[drron]

Now its time to take advantage of my AAdvantage status.A circle asia trip-BNE-SYD-PVG-HKG-SGN//BKK-SIN-KUL-SIN-BNE.
Start off on sunday 27/4.Bruce Hway a car park mid trip-however had anticipated this so an 11am start for a 1415 flight.So no problems until we get to BNE security.This time a pair of tweezers and a sewing kit confiscated-these have been going around the world for 10 years and since 9/11 have been through over 200 security checks but this time deemed dangerous weapons.Only in BNE.No great value and sewing kit will be replaced at next hotel.
Time for an hour in the QP.Last day of NSW school hols and the QP is a zoo-ankle biters everywhere-food disappears as soon as it is put down so happy when finally called for flight.Row 5 at back of the business cabin of 767.Coming to expect this from QF as recognition of defection to AA.Served our refreshment as the PA announces the start of descent into SYD.Pity there is not FEBO on QF as this is QF533.However bags did get business tags and amongst first out so off to our night at the Ibis.Fine for a night and here so we can have an early start in the morning at the Flounge.Do the right thing at night and go and visit my father for his 88th birthday.
Up early and off to the airport on the 6am shuttle.Off to the first class checkin only to find our PVG flight doesnt open until 6.30am-a few more wasted minutes.Amazing our 2 bags weigh only 9.7 and 11.6kg.Best we have ever done!Get our express passes-11 pax head off for Immigration and 10 of us take express turn!No time saved at all.Once through off to Flounge.I must say this is impressive and obviously the only way one should prepare for an OS flight.
Breakfast served in the restaurant-very good although the Bircher muesli is not the way i would prepare it-no worries later on will get some good stuff at the KL Hilton.Most of the time spent watching the interactions and seeing how many pax in the Flounge are greeted by name-oh well never mind this will not be me.
Before we know it we are off to board QF129 on our way to PVG for the first time and 25 years since our last visit to China.Should be a little different.But that is for the next instalment.

[drron]

Checking in early at the first class line at least gets us row 2,even though the middle seats.Everyone else in the front cabin of the Airbus seems to be regulars with the exception of the couple in 1 J,K.Nearly all the FAs know Mr.1B by name.Settle down with my first Mis-En-Cave.Unfortunately all the movies i felt like watching that are in the April guide are not on this flight but I settle in to watch Daniel day Lewis in There will Be Blood.About 11am lunch is served,well it is already 1pm in AKL so fair enough to start drinking.They have a Potts Langhorne Creek cabernet today.i have been drinking the offerings from this vineyard since the 60s so this is the way to go.Choose the slow cooked lamb shank which turns out to be a reasonably tasty lamb casserole,Sam K would be proud.
Desserts are not spectacular so have the cheese plate washed down with a couple of glasses of Baileys muscat.Now I do believe that muscats and tokay are done by the Victorians particularly well.Now settle back to watch the doco on the Galapagos islands where we will be in 15 weeks,then American Gangster.By this time it is time for the evening meal-about 6.30pm or just 4.30 PVG time.This time it is the seared salmon for me-I do enjoy it this way but Mrsdrron doesnt so she has the beef.Unfortunately for her she is served the thickest slice of carpaccio she has ever seen-might be better if they asked how you like your beef.No matter I am back into the muscat after the mains and the worries disappear.
About 30 minutes late into PVG and arrive at Terminal 2 which has been open only a month.No other flight so it is straight through,bags out pretty quickly so within 25 minutes sitting in the taxi ready to go to the St.Regis.This is another purpose of this trip.Have just been comped to SPG platinum so 2008 is being used to compare SPG and Hilton.Next instalment for that though.

[QF009]

Awesome stuff, drron. Thanks for the comprehensive overview of wines. Look forward to hearing about your SPG PLT treatment.

[docjames]

Not off to the smoothest start!!

Keep us updated!

