Finally a new update - Shanghai and maybe more :-)

So we arrived into Shanghai – another MASSIVE city.  However I preferred Shanghai – more modern, more western and it seemed easier to get around. We headed over to the Shanghai Museum – what can I say about it?  Well the guidebook says its not to be missed as China doesn’t do Museums very well with bad descriptions and lighting, and you would need a day and a half to get round everything in this museum.  We walked around it in 1 hour 20 minutes. I don’t really do museums very well, however I did enjoy the ceramics exhibition after doing my pottery course. There’s a new building in Shanghai called the World Finance Centre which is the tallest building there (maybe in the world – I can’t remember) but it has over 100 floors.  The trouble was all the big buildings there cost about £15 to go up and look out at the view – quite expensive for a view when on a budget.  I wanted to go to the Grand Hyatt Hotel which I had been told also had a great view but was free to get in – apart from the drink that you had to pay for J Well I thought – at least I get something back in return for the money as well as the view!  However you have to dress smartly to get in and it seems like I was the only one on the trip with something nice to wear (how strange is that – me being the backpacker!). 

So everyone wanted to go up to the WFC but I decided to wait at the bottom for them as I thought I’d rather spend my money on something other than another nice view as I got a few of them in Hong Kong. I ended up going into the building anyway as there were shops and toilets in there and I needed an ATM and a pee!  That was an adventure in itself!  I found the toilets – talk about space age – and the first time I  have ever wanted to take a photo of the toilet!!!  It had a heated seat, buttons to control: rear cleansing, soft rear cleansing, front cleansing, pressure, position, temperature for the water and the seat, an energy saver, wand cleaning, plus the stop button!  I was almost too scared to use it.  I have to say having a heated toilet seat is certainly a different experience.

       

Next up was the ATM, once I finally found it, it wouldn’t give me any money – very annoying and worrying! I ended up calling the bank whilst I was there and for some reason they had decided to take off the note about the fact I was travelling for a year and put a block on my card!!! Very very annoying! (sorted out in the end though and they even refunded me the £20!!!! The call cost me!). 

The following day was a Friday and I had managed to make contact with Caitie who I met in Beijing to meet up with her for a Friday night out in Shanghai with her and her friends. We spent the morning in a park in the old part of Shanghai which was really really nice and peaceful and a very beautiful place.

        

I then split off from the group to go and meet Caitie – I had a bit of a panic as I was at the station she said to meet at on time and was waiting and waiting and she wasn’t there.  I sent her a text message and then turned around and there she was – very bizarrely she seemed to have got there at the same time as me but we had both missed each other! 

We headed off for her to show me round the French Concession area of Shanghai but sadly its all disappearing with the Chinese penchant for ripping things down and rebuilding things keeping only the odd building which someone famous once lived in.  The odd building is nice but it means that the character of the area is going.  The roads are very different there though as they are all tree lined and it is a more attractive area.  However I was so pleased to be with Caitie as she took me to an area that I can’t remember the name of! But is lots of little alleys filled with shops, bars and cafes.  There’s no traffic and its tiny little walkways and shops but full of character.  It did remind me of being in Europe but its great as its full of locals and they all live round there too. 

       It was quite early so we headed over to her apartment so she could change after work – also really interesting to see a more residential area and I was really surprised at the size of the apartment as I expected it to be tiny. We headed over to a bar called the Boxing Cat Brewery which is Shanghais first micro brewery – this girl was my kinda girl! It was really really great a they have all sorts of beers on tap – a bit like a real ale pub! After a couple of surprisingly strong beers we headed out to meet the rest of her friends in a local restaurant – very local – like a little shack – very basic. I have to say that after that meal I think Olive had been sheltering us with the food as everything she ordered for us has been great, whereas the food in this place was ok, but mainly too spicy for me – but it had great bread! We ended up heading back to the pub for a couple more beers after that and then I said goodbye to my new friends – but it was a great night out and really good to get away from the group for a few hours. 

     

 

It wasn’t too late a night – but it was 1.30am by the time I made it back to the hotel. The next day we had nothing to do until our sleeper train in the late afternoon. Luckily our hotel in Shanghai was great with soft comfy beds and a great duvet so I snuggled in bed all morning watching stuff on my computer and then got up in time to go for lunch before the train. Not much different to say about this train other than it was the afternoon and evening we had on the train and then got off in the morning – but later than planned as it was delayed (typical).