We decided to check out the Chinese Propaganda Museum. They have an amazing collection of over 5000 pieces from 1949 through to 1979 which cover The Cultural Revolution, The Big Leap Forward and the Cold War.
It was pretty funny to see how Australians, the British and in particular the American were portrayed in these posters. The Americans were always drawn with sunglasses, big noses, nazi (SS) style army hats with some sort of injury like a broken leg or arm and the Chinese referred to them as "Paper Tiger" as an insult. The Brits and Australians were drawn in a similar way but featured a lot less than the Americans did in these propaganda posters.
For 20 Yuan (just over AUD$3) it was totally worth seeing. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take any photos but if you're interested, here is a link to the webiste: http://www.shanghaipropagandaart.com/
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Shanghai Pt.2 - The Pee Incident
I think I just saw the funniest thing I've ever seen. A little boy standing on the curb of a really busy street peeing on the road. Not that funny in itself but when a scooter rider has to swerve to avoid it, still gets pee on his leg and then toots his horn at the kid ... priceless. I guess you just had to be there.
Shanghai Pt.1 - Watch? Bag? Shoes?
We landed in Shanghai on Tuesday night without incident. To get to our first metro train station we jumped on the Maglev (fast) train at Pudong airport. Averaging 300Km/h it only took 8 minutes to get us there.
After jumping a couple of trains we finally made it to South Shanxi Road (which would become our local train station). While we waited outside looking at the map, a guy walked up to us and asked if we wanted to buy a watch. We said no thanks and thought nothing more of it.
We started lugging our bags towards the Donghu hotel which was about 5 minutes away. While we waited to cross the first road, a lady asked "watch? bag? shoes?!". No thanks.
On the other side of the street we came to a couple of shops with a heap of guys standing out the front. They were all holding the same bit of paper we'd seen twice before. This guy was more persistent. "Watch? bag? shoes? iPhone?". No thanks. "You go in here and take a look". No thanks. "Cheap bags, just take a look". No thanks.
After a while you get used to it but it does get very annoying. On every street corner with a shop on it, there is someone holding a piece of paper with little pictures of watches, shoes, bags or whatever else the shop sells trying to get you to have a look. It's easy to avoid them once you get used to it but like I said, it was still a little annoying especially when there are 3 or 4 guys in a row doing it to you.
After jumping a couple of trains we finally made it to South Shanxi Road (which would become our local train station). While we waited outside looking at the map, a guy walked up to us and asked if we wanted to buy a watch. We said no thanks and thought nothing more of it.
We started lugging our bags towards the Donghu hotel which was about 5 minutes away. While we waited to cross the first road, a lady asked "watch? bag? shoes?!". No thanks.
On the other side of the street we came to a couple of shops with a heap of guys standing out the front. They were all holding the same bit of paper we'd seen twice before. This guy was more persistent. "Watch? bag? shoes? iPhone?". No thanks. "You go in here and take a look". No thanks. "Cheap bags, just take a look". No thanks.
After a while you get used to it but it does get very annoying. On every street corner with a shop on it, there is someone holding a piece of paper with little pictures of watches, shoes, bags or whatever else the shop sells trying to get you to have a look. It's easy to avoid them once you get used to it but like I said, it was still a little annoying especially when there are 3 or 4 guys in a row doing it to you.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The trouble with blogging
This blog isn't working exactly how I would have hoped. My plan was to post updates every two or three days but so far that hasn't been possible. Why? Internet censorship.
Unfortunately I'd forgotten all about China's strict censorship of the internet. This mean't that for the whole time we were there we couldn't access facebook, blogger or any other Google owned sites except gmail.
Ironically, the sign they had in the hotel room advertising their free internet access read "keeping you in touch with your world". Hmmm, not quite in this case.
Rob.
Unfortunately I'd forgotten all about China's strict censorship of the internet. This mean't that for the whole time we were there we couldn't access facebook, blogger or any other Google owned sites except gmail.
Ironically, the sign they had in the hotel room advertising their free internet access read "keeping you in touch with your world". Hmmm, not quite in this case.
Rob.
The Departure Lounge - 18th of May 2010
It’s 2.55pm and we’re currently flying over PNG on our way to Shanghai. Our holiday has finally started! I know some of you will say it started on the 7th of May (the day Alice and I both finished work) but to be honest, the last week and a half has been one of the busy periods I’ve ever experienced!
After recovering from my post-farewell hangover on the 8th we finally started packing up the house. All things considered, we did pretty well but weren’t as organised as we should have been which meant we were still packing while the removalists were doing their thing on Monday morning.
By Wednesday morning we’d managed to move the rest of our things into storage before our final inspection. I actually thought it was going to be a lot sadder leaving our home of almost 2 years but instead we sat on the counter and reminisced about all the cool things that happened there, the massive amount of guests we’d had stay with us and just the general awesomeness of living in Erko. Besides, it’s pretty hard to be upset when you’re about to leave for a 5 month holiday ;)
From Wednesday night through till Monday afternoon we spent time in Canberra catching up with family and friends and shopping for things for the trip … like this slightly self-indulgent purchase
As far as departures go, today was surprisingly painless. Easy getting to the airport. Extremely quick check-in. Short but sweet farewell from Alice’s parents. No line to get through customs. And so far it’s been a really good flight too.
Right now we’re flying towards the Phillipines with another 4 hours to go before we land in Shanghai … where the real adventure beings.
Rob.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
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