My write ups are getting shorter nowadays, too busy and impatient to note down all the details plus a failing memory is not a good sign, it means life is getting more stressful. This Blog which was created to record travels and to release stress is getting stressful to update now! Hahaha!
Lots of flying around the world and drive ups to Malaysia this year, this most recent trip was to Shanghai, China.
I had heard a lot about Shanghai in the recent years, it's old world charm and history was widely publicised and well documented. Shanghai people were described as proud and business minded.
I arrived at 6:00am in the morning, didn't get a good sleep on the flight. We managed to check into the hotel after an hour long Metro ride from Pu dong International airport. It was during the peak morning working hours. I will just describe it as "cosy" in the train, lots of squeezing.
First impressions on the Bund, their most famous riverside front where all the movies and documentary were always showing, was not impressive. It looked too much like our Singapore river and City Hall colonial buildings. Not impressed.
The less developed parts of the city were the more interesting parts but unfortunately I did not have the luxury of time on this trip. I did manage to visit one of this place called Tian Zhi Fang for dinner. It was an approximately 200m long old housing area converted to retail space with the original tenants still living in the upstairs houses! Really unique!! It was very authentic and real and the idea was fantastic, the shops there were tiny little 3x2m spaces. Artists, craftsman, Designers, young entrepreneurs were all there having their own little space and the quality of the crafts and Designs were of high standards. How I wish our so called "Chinatown" had such a vibe.
That and the weather was the only salvation of my impression on Shanghai. If I get a chance to visit again, I will spend more time to tour the real side of Shanghai.
One thing that I remember strongly was the food there, it was very oily and salty. I never though I'd miss Singapore food overseas but it actually happened! The taste there was just too strong for me.
Anyway, I had only skimp a tiny surface of Shanghai, next target is Beijing, hopefully.
