Just a quick work-related trip in Shanghai
I went here to visit the International Montessori school where i'll be teaching at soon. (but still, im undecided super) then we went apartment-hopping for one whole day.
3 days, stayed in Pacific Hotel somewhere in Nan Jin Lu (am I right?) hahaha
Okay here’s my observation

• Living in Shanghai is crazier than living in Manila

• Subways are not tourist-friendly, even if you ask their information/help booth, they won’t understand you unless you could speak mandarin

• Their toilets have 2 kinds of cubicle, one is “sitting toilet” and “squatting toilet” , this is true. You can see this in the airport.

• They don’t have Jaywalking! Woooohoo! You can cross anywhere and anytime you want (just make sure your fast enough not to be hit by a car)

• Bumper to bumper traffic!

• People talk as if they are shouting to each other or arguing. But my sister told me, that’s their normal type of conversation

• China banned online access in various blogging site, including MULTIPLY, blogspot and the likes of wikipedia, youtube, flickers.

• If you love haggling, then china’s the best place for you, from RMB1,000 price you can haggle it down to RMB 100 (am I right vhani?) because my sister just did that for a class AAA Rolex watch.

• I was surprised to know there are different types of bikes. I’ve seen the manual bikes, scooters, electric bike (yes , it’s electric with chug-chug sound) foldable bike, bikes that could accommodate 3 persons and oh, in every subway station they have a big spacious “BIKE” parking lot. Incredible.

• Oh, you should haggle 50%-70% off instantly in china. Then walk out if they refuse to give you the price you’re asking, they’ll be the one to pull you back to their store.

• China strictly implements ONE CHILD policy. Hm.. that’s why I don’t see much kids around Shanghai

• Ohhh, you will love their lights at night and you will marvel at their magnificent architectures.


I’m half thankful half not for having my sister accompanied in Shanghai, half thankful coz I wouldn’t survive shanghai without her, I swear, she speaks good mandarin, that I was delightfully shocked. Half not coz she doesn’t seems to stop blabbering in mandarin, eating junk foods you know KFC and this papa john’s pizza, she eats like 5x a day. And she doesn’t get tired from endless walking! But all in all it’s a fun trip, sisterly bonding one hahaha.


VHANI: chung che kwa leh chung chai leh kua ting tong tung chu chi
HER FRIEND: chu chi sho loo kukurookok kok ping ping pang lo
(both laughing)

ME: oh, great!