Worldwanderings.net http://www.worldwanderings.net Wandering the world one day at a time Sat, 19 May 2012 14:28:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Haerbin Central Mall 中央商城 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/19/haerbin-central-mall-%e4%b8%ad%e5%a4%ae%e5%95%86%e5%9f%8e/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/19/haerbin-central-mall-%e4%b8%ad%e5%a4%ae%e5%95%86%e5%9f%8e/#comments Sat, 19 May 2012 14:28:51 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8689 The Zhongyang Street is probably one of the most important streets in the city of Haerbin in Heilongjiang province. This pedestrian shopping street showcases most of the heritage architecture that can be found in this sprawling city of four million. I would have expected that being so far up north, there won’t be as much [...]

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The Large Central Mall 中央商城 in Haerbin

The Zhongyang Street is probably one of the most important streets in the city of Haerbin in Heilongjiang province. This pedestrian shopping street showcases most of the heritage architecture that can be found in this sprawling city of four million. I would have expected that being so far up north, there won’t be as much development and modernity here in Haerbin. I couldn’t have been any more wrong. Zhongyang Street, being a pedestrian shopping street also hosts a few shopping centers and malls. Probably one of the most prominent ones is the Central Mall or Zhongyang Mall 中央商城.

IMG 9356 Haerbin Central Mall 中央商城

Entrance to the Central Mall 中央商城 in Haerbin

The Central Mall is probably the biggest shopping mall here in Zhongyang Street. The facade tries to evoke a European design but it somehow feels unauthentic since the supposedly heritage building looks almost brand new. It even looks freshly painted. Maybe the weather here in Haerbin isn’t bad enough to lay buildings to ruin after a few years. I have been to several shopping centers in China and they tend to look alike, I wasn’t really interested in what they sell. I was here for some architecture, fortunately, there is still more.

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]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/19/haerbin-central-mall-%e4%b8%ad%e5%a4%ae%e5%95%86%e5%9f%8e/feed/ 0 Going to Zhongyang Street 中央街 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/18/going-to-zhongyang-street-%e4%b8%ad%e5%a4%ae%e8%a1%97/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/18/going-to-zhongyang-street-%e4%b8%ad%e5%a4%ae%e8%a1%97/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 15:29:36 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8684 When in Haerbin, it usually makes sense to stay in the Daoli District, this is where all the heritage buildings and frankly, this is probaby the only interesting place in the entire city. My hostel was located in a great place which is in the middle of all the heritage buildings in the Daoli District. [...]

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Walking Down Da An Street 大安街

When in Haerbin, it usually makes sense to stay in the Daoli District, this is where all the heritage buildings and frankly, this is probaby the only interesting place in the entire city. My hostel was located in a great place which is in the middle of all the heritage buildings in the Daoli District. This makes it an excellent base to explore the nearby area. The large meal I just had a the MA Family Restaurant only gave me more reason to start exploring.

IMG 9353 Going to Zhongyang Street 中央街

European Style Building in Da An Street 大安街

The restaurant was actually at Da An Street, which leads directly to the famous pedestrian street of Haerbin which is Zhongyang Street, literally “Central Street”. With that kind of name you would certainly expect that the there will be a lot of interesting places here. Da An Street is already showing lots of promise since it also has some of the heritage buildings here. I can’t tell if they are reconstructions but they sure look convincing. What is interesting is that these buildings are still in use either as residences or offices. If I lived in Haerbin, I would love to stay here.

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]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/18/going-to-zhongyang-street-%e4%b8%ad%e5%a4%ae%e8%a1%97/feed/ 0 Ma Family Restaurant 马家馆 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/17/ma-family-restaurant-%e9%a9%ac%e5%ae%b6%e9%a6%86/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/17/ma-family-restaurant-%e9%a9%ac%e5%ae%b6%e9%a6%86/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 12:33:25 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8678 I didn’t really plan much on this trip to China’s northeast, as the trip was messed up by the unexpected trip to Shanghai and the Jiangnan area. Now that I am finally in the northern city of Haerbin, now what? First order of business was to find some food. I got to the hostel sometime [...]

