I was reading this article on Wallpaper.com and I realized how much I actually enjoyed Shanghai. I never really felt it until I left, probably because I spent half my time there cooped up alone in dad’s apartment feeling scared. But when I did leave the house to venture out, I spent half of that time in the French Concession and really loved it.

I really do want to go back to Shanghai, and this time not spend my time in Xintiandi, but explore the backlanes of the motherland. If I could venture the alleyways of Melbourne when I first got here, all alone, I can do the same. Okay, maybe not all alone because I still think I’m gonna get mugged, so anyone up for a Shanghai trip? I promise we will hit the awesome clubbing spots after I do my touristy thing

If only I had the guts to pack up and leave, to see our world as it should be seen. But the comforts of home, the comforts of necessity (seen as luxury by others) get in the way. I admire those who leave everything to see this world. No, I don’t believe we can achieve the idealistic views of a perfect world, but exploring will serve us an understanding of ourselves, and the people around us. It will enable us to (to be cliched) appreciate every situation we’re thrown into. But no, I still do not have the guts to pack up and leave, and I don’t think I ever will. But to those who have or will someday, you have all my respect.

Spent the first two days entertaining the relatives. Why oh why did they have to be in the same country. Lesson learnt – Ferry to Macau for investment purposes? Not a good idea, I’m sitting at Pacific Coffee in Windsor House and the computer screen is moving in front of me. Oh yes, seasickness does not go down in a night.

Day one of shopping entails finding a nice cafe for the parentals in IFC before my Lane Crawford stop, then Wellington Street for mahjong tiles and pretty little chips. My CWB run can be completed by tonight when the parentals are knocked out from dinner and tomorrow I am free to City Super in Times Square and GOD!

I am so damn disorganized this trip that I have to outline my shopping itinerary. This is why I have to travel alone, so I can go back to IFC a million times (because I always forget) and not have anyone nag.

So Hong Kong beckons… 75 hours till arrival. Things on list to do:

Pacific Place 太古廣場 and Landmark 置地廣場
SOGO or City Super for my stationery fix
My Venetian Fix – Oh yea, investment time
LKF, Armani Bar and Knutsford Terrace with J
China Club 中國會, Afternoon tea at The Peninsula and Agnès b. DÉLICES

The goal this time round is more shopping and less food. The parentals will be dropped off at a nice little cafe on EVERY stop, along with shopping bags, while I get high with mr plastic And when they go on Friday…

Hong Kong Rugby 7s 2009 babyyyyy!

Photo credits: Google images and Flickr

In pictures… But this is what happens when one is much more interested in spending quality time

Doesn’t get better than this. Two of my ultimate favorites <3

Talk about pigging out -__- Wursts and Sauerkraut lunch in Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills.

shanghai is now in my book, knowned as the melbourne of china. i thought i escaped insane four seasons in a day weather but noooooooooo! it has to come along and kick me right in the face.

maybe it’s just karma catching up to me. lately, everyone i’ve been cursing at has been coming back, and forcing me to pr in their faces. i’m so much of a wuss that i’m unable to tell certain people to fuck off and die. it’s just… when you look at the scales, putting up with crap isn’t all that bad. example: the bitchy aunts who annoy the crap outta me, but end up “paying” me for listening to their whining and ranting.

this rambling problem… it’s genetic, don’t mind me

from this to….

i just had the most touristy experience of my life. daddy-o decided that we were gonna take the maglev train to the apartment.

The train can reach 350 km/h (220 mph) in 2 minutes, with a maximum speed in normal operation of 431 km/h (268 mph). During a test run on 12 November 2003, the vehicle achieved a top speed of 501 km/h (311 mph). The Shanghai Transrapid project took 10 billion yuan (1.33 billion US dollars) and 2.5 years to complete the 30.5 km (19 mi) track.

The train runs from Longyang Road station in Pudong on the Shanghai subway line 2 to Pudong International Airport, and the total track length is about 30 kilometres, with an additional, separate track leading to a maintenance facility. The train takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the journey, and its top operational speed is 431 kilometers per hour.

credit: wikipedia

it took just half an hour to arrive at the apartment, when we took almost an hour the last time in summer!! i’m glad though, that i wasn’t the only one acting like china tourists taking pictures of every damn thing.

i’m off to one of the reasons why i agreed to come here now. stock up babyyyyy!

So I’m sitting in an apartment overlooking the bund, typing this and gloating cause I can access my blog. Most blogs cannot be accessed due to the amazing censorship that exists around here. Anyways, I’m looking forward to going back into civilization where humans thrive! If I had to describe my week here, I would say that I’m in complete wonderment (I know it’s not a word but I coined it) that a country that is developing so rapidly has the mentality of a spastic 2 month old.