The Descent to Shanghai
14 hours of light sleep and three minuscule meals later, we finally made it. My first Shanghai experience was found in the airport as we deplaned. Pudong International Airport is one of the nicest airports I have been in. It lacked the noise and disdain that comes standard in American airports and instead consisted of modern architecture and state-of-the-art facilities. The airport employees, ranging from the officers stationed at Customs and the maintenance staff, were firm but kind unlike their American counterparts. All I can say is “wow.”
Night Ride to the Airport
As MB (I’d like to think of her as Momma Beth), Yaari (a family friend of the Inkelis’), Sarah and I traveled from the airport to the Le Meridien Hotel, the look of awe struck all four of our faces. It was glorious being greeted with the Shanghai skyline lit with multicolored florescent lights and the occasional series of fireworks to celebrate the lunar New Year!
Western Influence
Shanghai has a large western influence as seen by the large amounts of Western franchises that line the streets and the ever-present English translation that accompanies everything from buildings to billboards.
In a thirty minute span of walking a couple blocks, I found…
3 KFC’s (The Chinese really do love their fried chicken)
2 McDonald’s/McCafe’s
2 Pizza Huts
2 Subway’s
1 Yoshinoya
1 Starbucks (I’m surprised there weren’t more)
Happy Chinese New Year! Happy Year of the Rabbit!
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