Being bored after 1 year staying in this country make me escaped to China for travelling. On Early of 2009, I went to Shanghai, a week after Chinese lunar New Year. The weather was cold, around 2-10 C. That time was my first time came to China. And it was my first time too travelling alone, no friend in strange environment. I was there for 5 days 4 nights.
On the first day, my flight was delayed for about 2 hours due to heavy cloudy weather in Incheon, South Korea. By Shanghai airline, I went to Pudong airport, the in ternational airport of Shanghai. It took only 7 minutes to downtown by Maglev, the magnetic train and the fastest train in China. The maximum speed is 400 km/hr, very fast!!!
In the train, I had chit chat with an old guy who sat beside me. He started the conversation and he spoke in Chinese. I could understand a bit. I told him that I only could speak and understand a little bit of Mandarin. Hmm…so shy, I am Chinese but cannot speak mandarin…sight ㅜㅜ…..He was friendly and that time was his first experience to take Maglev too…hehehe…He couldn’t speak English. After we arrived to the subway station, he helped me to take picture with Maglev. “Oh thanks God, I could take picture with Maglev”. Then we took our own way.
A policeman helped me buy the train ticket through a ticket machine. It’s only RMB 1, -. I came down to reach the train. I asked a young man who was standing beside me to make sure the direction of train to East Nanjing Station in English. Then he answered in Chinese. He said just follow him because he was going to the same station. The funny thing was suddenly he asked my ring. “are you married?”. I replied “not yet”. “But you have a ring in your finger.” He pointed out my ring. “I told him “ No, it’s just an accessory, no meaning.” The train came, and we went inside and had chit chat. He kept speaking in Chinese. I told him that I only can speak and understand a little bit Chinese. He didn’t believe that I came to Shanghai alone and I didn’t have a friend in Shanghai. He guess I wanted to meet my boyfriend. Hahaha…so funny this guy. He asked me a lot of things. He gave me his business card. His name is Di Min. When we arrive to East Nanjing Rd, he took my baggage and helped me to take a taxi for me. He was very gentle and kind…..and handsome too…;).
After I put my baggage in a cheap hotel, located nearby Bund area (Waitan), I went to the Huangpu river, took a lot of pictures with my Lumix camera and tripod and sometime asked people to help me taking my picture with the exotic place background….kkk..kk…There’re a lot of people there. There were local and international tourists, policeman, and also the salesman. Being at Waitan (bund area) made me feeling in Europe especially France. The Huangpu River separates the modern and the old of Shanghai, the Bund area and Lujiajui. Then I walked to KFC store and bought some food then came back to hotel then slept.
On the second day, I left the hotel at 8 o’clock in the morning. I went to Bund area to differ the night view and day view of the Waitan. There were few people at there. An old lady was doing Taichi. It remind me to Taichi master movie, stared by Jet Lee. Then I took taxi and went to Xin Tian Di, the first conference place of Communist party of China. There were a lot of cafés and restaurants at there. Feeling like I was in Europe again. I was busy taking picture, walked around of the area. That time was at 10.00 AM. So, all the stores or restaurants were starting to open. I only saw two or six different people who walking around. Then I needed buy RMB. I asked to a young man, seem he was waiting for someone. Luckily I asked him. There was no money changer in China. I could only buy RMB at an authorized bank or at five star hotels. Then I asked him about Xin Tian Di. He told about this area and he showed me a communist party museum. Because of his friend had not come yet, he accompanied me to go inside museum. He helped me taking picture with communist party’s flag. His name is Max and just came back from Canada. We were separated after his friend called him. He asked for my email address. And of course I asked the way to People Square.
I bought RMB and walked to People Square. Having lunch alone…(hiks…so pity) then went inside to the Shanghai museum. Looking around and taking pictures in the museum and the park in People Square. I saw a young man was sitting in the park and asked him whether he know a church in that area. He didn’t know because he was not shanghainese. He just had interview and would go back to his hometown, Suzhou. He just graduated from University degree. He helped me take two pictures with the People Square background.
