I have been in Shanghai for almost 6 months - and whilst it has flown by, it does feel like I have been here for a really long time. The first 4 months were crazily busy, the current months are seeing me nearly as busy, but I am making time for some fun trips too - after all, everything is so close. Am sure the last few months will heat up but with 69 days to go till Expo closes and most of us leave Shanghai, I am going to make the most of every day!
The teams at our Pavilion are an absolute delight - a gorgeous, vibrant bunch of young people whose passion and enthusiasm I admire. Each month we have a staff party for them and they put on an amazing show each time - I don't know how they have the time to do it. This month the theme was red... per the pics above.
August has seen me FINALLY visit a few Pavilions, namely China, Saudi and Spain. It was so hot we had sweat running down our faces AND we were being driven around in a buggy and didn't have to queue (well we did at China, but everyone does..)... so kudos to the hundreds of thousands who go and spend full days at the Expo and queue for hours to get in to these Pavilions.
Each Pavilion has a theme, but of course the underlying is the same for all - Better City, Better Life. It is a little hard with some of the Pavilions to see how the story gels together - and some things, like the 6 metre high baby at the Spanish Pavilion, are just a tad odd. But, it is a wonderful world we live in and there are clearly some very creative minds out there - the architecture at some of the Pavilions is quite amazing. Shamefully, nearly all of them will simply be pulled down at the end of October.
I headed home to Sydney in early August for Juz's birthday - we had a great dinner at Uccello with some wonderful friends. Of course, every trip is far too fast and far too rushed, but it was great to catch up with a few people and of course to see my boys - Juz and Vegas. I am not sure who was more excited when I got home - Vegas or me.... only 4 more weeks till I am home again.
Arna and I are still spending far too much time having clothes made by our lovely tailor, Shirley - really, how many trench coats does 1 girl need. We did manage to drag ourselves away and spend the weekend just gone in Sanya - the Hawaii of China. It is the Southern most point of China and sits on the same latitude as Hawaii - so the gorgeous 28 degrees with little humidty was a god send compared to the constant 38 degrees with 110% humidity we have had in Shanghai for the past 3 weeks.
Yalong Bay is home to a host of resorts, which surprisingly they only started builidng back in 1999; the Sheraton alone has 3 new resorts under construction to be completed by 2012. The beach goes for miles and it was just beautiful for a morning run. We spent about 9 hours by the pool on Saturday whilst Sunday saw us relaxing by the pool and in the lobby bar as it rained for the bulk of the day.
Of course, I am jinxed when it comes to travel as many of you would know. Our flight out of Shanghai on Friday was delayed - due to 'flow control' (aka air traffic control) but there was worse to come... For the first AND LAST time, I had booked our flights on Expedia. Our itin clearly said our return flight was at 1625 - we get to the airport and it is at 1940..... We debate if we should go back to one of the hotels or wait it out - we decide to wait. Big mistake; the flight is delayed till 2225.. so we spent 7 hours at Sanya airport and got home this morning to Shanghai at 230am. BUT, we tried to whinge as little as possible as there are many more people far worse off than us and we still had a fantastic time.
Tomorrow I am off to London for 5 days for a fab Wedding Party for my lovely friends Caroline and Ralph - looking froward to seeing them as well as the Wilkie crew in Surry on Sunday. Seems I have some time to shop too...... Well, it is London...
I am having my Chinese lessons 2/3 times a week - am hoping one day it will just come to me but for now, I understand a few words and phrases which is better than nothing. James, my trainer, comes 3 times a week - so my boxing skills have improved but I am still nowere near ready for a half marathon in 4 weeks.. Looks like it will have to be all mind over matter.
And of course in amongst all of this, I have to work too :) - lucky I am female and can multitask ;-).
Better go - time to pack (ugh).
G
xxxx
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