After work on Friday, Vivian, a colleague at work, asked to join her for the Shanghai Beer Festival! I was nervous, and extremely excited, never having been to one before. And even though I am no big fan of beer, I tagged along.
The place was full of people from every country I could think of! It was so much fun! We walked around looking at the beautiful skyline to Shanghai from across the river. Everyone was so open and so friendly, it was amazing. I didn't stay for long, took a cab back (my first cab ride alone where I needed to communicate where to get, which is hard because the taxi drivers here do not speak/ understand English). What really helps is keeping a business card of your work place/ hotel along at all times. That always has the address written in Chinese.
It made me realize that there is a whole world beyond the one I and the people I know live in. And the more I learn about it, the more I want to learn about it!
I apologize for the bad quality of some of the photographs. They have been taken in the night using my phone camera.
The place was full of people from every country I could think of! It was so much fun! We walked around looking at the beautiful skyline to Shanghai from across the river. Everyone was so open and so friendly, it was amazing. I didn't stay for long, took a cab back (my first cab ride alone where I needed to communicate where to get, which is hard because the taxi drivers here do not speak/ understand English). What really helps is keeping a business card of your work place/ hotel along at all times. That always has the address written in Chinese.
It made me realize that there is a whole world beyond the one I and the people I know live in. And the more I learn about it, the more I want to learn about it!
I apologize for the bad quality of some of the photographs. They have been taken in the night using my phone camera.
This is when the clouds start coming down, and the fog comes onto the already thick smog layer of Shanghai.
Kaiba, The Belgium Beer Bar owned by Rudy and Cathy, the owners of CBi, had this funny game in their stall. I tried it too! :D And there was an entire crowd cheering me on! It was fun! But I also learnt that Belgium beer is quite bitter!
The Festival was literally like a festival! SO many people!
A fail Saturday
So I decided, on Friday night that I was going to be a big adventurer on Saturday. Adele, my colleague from work, was sweet enough to get me a map of Shanghai that she didn't need anymore. I would have died without it. It also had a metro map in English! And that really helped me.
So I spent first half of saturday (and i won't deny this) in my blanket, struck with a homesickness bug. I wanted to just go home and be in my own space. I felt terribly lonely. A few Skype calls (with my mum and aunt) later, I felt better and dragged myself out of bed, unfolded the map in front of me and sat to plan my day. I planned to get myself a Chinese mobile number first, and then head to the Jade Buddha Temple, and then if I still had time, to the old city.
So I did manage to get a Chinese number. And the staff at China Mobile was exceptionally sweet and efficient! My number was all work and perfectly set for my one month of stay even before I walked out of there! Quite a pleasant surprise, as these procedures in India take forever!
So after getting lost a bit, and getting wet in the rain a bit, I found my way the Metro station.
I bought an all day metro card, as that was 19 RMB and would let me travel unlimited number of times in 24 hours. Also the ticket wending machines are only in Chinese!
So I spent first half of saturday (and i won't deny this) in my blanket, struck with a homesickness bug. I wanted to just go home and be in my own space. I felt terribly lonely. A few Skype calls (with my mum and aunt) later, I felt better and dragged myself out of bed, unfolded the map in front of me and sat to plan my day. I planned to get myself a Chinese mobile number first, and then head to the Jade Buddha Temple, and then if I still had time, to the old city.
So I did manage to get a Chinese number. And the staff at China Mobile was exceptionally sweet and efficient! My number was all work and perfectly set for my one month of stay even before I walked out of there! Quite a pleasant surprise, as these procedures in India take forever!
So after getting lost a bit, and getting wet in the rain a bit, I found my way the Metro station.
I bought an all day metro card, as that was 19 RMB and would let me travel unlimited number of times in 24 hours. Also the ticket wending machines are only in Chinese!
This sight greeted me as soon as I stepped out of the metro station. It was beautiful and strange! The natural and the manmade brought together in a very interesting manner.
Now by the time I did get to the temple, it was shut. I had forgotten to check the timings, and I had also gotten lost (yes again) on my way! Google maps helped me out though.
So I wandered around a bit, grabbed a bite at the MacDonald's Cafe and then headed back home :)
So I wandered around a bit, grabbed a bite at the MacDonald's Cafe and then headed back home :)
Family lunch on Sunday
Sunday, was planned as a day out. Angela, my colleague from work (and the mum of the office) had invited me to her place for lunch. Her house, though within Shanghai city, is about an hour away by metro from where I am situated.
The area is almost like country-side. It's beautiful and green and the air actually feels light and fresh!
The area is almost like country-side. It's beautiful and green and the air actually feels light and fresh!
Angela's family was so kind and welcoming that it actually felt like I was home! It was a lovely feeling to be there and be fed so lovingly. Made me miss home a bit, but more than than made me realize how people everywhere are essentially the same :).
Angela with her shy but extremely intelligent and naughty baby son. He is not even 2 yet and already speaks Chinese and a bit of English too! He is so full of life and energy that it took 3 of us to catch hold of him before we got home from the metro station!