices. My first stop thereafter was Nanjing Road, which is a beautifully lit stretch of shopping street. Something like Orchard Road, except that not only do you shop, you also marvel at the architectural charm of its buildings. Which kept snap-happy me very busy.
And China won't be China without giantess malls like this.
The "train" that plies between the eastern and western end of Nanjing Road. Probably caters to those Japanese tai tais who want to be in the middle of the action but are too lazy to walk.
The temperature reads 37degs. And it's night time, mind you.
In such weather it will be Singaporean instinct to get a cheap 50cents ice-cream from Macdonalds. But guess what, they were sold out! Even the higher-tier sundaes have been depleted.
Thankfully on the way to The Bund I found another Mac outlet. There was a long queue for ice-cream!
And I reached The Bund, which basically is the western bank of Huang Pu river. Nobody leaves Shanghai without taking a picture or two of the Lujiazui Financial District skyline. So even though I have been here before and already have similar photos, I did all the same. 
The obvious downside of travelling alone is the lack of a trustworthy photographer who will not run away with your camera, and whom you will not feel embarrassed asking for a take-2 if the shot turns out unsatisfactory. Therefore, I had to be self-reliant and put to use my zipai skills.
Teeming with people. It's funny how everyone just crowds around this particular part of The Bund, unaware that the northern side is empty in comparison and offers equally strategic views.
As you can see, the crowd thins out as you walk northwards. More, there are fewer peddlers here who would pester you to purchase their toys, lightsticks and other odds and ends.
This is the northern tip where very few bother to visit. Apparently, people are not interested in serious historical stuff. But I really like it here, because it's quiet and you get to enjoy the spectacular views in peace.
And the lovely European architecture along the bund. Among them are the Peace Hotel and Bank of China Building. That's it for now. Will update soon!
posted @ 1:13 AM