April 4, 2012 The Bund in Shanghai

After breakfast (this is the most posh hotel we have stayed in since the resort in Thailand) we headed out on a bus to explore Shanghai. The city is divided in half by the Yellow River (this isn't its' real name, it's Huangpu ,it's a nick name). Each section on either side of the river is called the Bund. When Richard was in China 20 years ago, there were rice paddies on the east side of the river or the 'east Bund' We are more familiar with the West Bund; it was the section that was established by the British and the French in the 1800's and also invaded by the Japanese in the early 20th century. The HongKong/Shanghai bank had been well established in this area but left after the Cultural revolution in 1949. After Mao died they tried to re establish themselves in the West Bund but real estate was already too expensive so they built a bank on the East Bund. Seventy per cent of the Shanghai people live in the West Bund. The other 30% are farmers and families with centuries of heritage in the east Bund. Shang hai means Up to (Shang) the Ocean (hai). Fishermen used to say 'shanghai'...let's go fishing...up to the ocean. We walked along the East Bund first. The river is filled with freight ships, tour boats and fishing vessels, big and small. The buildings are massive and modern. We look across the river to almost the same kind of skyline except some very old 19th century buildings like a lighthouse and some government buildings. (and of course, some temples). We crossed the river again and looked back at the East Bund. I have pictures of both...most like Hong kong...modern, all lit up at night and lots of money. We went to the French quarter next. it was a long debate whether or not to preserve it, but in the end the money was invested. Beautiful cafe's , french bakeries, chocolate shops and small gift shops with one of a kind items. The streets were for pedestrian traffic only, cobble stones and not very wide. I would have liked to have spent more time there. We went to 5 story 'outlet' mall of street merchants. Boy am I glad I have bartered before. There were designer 'knock offs'. Mary had a Prada bag she was going to use as a combination lap top bag, purse and lunch bag. They initialled wanted 1,780 Yuan for it. She walked away with it at 300 Yuan. We walked into a very small stall and they ushered us into a back room filled with more purses, and then we disappeared twice more into small rooms with more purses behind hidden walls. It was a little creepy but we survived. Unbelievable experience. I haven't talked at all about the people who beg us for money. When were at the Buddhist temple, a man carrying his 7 year old daughter who was obviously crippled followed us right to the temple from the bus (about 4 blocks) The little girl had a huge ball of flesh at the back of her neck...spina bifida i imagined. Our tour guide said the government provided assistance and homes for these beggars but that they were each given a section of town where they could beg. it's so hard. Then the people selling trinkets are relentless. They ask and ask and ask and ask and follow you asking you what price you want pay. Again, very difficult. I's hard not to be rude. So this 'outlet' mall was 5 stories tall and as you walked by each stall, there was a voice calling out to you to buy something. We stayed about 45 minutes and then walked back to the hotel and ventured down the pedestrian mall again. I had some ice cream. Then we went back to the hotel to read and relax before dinner. This is our last dinner together. One of our group wrote a poem that described all of our adventures. Four of group will head off to Tibet tomorrow (up at 4 am). Ten are heading to Hong Kong and the rest of us will be heading home to Canada. We're ready