12 September 2012
Countdown to deportation
Time to go home, nearly. My flight is at 1945 and I have to check out at 1000. Nothing to do then except wander the city endlessly.
Of course because I have to do this and have no opportunity for a shower, its hot as hell and the pollution has returned.
Not to worry, I get one last meal in Shanghai, followed by a long trip on the subway, followed by a visit to the Pudong airport, followed by 11 hours on Qantas, followed by transferring in Sydney via bus, followed by another 2 hours to Adelaide, followed by a taxi.
I took a lot of photos today of boring stuff, so I will write boring text next to them.
This long line is to buy moon cakes from Shanghai food store. Apparently their moon cakes are best. These are bought for the harvest moon festival which is in a couple of weeks time.
I was in Korea when it was on last year, you can also buy giant gift boxes of spam, which cost a fortune.
Subway sandwhich tv, LIVE!
The pearl tower, through the pollution haze...
This plant is apparently recycling. Another waste management photo!
Towelheads. Its not racist if they are actually wearing towels on their heads.
I rode another ferry across from the bund. This one was meant for people not scooters. But then they dont let you outside. The other one was more fun!
My last meal, noodles and dumplings from 1900. This time the noodles come with pork and chilli oil. The dumplings are 2 normal pork ones and 2 crab ones. All were excellent.
I found another shopping centre roof to climb out onto. Its amazing that theres no one here, the shops below were packed out at lunch time. I think its because you have to take a flight of stairs to get up here and everyones too lazy.
In the middle of all the big buildings is a sizeable park, with no one in it. Just me, the cleaners, and a couple of office people with no work to do.
And the 3 biggest buildings overlooking the park. I was up the very top of the bottle opener building a couple of weeks ago. If it fell over now it would hit me. I wasnt overly concerned though.
Second lunch, purely to spend my last remaining Yuan. It was ok, but expensive! Cost nearly as much as lunch.
Mush! Old people are pulling this cart like dogs pull sleds. Its valuable cargo is worth the effort apparently.
Dude, wheres my train?
I eventually found myself at what is supposed to be the stolen goods market.
There were indeed a lot of ancient mobile phones no one would want, as well as a heap of SANY, SOMSANG etc clones. Also masses of karaoke machines, including huge PA speakers and amps.
Later I found this endless tunnel to nowhere. It is supposed to connect two subway lines, but one end was now closed as best I could tell.
After many semi delusional hours wandering in the sun, I arrived at the airport. The departure hall is expectedly large.
Qantas has no lounge of their own, they use some bullshit VIP lounge which has no desks, nowhere to eat, terrible food, no showers. I stupidly ate sandwhiches out of boxes and plain salad and a banana....
Stupid because right next door is the Cathay pacific lounge which I can also get into which has great food! Dim sum buffet, noodle bar etc. Too bad I was already full.
This update was rushed, as I have to board soon. It will have mistakes and I reserve the right to fix it later!