The newest area of Shanghai, otherwise known as Pudong

It makes me think about what is next.  It makes me happy to be alive.  It makes me thankful for great people.  It makes me want to know who in the heck is living in all those apartment buildings.  It makes me wish I had seen this city 30 years ago.  It makes me wonder what it will look like in another 30 years.  It makes me curious to know why the Chinese culture doesn’t embrace foreigners that much.  It makes me want to shop.  It makes me wish cars and factories didn’t polute our world.  It makes me dread re-entering the design seen.  It makes me miss Thai food.  It makes me cold.  It makes me want to live there.

The Grand Cathay Room at Quintet B&B*

As you can tell, our week in Shanghai was eventful to say the least.  For the first three nights, we splurged on an expensive room at a little bed and breakfast called The Quintet.  They have only 5 rooms and each is designed slightly differently.  The owner, Fay, is super sweet and was a great hostess.  And let me tell you…the breakfast is wonderful!!!  Especially the French Toast with berry compote and link sausages.  The place has the perfect blend of traditional and modern to make it a cozy temporary home.

The balcony of Klara & Gerhard's amazing apartment

For the last two nights, we had our first Couchsurfing experience.  We stayed with a Swedish/German couple, and they really made our trip ten times better.  They invited us to join them with several friends for dinner Wednesday night, then we met up at their office Thursday before going over to Pecha Kucha, and then Friday night we joined them after dinner for dessert and drinks before heading back to their place for some Swedish Glögg.  They and their friends gave us a great peak at what life in Shanghai would be like, and they have all but convinced us to move here in January.  Now all we need is a job offer…and we’re there!!

When we weren’t spending QT at our temporary homes, we were walking around town, navigating the Metro system, sipping cocktails at the Park Hyatt bar on the 91st floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center, browsing through the World Exhibition 2010 exhibit at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, climbing the Lupu Bridge for an amazing panoramic view of the city, eating sweet potatoes on the streets, and gawking at all of the HUGE construction sites.

Old Art Deco Buildings

HSBC and WFC Towers

Nik with cocktails 91 stories up

WFC at night

Christmas Trike

The Danish Pavillion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010

"Old" apartments...they were built 15 years ago, but look 50 years old

Trash Trolleys

Nik climbing the Lupu Bridge

The view from the top...multiply this by 30, and you'll get the impression of the entire city

Our days were relaxed but busy, and it was an amazing week.  After Beijing, we weren’t too thrilled with the polution and lack of history in Shanghai.  But as the week went on, we liked and appreciated the city more and more.  If we had left after three days, we would have placed the city low on our list, but since we stayed for six, it grew on us.  Of course, it helped that the sun came out on Friday, and the city sparkled.  If this is where we end up next year, I think we’ll be happy.

Nik did a much better job of documenting Shanghai than I did, so take a look at his blog to see more.

Nik’s Blog: First 3 Days in Shanghai, China

Nik’s Blog: Last Days in Shanghai

Saturday and Sunday were spent like every weekend should be…relaxing in the park, strolling down the streets, wandering through shopping malls and visiting national monuments.

Temple of Heaven

Saturday morning we departed pretty early and took the subway to Tianten Park, which is more commonly known for the Temple of Heaven that sits in its’ midst.  We came for the park, not the temple so as soon as we walked in the gates, we veered left away from the crowd towards the kite fliers.  Along the way, we passed ribbon twirlers, feather hackysack kickers, weight lifters, Thai Qi practicers and finally…Kite fliers.  We watched as men young and old hoisted their paper birds into the air and ate our morning pastries while drinking hot coffee.  It was a beautiful way to start the day!!

Evergreen Grid

We continued our journey through the park along its perimeter on wide pathways that wound in and out of huge fields of trees laid out in a perfect grid.  Some grids were made up of Ginkgo trees, some of evergreens…some of both.  In their midst were large circular concrete paths with benches where groups would congregate to partake in their chosen activity.  The park is not that different than American parks, but there is something about it that seems more active and comfortable.  Perhaps it is because all of the activities are low impact and suitable for all ages.  Whereas American parks either cater to young children on playgrounds or active young people playing high-impact sports such as basketball, football or soccer.  I suppose we do play catch and throw frisbees, but there is still something different about Chinese parks.

Ginkgo Grid

We eventually decided we should partake, so we purchased a feathered toy that is kicked around like a hackysack for 5RMB from the small shop near the temple, and found a spot away from everyone else.  We practiced volleying the toy back and forth and eventually got okay!  We envy the natural motions that the Chinese have mastered, but were unsuccessful in making them ourselves.  Instead we probably appeared to be flailing fish out of water to any passersby!

After a couple hours, we were tired and hungry so we packed up and left in search of food.  Unfortunately, we didn’t find anything for quite some time and ended up just going back to our neighborhood, eating at the mall then calling it a day.

On Sunday, we packed up our room and headed to Tienanmen Square.  Believe it or not, we stayed just two blocks from the Forbidden City, but never went in.  We know that it is one of the things you must do in China, but we never had a strong desire to go, and we did want to go other places.  We also never made it to the Olympic Park.  We kept saying we would go tomorrow, but tomorrows came and went.  Oh well….I guess we’ll have to go back!

Tienanmen Square

The Infamous Chairman Mao and his Protector

Another Guard

The monument on the south end of Tienanmen Square

Yellow and Red

China