Last Night in Shanghai

Last night and morning in Pudong

I like to take it easy and treat myself the last night of travels. In this case it was a great way to end the cold, wet weather of the last week.

My room was at the Pudong Crowne Plaza, what I thought was a straight-shot to the airport, but it was still a long, expensive drive. The  hotel was surrounded by some neat restaurants that really picked up within a few hours of me arriving.

 

Ok… I had to try this black roll spicy chicken sandwich it McDonalds. Yeah – It was a late lunch and I didn’t want to fill up. I ate about half. Not bad.

 

 

Pete and I had plans to meet up, so I just explored the neighborhood on my own until he arrived.

 

 

There streets were filled with locals, eating, dining, laughing, commuting and conducting business — I chose the perfect neighborhood for my last night! It was clean, safe, beautiful, and full of nooks to explore.

There was a small public square where people danced and kids played. There are a lot of people in the States that have mental pictures of life in China–imagining that the population is oppressed, depressed, slaving away in factories (building stuff only for the consumers in the west, no less) longing for a life in the amazingly free, creative, and advanced society of the United States. Those people are closed-minded, racist jackasses.  Yes, there are limits to freedom in China. And there are no doubts that some people feel oppressed by those institutions. Clearly those feelings exist to some degree within the USA as well.  Over the years I have walked candidly along many streets in China. Touristy, suburban, rural, underground, mountain-top.  I see seemingly happy people more often than I do in my home town. I see people working just as hard, playing just as much, enjoying life like this. China is a very free and colorful place where people live normal lives within the confines of their freedoms. As do we. They may not have the same laws and flexibility within, and in many ways our laws (such as taxes and our dysfunctional corrupt “democratically” elected leaders) are just as oppressive and shameful. Those in glass houses…

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the Supermarket to find some candy!
Traditional medicine vendor is set up in the hall leading into market.

 

 

 

CANDYYYYYYY!

 

 

I bought these “bloody zit” gummies.

 

Pete and I meet up and we settle on  a small Japanese restaurant. We order this huge jug of sake and some appetizers and chat about life and work.

I think we got through most of it.

I guess I didn’t take too many photos, but we eventually took the bottle and left, found a Korean BBQ place and ordered a ton. This second place had “Apple” toilets.

Leaving China

My breakfast, picked up from a bakery near that supermarket. The top one is a sticky bun topped with sweet shredded pork. Hot dog was gross. It was sitting out all morning like a donut, the bun was sweet, the mustard and ketchup were odd.  Bread with egg , cheese and white mystery stripe was okay–I’m a bit put off by these not being made to order and being at room temp..

Look! KODAK!

 

Cool advertisement near the airport.

Random photo at the airport.

And then there was this exhibit…

 

 

 

 

 

I must say the flights by American Airlines were fantastic. Really comfortable and all the staff were amazing – I just wish their prices were more competitive. Will fly with them again.