So I don't think i've given this place enough credit.
All I've done is whine about this place, even when I was here last time in June. It's just very very different, and the fact that my background in Chinese means that wherever I go strangers expect me to be able to communicate and understand how this place works and in return get splutters of confused Mandarin.
I think one of the things that has sucked most about not knowing the language is that I can't eat at those awesome hole-in-the-wall restaurants because I can't read the damn menu. And from looking at past posts I'm pretty sure you can tell that food is one of the highlights of travelling/living for me, so it's kind of depressing when I get hungry after exploring for a while and end up in some westernised chain store thing eating a sandwich that also costs three times as much as an awesome noodle soup in a tiny local eatery.
It's crazy seeing how fast everything is going up. Aside from all the high rise buildings, I've spied so many boutiques among local grocery stores and restaurants and behind buildings only accessible by hidden laneways, and in some areas, boutique restaurants offering foreign cuisine. New cafes I've seen seem to like the idea of all-day brunch. More photos soon!
1. 2. Flying with Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong was actually great. The first/last time I'd flown with them was domestically within China a couple years back and it was horrid, so you can imagine my surprise when they had spacey comfy seats and touch screen entertainment systems!
4. 5. 6. Hong Kong to Shanghai
7. 8. Massive shopping area above Xujiahui station and where I'll be working for the next two months starting next Tuesday. Thank god I don't have any money left.
9. Educating Guo Guo nice and early.
