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Had a fairly easy morning before leaving for the airport, a trip of around 40 minutes. The scenery was at least visible this time and the surrounding peaks continued to amaze us. On arrival we said a sad goodbye to Tony our local guide, who was just amazing. He was so nice and so helpful. He took dad's jacket to get the stud on the sleeve fixed for him and Grace told me that he had taken it home to fix it himself! That evening he rang Grace rather distraught as he had broken it even further and was worried about dad being cold the next day. He decided to go out in the rain and found a tailor and had it repaired. The next morning he didn't say a word about all this and wouldn't take any payment simply saying it was his Christmas present to dad! And he was a really great guide as well. Grace was also really impressed with him and once we got to the departure lounge she rang the manager to tell her how impressed she was. She asked me if I would like to speak to her so I did, and gave Tony a good wrap as well. I hope it helps him to get more work.
The aircraft was supposed to leave around 11:15 but was then showing as delayed by 20 minutes. In the end it left 15 minutes early!! Work that out! We arrived in Shanghai in the rain, although it was easing. Pudong international airport is incredible. It was built for the expo and is so large that aircraft have to follow a car which has a sign on the top saying "Follow me" so that they can get to their parking bay more easily. We parked at bay 80 but I saw bays numbered in the 90s! We walked for nearly 20 minutes to get to the outside and our bus! The trip into the city was phenomenal and Shanghai lived up to all expectations. We passed the expo site and saw the maglev railway line (see later blog, we travelled on it) and of course saw some incredible buildings and, something that I never thought that I would be impressed by, some unbelievable road engineering! Roads built 100 feet above the ground and going for literally miles! Crossovers involving 6 and seven roadways intersecting at all different heights! It has to be seen to be believed.
We went straight to the hotel and settled in. The room was enormous and even had a little sitting area and coffee table with a nice two seater lounge. Caught up on a little bit of blogging and some photo uploads and then went down to the lobby bar for a couple of quite expensive drinks (Y40 ea.) before going to dinner. The drive through the streets was stunning and it is easy to see why this city requires the power output of some 23 power stations! It was also novel to see Christmas decorations in the streets! Apparently the young Chinese have taken to Christmas like ducks to water and it is a good excuse for partying and shopping! Dinner was at a restaurant on the fourth floor of a building opposite which was a barbie building! I kid you not, it was all pink and is a some kind of beauty parlour around four stories high! The food was quite good and after that we went to the dock and boarded a ferry for a cruise up the river and back. What an amazing experience. The lights were just stunning and the buildings are incredible. I got some photos so hopefully you can get some idea, but photography at night on a moving boat is not a venture destined for great success! After the cruise we returned to the hotel and turned in.
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Sue The photos just keep getting better! The caves look gorgeous as does the Shanghai skyline. The young Chinese taking to Christmas is pretty amazing. That has got to be good for their economy! 8 days to go!