Heading out to Shanghai was my last major stop in China. After looking at overnight train and flight options, I opted to fly as it was just a little more money, but much faster. Speed was the name of the game in Shanghai, as once I got off the plane, I headed over to the Maglev train into town. This is the fastest train I`ve ever been on as we traveled at 430 kph (267 mph). The whole journey took 8 minutes and it was cool!
I really didn`t have any expectation for Shanghai and was just excited to meet up with Gina, Ben and Steph again as I knew I could join them for whatever they were doing, but also knew they had been there 2 days before me, so I may be sightseeing on my own as well.
As it ended up, once I got to my hostel, and settled in, I was exhausted and hungry from my day of travel. I asked for a recommendation for dinner and they sent me down the alley to another street and had me keep walking (really had no idea where I was, but it was well lit and part of the adventure). Once I walked in to the place, there were no menus in English and no photos on the wall of the dishes (as most places have). It was all locals and the food looked good, but I wasn`t feeling that adventurous to just point at some Chinese letters and hope for the best. I finally found another place and was able to point to something with English translation, but I thought I was getting noodle soup with dumplings, but a plate of dumplings came out. Oh well…they were good and I do love dumplings so it was a success!
Next day I planned to meet up with Gina, Ben, Steph and Susan for the day. Steph was out tour guide and provided us with a fun filled day.
It started with the “lets try to meet at a certain metro stop”. Knowing we were coming from different directions and the metro stop had over 20 exits, we had a 20 minute grace period and a plan B to meet at a Coldstone she told me to find if we didn`t meet up. Luckily, I was there early and they found me right at the 20 minute grace period an it was all good.
Off we went through “Old Town“. This was really the original Shanghai with narrow streets, people drying their clothes out in front of their home, and locals selling everything under the sun. Steph said the locals just come down from their home and sell what they have on the street.
We were on our way to Yuyuan Garden which is one of the finest classical garden remaining in China. Just walking up to, we had to cross this crazy zip zag bridge (with 9 turns) as this was to keep the evil spirits out as they can`t turn corners. Once inside the garden, it was very beautiful with lots of limestone rocks, pavilions for eating, drinking, smoking opium and performances. There were a few large ponds with fish in it, which I had to stop and enjoy.
Steph had decided to take us to one of the best dumpling houses and it truly was. Her husband Joe was done with work and able to eat with us and join for the rest of the day, so that was a fun addition. We had different types of soup dumplings (with a bit of hot soup inside). Shanghai specialties were crab and pork and they were yummy. So after we were stuffed…and ready for a nap (this tends to be a trend for our lunches together in China)…we were off again.
Next stop was the French Concession. Steph has a friend that leads walking tours and all the money she charges, so to a charity that provides food to child en, so with all 6 of us on the walk, we were able to feed 2 children for a year…not bad and we learned along the way. The French Concession was really the bohemian area in the old days. It really was the best way to see the different living conditions, architecture and enjoy the tree lined streets. There was one street sign we came across that when we asked Evette what it meant and she said “Have late marriage, have less births, but have less children but have excellent children.” Funny so I had to take a photo in front of it as most of my friends are married and all are having kids – to the point that I`m tracking how may are born while I`m away. As for the tour, I won`t lie…after 3 hours of walking, we were all tired and ready for a rest but it was a great way to see this part of town. But the day continued…
The plan was to go back to Steph and Joe`s house to have dinner, but their driver said there was not enough time to drive there, and get back into town for our show that night, so plan B came into the works. Steph hopped out to take the metro back to get her two daughters for the show and Joe took us out for drinks. Why not try the swanky drinking holes in Shanghai?
Our final activity was the famous Chinese Acrobat Show. Steph had been promising her daughters so when we all met up, it was a fun show. I was amazed by the strength of the performers, especially the women. I took a picture of about 7 of them that stacked chairs, then climbed up one by one and once they were all up, they went into handstands on the chairs, one by one and then down. It took so long and they didn`t even wobble. During the 90 minute show, we saw crazy exhibits of strength from balancing 6 chandeliers on the legs, arms, mouth, head and then twisting, getting up, plus more. Each stunt was unbelievable!