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"Pulled Skin" Noodles in Ma Family Restaurant 马家馆

I didn’t really plan much on this trip to China’s northeast, as the trip was messed up by the unexpected trip to Shanghai and the Jiangnan area. Now that I am finally in the northern city of Haerbin, now what? First order of business was to find some food. I got to the hostel sometime past one in the afternoon and I was already hungry. The very friendly and fluent female staff of Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel was new in the area as well, but I asked her anyway where to eat. Initially she had no idea either, as my criteria was “cheap and good”, but her face suddenly lit up when she said Ma Family Restaurant or Ma Jia Guan 马家馆.

IMG 9347 500x333 Ma Family Restaurant 马家馆

Eggplant Dish in Ma Family Restaurant 马家馆

She provided me instructions on how to get there, wasn’t really that far but I still needed to be able to orient myself since I just got here. I won’t know to go inside that place anyway. The Ma Family Restaurant was at a sunken area of a building near the hostel. I think it was that the road was elevated so the entrance is now below street level. It is normal for establishments here to have two doors this is primarily to keep out the cold when winter comes. It wasn’t that cold yet but it will be soon.

IMG 9343 500x333 Ma Family Restaurant 马家馆

Is That Corn in My Rice?

Inside the Ma Family Restaurant wasn’t really anything special. I order what I assumed to be their specialty. The “pulled skin” noodles 拉皮 occupied a prominent part of their menu so I ordered that, I also ordered another dish with egg plant, I guess I was just hedging my bets since I wasn’t familiar with the food here. Interestingly their rice came with yellow stuff which I assumed to be corn bits. The noodles was okay, this was probably the first time I tried this type of noodles and it was quite elastic, imagine glass noodles but in flat strips. It wasn’t as great as I hope it would be, maybe it was because of the texture that I just wasn’t used to.

The eggplant dish was much better though, but I don’t think this was one of their specialties. If you have the dough, you should probably order their “squirrel fish” or 松鼠鱼 which is basically fried fish with the meat sliced such that it stands up when it is deep fried. The restaurant itself is unremarkable but it was clean and the service was prompt. I did get a few stares because I was taking photos of my food but I didn’t really care.

Ma Family Restaurant
No. 88 Da An Street, Daoli District, Haerbin,
Heilongjiang, China

马家馆
黑龙江省哈尔滨市道里区大安街88号

+86(451)84635115

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]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/17/ma-family-restaurant-%e9%a9%ac%e5%ae%b6%e9%a6%86/feed/ 0 Tongjiang Street 通江街 in Haerbin 哈尔滨 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/16/tongjiang-street-%e9%80%9a%e6%b1%9f%e8%a1%97-in-haerbin-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/16/tongjiang-street-%e9%80%9a%e6%b1%9f%e8%a1%97-in-haerbin-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 12:59:27 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8672 Although Haerbin in Heilongjiang province doesn’t exactly come to mind when the Chinese talk about beautiful cities, I feel that it probably deserves to be highly ranked. Though most of the foreigners in Haerbin have long gone, their legacy lives on in the buildings that they have created. The Daoli District 道里区 is one of [...]

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7 Days Inn Across the Jewish Synagogue in Haerbin 哈尔滨

Although Haerbin in Heilongjiang province doesn’t exactly come to mind when the Chinese talk about beautiful cities, I feel that it probably deserves to be highly ranked. Though most of the foreigners in Haerbin have long gone, their legacy lives on in the buildings that they have created. The Daoli District 道里区 is one of the places where foreign influence was strongest. As I stepped outside the hostel, there was a large yellow building screaming for attention. It was actually another inn, but on a slightly higher end than the one I got.

IMG 9334 Tongjiang Street 通江街 in Haerbin 哈尔滨

Coffee Shop Beside the Jewish Synagogue in Haerbin 哈尔滨

Interestingly, the building also sported a bulb on top of the building, which I have come to associate with Russian architecture. I don’t really have an idea whether this building was old or not, but the fact that it is located in the Daoli District may imply that it is. There were several buidlings along the way which is also Russian inspired, it is really hard to tell which ones are the heritage versus the ones which try to blend in. Regardless, for this point alone, I would consider Haerbin one of the more unique Chinese cities.

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]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/16/tongjiang-street-%e9%80%9a%e6%b1%9f%e8%a1%97-in-haerbin-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8/feed/ 0 Outside the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/15/outside-the-haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/15/outside-the-haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 12:24:35 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8668 It is seldom that I cover my hostel for more than one post. However, the the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel is such a unique hostel that I decided to cover it in three posts. The hostel is a converted former Jewish synagogue back in the days of when Russian influence was still strong. The [...]

