Back!
Posted by Aurus | Filed under Holidays | 91 views
Less than a week ago I was still a thousand miles away from home, breathing in the cool Shanghainese air, taking in the different sights and sounds of that vibrant city. Now I’m back in the sweltering heat of Manila - back to “real” life, I guess. Beijing and Shanghai were awesome. They were everything I expected and everything I did not expect. And, as promised in my previous entry, here’s a photo of the Great Wall, with me right smack in the middle of it:
A truckload more of pictures and a coupla funny conversations await you after the cut.
OK, picture time! These are just some of the over 1,500 photos that I took during my trip. Yes, I took a lot of photos. My camera was pretty much glued to my face all the time. As our tour guide in Shanghai said, “You’re still taking photos??”
Beijing from above. Taken as our plane was nearing landing.
A street in Beijing.
Temple of Heaven. There were sooo many tourists!
I think the little fur ball was asleep, it was early morning. What a cutie, eh?
This is a mythical creature called Qilin. Taken at the Summer Palace.
At the Summer Palace. Oi kid, you’re in my shot. I was probably in yours too.
Tiananmen Square
Forbidden City
No, your eyes are not deceiving you.
*snickers*
Shanghai as seen from the Oriental Pearl Tower.
The Pudong district was developed in just 15 years - it’s amazing!
Pudong
On the Huangpu River with Pudong behind me.
The Bund
Nanjing Road. One of my favorite places in Shanghai.
The Pudong skyline at night.
Yu Yuan Bazaar. A mix of old and new, a place where East meets West - I love it.
Yu Yuan Garden
These are old coins!
A miniature model of Shanghai - and it’s not even the whole city yet!
I love red.
Nyahaha.
The Maglev Train - it can go up to 400 kmph!
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
In Beijing we also visited Dr. Tea, the biggest tea house in China. We got to taste some really yummy tea there. Of course we brought some home. My dad and I are avid tea drinkers! We went to two silk factories as well, and I learned that silkworms were killed in order to make silk. So sad. =[
Anyway, here are a couple of funny convos.
We were walking along the streets of Beijing and passed by a - er, adult shop. I pointed it out to my brother.
Tour Guide: You understand?
Me: (a little confused) Yeah.
Tour Guide: How old are you?
Me: Twenty-two.
Tour Guide: Oh, I thought you were sixteen.
Me: Me??
In Shanghai, whilst in queue at the Oriental Pearl Tower. (Take note that this is a different tour guide.)
Tour Guide: So you’re in middle school?
Me: (a little confused again) No, I’ve already graduated college.
Tour Guide: How old are you?
Me: Twenty-two.
Tour Guide: I thought you were eighteen!
Me: Oh?
I know I look young for my age, but sixteen and eighteen? I’m flattered though. I’d like to thank my mom’s genes for my youthful glow. Haha. Anyway, I really had a great time in Beijing and Shanghai. Like I said, they’re both awesome cities. This trip has also allowed me to develop a deeper sense of appreciation for my heritage. I especially love Shanghai, it’s just my kind of city, and I just feel like I belong there. Shanghainese boys are cute too! Seriously though, I left my heart in Shanghai. I think it’s floating around somewhere in the Huangpu River. I hope to return to Beijing and Shanghai, and explore the other parts of China - and soon!
March 30th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
No, your eyes are not deceiving you.
Nooooo!! O_O Eeew. D: Are those scorpions, rats, grasshoppers (that look like roaches)?
I’d like to thank my mom’s genes for my youthful glow.
Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. You look so much like her in the Huangpu River pic.
Your shots are very nice.
They’re obviously not shot by an amateur. 
March 31st, 2008 at 9:05 am
Ganda ng photos! Paturo magpicture!! hehehe
Yeah, you can pass as 16 and 18 any time!
You know a high school classmate of mine moved to Shanghai after college and worked there for two years. Like you, she wanted to explore her heritage. Needless to say, she enjoyed every minute of her 2-year stay in China. Kaso yun lang, pinauwi na sya ng parents nya. hehehe
March 31st, 2008 at 9:07 am
@sieg:
Yep, scorpions. And crickets, I think. And some other insects. No rats - that would be too gross. There were also starfish and sea urchins. x_X
Really? They look nice? I thought they looked pretty snapshotty-ish… But thanks! =]
March 31st, 2008 at 9:11 am
@Joni: Thanks! Oh, sayang naman. Do you know what she did for work there?
March 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am
I didn’t have a tour guide when I had gone to Shanghai last December. This means, I could explore Shanghai on my own liberty!
So how did you eat the foods there, knowing that you’re a lacto-ovo vegetarian?
I didn’t go on top of Oriental Pearl Tower. I only went on top of Jinmao Tower. Oriental is quite overpriced.
And Puding, The Bund, Nanjing and Yuyuan are great. Yuyuan especially, though I could’ve lived without the Starbucks there. Looks really outta place!
Also, my own shanghai travel writing, written 3 months ago when my style is a bit… well, different.
My Shanghai Travel Writing
March 31st, 2008 at 9:56 am
Oh, and the “My Shanghai Travel Writing” is a link.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Breakfast was always a buffet, so no problems there. For lunch and dinner, I just let our tour guides know that I’m vegetarian. Then they’d tell the restaurants. =D But usually there were already some veggie dishes included in the set menu.
On the contrary, I really liked the Starbucks (and the other western stores) in Yu Yuan. I don’t think they look out of place at all, it’s fun seeing the old and the new together side by side. In harmony, haha.
April 1st, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Wow, just take a look at those shots!
I never thought the number of people around The Great Wall could go like that.
That panda looks fake. Lol. Must be cute, I guess?
“Forbidden City”, such a nice name.
Are those ‘barbecued’ insects really supposed to be eaten?
All the buildings are just plain majestic.
Is the miniature made of wood? Must have been hard to do.
Well, nothing beats being thought of as younger than actual age.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 am
There were so many people at the Great Wall!
Yeah, those insects-on-a-stick were really being sold as food. Didn’t see anybody eating them though.
I’m not sure what the model of Shanghai was made of, maybe plastic.
April 6th, 2008 at 7:56 am
you came to Shanghai?wahh… It’s good that you had a great time .
Next time you come,let me know …well, if I’m still here.
Not sure where I’ll be after I graduate. I might go back to my country..or might stick around here.
April 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Oh thank you, I will. =]