[drron]

Well an interesting taxi ride to the St,Regis.Our driver obviously had taken a vow never to be overtaken by another taxi.Still not as quick as the Maglev which we will probably use on the trip back to the airport.arrive at the St. regis wondering about reception as no new card from SPG as only status matched 3 weeks ago.No problems.Rocked up to the gold/plat checkin and after taking copies of our passports escorted to our suite.I had paid lowest available price.They have free wifi,a fruit bowl that is replenished and lounge access-these are for all guests though breakfast in lounge only for elites.Also have a bottle of wine plus chocolates.So far so good.
Go to connect to internet and cant-I am definitely not tecno savvy.Call the butler who is also stumped so he calls the IT dept.5 minutes later the IT manager is in my room and all connected.Starting to love this elite recognition.Thanks QF009 it was some of your trip reports that finally pushed me into doing this.Lounge staff are great.Met an american businessman there who stays a lot.Was his birthday last weekend and he arrives back in his room Friday to find flowers,chocolates wine,cheese plate and tickets to the weekends BMW golf tournament.I might have to keep coming back!
Originally reading reviews for the St.Regis many felt it was too far from the action.Well we are lucky and have a car and driver available to us for most afternoons and evenings but when we have to rely on public transport there are no problems apart from one taxi driver who would not take us back across the river as when we showed him the hotel card he pronounced I can not read Chinese!Besides there are quite a few restaurants close to the hotel and a new shopping precinct about 10 minutes easy walk away.As the St.Regis was about $100 a night cheaper than the other SPG offerings and the Hilton I think it does deserve consideration.
Next instalment attractions and the food scene.

[QF009]

Thanks drron for your reassuring assessment of the Pudong location. I intend to stay at the W Pudong once that opens but was initially apprehensive about the location - I am hence pleased that you found the location ok. Might be a bit far from the nightclubs though but traffic should be quiet at night - plus I expect the W to have a happenin' bar scene anyway.

I'm currently booked at the Westin Bund Centre for late Sept, at the cheapest flexible rate. Reservation already reflects a suite upgrade.

[drron]

Tuesday morning and a leisurely stroll down to the Jinmao tower-30 minutes and we are there.Up to the 88th floor to the observation lounge.The posters say you can see to the mouth of the Yangtze river-today we can barely see the Bund.You can look down inside to the 56th floorand the Grand hyatts restaurant floor.This is currently the highest hotel in the world.next door they are building the Shanghai financial centre which is going to be higher so is going to contain a Park Hyatt so hyatt still retains the record.
Meet with our contact in shanghai and then on the way in the A6L to the Shanghai museum.No entrance fee but you still have to line up and collect a ticket then hand it straight back in.Spend an hour or so admiring the copies of the original artefacts now in taipei then a walk around Peoples Park and on to Nanjing road.This is a disappointing place.Not great shopping or eating but lots of touts and beggars.Much better places in this town.get picked up as arranged and decide that we are not that hungry so dinner is in the lounge.
Next morning the car is not available so we do a walk around the hotel.Found a small local market off Pudian road just to the west of the hotel-quite interesting.Quite a few shops and restaurants but we decide to lunch at the hotels Chinese restaurant.Food is good but expensive so will not eat here again.
Next instalment-Old Town and a night on the Bund.

[drron]

Wednesday afternoon and we are dropped off at the Yu gardens in Old town.Now this is a spot worth visiting even if just to read all the shinglish signs.One menu proudly proclaims that they have stinky bean tur*,presume they mean tofu.The gardens are an oasis in this busy metropolis.The surrounding streets are a reproduction of old shanghai and have every type of thing you would want shopping.About 30% of original price appears the max when bargaining.Touts here as well but not as persistent as on the malled section of Nanjing road.
Walk then past several construction sites down to the Bund.A real mess at the moment because they have just demolished the elevated road-should make it better in the long run though.Walk the length of the walkway and keep getting offered skates-now why do these people dislike me so much that they want to cripple me-I am already walking with a limp due to a ****y knee.
Off up Beijing road and then to the east end of the Nanjing mall.Even more touts now.get a good laugh with a group of Russians trying to stuff all their merchandise into their knockoff LV cases.Have dinner at a teahouse in the Shanghai foods centre-OK and certainly cheap.
Then the saga of getting a taxi.This is where we get knocked back showing our St.Regis address in chinese and the driver telling us he cant read chinese.Wonder what he makes of the street signs.
Thursday morning we spend at the shopping area at South Pudong and Zhangyang road.A 10 minute walk from the hotel.Mayday and all the locals are out but no touts or beggars.Department store,designer shops local stores and an electronics mall with all the fast food outlets and many other restaurants.We have lunch at the Charme restaurant-Beijing duck,scallops beef and pork washed down with Tsingtao at less than $40 for 2.Good value.
Night off to the Bund.Their has been electricity rationing with lights turned off at 8.30pm.However for the 3 day holiday all buildings are allowed to leave them on until 11.30pm.Start off with drinks at the New Heghts bar on top of 3 at the Bund.Great for the view.Then down a floor to Laris for dinner.Actually hard to remind yourself this is a communist country.Great food well presented.However 3 courses for 3 with wine is about $500 so not for those on a budget.If you like great food though it is worth it and the view is spectacular.
Next the buildings of Shanghai and the Museum of Urban planning-dont be put off by the name.

