Travel Report #9: Slow Boat to China Thursday, 22 October 2009: Day 29 – “Shanghai’d ” (Are we still in China?)

Dear Family and Friends,

A different adventure in each port-of-call! Entering the giant Yangtze River our ship turns left up a tributary, Huangpu River , 12 miles to dock in the epicentre of the absolutely amazing city of Shanghai (Shang hai, means “up river from the sea”). On our right is the historic Bund , resonating with the glory days of early, colonial Shanghai, and across this narrow river the fabulous sky line of ultra-modern Pudong District. Shanghai is so different than our last port, Xingang. Instead of a derelict warehouse, here the view from our stateroom window is of an immaculate dock – and a flying saucer! This gigantic city of nearly 20 millions, is ‘electric’ – charged with the frenetic energy of rapid growth in preparation for next year’s Expo. It is a cosmopolitan city where locals seem anxious to speak with us in English – making it easy to find our way – although keeping a sharp eye. Traffic, both on the roads and on the river, is frantic and largely oblivious to standard driving rules. (Even in a cross-walk with a green light, jump quick or be hit.) Our first stop; the Shanghai Museum in People’s Square . Beautiful, and… free! A person could spend a week, but no… we are off to discover other Shanghai treasures. Joining the throngs for a time we stroll down Nanjing Steet ; tempting high-end shopping. Soon we find a subway station, negotiate the

ticket dispensing machine, and are on our way to Pudong . For orientation we find a circle tour on a topless, double-decker bus – this is a district of astounding architectural design of its giant buildings, including the gorgeous Hyatt and Oriental Pearl Towers, (the latter reminiscent of the CN Tower in Toronto). Back on to the subway we

find our way to the Maglev Train . Holy Smokes! Without wheels, like an arrow shot from a bow, mere inches from the track surface we

shoot along at more than 430 kph! Adjacent the highway, vehicles seem stationary as we whisk past. What a thrill, this round-trip to the airport. Heading back to Volendam we stop at the Bund Brewery for a beer. What good luck – the manager speaks perfect English (having lived in Los

Angeles for a time) AND he offers free WiFi internet – thank goodness I have my laptop to upload the track from my “backup” GPS. Back aboard ship we enjoy another amazing Chinese Acrobat show, the fantastic lights of the city skyline, then collapse into bed exhausted, but thrilled with another fantastic day.

Yesterday, with our tour plans exceeding time available, we head early to the subway: – first target on our itinerary,

the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum . Such a fantastic place, all our remaining day’s plans abandoned – Bob like an excited child scurrying from one exhibit to the next trying to soak it all in! In the “Cradle of Design” exhibit, having conscripted help of a dozen staff (when the computer crashed), we fabricated a memento that will endure forever, a 3D image of Bob and Kerrell, heads together, etched by robotic green laser deep inside a crystal of glass. It looks GREAT – a treasure from Shanghai.

On our way back to Volendam, wending our way through the old-town backstreets,

we check out one of particularly picturesque character, Zhapu Road . Noting our fascination a kind well-dressed businessman tells us this street, although currently worn down, was formerly one of Shanghai’s most famous streets for good restaurants.

Our adventure in Beijing being mainly ancient history, and our Shanghai adventure being mainly ultra modern technology, can we still be in China? Kerrell and I have been Shanghai’d . We are beguiled by this amazingly dynamic city.

Next stop, a short return visit to Japan – Okinawa (Naha), thence on to Taiwan (We hope to visit the famous sky-scraper Taipei 101 if we can get there from Keelung).

So far our travels have been inexplicably charmed with good luck. Sad the shipboard component of our great Asian adventure will soon be coming to an end, but looking forward to the next phase, meeting family and friends in Hong Kong, very much love all,

Bob and Kerrell –Zao shang hao (good morning) from Shanghai, China