One of many fine exotic eateries seen on my walk through the hot and humid streets of Shanghai.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Good Morning Shanghai!
Well, an uneventful 15 hour flight out of Chicago to Shanghai resulted in a good nights sleep and a restful 5:00 am wake up this morning. I didn't get much sleep on the flight - maybe 3 or 4 hours. I was able to see the Bourne Supremacy, Disturbia (VERY good movie), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. 
The flight got in about 2:00 pm yesterday afternoon (1:00 am CST back home). A colleague and I waited for an hour or so for our ride to pick us up, which never showed. We got a cab to take us to the hotel, which is about an hour's drive from the airport. It started off a little scary when we gave the driver the name of the hotel and he got out of the car to ask someone else for directions. The ride was very much different than my previous experiences in China. You can definitely tell that there is a lot of money here. The expressway was lined with trees and soundbarriers to protect homes on the other side from the noise pollution of the traffic. Small spaces in between allowed you to see some of the homes, which were stunning and not so different than ours, although there was an Asian flare to them. There are a lot of highrise apartment buildings. Saturday must be laundry day here, as just about every house or apartment had laundry drying on decks or outside windows. 
We did finally arrive at the hotel (Renaissance Yangzte Shanghai) around 4:00 pm with a message to call one of our contacts who profusely apologized for the missed ride - there was a miscomunication on timing, but of course these things happen and all is well. A couple of doubles and a hamburger later I was ready for bed - sleeping has never felt so good! There are several restaurants here at the hotel that I am looking forward to trying out. Our training sessions are all on site here at the hotel, which is nice that we do not have to get up early to travel someplace and then set up projectors and such. I went for a run in the gym this morning that gave a wonderful view of the areas outside. I wish I brought my bathing suit, as the pool looked great after my 45 minute run. If it weren't for the haze and pollution outside it looks safe enough to run outdoors, but it's going to be ridiculously hot the whole time we will be here - it is 9:00 am right now and it's already 90 degrees with a heat index of 104! 
The attached pictures are quick views from Google Earth of where I am in relation to the rest of the city. The view out of my hotel shows the park just outside, also visible on the Google Earth shot. It took me a while to find everything (trying to follow what highway I thought we took from the airport). I'm not sure how much I'll be able to see of the city while I'm here - it's quite large. I hope to do some tourist stuff - maybe someone local will take us around. We'll see. I'll have some more pictures later in the week.
The flight got in about 2:00 pm yesterday afternoon (1:00 am CST back home). A colleague and I waited for an hour or so for our ride to pick us up, which never showed. We got a cab to take us to the hotel, which is about an hour's drive from the airport. It started off a little scary when we gave the driver the name of the hotel and he got out of the car to ask someone else for directions. The ride was very much different than my previous experiences in China. You can definitely tell that there is a lot of money here. The expressway was lined with trees and soundbarriers to protect homes on the other side from the noise pollution of the traffic. Small spaces in between allowed you to see some of the homes, which were stunning and not so different than ours, although there was an Asian flare to them. There are a lot of highrise apartment buildings. Saturday must be laundry day here, as just about every house or apartment had laundry drying on decks or outside windows. 
We did finally arrive at the hotel (Renaissance Yangzte Shanghai) around 4:00 pm with a message to call one of our contacts who profusely apologized for the missed ride - there was a miscomunication on timing, but of course these things happen and all is well. A couple of doubles and a hamburger later I was ready for bed - sleeping has never felt so good! There are several restaurants here at the hotel that I am looking forward to trying out. Our training sessions are all on site here at the hotel, which is nice that we do not have to get up early to travel someplace and then set up projectors and such. I went for a run in the gym this morning that gave a wonderful view of the areas outside. I wish I brought my bathing suit, as the pool looked great after my 45 minute run. If it weren't for the haze and pollution outside it looks safe enough to run outdoors, but it's going to be ridiculously hot the whole time we will be here - it is 9:00 am right now and it's already 90 degrees with a heat index of 104! 
