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 !!!