[drron]

Friday and first stop is again Peoples Park but this time The Museum of Urban Planning.Now I thought this is going to be boring but definitely not.Second floor has a history of Shanghai.There is also a show comparing photos from the 80's compared with photos this decade from the same spot-boy has it changed.Upstairs and there is a scale model of Central Shanghai as it is plus approved developements including the Expo site-0this is huge.2 more floors up and you can look down on the model plus an Imax show and plans for the 2 airports,deepwater port and where it is proposed Shanghai will expand.mindblowing.
Off now to xintiandi.A redevoled lilong with trendy bars and restaurants plus some shopping.Dont forget the Open House Museum which explains lilong life.Lunch at the luna bar-good and not expensive.There is a south american restaurant where carnivores can fill up with all you can eat BBQ for less than $15.
A short break fopr a nanny nap and then to the Shanghai centre-home of the Ritz-carlton.Walk through the upscale Plaza 66 shopping centre next door then Citic square with virtually all the same name brands and on to Isetan.Then cross Nanjing road and look for the little doorway leading into a lilong.Not far in and the city noise disappears.What a contrast to what we have seen the other side of the road.Went through,turned right and came across a little park.Old fellows playing Mahjong,others ballroom dancing to their portable radio.
Back to the Shanghai centre and a quick dinner at elements Fresh.Good food at very reasonable prices and an interesting menu with asian twists.Then upstairs to the theatre and the acrobats show.My goodness what these people can do with their bodies especially the young woman who turns around and around whilst balancing 8 candelabras.Can reccomend this show.
Over the road is the Shanghai Exhibition centre and in the street at its western edge is a lineup of 12 bars-told this is the place for some serious drinking on the weekend-I'm sure some of you younger folks could find enough trouble there.
Next a walk around the French concession and dinner at T8.

[drron]

Saturday and off to the French concession.We had been lent books-6 walks in Shanghai and 6 More Walks in Shanghai.Very worthwhile if you have a few days or are a return visitor.See the sites off the beaten track.The walk we selected starts at The Old china hand reading room at 27 Shaoxing rd.You could read the book there while having a cup of coffee.Walk takes you past villas,art deco apartment blocks,down lilongs and on to Dr.Sun Yat sens Shanghai residence and museum before ending at the Ruijin guest house and compound.What a magnificent residence this would have been in the 30s.Several restaurants and tomorrow we will go back to Lanna Thai.Also a trendy bar-the Face bar(who have opened a branch in Pudong).The place backs onto Maoming road which a local guide describes as being a favoured place of Shanghai's flirtatious ladies-whoever they may be.
Then to lunch at Ginger at 299 Fuxing rd-just go through the archway to the back.Good simple food with Asian influence and not expensive.Apparently a good bar upstairs though at Ginger Y30 cocktails between 5 and 8pm.After lunch went to Lane210 Taiking road.Again from the street it looks like nothing there but inside many trendy bars,restaurants and galleries.another branch of Ginger here but serving western food.This apparently is the new favoured hangout of young expats.
Then another nanny nap before back to Xintiandi and dinner at T8.Another extraordinary restaurant.Food better than at Laris with presentation excelling.Laris being on the Bund still wins with location.3 courses for 3 with wine came to $450 but worth it.Much cheaper if you dont drink wine.however a place I will return to.I had a slow cooked lamb in Sichuan style pie with a coriander curry sauce-magnificent.The other 2 had lobster and scallops.Save room for desserts-very yummy.
Next instalment-our last day in Shanghai before flying off to vietnam.