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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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 Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:42 am Post subject: Shanghai - is anyone else fascinated by it? |
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It seems to keep popping up all over TV - from Americas Next Top Model to the Amazing Race, and the scenes of all the different skyscrapers and all the internationalization there seems to make it a more and more interesting place all the time.
Anyone else agree? Or just me? I'm somewhat indifferent on general China, but Shanghai is really intriguing these days. |
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Justin Hale
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Location: the Straight Talk Express
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:57 am Post subject: |
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Well, firstly, I've met a ton of Chinese in Seoul recently and they have all been absolutely lovely people, so what I'm about to say I would not say to them.
Other than Hong Kong, I'm not merely uninterested in China but actually find it a verminously loathsome and barbarous state and would never visit. I'm very singleminded about this. There are zillions upon squllions of fabulous countries in Europe, the Americas and Australasia and, as such, I can think of no reason at all to visit China. I'd love to travel back in time and see China in the 50s and 60s, but modern-day China I'd rather lick my toilet clean than visit. But not Hong Kong because the Brits showed them how it's done! 
Same with Singapore vs Malaysia. I love Singapore, by golly, but I could only visit Malaysia if I was paid an astronomical sum. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:07 am Post subject: |
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All my friends who've been there say it's much more boring than Beijing. Looking at it I bet it would be like hanging around Myungdong or one of the more sterile parts of Seoul.
Give me scuzz and scary alleys any day. |
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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:40 am Post subject: |
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http://ispyshanghai.com
This guy (used to write Lostseouls.com) makes it sound pretty awesome.
I wanted to go there last week when I saw a show about cricket fighting on the Discovery Channel. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:51 am Post subject: |
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Correct me if wrong, but none of you appear to actually have personally been there?
| racetraitor wrote: |
| All my friends who've been there say it's much more boring than Beijing |
I have been to both Beijing and Shanghai within the past 6 months.
I rate Shanghai as more exciting, but Beijing more interesting, if you see the difference. Beijing has culture, history, and is visually impressive. Bad thing about it is that not a single person speaks english. Taxi drivers do not even recognise the word "hotel". It can be a nightmare to get things done, but there is plenty to see and do once you get into swing.
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| Give me scuzz and scary alleys any day. |
Then you should definitely head to Shanghai- it has a very seedy and aggressive underbelly. Where did your friends stay exactly? Did'nt they explore at all?
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| actually find it a verminously loathsome and barbarous state and would never visit. |
I was a little worried about that before I went too. What i found was that on the surface it seems very alienating and the people are businesslike and brash to a point of offensive. They want your money, and all sorts of hidden fees are surreptitiously thrown at you. You find yourself having an argument over every transaction. However..underneath that energetic exterior..they are not xenophobic. They see you as a person. If you get to chat and know them...it will be rewarding. One word to sum up shanghai?.."energetic".
| Quote: |
| Shanghai is really intriguing these days. |
it is, and thats how I found it. It has a different character to the rest of the country. First up it has always been a big trade hub, and it has historically had masses of foreign influence. Thus...the people are more cosmopolitan than the rest. They also speak a lot more english..and the women...open to foreigners. Friendly and attractive.
Would I move there? Hmm.
If I'm going to work and not make lots of cash, then I'd rather choose a tropical location. Shanghai is just too much of a massive urban city for me. I need some countryside. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:55 am Post subject: |
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| 上海人常常不好心所以我不喜欢去上海， 很多的中国人也觉得。 |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
Correct me if wrong, but none of you appear to actually have personally been there?
| racetraitor wrote: |
| All my friends who've been there say it's much more boring than Beijing |
I have been to both Beijing and Shanghai within the past 6 months.
I rate Shanghai as more exciting, but Beijing more interesting, if you see the difference. Beijing has culture, history, and is visually impressive. Bad thing about it is that not a single person speaks english. Taxi drivers do not even recognise the word "hotel". It can be a nightmare to get things done, but there is plenty to see and do once you get into swing.
| Quote: |
| Give me scuzz and scary alleys any day. |
Then you should definitely head to Shanghai- it has a very seedy and aggressive underbelly. Where did your friends stay exactly? Did'nt they explore at all?
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Lame music scene. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
Lame music scene. |
Where in East asia would you reccomend for that exactly? If you're missing innovative DJ's and the latest e's U probably should be in Europe.
No offence but U sound like a couple of my Korean students who returned from the beautiful New Zealand with the verdict that the whole country sucked because the internet speed was too slow. |
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whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:58 am Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| Lame music scene. |
Hmmmm...what place does that remind me of?  |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| 上海人常常不好心所以我不喜欢去上海， 很多的中国人也觉得。 |
不错儿
在夏我要做在上海。 |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I thought Shanghai was spectacular on the surface. I would have to spend some time there for awhile, though. |
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Geckoman
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject: Thank the Queen of England! |
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| Justin Hale wrote: |
| But not Hong Kong because the Brits showed them how it's done! |
That's the work of Queen Elizabeth II! Thank the Queen of England!
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
She has done a fine place running her colonies! Hong Kong is an ex-British colony. Canada, Australia and New Zealand are current colonies and they are not bad themselves either.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
Lame music scene. |
Where in East asia would you reccomend for that exactly? If you're missing innovative DJ's and the latest e's U probably should be in Europe.
No offence but U sound like a couple of my Korean students who returned from the beautiful New Zealand with the verdict that the whole country sucked because the internet speed was too slow. |
Quibbling about Korea aside, if you compare Shanghai's underground music to Beijing's, it's like the difference between Toronto and Montreal. Modern soulless Toronto, post Queen Street West. |
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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Justin Hale wrote: |
Well, firstly, I've met a ton of Chinese in Seoul recently and they have all been absolutely lovely people, so what I'm about to say I would not say to them.
Other than Hong Kong, I'm not merely uninterested in China but actually find it a verminously loathsome and barbarous state and would never visit. I'm very singleminded about this. There are zillions upon squllions of fabulous countries in Europe, the Americas and Australasia and, as such, I can think of no reason at all to visit China. I'd love to travel back in time and see China in the 50s and 60s, but modern-day China I'd rather lick my toilet clean than visit. But not Hong Kong because the Brits showed them how it's done!
Same with Singapore vs Malaysia. I love Singapore, by golly, but I could only visit Malaysia if I was paid an astronomical sum. |
And where do you live currently? |
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santafly
Joined: 20 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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Shanghai is pretty to walk around for a couple days - buildings from the late 1800's/ early 1900's, the river, and some new skyscrapers - but beyond that it is a business hub - lots of cheap buildings, cheap labor, and business people, business/commercial/industrial parks - not exactly what turns me on. It's also in middle of a big expanse of flatlands.
Beijing has it's core of cultural attractions but for the most part it's an industrial wasteland - like everything away from the river in Shanghai.
Hong Kong is the only city in "China" that really turns me on. I think it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world - comparable to/better than Rio de Janeiro. Banyan trees growing out of old stone walls, thick tropical forests, lots of incredible new buildings/road systems, mountains in the city, beaches, boats. Plus, there has been a lot of money there for a long time so the cultural wealth is far better established. Not to mention the pollution is nothing like in Shanghai and Beijing and your positioned for better access to SE Asia |
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