Last days in Shanghai

Another week has passed in a blur with cramming Mandarin and all sorts of Tourist madness. Time is flying by and it seems as though there's never enough time to see and do everything!


2 nights ago we went to see an Acrobat Show. Winfried, Sandra and I (the Summer Study Tour students) had front row tickets to see China's Best Acrobatic Show (aren't they all?). This one WAS amazing though - maybe not as good overall as China's Best Acrobatic Show in Guangzhou :) One act in particular was amazing - featuring a 10 meter high wire mesh globe, and 6 motorcyclists racing around inside! I found myself with my hands in front of my face peeking through my fingers - excellent! Guangzhou had hippos and monkeys though... that's hard to beat.



Yesterday we visited the Jingan Temple in the city centre of Shanghai. Its and old facade surrounded by super-modern malls and bling-bling skyscrapers. Blink and you'll miss it! After floundering a little in finding the actual entrance, we all paid our 10 RMB and entered into one of the oldest sights in Shanghai. Apparently the first temple was built here in 247 AD. Unfortunately, Renovation Fever has hit and its looking more like a pre-Disney attraction. Lots of scaffolding and shiny new "bits"... with a monk or two thrown in for good measure. Mathias tried to enter a room with lots of photos on the wall, but was refused. Turns out its a remembrance room for all the monks that have served the temple in the past. I can see why they would want to barr pesky tourists...

So we spent some quality time taking lots of pictures of each other... spot the Marisa in the photo on the left.

Last night Sandra and I met up with Charlotte - French Girl with Dutch Boyfriend who I met through Simon in Guangzhou - she is moving to Shanghai soon... after I leave :/ She's in Shanghai scouting for places to live, I don't envy her the task. Shangai is EXPENSIVE and Chinese construction is great, but the finishing touches (working taps, non-flooding bathroom, windows that open) usually leave a lot to be desired.

Around the corner from our apartment is the cutest little Italian restaurant ever... on a side street of Nanjing Lu, there's a renovated tram car which has been converted into a restaurant. Multo Cute! Best thing of all, they cook REAL italian food (or as close as possible with Chinese ingredients) and a Spaghetti Carbonara will set you back 21 RMB - that's a WHOPPING £1.5 or US $3. How will I ever survive London again???