Walking towards The Bund, Shanghai

I left my colleagues at the Xiu Loong Bao place, and dashed off along the streets to head towards the waterfront of The Bund ...


Plenty of examples of intersting architecture in the construction-boom of Shanghai!

Xiu Loong Bao (Shanghai Dumplings), Nanjing Road East

Hmmm, what should we have for tea?



Very average tasting (The xiu loong bao skin was too thick) food served at this 'fast' food place, well it looked like a fast food concept, but the service was rather slow! Our first meal at Shanghai :-)


We like the Minute Maid orange juice drinks served in Shanghai ... yummy with bits.

Shanghai's Metro or Subway, life underground can be funny!

Besides taxis (fare starts at a reasonable 11 RMB, or RM$5), the Metro is one of the best ways to get around Shanghai ... here's our first experience, at Pu Dian Road station, located within a 5 minute walking distance from our hotel.


Funny greeting!


Shanghai (which means "on the sea") currently has two subway lines.
The first line opened in 1995. Just 7 years later, there are 46.8 km of operating track. Eleven lines (362 km) and 10 LRT lines (172 km) planned for completion by 2025.
Construction on the 22 km, 17 station Line 4 began in 1999 and is due to be completed in 2002.This is China's third subway system, followed by Beijing and Tiensten.

The fare was only 3 RMB (Roughly RM$1.50) for us to travel 5 stops ...


Huh!!!! Lan-Chun Road!!? How rude ... :-)


Best advertisement in Shanghai? Check out the blood donation campaign marketing design ...

Street food ... Roti canai in Pudong, Shanghai

Our first attempt at trying street food ... not far from our hotel in Pudong. Wasn't the tastiest 'roti canai' we've ever had!

Citroens and other weird cars, Pudong in Shanghai

Citroen ... hmmm, I am surprised to see one in Shanghai!


Hmmm, some Chinese made car, which looks like a cross over between a Audi A4, a Honda Civic, Toyota Camry and a hint of BMW 3-series E92 coupe!

Holiday Inn Pudong, Shanghai

Holiday Inn Pudong Shanghai
Add: 899 Dong Fang Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China
Tel: (021) 5830 6666

A 45 minute ride by mini-van / taxi from the airport to our hotel ...


Average room ... but its so expensive, something like RM$600 per night!


Simple but usable bathroom ...


Eeeep .... its smoggy in Shanghai! Pollution :-(
But at least I had a reasonable view of the city.


V and SS waiting in the lounge for our first evening out ...

Funny sign in Pudong, Shanghai

Seen in Pudong ... CRASH! BANG!

Cool architecture and buildings in Shanghai

Pudong International Airport in Shanghai ...




Near our hotel ... Looks like the Millenium Falcon crash-landed!




Shanghai science centre ... located in Pudong, not far from our hotel.

Pudong Airport car-park and Peugeot 307

Here's a a view of the fancy cars at the Pudong (Shanghai) International Airport car-park ... Audis, Lexus a-plenty!


Interesting! A Peugeot 307 saloon ... I was about to spend 4 days spotting various cars that weren't available in Malaysia!

KL - Pudong Shanghai on MH388

I don't fly MAS (Malaysia Airlines) much being a loyal Star Alliance client, but I did give it a go on this trip to Shanghai (Pudong). The cabin crew were pleasant and well-groomed, and the plane was relatively new.

Airplane: Boeing 777-2H6/ER
Flight: MAS MH388
Time: 08:50am - 02:a0pm (On time!)
Route: KLIA - Pudong in Shanghai, China

Turned out be a low loading flight, it was great :-) Plenty of legroom and peace 'n quiet!

Hmm, at one point towards the end of the flight, the tail-winds surpassed 100mph! Maybe that helped the flight to be on time :-)


No complaints about the simple meal ... at least it wasn't served in a little box as on a previous Bangkok flight!


Air fare
Ticket: RM$ 1,948
Tax: RM$ 689

We're in Shanghai ... Pudong International Airport.

Porridge for breakfast at McDonalds in KLIA

Breakfast time ... my choice? Porridge at McDs in KLIA just before immigration check-in.


This wasn't mine ... but I heard J say that it was gross!


Nor was this mine ... wish it was though. Slurp!


Our trust guide books, thanks to SS and W!

Shanghai - Travelling light!

This is my idea of travelling light ... that little black knapsack at the front is mine!

Managed to squeeze in 4 days of clothing, a laptop and other gadgets in there :-) Darn chargers take up so much space (aka Toshiba PC, Apple iPod Nano, Canon G9 et al).

P.S. I Love You (2007)

Source: DVD (SS2)


"Sometimes you have to live life one letter at a time"

A brilliantly acted film, with even more brilliant script-writing. I was totally engrossed with the conversation in the film ... sad, funny, touching, inspiring. Really good!

KLEENEX WARNING! Do NOT watch this film alone!!


Bravo to the brilliantly casted array of stars ...
Hilary Swank ... Holly Kennedy
Gerard Butler ... Gerry Kennedy
Lisa Kudrow ... Denise Hennessey
Gina Gershon ... Sharon McCarthy
and ... Kathy Bates ... Patricia Rawley
Also ... a wonderful performance by Harry Connick Jr. ... Daniel Connelly


Ps. Just a sample of some of the brilliant script ...

I bet you've had a hard time walking into a room full of people on your own, right? Yeah. I know that. I know what it is not to feel like your in the room until he looks at you or touches your hand or even makes a joke at your expense, just to let everyone know... you're with him. You're his.

AND,

Holly Kennedy: I don't want to make any mistakes.
Gerry Kennedy: Then you're in the wrong species, love. Be a duck.