Shanghai Autumn 2012 - Out with the old; enbloc here, there, everywhere!

This time in Shanghai, I stayed at a hostel that's near the Zhong Shan Gong Yuan and Yan An Xi Lu metro stations.

Near this hostel, there's a neighbourhood of very old Shanghai houses that's being demolished as we speak.

There's an open air street market that exemplifies the indomitable human spirit - to survive and thrive under the most inhospitable conditions.

  

  
  

 

I kid you not! The caterpillar crews were just having their morning coffee break as I took this picture. Moments before, everyone were blithely going about their marketing despite dust and debris flying all over as the old buildings were being tore down. 

If it weren't for the coffee break by the demolition crew, I wouldn't dare go so near... Typical kiasi (scared to die) Singaporean me!

I guess personal safety has another meaning in China. When you NEED to work to SURVIVE, you become BOLD.

What catalysts made my ancestors courageously sail from China to the Southern Seas 189 odd years ago? It cannot be the comfort of home I guess... (Or maybe not, he was a clerk, not a coolie. Even better! He left despite the comforts of home?)

 

 

Now this is interesting! I guess the Shanghai local government has learned from the past scuffles 4 years back. The propaganda machinery is now better oiled. How to say no if they appeal to your patriotic zeal?

In the past, there were street protests and sit-ins with placards outside the Shanghai town councils. In China, when you protest, there is a real possibility of ending up in a cold dark place.  So the grievances must have been serious and real; not the frivolous kind where you put a brown paper bag over your head and rant in cyberspace.

What will replace this old neighbourhood? Do you see the condos and towering office block in the background?

I don't think the displaced residents will be staying in them though.

When I bought my HDB 3 room flat 10 years ago at 35, I deliberately chose one of the oldest and ugliest neighbourhood as thought it would have a higher enbloc potential in the future. 


Funny how 10 years of mellowing has changed me. Now I won't be pleased if an enbloc is announced at my block... I can't explain it. I've gone from liking all things new and shiny to fondly embracing all things old and retro?

And caring less about numbers and dollar signs. I guess once you've reached a certain threshold, anything more is either a surplus or excess. It's like the naughty joke explaining the difference between surplus and excess using the tits of a woman as reference. 


This trip to Shanghai had me retracing the steps I've taken in the past. 

Despite the big changes in Shanghai after 4 years, I discovered I've changed more.

Or maybe I've never changed at all!?

Perhaps its me not believing the little lies I tell myself anymore? 

Or perhaps after removing the makeup and masks, I am starting to recognise the real me?


Travelling is fun!

Some travel to check places of interests off a list. 


I travel to discover myself.   
 

Shanghai Autumn 2012 - Software and Hardware

When I left Shanghai 4 years ago, there were 4 sub-way lines - the circle line 4 was 3/4 complete.

And there were construction works all over the place for new Metro stations.

Lo and behold! Now coming back, I was a bit taken aback by what I see. Now the Metro extends all the way to Pudong Airport - just like our Changi Airport! 

And there are now 11 Metro lines!!!

Look out for the 3 parallel metro lines in the city centre

Now the satellite suburbia towns around Shanghai are connected to the city centre. For some perspective, it's a bit like our MRT extending to JB or Batam. Which opens up more options for newly weds who can't afford the crazy property prices in Shanghai. And more  lifestyle choices. The same marketing glitz used for Punggol in Singapore is used for Songjiang in Shanghai. Spin is the same everywhere you go!

That said, my Metro trip from Pudong Airport (the green line from bottom right) to the city centre took 1.5 hours.  It's the same same time for money or money for time choices we all have to make at some point in our lives.


In the past, I would have preferred to walk 1 hours than take the Shanghai metro during peak hours. I don't like to be sardined and have bodies pressed against mine. Never mind even if the bodies are hot Shanghai babes. No thank you. I am a people-watcher; not a pervert.

Now Shanghai has 3 parallel metro lines running through the city centre. Now the trains are crowded like Singapore's MRT during peak hours (a wonderful improvement!); but minus the body crushing experience in the past! Spreading the load helps! Duh!

