I haven’t been on a layover for a hell a long time and going to CBC with a cargo suitcase actually felt good. We were bound for Shanghai in China. The flight over was busy as ever and lasted around 8 hours (chock to chock). I was happy after my string of turnarounds to finally get some time off abroad and getting out of the Sandpit (Dubai) for some time. I was getting uber-fed up with the atmosphere here. Dubai has this aura of getting your feelings down, and this usually occurs when all of your friends are out of town and on a 9 day trip for instance.
So I was at home for over a week after my SEP, trying to figure what to do with myself. Did some shopping at Dubai Mall. Where I have since discovered the pricey FRENCH CHOUQUETTES (puff pastry with caramelised suger on the base and big sugar rocks covering the top. It’s to die for : especially if a trainee from Kayser’s bakery in France is making the treats. I was there twice in 48 hours. Indulging myself with Strawberry Tarts and Chocolate Eclairs. I also gave my debit card a CPR and thankfully recovered from its coma, enabling my pity self to buy two new pairs of sneakers. The rest of the days were spent networking and working on some backlog in emails and general internet reading I like to procrastinate.
Back to Shanghai. We arrived at this beautiful hotel and I straight away ordered a Club Sandwich – as you do – because I was craving for good ol’ pork and starving from the flight. I’m getting overly sick with the little options we get for food on-board. Unless Business Class is half full and I can pick & mix my meals. But this never happens on asian flights as it seems these people travel a lot more these days. Both the way over and the flight back were chocka, overbooked even. Rendering Business and First class to be fully booked.
Now… my last post about a Shanghai trip wasn’t very pretty because, first of all I was horribly sick and secondly some of the passengers decided to go on a rampage…
This time thought, I was 120%. Mainly because I had a long rest before the flight and was eager to get out of this sand and range rover nonsense we get daily here in Dubai. Although the pax were tough, we managed to get through it quite easily. The worst part on Chinese destination is the language barrier. We do not have any Mandarin/Cantonese speakers on any of the flights because Chinese Customs always denies their own citizens. Seems very odd. But that’s how they operate. I laugh whenever I hear that story. The whole flight was spent serving “thuice” to our dear customers, spraying the lavatories with an incredible amount of deodorant/anti-bacterial and offering socks by the dozen.The only relief for me is when I spot a few french speaing passengers. They make me forget the mayhem happening over my shoulders for a minute or two… and they understand totally what we go through as they’re sitting right next to the snorting one or the one who dared to take his shoes off…
We explain that we go through this everyday, and they apologize for us. Bless them.
Checked into the hotel after a long shuttle through the flat lands of south-eastern China to finally arrive in heaven. It’s probably one of my favourite hotel. Clean, modern and service in there is amazing. My Club S. took approximately 14 minutes to be delivered complete with mayonnaise. They kept my preferences records from the last time I was there, so it was nice to see they did not forget that AIRBOY LIKES HIS CLUB SANDWICH WITH MAYO SPILLING OVER EACH AND EVERY SIDE OF THE SANDWICH !
Watched a little National Geographic (Air Crash Investigation) before hitting the sack for my early morning rise and exploration of Shanghai City.
Got up at 0800 sharp in order to get ready to hop on the free shuttle service provided by the hotel into downtown Shanghai. It would drop other crew along the way, the ones that wanted Jimmy Cheap handbags and Manolo Blanok shoes. Basically the ones that like haggling. Quite the opposite of my typical day in a city really. So wondered off on my own, iPod blasting kick ass tunes, shades on the nose and power walking along the high-rises. I love these moments ! Shanghai is pretty much like Dubai, a vast construction site except greener and some sort of culture behind it all. Some kind of soul. Felt less of a Ghost Town. People were actually walking down the streets, selling all sorts of stuff. From thongs to cocoa doughnuts. Smells filled the air and the town was heaving like I’d never seen a town busy like this before. The amazing weather helped greatly I think. It was 30 degrees celsius all day, humidity at 15% and not a cloud to be seen. I actually caught some burn of the tip of the nose and forehead. Getting smiles from passengers on the way back…
So from the drop-off point I went all the way down to The Pearl TV Tower. You have probably seen that one before on postcards or holiday brochures. It’s that ugly looking thing, with huge balls hanging high above the city. I decided to go to the top. And this was the mistake of the day. Although the views were fantastic, the crowd in there wasn’t. I had just slept off a crowded flight the previous day and mistakenly thought it wouldn’t be busy at this time in the morning. And ohh boy was I wrong. The place was mayhem, people pushin’ and shuvin’ to get to the elevators. I was stuck in the waiting lines making love to a sea of identical suncaps and very short people. My head high enough to catch some precious oxygen. I was surprised to see only Chinese tourists and very few westerners (also wondering what they had put themselves into). Thankfully, the ride up to the top was short enough but will always remember that woman talking to her family with a mouth full of digestives buiscuits, firing a gunload of sticky crumbs over me. Towering at 320 metres above the ground I snapped a few pictures before getting an overdose of the shouting and loud people in there. Before I went down, though, I like checking out the skywalk: It was breathtaking. Glass floors, looking 300 metres down. As I stepped onto the clear surface, my heart started to accelerate, I was shaking but soon got myself into control in order to take pictures I could share (here, see below). As soon as I checked that off the list, I ran backdown to open air and civilized behaviors.
