Shanghai — Shanghai, China

Sorry for not writing a bit sooner but Shanghai has been hectic. Rather like the city itself we haven’t stopped. I’m writing this whilst sat at the airport waiting to go to Hong Kong Shanghai is like being in something off the telly. When you look out of the window it doesn’t appear real. The main picturesque part, Pudong Island has only been built in the last 15 years and has some amazing buildings. It is even more spectacular at night as each sky scraper is lit up with its own colourful lighting design. Yesterday morning started off with a trip to yet another temple. We’re both starting to feel a little temple’d out now but this was lovely. Unfortunately, for the first time it was raining but most of the photos were taken the day before in the afternoon when we arrived. At that time the skies were blue. The temple was very commercialised to the extent that the monks were having the latest office equipment fitted including florescent lighting and a cold water dispenser. It sort of summed up Shanghai which is an incredibly bustling and rapidly westernising city. You can hardly move for people and can’t walk five yards without someone trying to sell you a ‘postcar’ or a ‘lolex watch’. After the temple was a walk round a very nice oriental garden in the middle of the main tourist shopping centre called Yuyuang Garden. We were given a very short 40 minutes to try and do some shopping before off to lunch. We did manage to find a Starbucks in that time and buy a ‘Starbucks Shanghai’ mug. After this it was off to lunch and then planned in the afternoon was a boat trip. The weather was still poor so we ducked out. We were the only two out of a group of 22 to do this but when we saw the sick faces of the returning party we felt quite smug. We went back shopping and put into practice our newly learnt bargaining skills given us by Noa. Amy had wanted a bronze Budda head which we had seen another member of the group get earlier in the tour. In an incredible feat off walking off from the store holder we managed to get the price down from 980 RMB to 100 RMB, about £7.50. We have now managed to fill the little case and one of the big cases completely with memorabilia and pessies!! In the evening we had an especially spicy meal and then went onto another show. This time it was acrobats and a circus style show with all sorts of acts culminating in a globe of death motorcycle display. By far the best show of the four we’ve seen on the tour. The thankyou’s were said to Noa on the bus last night and the tour came to an end. It was a sad yet relieving moment. I can’t quite comprehend the sights we have seen to the distance we have come. It will be nice though to make our own decisions on when we go to the toilet and not have to give the ‘happy room’ a 1 to 5 star rating. I think we are both looking forward to Hong Kong and being able to get out of bed after 0630 and take things at our own pace. The rest of the party were looking weary too but we were yet to get the last briefing from Noa about what to see and do in Hong Kong. This took most of the hour journey to the airport but at least this time she didn’t explain to Amy about how to avoid and deal with the effects of sun burn. We have now said our goodbyes and are sat waiting to board the plane any second. Amy will pop some photos on at the next opportunity as I’m sure the internet access will be easier in the Excelesior Hotel.