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Japan10 November 23


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Korea4 May 22


Cape Otway April 21


Japan9 October 19


Frangland July 19


Korkong April 19


Japan8 October 18


China4 April 18


Japan7 October 17


Taiwan4 March 17


Japan6 October 16


Europe May 16


Japan5 November 15


Korea2 March 15

Even More Trips

HongJapWan March 2014
Sichuan March 2013
Tokyo3 October 2012
China2 August 2012
Japwan March 2012
China November 2011
Korea September 2011
Taiwan March 2011
London3 June 2010
Japan May 2010
London2 February 2010
London September 2009
SE Asia December 2005

China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Page 1

Day 1 - Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Qantas dramas

Actually, this is day -1 or perhaps 0 day.....better mention the Qantas dramas.
Whilst this is big news in Australia right now, in 10 years time hopefully I can still read this shitty website (I have lots of 10 year old content online right now so I dont see why not).
Since Saturday 5pm, Qantas spectacularly decided to ground their entire fleet of aircraft, the pool was totally closed.
This of course threatened to end my trip before it started, I am flying all the way there on Qantas.

The dispute is complicated, baggage handlers want more money, Qantas wants to employ Chinese baggage handlers in China to somehow load bags in Australia.
In hopeful news, the situation was ended by the court of fair work choices who told everyone to cut the crap at 2am last night. It then took some 26 hours for the civil aviation safety authority to confirm no one was planning to blow up the planes as a result of the decision.
Planes are now flying, and it looks like I will get to go to China, my flight tomorrow morning is at 6am.

Sydney airport

My flight from Adelaide to Sydney was delayed by about 30 minutes as all Qantas crews had to work until late last night as flights only resumed at around 3pm due to the industrial action described above in boring detail.
I have been apologised to about 20 times, at the Adelaide meet and greet for the international check in, at the check in itself, at the Adelaide lounge, on the plane by the pilot, the cabin manager, and then personally by the cabin manager, in Sydney by the transfer bus desk lady, the transfer bus driver, the Sydney lounge guard downstairs, and now the Sydney lounge ticket checker and even the waiter who served me breakfast. It is starting to get annoying.

The actual lounge itself in Sydney is often voted the best in the world, its the only time in my life I wished I drank, as you can easily enjoy $100 worth of champagne with breakfast.

Present indications are the plane to Shanghai will leave on time, but as we now know, the airline can cease operations globally in 8 minutes, so who knows!

China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Sunrise at Adelaide airport. All parking spots were full, and there were a few planes round the back in the stand off area too. Nice morning you can s

Sunrise at Adelaide airport. All parking spots were full, and there were a few planes round the back in the stand off area too. Nice morning you can see the jet trails of some early morning flights from Perth or South Africa that have gone across Adelaide


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - The extensive menu in the Sydney first class lounge for breakfast. Place was full and plenty of people were enjoying wine and champagne with 2 breakfa

The extensive menu in the Sydney first class lounge for breakfast. Place was full and plenty of people were enjoying wine and champagne with 2 breakfasts each. Fat businessmen are fat for a reason.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Heres what I had, it was delicious. Note its vegetarian, I am mostly vegetarian these days except for innards and any broth prepared from the face of

Heres what I had, it was delicious. Note its vegetarian, I am mostly vegetarian these days except for innards and any broth prepared from the face of multiple animals.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Generic view of the vicinity, I have about 30 minutes to kill so thats what you get.

Generic view of the vicinity, I have about 30 minutes to kill so thats what you get.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - The view outside however is great, plenty of action, 3 x A380's took off whilst I was sitting here.

The view outside however is great, plenty of action, 3 x A380's took off whilst I was sitting here.


Shanghai arrival

OK I made it.
Flight time was 10 hours and 10 minutes, add that onto the 2 hours for Adelaide to Sydney and at least an hours taxiing time particularly on arrival at Shanghai and that adds up to quite a bit.
Which means I am happy cause I love to sit on planes.

