My first blog piece - it is a complete ramble but I hope you will enjoy. It isn't that I wouldn't like to email everyone individually, I just simple do not have enough hours in my day so I hope you will forgive me and accept this as a substitute - and hopefully it will help you all to remember me as I will be home eventually!!
I have been here on and off, mostly on, since March. Shanghai is a vibrant, energised city - it is just the smog that is a killer. Thankfully though, Summer is here and it is at least much warmer and not as hazy as it was for the first 3 months.
There is the old and the new sides of Shanghai, like most big cities, but here the differences are so noticeable. The old houses still exist with many thousands of people living in little laneway dwellings where they reside with up to 4 generations.
Some 19 million people live in Shanghai - and many of them are not from the affluent side of society. And I think that is what is most striking - they go about their daily lives and they are happy as they know no differently. The mad traffic is forgotten as you wander the laneways watching people go by on a 3 wheel bike carrying more than we would ever dream of loading into a 2 tonne truck. Whilst most westerners are not 'brave' enough to try the street food, you cannot escape from the smells and sounds all around as the stall holders make a living 7 days a week serving up authentic dishes for only a few cents.
I've moved from Fraser Apartments to Ascott Apartments - a really nice 1 bedroom apartment with a snazzy kitchen (unlikely to get used but at least it is there...), a lovely rain head shower and 2 great flat screen teles (shame the channels offered are rubbish but at least there is a DVD player too). The complex only opened on 1 May so it is nice and new; it has a simple but nice gym and is on a main road, HauiHai Lu, an easy walk to the super market, Xintiandi and lots of restaurants and shops.
Since I have been here I have not had a lot of time to do much sight seeing as we were simply too busy getting the Pavilion ready for opening. Since opening (1 May) we have been busy with some top level executive visits but after 19 June that all dies down and am determined to get some semblance of a life back and get out and about and explore some more.
I have of course managed to go to the fabric market and have some clothes made. I had 2 suits made, one with a jacket, pants and a skirt and the other just pants and a jacket - grand sum of AUD190. Cufflinks ranged from AUD4.50 to AUD12... I've been to the Three Leaves building where there are 5 floors of eye glass vendors - with all the work I do in front of a PC my eyes are not what they used to be so after only an hour at the stall we had been recommended to go to I was the proud owner of 4 new pairs of glasses (2 x Gucci and 2 x Prada - you would never know the difference....) for the sum of AUD200 - including eye test, frames and lenses.....
Other than that, a few work tings and bags from Zara and a few little things at the markets.
Eating..... I am such a regular at Din Tai Fung now that I am always sat in the same area with my favourite waiter, Ken. I am still yet to find a dumpling to surpass those of Din Tai Fung. There is a Din Tai Fung in World Square in Sydney so if you are a fan, you should try it out.
There are countless great restaurants in Shanghai and I look forward to trying more and more over the coming months. Mr & Mrs Bund is my favourite - a very eclectic place located right on the bund. The furniture is a tad bizarre in spots but the French Martinis are to die for....
Sichuan Citizen is another delicious place and I had one of my best nights here at a restaurant called Osteria - will definitely be going back when Juz is here for a few weeks in July.
My lovely friend Arna is arriving tonight to come and work with us for 5 months. There are 4 of us in the same apartment block now so will be nice to get out and about a little together.
My plan at this stage is to head to London to attend the lovely Bolton's wedding party in August for a few days - I am only 11 hours away... nothing at all so I figure why not.
And of course in September my gorgeous New York buddies, Gene and Thomas will be here for 2 nights when they cruise in - cannot wait to see them and show them around a little.
Then I have the lovely Carla's birthday in California in December. Oh, did I mention that my year with alcohol has not materialized... Yes - I failed. I lasted until mid March but since then have had a few cocktails and one night out on the Tequila with the guys who were here building the NZ Pavilion. However, I've had no massive nights out since December and have only had a few cocktails all year so that's gotta count for something...
I am determined to run the Sydney half in September so started back at the gym today after having 4 weeks off. Was simply too tired and busy to drag my butt out of bed at 530am - especially last 2 weeks in Sydney where it rained every day...
As for the Expo site itself, I shamedly admit I have not been anywhere... We are on the Puxi side of the river, the smaller side, and away from all of the Country Pavilions which are of course, the focal point for most visitors. We do have a sly plan though... In a few months our great Marketing Manager, Aki, will have such great relationships with all of the Pavilions she will be able to arrange for us to get into all of them without queuing ;-).
The China Pavilion is of course the most popular, closely followed by Saudi Arabia. The queue to get into the Saudi Pavilion averages 4 hours and about 3km long. it is said to have cost USD160mill to build and features the largest IMAX theatre screen in the world measuring some 1600 sq metres.. It's theme is 'Vitality of Life'
I miss everyone and I do miss Juz and Vegas more than words could tell, but it is a fabulous experience being here and I am part of the biggest show mankind has ever seen - so no complaints.
So, there you have it.. a little bit about Shanghai and the Expo and my life as it stands.
G
xxxx
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