Kitty and The Germ » 2009 » October

Shanghai

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

So…I guess we didn’t read the tour details all that clearly. Who knew that there would be more than one night on a sleeper train. I knew there would be one night on a train and pictured something very romantic. I had visions of white table cloths and Bing Crosby playing the piano. Who the hell knew that we would be 6 in a cabin (stacked 3 high) with no door, no curtain, no toilets–except for the disgusting hole in the ground at the end of the cabin used by all. My romantic notions of train riding were beyond gone. For some reason I envisioned the Orient express. I couldn’t have been further off. October 1 is the Chinese national holiday. All of China was traveling and I have never seen crowds like this. When I found out that Marc and I were not together, I literally raised the roof and told our guide that this was not acceptable. They changed it for us.

In Shanghai, I was expecting a bit more glamour. No–not really.

Downtown Shanghai

Amazing Architecture

We went to the museum which was one of the most beautiful spaces we have ever been to.

Shanghai Museum

Beautiful Scrolls

Ancient Art

After a traditional Chinese lunch of Subway and a Coke (not DC for me–it tastes like poison) we went to the world’s tallest building. I am not sure how they determine building versus structure, but we went to the top of the Shanghai World Financial Centre. It was amazing and looks like a bottle opener. We will add pictures shortly once we are out of China.

We Went Up SWFC

Record Breaking Heights

Gorgeous On Top of SWFC

Elevator to 430 m

Jin Mao Tower and SWFC

Kitty and The Germ @ 430 m

The Pearl – View from SWFC

Shanghai World Financial Center

To put wind back in my sails after the brutal train ride and after having so much fun at the Kee Club in Hong Kong, we went to the Kee Club in Shanghai which was easily one of the most posh places I have even been to. Stunning to say the least. Our favorite line of the evening we overheard spoken by these South African guys…

“You can get an OK bottle of wine for a $100, but it will never compare to a $1000 bottle”

Also, we have now learnt that the ONLY vintage of Dom you should drink should be from the 70s.

We had a lovely evening in a stunning space and I was rejuvenated to get ready for another sleeper train…

Other impressions…