Shanghai Splendour and Skyscrapers

As I enter my third month of travelling and come close to the end of my Chinese adventure, I want to share a little of the wonderful time I had in Shanghai. Whilst Shanghai is undoubtedly an attractive city, particularly around the riverside area (known as the Bund) it is the time I spent with some old friends and the opportunity to make some new ones, which made Shanghai so special. Indeed, so enjoyable was my welcome in Shanghai that I actually stayed for 12 nights - the longest time I have spent in any single location since I started my travels.

                                                  

Ronald and Nicole demolishing a huge dessert     Yorkshire tea and cider - what amazing hosts!

How could you blame me when my hosts were Ronald and Nicole, old friends from the Netherlands who are currently living and working in Shanghai at Shell and a British Primary School respectively? 

When I let them know about my travel plans, they were very fast to say "stay with us if you come to Shanghai." I hesitated initially, thinking that I didn't want to put upon anyone, but knowing that I definitely wanted to see them. They then repeated their offer to stay with them and I realised they were being very sincere. I said "yes please" and factored Shanghai into my cross country tour of China. Better still, I hoped I would be able to visit Nicole in her school, so I could see first hand how private education works in China.

                                

                                                The Fraser Residence, Shanghai

My travels through China brought me closer and closer to Shanghai, and whilst I did not have a set arrival date, I kept Ronald and Nicole informed of my progress. On the 19th of November I arrived by high speed train at Shanghai Station. I took the metro to their area and then hailed a cab to take me to their accommodation. 

  

Upon arrival I decided I was in the wrong place. This was a posh hotel - not an apartment. I checked my address details with the receptionist and then told her I must be in the wrong place, especially when she asked if I was checking in. As I turned to leave, she assured me to stay where I was and picked up the phone. A minute later Nicole appeared from the nearest elevator and I could have cried at seeing the friendly face of someone I recognised. My hug spoke a thousand words, but the gist was "thank you so much for saying I could come and stay with you."

                  

                                         The view from their Penthouse Apartment!

Taking the lift up I realised we were heading to the top floor and told Nicole of my concerns about being in the wrong place. Without boasting she simply said "we are in the penthouse. Come and see."

Now look here people. I have stayed in dozens of different places so far on my travels. Places where I shared the room with cockroaches. Rooms where I could touch both walls as I lay in bed. Rooms where I have shivered in the cold or hidden under mozzie nets trying not to be eaten - desperate for air-conditioning. Therefore you can imagine my reaction as I walked into a penthouse apartment. 3 en-suite bedrooms, a huge living room and dining area, a kitchen and a box room. Not to mention TVs in every room, perfect wi-fi, air-con/heating and electric toilets which washed and dried you after use!  When all of that is coupled with a view over Shanghai to take your breath away, I thought I had gone to heaven. When Nicole said "you can stay as long as you like, we're glad you are here," I had to pinch myself and recalculate my plans. Suffice it to say, that when they said I could stay in their apartment for Christmas and New Year if I wanted to whilst they were in Europe, I was sorely tempted and I had to draw on deep determination to refuse and book my next flight to Gaungzhou.

They were great hosts and we had many meals together, a few nights out and they even managed to find me cider and Yorkshire tea! Nicole managed to get me into her school - hence the photo below of me in a shirt and tie (borrowed from Ronald's wardrobe) and we even went to a Shell engagement together whilst Ronald was away in Beijing. With a swimming pool and sauna on the 5th floor, which I used exclusively on numerous occasions, two great restaurants and an invitation to treat the apartment as my home - I had a truly wonderful time.

               

Shanghai is a rich place to explore, and eleven days meant that I could really take my time and not dash around so frenetically. I visited museums, parks, the People's Square, the Bund and waterfront, markets, temples, churches and even a nearby water town called Zhujiajiao. I even had time to establish myself in a local bar (the one selling cider pictured above - called Freddy's) run by a local who had lived and studied in Australia for 5 years.

    

                          A temple surrounded by skyscrapers and the Shanghai Museum

Better still, I had yet another friend to catch up with whilst in Shanghai. Paul moved to China to work as a graphic artist over five years ago and now he is the Head of the arts team based in Shanghai and wider Asia for EA Games. Rather like Nicole and Ronald, when Paul found out that my travel itinerary included Shanghai (his home now for nearly three years) he said that I must come and stay. Not wanting to give up my penthouse luxury, and to have a welcome break from constantly packing my bags and moving on every few days, I opted not to lodge with Paul, but to meet up on a couple of occasions instead.

A wonderful brunch with Paul and Grace was followed by a visit to the Shanghai Art Gallery and then, a couple of days later, I visited Paul at his work. I was like a boy in a toy shop as I toured EA Games' Shanghai HQ and saw some of the work his artists were involved with, before going out for a meal and a night out on the Bund. Paul took me to a rooftop bar called 'Red' which was spectacularly expensive and full of young and successful Chinese businessmen displaying their wealth and very well paid ex-pats. I had insisted on paying for our drinks, but Paul got out his credit card and said that the drinks were on him - when I saw the prices I must admit that I was relieved!

                  

                             

I am indebted to Paul for taking me to the Bund at night, for though I had seen it during the day, the illuminated river front was a sight I shall not forget - but, as the following photos can testify, Shanghai is a magnificently picturesue city.

   

   

   

                                         

                                           Could be a street in London or Liverpool?

 

I can fully recommend Shanghai to everyone. It is possible that I will return there one day, and Ronald and Nicole have said that if I decide to look for a job there, they would put me up until I got myself established! The weather was lovely (bar one or two showers) the city was cosmopolitan and less than 6 hours from Beijing by high speed train.

I want to thank my wonderful hosts though - for they made Shanghai truly special.

Paul

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