The attached pictures are quick views from Google Earth of where I am in relation to the rest of the city. The view out of my hotel shows the park just outside, also visible on the Google Earth shot. It took me a while to find everything (trying to follow what highway I thought we took from the airport). I'm not sure how much I'll be able to see of the city while I'm here - it's quite large. I hope to do some tourist stuff - maybe someone local will take us around. We'll see. I'll have some more pictures later in the week.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Week 3 woes continue - Friday the 13th truly an unlucky day...sort of
Ladies and Gentlemen...here is a recount of my Friday travels from Chihuahua, Mexico.
5:30 am MST - leave the Chihuahua Westin Hotel for the airport
6:00 am MST - arrive at the Chihuahua Airport
6:20 am MST - receive tickets and go through security
7:20 am MST - board the plane
7:50 am MST - door won't close
8:10 am MST - maintenance called, passengers are asked to leave the plane, go back through security
10:00 am MST - flight canceled, rebook on 2:00 pm flight, leave secure area to head to cafe
2:00 pm MST - after lunch and messing around VERY SMALL airport, go back through security to gate to find inbound flight is delayed until 4:00 pm, leave secure area to head back to cafe, find out that 6:30 pm connecting flight to Springfield from Dallas will be missed...get on standby for full 9:40 pm Springfield flight, confirm for Sat am flight
3:30 pm MST - shot of tequila
4:00 pm MST - go back through security to gate - inbound flight not to arrive until 4:30 pm
4:38 pm MST - inbound flight arrives
5:00 pm MST - board plane
5:15 pm MST - door still not closed...waiting for other planes to load and board
5:30 pm MST - take off
7:30 pm CST - arrive at DFW
8:15 pm CST - through immigration and customs
8:45 pm CST - recheck luggage (travel partner carrying 8 bottles of vanilla - well above the allowable liquid amount for carry-on), find that there are available seats on 9:40 pm flight to Springfield
8:55 pm CST - "Hurry, your flight boards in 10 minutes!" - we are in terminal D - we depart from terminal B...run through security
9:05 pm CST - after sprinting through terminal D, we find we are only 1 stop away from next gate
9:10 pm CST - inbound flight delayed until 9:30 pm
9:45 pm CST - FINALLY board Springfield flight
11:00 pm CST - arrive at Springfield
11:30 pm CST - 2 McDonald's filet-o-fish sandwiches
2:00 pm CST - pour myself on the couch and fall asleep
Frustrating to say the least, yes.
5:30 am MST - leave the Chihuahua Westin Hotel for the airport
6:00 am MST - arrive at the Chihuahua Airport
6:20 am MST - receive tickets and go through security
7:20 am MST - board the plane
7:50 am MST - door won't close
8:10 am MST - maintenance called, passengers are asked to leave the plane, go back through security
10:00 am MST - flight canceled, rebook on 2:00 pm flight, leave secure area to head to cafe
2:00 pm MST - after lunch and messing around VERY SMALL airport, go back through security to gate to find inbound flight is delayed until 4:00 pm, leave secure area to head back to cafe, find out that 6:30 pm connecting flight to Springfield from Dallas will be missed...get on standby for full 9:40 pm Springfield flight, confirm for Sat am flight
3:30 pm MST - shot of tequila
4:00 pm MST - go back through security to gate - inbound flight not to arrive until 4:30 pm
4:38 pm MST - inbound flight arrives
5:00 pm MST - board plane
5:15 pm MST - door still not closed...waiting for other planes to load and board
5:30 pm MST - take off
7:30 pm CST - arrive at DFW
8:15 pm CST - through immigration and customs
8:45 pm CST - recheck luggage (travel partner carrying 8 bottles of vanilla - well above the allowable liquid amount for carry-on), find that there are available seats on 9:40 pm flight to Springfield
8:55 pm CST - "Hurry, your flight boards in 10 minutes!" - we are in terminal D - we depart from terminal B...run through security
9:05 pm CST - after sprinting through terminal D, we find we are only 1 stop away from next gate
9:10 pm CST - inbound flight delayed until 9:30 pm
9:45 pm CST - FINALLY board Springfield flight
11:00 pm CST - arrive at Springfield
11:30 pm CST - 2 McDonald's filet-o-fish sandwiches
2:00 pm CST - pour myself on the couch and fall asleep
Frustrating to say the least, yes.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Word of caution to business travelers flying out of Springfield, MO
DON'T DO IT!