I continued my journey. A group of young men, I think they were a college student, showed me the church. I took 4 pictures then left. I checked my map again. I wanted to go to Yuyuan market. I walked and passed the Huai huai Road, The fashion centered of Shanghai. Everyone at there was beautiful and handsome. The buildings are new and modern. I saw an old guy. Seem that he was working for government in tourism. He was telling the direction and way to some people. I came to him, and he told me the direction to Yuyuan market in Chinese. I took Taxi and arrived.
It was very wonderful market. The building style is an old style. The store are selling traditional stuff. I went inside to the Yuyuan house with a park. It was beautiful and peaceful place. I bought an Erhu for RMB 180,-. I presented it to my father. I like all the ornaments in Yuyuan. Feeling like I was in an ancient China like in Fong sai yuk movie…hahaha. Then I came back to the hotel on foot and took dinner alone…sight :(.
Then I went to East Nanjing Road, the shopping place like Myeondong, a shopping place in Seoul-South Korea. It is much better than Myeondong. I like it so much…^^.
On the third day, I took an english tour to Suzhou and Zhou Zoang. I was the only visitor in the group because of the low season. It meant there were a driver, a tour guide, and me. I went to Grand Canal and some ancient parks and houses. I took a boat and looked around the ancient house in Zhou Zoang, the Venice of the East. Due to I was the only customer, I was freely taking picture with the background…hahaha….the tour guide must be tired of this narcissistic girl. Suzhou and Zhou Zoang remind me to the TV drama in Ming dynasty era and the 8 wives movie stared by Steven Chow.
Arrived to hotel and took dinner to the same restaurant. The food was cheap. I couldn’t spend a lot of money because I didn’t have much RMB. I got cold that night.
The next day, I felt better after took medicine and slept well. By taxi, I went to five star hotel for about 20-30 mins. I forgot the hotel’s name. The hotel was the meeting point for another tour. I went to Hangzhou with some other people from German, Spain, and local people. I got a woman tour guide. She was expert and talked very fast. She had a mole around her mouth. Hmmm..i think she is kind a fussy person. I visited the temple, the cave and the wonderful West Lake. I like West Lake so much. It is very beautiful place. We took a ship to cross the lake. There was a big pagoda. The pagoda is related to White Snake legend. How the white snake loved a human being that was her husband.
After we crossed lake, I bought some souvenirs for my friends. Then I realized that I was lost. “Where are they?” I was panic. I went to the public phone, but It couldn’t work. I used my korean mobile to call my tour guide. I was confused. I kept walking and looking for my group. Then I was enchanted by the beauty of the park. I stopped to look for my group and took some pictures. A lady with her DSLR camera asked me to take her picture. And of course I asked her to help me. Then suddenly my tour guide came to me. She was angry and worried. I said sorry to her and my group. I just lost for 20 minutes. The two Germanys, my friends, just smiled. I was very sorry because of that. The last place that we visited was Tea garden. The tea smell was very strong and good. I bought a small box. Then we came back to Shanghai and I exchanged my email address with the two Germanys.
It was my last evening in Shanghai. I walked a long the street from hotel to East Nanjing road. I was listening carefully the music from the giant clock of the artistic building. It was ringing every 15 minutes. Whenever I passed the building, I remembered a popular TV drama, ”Shanghai Bund” that was starred by a handsome actor, Chow Yun-Fat. I still remember clearly the original soundtrack of the TV drama. Hmm….I am thinking to watch the TV drama again.
At East Nanjing, I bought some snacks, just wanted to spend my remains RMB. I came back to the hotel and packed my baggage.
On the last day, I left hotel in the morning. The sky was still dark. I think it’s around 6 o’clock. I took taxi to the East Nanjing station. I spoke in Chinese to the taxi driver but he couldn’t understand. I saw him East Nanjing station in a map. He still couldn’t understand. Then I saw him a Chinese character of subway station that was written down by my Chinese friend. He got it “ oh…di tie’ he said.
By using my round trip Maglev ticket, I went to Pudong airport and flied back to Korea. It’s unforgettable trip in my life. I told to myself that I will not ever travel alone anymore…hahahaha. Eating alone in strange environment was not fun. ID