I stayed awake the entire flight, next to me was the only spare seat on the entire plane (I checked), so I could spread out and enjoy the service and in flight entertainment. It of course had to be rebooted twice, as it has to be on every single flight, because no one has ever yet designed an in flight entertainment system that works.

Qantas fed me non stop, in addition to the meals below there was a noodle service, hot chocolate, non stop drinks (but annoyingly the tray only ever had booze on it, ice cream if you wanted it, fresh fruit etc.

Arriving in Shanghai was very efficient. I am actually a bit disappointed as this is my only visit to Pudong airport as I will be leaving via Beijing, and I didnt really get to see much of it.

Next up was the maglev train, which at night is speed limited to 300kmph, and it was night when I was on it. I am tempted to ride it again during the day to see it hit 450.

Finding my hotel was also achieved fairly easily, as well as buying an RFID card that you can use for anything.

It being quite early china time, I wandered around the immediate vicinity of my hotel, more about that below I guess.

I am very relieved to be here and had a great day travelling.

China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - I had my usual bulkhead seat, first row in economy, the leg room is fine and theres no one in front of you to recline back into your face. Having an e

I had my usual bulkhead seat, first row in economy, the leg room is fine and theres no one in front of you to recline back into your face. Having an empty seat next to you is luxury.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Meal number 1 is a roast chicken thing, with peas. I decided to take the western options before dumpling apocalypse commences.

Meal number 1 is a roast chicken thing, with peas. I decided to take the western options before dumpling apocalypse commences.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Meal number 2 was really good, braised beef with mushrooms, and more peas.

Meal number 2 was really good, braised beef with mushrooms, and more peas.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Sunset on descent into Shanghai. A lot of planes flew past in the other direction at super speed.

Sunset on descent into Shanghai. A lot of planes flew past in the other direction at super speed.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - I am risking arrest by the red army by taking this photo in the baggage collection area despite there being many signs suggesting you cant take photos

I am risking arrest by the red army by taking this photo in the baggage collection area despite there being many signs suggesting you cant take photos.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - This is the maglev train. It looks a bit shabby. When you get on it and they shut the doors you can actually feel it levitate, it doesnt feel quite st

This is the maglev train. It looks a bit shabby. When you get on it and they shut the doors you can actually feel it levitate, it doesnt feel quite stable until it starts moving, then it feels just like a regular bullet train only quieter.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Inside the maglev train, they have refitted it with the cheapest seat covers imaginable. In other news it costs $5 and is almost empty.

Inside the maglev train, they have refitted it with the cheapest seat covers imaginable. In other news it costs $5 and is almost empty.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - This is the street behind my hotel, which I think is the main pedestrian street that goes down to the bund. If you read about it on tripadvisor people

This is the street behind my hotel, which I think is the main pedestrian street that goes down to the bund. If you read about it on tripadvisor people will warn you about scammers and whatever, but no one seems to hassle me. I saw some middle aged men in shorts and knee socks with fanny packs getting hassled though.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Interesting mix of architecture, I am saving photos of mega modern buildings to bore you with for another day.

Interesting mix of architecture, I am saving photos of mega modern buildings to bore you with for another day.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - To my surprise, my hotel is a full apartment with kitchen, separate lounge area, bedroom and large bathroom. This is the lounge, you cant quite see th

To my surprise, my hotel is a full apartment with kitchen, separate lounge area, bedroom and large bathroom. This is the lounge, you cant quite see the office area (where I am sitting now) as its around to the left.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Kitchen with proper cooktop, big fridge, microwave and enough plates and things to have a dinner party.

Kitchen with proper cooktop, big fridge, microwave and enough plates and things to have a dinner party.


China November 2011 - From Shanghai to Beijing - Bedroom with rock hard bed. Its really large, the view out the window is also great, will save that for another day too.

Bedroom with rock hard bed. Its really large, the view out the window is also great, will save that for another day too.