China Chronicles Day 1

Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Day 1 – Departure from Manila
(Colored and italicized parts were actual notes i scribbled in my palm pilot...)

We left Gotcha early Monday night and slept over at my SIL’s house since we would be leaving for the airport very early on Tuesday, March 22. We were up and about at 2:30 a.m.. Ricky & I had to take turns using the bathroom and I made some last minute packing. By 4:30 a.m., the four of us -Jackie (my SIL), William (Jackie’s husband), Ricky and I were on our way to the airport.

When we got there, the lines were a bit long and for our flight, PR 338, there were only two or three counters open for the baggage check-in. Jane (Jackie’s SIL) and Diane (Jane’s SIL) caught up with us there. We went thru immigration and waited a bit before boarding. The plane left Manila skies at 7:40 a.m. The trip was about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

We stashed our thick jackets in one bag and checked it in since it was hot in Manila & on board the plane. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any connecting hallway (is that what they call it?) from the plane to the terminal so we alighted from the plane, walked a short distance and rode the service bus from the tarmac to the terminal. Poor Ricky, he only had a short-sleeved shirt on so once we claimed our baggage, everyone took out their jackets. Wow! The cold weather was a welcome change from the stifling heat in Manila, or so I thought…wait until the next few hours …

It’s 10:47 a.m .- we’ve finally collected our bags and we’re waiting for our tour guide. The weather is 9 degrees and boy, it’s been quite some time since I’ve been in weather as nippy as this!

It was past 11 a.m. when we finally located our tour guide T-O-N-Y. We left Pu Dong Int’l Airport, rode a bus and began our journey towards Shanghai.

The first thing I noticed was that China is really big, huge, vast and did I say Big? On the bus T-O-N-Y shifted into tour guide mode and was explaining what was on our right or on our left while giving us facts about Shanghai. Across Pu Dong Int’l airport, he said that they were building a 2nd terminal. All I could say was wow! The 2nd terminal would probably be another huge terminal; maybe 2 or 3 NAIAs in it. Yup, that big.

Looking back, I realize that I should’ve whipped out my camera to take a pic of the place. Anyway…I was completely lost on the names; Tony sort of loses the l’s in words so sometimes, he spells it out hence T-O-N-Y - that’s how he introduced himself. “my name is Tony, T-O-N-Y…” when I ask ricky where the tour guide is, I always say, “nasan si T-O-N-Y?” babaw ko, but I was amused.

The highway (see? Can’t remember the highway’s name…) we were moving along was 7 lanes wide with no bumps, no sudden potholes and no MMDA vehicles feigning road repair. The ride was smooth and I noticed that there were signs everywhere. It wouldn’t be difficult to get around because there was always a sign to tell you where to get off or where you’re headed.

While we were on the road, here are some things T-O-N-Y shared with us:

* Magnolias are the flower of shanghai
* Land of about 100 sq. m. = 1.5 M Yen
* Our Driver was Mr. Wu

He was going on and on but I slowly zoned out and began seeing the surroundings on my own. Cars on the road: I saw mazdas, accords, Hyundai models and a lot of VW’s the models of which I don’t see in manila. There are a lot of VWs, the taxis are VW sedans – Santana and a couple of buicks. The latter you would see a lot of because China produces about 250,000 Buicks a year.

Upon arriving in Shanghai (city proper), I immediately noticed that the outermost lane is dedicated for bikes, scooters, motorcycles and anything that has 2 wheels. Amazing… you see women, men, teenagers riding bikes, scooters in suits, skirts, boots, heels, sneakers and vehicle drivers respect that bike lane… here, you rarely see bikes or motorcycles running along edsa. Another thing I noticed is the transportation system. It amazes me no end. There are the highways, the roads, the bike lane, the elevated rings, the bridges, the subway, the train; I mean, they have developed a transport system that works. They have buses, taxis and even cable buses. No rusty or depleted buses running along the highways. The bus itself is clean; the seat covers aren’t tattered or covered with graffiti. The islands are well kept, manicured like the front lawns of the rich and famous if I may say so…a mixture of trees, bushes, flowers adorn the islands of the roads in Shanghai.

Also, there are also barricades or short fences that somehow serve as a demarcation line for buses plying on a certain route. And drivers respect these things on the road they don’t knock them down just because they’re in the way. So unlike the Pinoy drivers who think the road should follow their driving. It’s like driving through Subic or Clark. In the whole of Shanghai not just one part.

Oh well so much for that, going back to my notes…

Now we’re crossing Lupu Bridge the newest bridge built in Shanghai and we’re on our way to Old Shanghai. Below the bridge is the HuangPu River, considered the Mother River in China. They call Old Shanghai, a building forest because there are so many buildings.