My First Day in Shanghai

I reached here yesterday in the noon. Everything in the airport is so strict because or the swine flu outbreak. Staff in the airport is wearing mask and all of us have to fill in health declaration form and to be scan our temperature. I'm very worry in fact but work is still work and I still have to come.

The weather in shanghai is quite good at this time. During my arrival it was round 18C and at night I think I cooler and windy. Its just like the temperature in Genting Highland. My hotel is a nice hotel, Purple Mountain but we have difficulty in checking in due to some miscommunication between the branch and the hotel. But finally everything is settled.

After settle down in the hotel, I went to The Bund (Shanghai Beach in Cantonese). It’s a nice place to walk around but it’s very crowded, maybe it’s Sunday. They have nice architectures along the way but there is some construction going on so it’s so called spoilt the feel there.

After we had ramen in one of the shops along Sezchuan Road (if I'm not mistaken). The beef ramen soup cost RMB10 which I think its reasonable. The taste is reasonable only which mean that you can finish the whole bowl (hokkien called can eat, haha).

After that I realize a good place for food. That’s the place I go next, the Golden Dragon Gate. It’s one of the tourist attractions, old architectures square with plenty stalls selling variety of foods, souvenir, tea leaves etc. I managed to get a key chain for myself at RMB15. The rest of the things are slightly more expensive as it’s a tourist spot. We even had dessert in one of the shops named “Honeymoon Dessert” which can be found in HK. One bowl of Sagoo Mango Pamelo dessert cost me RMB27 and it’s not so cheap anyway.

I think this is more or less my first day touching Shanghai.

For me, I don't really impress or like this place so much maybe this is the perception since young and it did not changed even when I touched down here. My first impression here is the driving skills here are quite good and all of the drivers are skillful until to the extent that I feel scared. Some of them don't even follow the traffic light until we nearly got hit by a bus when we cross the road. The people here talk very loudly (not those in the service industry, I mean the ppl by the road side) and appear to be rude.

Cost of living in Shanghai is quite high I think as things appeared to be more expensive. I had a quick shop in Watson yesterday and here are some of the prices for the items. Pantene 200ml cost RMB19, Munchy Music biscut 110g about RMB10, Watson brand distilled water (big) sold at RMB6. Taxi fare start at RM11 but I'm not sure how much it jumps at every km.

Today is my first working day in Shanghai. Our branch here seems to be good, staff are pleasant and soft spoken and helpful. That’s my point of view for the time being as for now I'm only here for half a day. Hope I’ll have a pleasant stay here…