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Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel Up Close

It is seldom that I cover my hostel for more than one post. However, the the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel is such a unique hostel that I decided to cover it in three posts. The hostel is a converted former Jewish synagogue back in the days of when Russian influence was still strong. The Russians came to Haerbin and started a frenzy of railroad building which naturally linked back to the Soviet Union. During this time large numbers of foreigners settled in Haerbin, including Jews. With the Jews also came their their culture, most notably their religion, thus the Jewish synagogue here was built.

IMG 9328 500x333 Outside the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

Jewish Synagogue From Across the Street in Haerbin 哈尔滨

When the Russians left, so did the Jews, leaving behind their synagogues. Not much of the Jews stayed here though their impact on architecture will be more prominent. The synagogue is probably the only one I have ever entered, I guess this one doesn’t count since it is already inactive. Most of the exterior is still intact, the building is prominent with its brick red color and of course the unmistakable dome. Topping it all, is the requisite star of David. The Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel just moved in here to be one of the main tenants of the synagogue. There is a school sharing the building here and bizarrely, a pizza restaurant of all things at the ground floor.

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]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/15/outside-the-haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/feed/ 0 Exploring the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/14/exploring-the-haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/14/exploring-the-haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 12:39:31 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8650 The Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社 was a cozy little hostel in Haerbin which happens to be housed in a former Jewish synagogue. It appears that they just moved into the synagogue and there was still some construction going on in the second floor, where the rooms were. I decided to splurge a little [...]

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Interiors of the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

The Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社 was a cozy little hostel in Haerbin which happens to be housed in a former Jewish synagogue. It appears that they just moved into the synagogue and there was still some construction going on in the second floor, where the rooms were. I decided to splurge a little and got a double room, cheap for CNY 80, at least it was private. The room was fully carpeted and it had a television as well. I didn’t care much for the television, what caught my eye was the large heating unit in the room. I have no idea how to operate this thing, maybe I just leave it like that. Anyway, I came here to experience a bit of the infamous Haerbin winter, hopefully, I won’t have to rely on the heater that much.

IMG 9315 500x333 Exploring the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

Reception Area of the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

The rooms were okay, but there was no attached bathroom. For that you would have to go down to the ground floor where the shower was. There were two public showers for your use, that is if you can operate the heater. Somehow, I keep having the feeling that the water was never hot enough, or probably it was just that cold. The toilets were just across but they were squat type. I’ve gotten used to them now, so it doesn’t really bother me that much anymore as long as they are clean and in working condition. Along the hallway, there was a bulletin board for tips for travellers, I believe it was also in English and they were extremely useful for me as I didn’t have to take any cabs to get to some places of interest.

IMG 9318 Exploring the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

Colorful Stairwell at the Harbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

Finally, the lobby of the hostel was amazing. All of a sudden you feel like you were transported to another country. There were chandliers and even lamp posts of all things, but this place was quite tastefully done. I feel like it is a nice place to hang out and socialize. There was a stairwell which leads to a school on the second floor. The staff of the hostel was manned by a nice Chinese lady who spoke surprisingly excellent English. She didn’t even have a hint of Chinglish accent. She tried to be helpful but she only knew the area within the hostel, such as places to eat. She wasn’t a native of Haerbin and was only here during the school break, she was from Hebei province.

The Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel is truly an interesting place to stay in and it will set the tone for the rest of your stay in Haerbin. I recommend the place for the friendly staff and excellent location in the heart of the heritage area of Haerbin.

Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社
No.82, Tongjiang St., Haerbin,China
+86 (451) 84697113

哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社
哈尔滨市 道里区 通江街 82号
+86 (451) 84697113

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]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/14/exploring-the-haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/feed/ 0 Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/13/haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/13/haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 12:49:13 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8645 My last few visits to China were always accompanied by stays in Hostelling International affliated hostels. After all, it was more convenient to book with them since they have a website to facilitate booking. Besides, getting a Chinese visa necessitated me to book the hostel first. Anyway, the trip from the Haerbin Taiping International Airport [...]

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View of the Bedroom at Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

My last few visits to China were always accompanied by stays in Hostelling International affliated hostels. After all, it was more convenient to book with them since they have a website to facilitate booking. Besides, getting a Chinese visa necessitated me to book the hostel first. Anyway, the trip from the Haerbin Taiping International Airport wasn’t very interesting, I did notice a lot of tourism advertisements along the highways promoting Heilongjiang province, where Haerbin was, as a destination for nature lovers. This intrigued me, but I was wary of the weather, it was already close to winter and I don’t have enough warm clothes with me. I will have to see if I am up to it.

