So why didn't I plan my move from Beijing to Shanghai better? Didn't I realise that I was in fact traveling on the day of the second British & Irish Lions test against Australia? How bad is that? As you can see I didn't get to see the game but did have a fantastic 5 hour train trip on the Bullet Train from Beijing to Shanghai. Did manage yet again to lose my bank card at the ATM-well the sequence is different to everywhere else I have been therefore not my fault!
Eventually found the hostel having been helped on the way by a French guy & an American. Just round the corner from the hostel was a very basic restaurant which served perfectly acceptable food for a couple of quid so I was a happy girl. The next day started on the siteseeing which was great apart from temperatures in the 100s & similar humidity levels. Anyway, Shanghai was great. Lots to see, lots of shops to walk past looking in & remembering those days when i really needed a Mont Blanc pen & a new pair of Jimmy Choos!
Found an ex-pats pub which showed the final rugby test & what a game that was. It also had pints of Tiger at a very reasonable price during happy hour & by the time that had finished, in true "I'll show my sporting knowledge & get free drinks style" I had met a couple of guys who were only too willing to buy me drinks! Oh yes & well done the boys-brilliant result.
The next day went up to the bar on the roof of the hostel which was great. Met 3 English girls who were all living in Shanghai & their friend a cute Kwiw who was staying at the hostel. We all had a number of beers together & decided to go out late for buckets of whiskey & coke. Well I do have to get back in training for Ko Pha Ngan. It was a great night as we were joined by an English guy, a Swiss guy & a Spanish girl. Think it might have been a late one but not really too sure.
The next day consisted of being in recovery mode but my final 2 days in the city were great. Spent a day wandering around The Bund and eating really great noodles at a local stall & the following day in the French Concession & Old City. Loved it.
Moved the next day again by the fab fast train to Hangzhou which was tremendously hot but a stunning location on the lake. Staying at an hostel which is situated at the sourthern end of West Lake. Spent 3 days just strolling around the lake, taking photos, being photographed by interested locals & sitting in the shade reading. A very pleasant way to spend my time. The nights however were somewhat fraught as I realised that I could listen to Test Match Special on the pc. Well the last 5 nights have been truely amazing with England eventually winning the first Ashes test by 14 nailbiting runs!!! Not sure what the people in the next room will have thought as I cheered English runs, Aussie wickets & swore loudly at Geoff Boycotts inane comments. So with you Mum on what an idiot that bloke is!
Off back to Shanghai & straight to Pudong airport as later today I am flying to Hainan Island for what I hope will be 10 days of glorious sunshine on a beach but the forecast is poor. This does not make me in any way happy. Hopefully my mood will have lifted by the time of my next update.
