Entries: John Paul

Walking The Bund

The skyline of Pudong, otherwise known as Shanghai East, is remarkable.  It’s best viewed from a pedestrian walk called The Bund, along the Huangpu River.  Barges, tourist boats and cargo ships motor up and down the Huangpu, in front of one of the most amazing skylines in Asia, perhaps the world.  At the centerpiece of the Pudong skyline is the Oriental Pearl Radio and TV tower, the third tallest TV tower in the world.  It is more than 1,500 feet tall.  The tower features two giant orbs designed to look like rubies.  Inside those spheres are a restaurant and dance hall.  On the west side of the Huangpu river, along The Bund, you’ll see thousands of tourists having their photo taken with the skyline of Pudong as a backdrop.  Some architecturally significant buildings are also on the west side of the river, such as the Peace Hotel, one of Shanghai’s oldest landmarks.  The hotel was once considered the most luxurious in all of Asia. 

Smokin' Shanghai

Unlike life in Champaign-Urbana, you won’t find much debate about lighting up in Shanghai.  Cigarette smoking is quite popular in this big city and for that matter, throughout China.  Smokers are everywhere, especially men.  A 2001 British Medical Journal determined two-thirds of the adult male population in China smokes.  The same study indicated 30% of the world’s cigarettes are consumed by Chinese.  Smoking is allowed almost everywhere.  Some medical projections expect as many as one third of Chinese men will die due to smoking related illnesses in the next two decades.  Interestingly, China’s state owned cigarette industry has told citizens cigarette smoking is actually good for you…that it will prevent ulcers.  Chinese owned tobacco companies supply one third of the cigarettes made in the world.  Cigarettes are relatively cheap in China too.  A informal survey taken in Shanghai today, indicates a pack of 20 cigarettes can sell for as little as 35-cents US.  Some American brands of cigarettes cost $1.50 to $2.00.  In the U.S., that same pack of cigarettes would run more than $3.50.

Scooting Around Shanghai

Life moves faster than you’d think in an old city like Shanghai.  This city of 18+ million people seems to always be on the go—night and day.  I had read that we’d see quite a few bicycles on the streets of Shanghai…and we have.  We also expected to see lots and lots of bicycle riders—young and old.  What’s been surprising is the plethora of motor scooters that fill the streets.  The riders seem to be on a mission more so than any other Chinese—except maybe the taxi drivers who always seem to be honking their way to a destination.  On the sidewalks here, here are mini-parking lots for bikes and scooters where you’d pay a parking fee, just like in an auto parking lot.  Aboard the scooters—men, women, teenagers, the middle aged and even the elderly.  Sometimes, you’ll see a scooter rider wearing a surgical mask to protect themselves from the air pollution. 

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WAIT

We’ve been at O’Hare International Airport since 8:30AM and we’re all eager to start our flight but we’re not scheduled to begin boarding for about three hours.  I asked Ted Land and John Paul what it feels like to wait just a little while longer for the next leg of our much anticipated journey. 

Ted Land:
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John Paul:
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