IMG 9308 Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

It Has A Television I Didn't Use

As we drew closer to Haerbin’s center, more and more apartment blocks came into view. Immediately, you can feel that this place was different. The design of the buildings here, even the new ones have a distinctly European feel. European with Chinese touches that is. Actually, it is more Russian inspired since this area was occupied by Russia several decades back. It was truly a unique feel to the city. Of course you will still have the mandatory Chinese style buildings but more of the blocks tend to fit with the general theme of the city.

IMG 9310 Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

View From the Window at Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社

My hostel was near the popular Zhongyang pedestrian street. I had a map with me and the challenge is where the bus will let me off. Zhongyang Street is basically their heritage area, which means that my hostel will be in the middle of it all. Actually, “middle of it all” is still an understatement. There was a large Jewish community back in the days of Russian occupation and they naturally built a synagogue for worship. My hostel, the Haerbin Kazy International Youth Hostel 哈尔滨卡兹国际青年旅社 was built out of the old synagogue, this was probably one of the most unique places to stay here in Haerbin. I can’t wait.

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]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/13/haerbin-kazy-international-youth-hostel-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%8d%a1%e5%85%b9%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e9%9d%92%e5%b9%b4%e6%97%85%e7%a4%be/feed/ 0 Haerbin Taiping International Airport 哈尔滨太平国际机场 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/12/harbin-taiping-international-airport-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%a4%aa%e5%b9%b3%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e6%9c%ba%e5%9c%ba/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/12/harbin-taiping-international-airport-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%a4%aa%e5%b9%b3%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e6%9c%ba%e5%9c%ba/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 13:55:52 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8639 I took the Chinese budget airline Spring Airlines 春秋航空 from its home base in Shanghai to the frozen northern city of China, Haerbin also spelt as Harbin. A lot of people asked me why I wanted to visit this frozen wasteland of a city. Actually, I don’t have the answer myself. I was planning a [...]

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Disembarking from the Plane at Haerbin Taiping International Airport 哈尔滨太平国际机场

I took the Chinese budget airline Spring Airlines 春秋航空 from its home base in Shanghai to the frozen northern city of China, Haerbin also spelt as Harbin. A lot of people asked me why I wanted to visit this frozen wasteland of a city. Actually, I don’t have the answer myself. I was planning a tour of the historical belt of China from Xian to Beijing but got pleasantly derailed by a friend who was visiting Shanghai at the same time. The trip from Shanghai to Haerbin took two hours, this was much better than taking a fifteen hour hi-speed train ride from Shanghai to Haerbin.

IMG 9302 Haerbin Taiping International Airport 哈尔滨太平国际机场

Hallway at Haerbin Taiping International Airport 哈尔滨太平国际机场

Not surprisingly, the airport of Haerbin City was small, it is almost like a domestic airport. However, every January, they host a world famous Ice Festival, just in time when the city freezes over. However, given the cold here, I don’t think they can max out the capacity of the airport. The airport wasn’t really super modern but it was still a decent airport. It somehow gives off the vibe of the Centennial Terminal II in the Philippines. Anyway, getting out of this airport was also a breeze since there was no need to clear immigration.

IMG 9303 500x333 Haerbin Taiping International Airport 哈尔滨太平国际机场

Empty Baggage Claim Area at the Haerbin Taiping International Airport 哈尔滨太平国际机场

Immediately took out my jacket since it was already quite cold outside, for someone from the tropics, it is very cold, though I have some built in insulation. I actually bought some thermals from Shanghai, but I didn’t get to use them in the end. There was a counter outside the airport terminal where passengers will purchase bus tickets to their destination. I only knew of one destination here in Haerbin and that was Zhongyang Street. There was a bus which brings us there for a CNY 20. I admit I don’t know much about Haerbin apart from the ice festival, alas, it wasn’t ice festival time when I visited. I did very little research about the city and will only be relying on my Lonely Planet China for tips.