This was all one day, and we were tired at the end of it!
My final day in Shanghai was a little more relaxing on my own. My big goal was to find a way to fix my jeans. The hole in my jeans was getting bigger. As I was walking down the street, I found a shop that made clothes and was able to show the man my jeans, agree on a price and have him fix them right there. He just took a scrap of fabric, sewed it inside and patched it all up. So excited! The funny part was I was wearing 3 shirts, hoodie and scarf and then had changed into a pair of shorts that I had with me (to send home with Gina). So all bundled up on top and then in shorts. It was a funny picture, but the end result was fixed jeans so I didn`t care!
I wandered down the Bund which is the premier shopping street, but really nothing interested me to purchase. I again posed for a few more photos with locals, got annoyed with too many people coming up trying to sell me everything under the sun, and when I took a break to I became a Mexican. Two locals came up to me and asked where I was from and if I spoke English. At this point, I was tired and I just didn`t want to talk, so “Hablo Espanol” was all I could say. Then “Vivo in Mexico”. They said they didn`t speak Spanish and again do I know any English. I kinda felt bad, but was late to get to meet the group and didn`t want to be friendly. Later, Joe told me that is a major scam in Shanghai as locals pretend to be students wanting to practice English and then suggest going to a tea house to practice talking and then leave stiffing the English speaker with a large bill. So maybe I avoided that…who knows.
I did take a photo overlooking the Shanghai towers, and when I say I had to pose like a local, they wouldn`t take my photos unless I put up the peace sign, which in China just means, be happy. So I gave in and was a local and was happy posing.
The next plan seemed easy…meet the group at the reception of the Hyatt. Little did I know (or I didn`t read carefully), that Steph said the Park Hyatt. After a lot of walking, I found the Grand Hyatt (right next to the World Financial Center that looks like a bottle opener building). Little to say, after a while, I finally called them and realized the mistake, but it all worked out and we met for a cocktail at the bar on the 85th floor with an amazing view of Shanghai. The Welsh`s treated for cocktails which was wonderful (Thank You!). Then we headed cross town for dinner at one of the best Italian restaurants. Funny as it was, Joe had told us all some of his favorite dishes and half our group ordered his favorite (as it sounded great to me too). To go against the grain, I ordered something different and it ended up what I ordered was what he thought was his dish an my dish was his favorite. Good thing the portions were huge and we all shared it all. Great dinner and the Sandlers treated dinner (Thank you!) I was trying to pay, but they didn`t let me this time. As it ended up, the ladies in the group were craving sweets, so we stopped at Cold Stone for ice cream and I was able to treat the group to ice cream as I wanted to contribute to the fun night out.
So sad to sad goodbye as I had a wonderful time with Gina, Ben, Susan, Steph and Joe and spending the time together made me love China.
Last day in China was 2 hour south in Hangzhou. I took the train here as my flight was leaving from this airport (gotta go for the cheapest flights and this is where it left from). Normally people go here for the famous west lake. I did get out to see it, but it was a gray an misty day and then it started to rain, so not the best day, but it was a pretty lake.
Random Thoughts on China:
I will not miss the following:
1. Hearing people spitting everywhere (men and women)
2. Hearing people slurping soup so loudly you want to leave
3. Hearing people burp in restaurants, behind me on plane, everywhere
4. Being pushed everywhere I walk
5. Not being allowed to get on or off a metro without locals pushing past me
6. Hearing my new name of “lady…lady…look here” – that is how I was referred to
7. I won`t miss the blond tax/price
8. I won`t miss being a tourist attraction and posting for photos
-I never got to see a baby/child use the split pants. I know people hate it as kids just go when they need to, but in my 2 weeks, I never saw one kid go in public. Guess I was lucky or it was too cold and the kids didn`t want to. Who knows.
China was great and there are so many more places I learned about from other travelers…but that will have to be for another trip.
Off to Malaysia to thaw out!
Logistics:
Hostel: Le Tour Travelers Rest – great location good to meet other travelers. www.letourshanghai.com
Dumplings near Yuyuan Garden: Din Tai Fund (many locations in Shanghai and in other major Asian cities)