Yet again I am stuck in a hotel in a city I am not supposed to be in. I know I should have flown out of STL instead of SGF.
Two problems caused this travel mishap...
1.) Weather - again, flights in and out of Dallas were delayed
2.) Mechanical malfunction - the cancellation notice wasn't given for 2 hours. Thankfully I was already in line to rebook my flights when the announcement came over the loudspeaker and pandemonium ensued. Again, the argument for carrying on instead of checking rang true.
Since all flights to Laredo are full through the afternoon I am flying into Dallas and then on to San Antonio and then driving 2-1/2 hours to Laredo. And they say getting there is half the fun!
Yet again I am stuck in a hotel in a city I am not supposed to be in. I know I should have flown out of STL instead of SGF.
Two problems caused this travel mishap...
1.) Weather - again, flights in and out of Dallas were delayed
2.) Mechanical malfunction - the cancellation notice wasn't given for 2 hours. Thankfully I was already in line to rebook my flights when the announcement came over the loudspeaker and pandemonium ensued. Again, the argument for carrying on instead of checking rang true.
Since all flights to Laredo are full through the afternoon I am flying into Dallas and then on to San Antonio and then driving 2-1/2 hours to Laredo. And they say getting there is half the fun!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Hotel Observations
Another cancelled flight in McAllen due to weather.
For you reading pleasure, a few hotel observations...
- Hotel shuttles should be manditory, even if it is raining and your hotel is right across the street from the airport.
- Update your hotel delivery directory if the China Inn no longer exists.
- Yeah for comfortable seats next to power outlets.
- Free hotel wireless is great.
- I'm dry (at least now I am) and safe from the thunder and lightning in the air.
- Fireworks vending machines need to be put in the hallways for stranded business travelers on the 4th of July.
- I shouldn't have had that beer and two hot dogs at the airport.
- I need a massage.
For you reading pleasure, a few hotel observations...
- Hotel shuttles should be manditory, even if it is raining and your hotel is right across the street from the airport.
- Update your hotel delivery directory if the China Inn no longer exists.
- Yeah for comfortable seats next to power outlets.
- Free hotel wireless is great.
- I'm dry (at least now I am) and safe from the thunder and lightning in the air.
- Fireworks vending machines need to be put in the hallways for stranded business travelers on the 4th of July.
- I shouldn't have had that beer and two hot dogs at the airport.
- I need a massage.
Airport observations
For the second week in a row, weather has lengthened my stay in McAllen, Texas. I do have to say though, free airport terminal wireless internet is great.
*I will avoid the obvious question of "What are you doing in an airport on the 4th of July?"*
So therefore I will take this time to make a few airport observations:
- Baby leashes are ignorant and parents who use them should be forced to wear one too.
- Electrical outlets are put in the most inconvenient places = nowhere near chairs.
- Airport terminal floors are uncomfortable.
- If you want to know why your flight is delayed and when it will be leaving, stand in line like the rest of us and wait your turn to ask the attendant yourself. Don't ask me when I walk back to my uncomfortable spot on the floor next to an electrical outlet.
- Resist the temptation to start a detox fast diet on your way to the airport and go to Whataburger to get a double - your plane may be delayed.
- Don't offer to work on the 4th of July. Damn - just answered the obvious question.
*I will avoid the obvious question of "What are you doing in an airport on the 4th of July?"*
So therefore I will take this time to make a few airport observations:
- Baby leashes are ignorant and parents who use them should be forced to wear one too.
- Electrical outlets are put in the most inconvenient places = nowhere near chairs.
- Airport terminal floors are uncomfortable.
- If you want to know why your flight is delayed and when it will be leaving, stand in line like the rest of us and wait your turn to ask the attendant yourself. Don't ask me when I walk back to my uncomfortable spot on the floor next to an electrical outlet.
- Resist the temptation to start a detox fast diet on your way to the airport and go to Whataburger to get a double - your plane may be delayed.
- Don't offer to work on the 4th of July. Damn - just answered the obvious question.
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