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]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/12/harbin-taiping-international-airport-%e5%93%88%e5%b0%94%e6%bb%a8%e5%a4%aa%e5%b9%b3%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e6%9c%ba%e5%9c%ba/feed/ 0 Shanghai Pudong International Airport 上海浦东国际机场 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/11/shanghai-pudong-international-airport-%e4%b8%8a%e6%b5%b7%e6%b5%a6%e4%b8%9c%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e6%9c%ba%e5%9c%ba/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/05/11/shanghai-pudong-international-airport-%e4%b8%8a%e6%b5%b7%e6%b5%a6%e4%b8%9c%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e6%9c%ba%e5%9c%ba/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 14:24:01 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8633 I had to wake up very early the next day. My friends have already went back to Singapore, while I still have two more weeks left in my journey. I was originally planning to explore northern China when my friend persuaded me to change my plans. I had no regrets since I hardly get to [...]

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Inside the Shanghai Pudong International Airport 上海浦东国际机场

I had to wake up very early the next day. My friends have already went back to Singapore, while I still have two more weeks left in my journey. I was originally planning to explore northern China when my friend persuaded me to change my plans. I had no regrets since I hardly get to go with anyone, let alone her, during my travels abroad. Now I’m all alone and left to continue my journey. One of the options was to travel by hi-speed train to my original destination, but it would be more expensive to do so, not to mention it will take more time.

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Glass Walls of the Shanghai Pudong International Airport 上海浦东国际机场

A few weeks before the trip, I purchased budget airline tickets to my destination, I was a bit not cheap but it was faster. One thing I neglected to consider was the time of the flight. I stupidly booked a morning flight forgetting that there was now way to get to the airport. No way, except by taxi. In short, CNY 230 later, I was at the airport. I had no idea it was that far, I could have tried sleeping at the airport instead at least I would have been able to save on the exhorbitant taxi fare. If I took the noon flight, I could have taken the subway then the maglev to the airport and it would have cost me only a third of what I spent for this taxi ride. Lesson learned.

The Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the new international airport of Shanghai. It is interesting to note that Shanghai actually is served by two international airports, one is the Hongqiao International Airport and the one in Pudong is the second one. Shanghai is that big. Travellers need to be aware of which airport they will be using since they are far from each other. One mistake can cost you a plane ticket.

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Sunrise at Shanghai Pudong International Airport 上海浦东国际饥肠

Surprisingly, the airport wasn’t as glizty as ther other airports I have been to in China, in particular, the Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and the Beijing Capital Airport Terminal III. I think even the new train stations in Beijing and Shanghai look better than this. It didn’t seem like it was as new as I imagined it to be. The design was quite distinctive though with white supports raining down from the roof, almost like a meteor shower. There wasn’t much in the way of natural lighting except from the sides of the terminal. Otherwise it was a functional airport. Just as the sun was rising, we started to board the plane. My journey to northern China begins anew.

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Melt This Meat In the Soup

We head back to the hostel after another round of shopping, I’m sure she was satisfied with what she bought, it was cheap and yet it was decent, don’t ask me how long it will last though. She probably would have bought more if there was still space in her bag. Anyway, they brought out their stuff out of the hostel, I immediately noticed how one of them was carrying much more than the other. The luggage was massive for one a one week trip. In fact, she has more stuff than I brought with me, and I’m travelling for three weeks! Well, I always believed in travelling light. There were no tearful farewells since we will be meeting up again when I get back from China.

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Salted Fish in Suzhou Noodle King 苏州面大王

I decided to rest after that tiring day, after all were have been moving from store to store that day. I seems like she was storing her energy for the shopping and was only along for the sights. That night, I wanted to eat again and I was trying to locate a place which was nice and affordable. Nanjing Road East isn’t really the best place to find such places so I walked along a parallel road to see what they have to offer for locals, and I mean Shanghai residents. I came across this shop called Suzhou Noodle King, my translation of 苏州面大王.

My eye immediately caught sight of a dish I loved in Suzhou, it was that noodle dish with that melt in your mouth meat. They had several variations of the dish and I ordered one with fried fish. The friendly owner flashed the thumbs up sign saying that that was their specialty. The fish was salty, almost like it was salted fish, the portion was also generous. The soup, very hearty. The meat was that kind which I need to “melt” in the hot soup. When done, it gives a very nice melt in your mouth feeling, you probably would forget that it was meat.

It was also at that point that I realized that I was all alone again in China. I won’t be able to order large meals anymore since I won’t have help to finish it, not that I needed any. More significantly, I would have to start speaking Chinese again, I had the luxury of two Chinese speaking companions who would just let deal with the locals. From this time on, I’m on my own.

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