It's also a long way home

Yesterday we bade farewell to our IS colleagues and fantastic hosts in Ningbo and took the Bullet Train to Shanghai. We were advised to choose one of the newer (and therefore faster) G category trains, which took us to Shanghai Hongqiao station in less than 2 hours and max’d at 299 km/h. So close! The area we passed through was largely urban with some rice paddies and other fields, and the inevitable poly tunnels.

Then, the metro (underground) system transported us to within half a kilometre of the hotel for less than £1. It’s all very new, modern and efficient. On emerging from the metro station, a very nice lady asked if she could help with directions (she did) before explaining that she also provided ‘other’ services. She told me where to go (turn left) and I (politely) did the same (in response to her second offer). The walk to the hotel along East Nanjing Road, which is the main shopping street and is pedestrianised, involved having to fend off all sorts of offers, from laser pens to ‘sexy massage’. Quite an introduction and not something we experienced in Ningbo.

The rooms we were allocated were on the top (27^th) floor of the hotel and afforded a great view across the city. Or would have done if the smog and resulting haze hadn’t been so ‘impressive’. The poor air quality is the one aspect of the trip I won’t miss.

This morning, I woke to the sound of rain battering my window. Sure enough, when I opened the curtains, it was teeming. Still, the breakfast was excellent and reminiscent of the breakfasts in KL. Also, I recognised most of the dishes on offer.

Despite the rain and as we’re so close, we headed off to The Bund, which is less than 30 minutes to walk but it only took 5 to get soaked. The Bund is an older part of Shanghai and harks back to the 1920s and 30s when it was popular with western visitors such as Noel Coward and Charlie Chaplin. It also lies alongside the river, on the opposite side of which is the high rise and very 21^st Century central financial centre. It provided a great view of the new Shanghai across the river although shrouded in low cloud and was well worth the visit. The older part is reminiscent of The Embankment in London.

I’m now drying off in my room before heading off to the airport via the Maglev, which is unique, uses revolutionary electromagnetic technology and can reach more than 400 km/h. And then, it’s only 28 hours or so of travelling until I’m back in Nottingham. Can’t wait!

At that point I ran out of time to add this post. It’s now approaching 11.00 pm after a very short (less than 10 minutes) and rapid journey to Pudong Airport via the Maglev followed by a very bumpy 5-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur. So bumpy in fact that no hot drinks were served; at all.

Despite the fact it’s so late, it’s still 31 degrees. We now have an hour before the connecting flight to London Heathrow. I’d like to say “almost home” but that would be delusional. I’ve added a few extra pictures below and it only remains for me to say “thank you” for reading the blog.