Sunday, October 10, 2010

China (Shanghai) Sept 2010 D-8

Map of Shanghai, China

Hostel: City Central International Hostel - CNY90 dorm (2 nights)
Train: Suzhou>Shanghai - CNY41 (bullet train); Starting Oct 2010, you can take a bullet train from Shanghai > Hangzhou (45mins), a 2nd class ticket costs CNY82
Bus + Metro: CNY68
Food & groceries: CNY139
Entrance fee: CNY100 (Shanghai Expo)
Sundries: CNY39 (shoe)
Total expenses incurred: CNY567


Suzhou & Shanghai are well connected by a high speed train network. Fast & efficient ! I came to Shanghai to see the Expo, Old Shanghai and also to re-visit The Bund & Nanking Lu. My last visit to Shanghai was in 2002 with my family and in-laws. I really enjoyed my time at the Bund, doing window shopping, catching a glimpse of Shanghai by night and enjoyed a dinner with my brother at a restaurant in the Nanjing Lu. To be precise, the time was 8.35 pm, Wednesday Sept 8 2010 when I took a picture of a large clock hanging at a pedestrian mall in Nanjing Lu .

1) Nanjing Road, Shanghai by night


2) Shanghai Bund - a must visit !


3) Shanghai Old Street


4) Shanghai Expo 2010 (Better City Better Life) - colorful flags from 189 participating countries flying high at the Expo (admission ticket CNY160 - senior citizen paid CNY100). The Expo was opened to public on May 1 and closed on Oct 31 2010. So far a total of 70mil people had visited the Expo. After entering the Expo, my nightmare began. Queuing ! More queuing !! Long queues were the order of the day at most of the big country pavilions eg China, USA, Britain, France, Germany etc !


China & Japan Pavilion - virtually impossible to enter the China Pavilion as queuing time took 3-4 hrs, you may have to spend two solid days if you want to see all the major pavilions at the Expo


Pakistan & Sri Lanka Pavilion



Europe & Germany Pavilion



Britain & France Pavilion - The Brit, German & French Pavilions were over crowded so you need to be very patient spending 2-3 hours under the hot scotching sun to queue up. The British Pavilion looks like a porcupine with long sharp quills - do you dare to enter ?


Spain & Italy Pavilion - the Spanish Pavilion looks like our kampong (village) attap house


Bulgaria & Romania Pavilion


Denmark & Netherlands Pavilion - the Little Mermaid was proudly on display at the Danish Pavilion. I "chased" after this iconic figure from Copenhagen (the Mermaid was not in Copenhagen when I visited the city in May 2010) to Shanghai to pose a picture - having travelled half way round the globe !


Turkey & Poland Pavilion


Hungary & Greece Pavilion



Belgium & Sweden Pavilion



Slovenia & Slovakia Pavilion



Lithuania & Estonia Pavilion



Bosnia & Croatia Pavilion




Latvia & Serbia Pavilion


Canada & USA Pavilion


Russia & Belarus Pavilion



Iceland & Ukraine Pavilion



Egypt & South Africa Pavilion




Angola, Nigeria & Tunisia Pavilion


Libya & Peru Pavilion



Brazil & Argentina Pavilion



Cuba & Chile Pavilion



Central & South America & Venezuela Pavilion


Brunei & Singapore Pavilion
- The Singapore Pavilion looks like a flying saucer
 

Philippines & Indonesia Pavilion



Cambodia & Thailand Pavilion



Malaysia Pavilion - Built at a cost of RM20mil and another RM15mil for its maintenance and operating cost; Minangkerbau design, 1 Malaysia logo, The World Tallest Petronas Twin Tower, Promoting Malacca & George Town as UNESCO Heritage sites, Kelantan kites, Nyonya & Baba, National Art Gallery & Batek, Tackle Climate Change, Moon Cake Tasting, Traditional Handicraft Demos, The Joget Dance, since May 1 2010 - the Pavilion had received 6mil visitors; Malaysia Boleh - lah !!!

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