2013 - OCEANIA - SHANGHAI

Mon 23 May 2005

SHANGHAI

Today is my first time in China & I am just going to wander around on my own.

I walk off the ship & turn right & through a nice little park to the ferry across the river.

2 Yuan is the one way fare. Quite a deal at 7 Yuan to the Dollar.

My ship on the left...

Getting off the ferry...

China - One point something Billion people. But not here for some reason....

A nice walk on the less well known side of the river. I keep to the river walk..for a hour or so & then take the ferry for another 2 Yuan back to the more well known side of the river, know as the Bund.

In the old days - Opium war days - the British, French & other foreigners had sections along the Bund.

Imagine Britain giving a huge swathe of London to the Chinese. Britain forced China to buy Opium & when they disagreed, went to war with them.

Lots more people on this side of the river.

Tourists,

locals,

local tourists...

It is around here I get asked by a good looking girl to take a photo of her. I do but she does not want any nice view in the background & this is a little strange.

Maybe a scam starting or a hooker.

I move on quick to get this photo of a wedding party..Lovely dress on this lady....

Interesting face on this guy. Looks like how I imagine an old time Chinese person would look.

A group of 4 youngsters near here - 2 girls, one of whom was very pretty, the other not so & 2 guys - ask me to take their photo. I do and they walk alongside me chatting in very good English & they suggest we go for some tea & a chat. This one I have heard of & is definitely a scam. I just left them.

I mentioned it to Don so when he was approached a few days later, he said he will take their photo, but no tea. They left.

We did hear of a singer on board who actually went for tea & was given a bill for 1 or 2 hundred dollars. He gave 5 & left.

The people at the ships excursion desk had never heard of this scam!!

These from back on board the ship