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By that time, the heat was starting to get less bearable, so headed towards the mucky river. Walked for a few 100 metres before I saw an Hagen Daaz outlet. And you’ve guessed it, I stopped for a Cookies & Cream + Vanilla Pecan mix topped with pieces of chocolate. Could not have been a better pitstop, lounging on the terrace with The Bund straight opposite and the barges passing by.
I had planned my day quite wisely, cause I had to sleep before the red-eye back to the middle east. Managed to fit in some more sightseeing. Headed to Yu Gardens where parts of the Old City were restored and turned into a shopping district. The place was packed again, but I felt more at ease, mixing with the crowds and enjoying the sun, the smells of grilled chix and green tea. I love Chinese culture, and the architecture just inspires me a lot. Thus the very large number of pictures (I’m sorry in advance for the time it takes to load…). I got some cool papercut artwork, some green tea for Mother & Father and walked more. This time heading to a garden, relaxing time. Beautiful bamboo gardens with the hustle and bustle of the town in the background.
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Before heading back for my pick up, and I was starting to feel the pain in my feet. But, decided to check out a temple. Don’t ask me the name or where it was, because I was completely lost and just happened to pass by. 
Got in after paying 10 RMB and just saw the most amazing procession of people praying to all sorts of statues and sayings printed on silk and walls. The funniest part of this – apart from the headbanging of the whole crowd – was that female foreigner I spotted in the crowd (you’ll see on the pictures, she’s dressed in white with two camera around her neck). She joined the hundreds in their ritual, and I bet 100 dihrams she did not have a clue of the meaning of all this and just thought it was cool to blend in with the others. She did get awkward looks from the locals and I did tape her headbanging. She had also bought offerings from the stall (smoking sticks) to make her freakish behavior a little more convincing. I might be completely wrong and assumed she wasn’t part of this religious procession, but when I saw her join the rest of her American tour group, my assumptions seemed to have proven right once more ! It was a funny sight ! The place filled with smoke in no time as the people yanked smoke sticks into the burning fire. Loved it, and was pleased with myself as I didn’t expect any of this at all. Definately something to do !
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After checking out the temple I started my quest to find a taxi that would take me back to my pick up point. And it was difficult to say the least. Either they didn’t want to take me where I wanted to go, either they didn’t want to speak to me in English or even sped up as I was waving them down. I felt like a total noob on the side of that busy crossroad. Waving away like an absolut idiot not making any progress overtime. Finally I managed to force myself into a cab and honestly begged the driver to take me back because my time was ticking away and my planned siesta was getting shorter by the second. In between begging and showing the hotel card with the address, I slipped a “Xie Xie” (Thank You in Mandarin) for good measure. Ensuring my safe and timely return to the hotel.
My original plan was to tour the city in a 1930’s sidecar but time and money came into play and couldn’t find the place where they startded their tour from. For next time hopefully. More info on this here : www.shanghaisideways.com
All in all, this was a great layover, the crew were fun which made the flights entertaining to say the least. A video is in the works, will upload it as soon as I finish editing it. Will let you know of course. That’s all folks for now, I’m off to bed now because it’s getting early in the morning, 8 o’clock already ! Speak to you soon. The next trip will be Delhi then New York ! Woot Woot !
Cool. I really liked the photos, however that glass floor is freaky! My brain wouldn’t be convinced I wasn’t going to plummet to my death. No wonder the shaking!!! =D
Thankfully, the ride up to the top was short enough but will always remember that woman talking to her family with a mouth full of digestives buiscuits, firing a gunload of sticky crumbs over me.
HILARIOUS!! LOL LOL
If and when you come to Toronto, you should take photos on the glass floor here!
That was a great write up of Shanghai!! One of those building look like something in Dubai, at least the top of it.
Looking forward to the video!
I enjoy reading your blog..
Nice post great piccies & video……how on earth could you do the glass floor experience…..it’s petrifying !!!
Were you looking ahead of you, rather than down when filming that walk across the glass floor…Very nerve wracking!
One thing missing from the video was the view of the Shanghai Skyline from the Bund…well the very touristy kind of shot! Great video otherwise, especially the “Freak Alert” LOL
hey dude, great post…your comments about the Shanghai flight (and old ladies) reminded me of the domestic flights I took on China Southern Airlines a few years back…imagine pretty much the same situation but much more densely packed in a dinky little 737! it was pretty gross, and I think there was a live chicken in one of the overhead bins…haha
Got Delhi next huh…good luck!
from time to time I check your blog, and it’s really a pleasure to read about your life and the places you see, but first of all your wise comments and opinions about all the cultures and people you happen to get in touch with.
thanks a lot from antonio, palermo, sicily, italy!
Thank you all for the kind comments ! Va Bene Antonio !
“Thank you all for the kind comments ! Va Bene Antonio !”
grazie a te!