Shanghai

We arrived in Shanghai right on time with another very cool ride at 220mph through the Chinese countryside.  One lesson that should be shared is that although most adults do not feel the acceleration, apparently babies do and if you feed them right before boarding, they tend to power puke.  This happened both to and from Hangzhou.  Not to fear, though, as the attendants were clearly used to it and had both messes cleaned up before the stank reached our seat. 

The conference was in the Shangri-la, Pudong in Shanghai which sits on the opposite riverbank to the older part of Shanghai.  Pudong is the area which you usually see in the photos of ultra-modern Shanghai with the funky architecture.  Across the river is the Bund which was the financial capital of Asia during the 1920s when all the foreign powers were exploiting China – Oh how times have changes.  It is typically 1920s colonial architecture and back in the day visitors to Shanghai used to complain that it looked too European. 

We checked to the hotel and were brought up to our room.  It was a beautiful suite that looked directly over the river and onto the Bund.  From the 34 floor, we had a grand view of the river and Shanghai beyond.  They even provided powerful binocular to view the unique buildings across the river or into the hotel next door – whatever, I am judging. 

The morning view from bed

Shanghai and the Bund

Shanghai

The conference ran for three days and I had two extra days of meetings on the backside, but my lovely, and now ironically extraverted and adventurous wife explored Shanghai to the fullest.  On Monday, she relaxed in the hotel room, but Tuesday saw the full exploration of Pudong including a venture up the Oriental Pearl Tower to the observation deck at 1148 feet.  This is even more impressive given Olga’s debilitating fear of heights.  I guess after venturing through Delhi’s urine soaked streets, 1148 feet is nothing to an acrophobic. 

Wednesday brought more adventure within Shanghai’s old town and Yu Gardens.  These are located in the center of Shanghai and are a must see if you ever get to Shanghai. Yu Gardens was the household of a wealthy Chinese merchant and is completely intact with all the buildings including an auditorium, office and the prerequisite water that defines ancient Chinese homes.  Although I was knee deep in needy vendors, Olga said it was, in fact, very cool. 

The old town of Shanghai

Yu Gardens

Yu Gardens - the office

The area around Yu Gardens

More of the old city of Shanghai

Thursday was an afternoon tour to the water city of Zhouzhuang.  It is a spectacular little hamlet with canals that cut through the town in place of streets.  The city was built around 1086 and has transformed into a very popular tourist destination for Chinese due to the level of preservation.  I was there in 2007 and it was very quaint, but Olga tells me that it has gone a tad commercial and the overall ambiance that I remember has been spoiled somewhat.  She returned around 9:30pm in the evening, tired and hungry, but glad she went. 

One of the many "streets" in Zhouzhuang 

A resident carrying goods the traditional way

One of the many bridges

Converted boats that used to carry goods, now only carry tourists

A quiet backstreet

Residential Area

Main Street

The main street with some boats

"Street" Side cafes

Traffic at the other end

I have run out of comments

Friday finally arrived and Olga and I were able to enjoy breakfast together.  I had one more day of meetings and was tired and ready to go back to Delhi.  This conference always tires exhausts, as you have to be “on” from 7:00am until 10:00pm.  My meetings finished around 3:00pm and Olga and I had time to shop a little, grab a great dinner at a trendy Shanghai fusion restaurant called “Lost Heaven” and enjoy a romantic walk along the Bund.   It was a welcomed end to a long week!

Olga on the Bund

The Bund

Pudong as seen from the Bund
Our Hotel is one of the buildings are the right

The next day, we began the journey home with a brief layover in Hong Kong which put us into Delhi around 2:30am.  The desire and readiness to be back in Delhi lasted exactly until the sweet smell of body odor, urine and the heat of the night combined to say “Welcome Home!”