OK, I cheated a bit. I always moved to the ends of the train platforms in Shanghai. Why? There are no stairways or escalators at the opposite ends of the train platform. So when you stand near the train's door, you won't face last minute idiotic thundering barbaric commuters rushing down at you as the Metro doors are closing! 

Now I know how medieval pikemen must have felt facing a cavalry charge. Hold! Hold! Hold the line!   
 
A humbling reflection: Singapore can increase as many MRT lines as we want; but if Orchard has only 1 line, make a wild guess where the bottle-neck will be in the future with more MRT lines being added?

And with the addition of these parallel Metro lines in Shanghai, I saw they have reduced the number bus lines at Huai Hai Road (our Orchard equivalent of sort). The road traffic is so much smoother now without the constant jams and queues of fat buses hogging precious real estate. Interesting!

It's not just Hardware improvements. I see lots of Software improvements everywhere! Impressive...


Talking about Software improvements, do take a look at the 2 pics below:

Singaporeans can chill a bit. Other cosmopolitan cities in the world will do their best to help alleviate our Foreign Talent "situation". 

I was really taken aback here. 

I am counting my lucky stars. I was at the right place right time 7 years ago when there's a window of opportunity. Now? I can't see any reasons why Shanghai would need an under-schooled Singaporean whose only marketable skill is he can talk better than he can sing!      

Shanghai Autumn 2012 - Leaves and Flowers

I missed the 4 seasons.

And I love Autumn best!

The changing colours of the leaves - from green, to yellow, to red, to brown - and the sight of fallen leaves on the ground somehow evoked in me a strange feeling of  melancholy; a sense of my mortality; of changes in my life; and yet, there is a hint of euphoria...

With knowing resignation that the bleakness and bitterness of winter will soon come after. There lies the sweetness of Spring - the promise and hope of rebirth.       

But rebirth necessitate we first shed all our leaves during Autumn. 

Those trees that cling on to their leaves, unwilling to let go, may not survive winter...


I can still experience the 4 seasons living in Singapore. I just go towards the mountain instead of expecting the mountain to come towards me. 

The colours of Autumn

Flowers get all the attention. The patiently waiting leaves may have it's day to shine during Aut; but like flowers that soon wilt after their most brilliant burst of glory, the same price has to be paid by the leaves.

Success is paid by what we have to give up to attain it.

Century Park Pudong Shanghai Nov 2012

 Can you sense the solitude? All the leaves may stay together; but each leaf falls by itself. 


   

Late afternoon sidewalk Shanghai Nov 2012

The sun reminding the leaves that for all their brilliance in colours, they are mere reflections of the sun's Glory. The recalcitrant leaves will soon know when darkness fall.

After my return from Shanghai, I came across a very interesting exchange in a forum. Someone was calling himself an atheist. An enlightened senior was trying to hint agnostic could be a better term to use.

Perhaps it's lack of vocabulary, or perhaps hubris, despite using anonymous nicks, you can tell who is the "old ginger", who is the "young shoot".

I've learned the hard way too. The markets have a way of letting those "know it all" learn the difference between an atheist and an agnostic (I know! I can link anything back to trading!).

  

A pretty flower of Shanghai Nov 2012

  

Of course I spent quite a lot of time admiring and appreciating the "flowers" of Shanghai. I find Autumn is the best season for the "flowers" to doll themselves up. 

Winter is too cold and how sexy can you look all wrapped up like a dumpling? 

Summer is ice-cream for the guys, but make-up and sweat don't exactly blend well... (My girlfriends always tell me girls don't sweat... they scintillate. How can you not love girls like that?)

Spring is a fashion disaster in Shanghai as you can see people wearing winter and summer clothes at the same time!? It's quite comical. Don't believe come late April early May in Shanghai! 

But Autumn! Ah! Day time 18 degrees, night time 10 degrees. You can create a day look and night look - depending how you "layer" your clothes.

I have 3 favourite styles I like a lot:

Japanese knit-wear look. You know those beautiful megazine covers of Japanese girls in knit-wear you see in Kinokuniya? You'll see live models of them here. A bit strange I only find teenagers wearing them... Not many career ladies wearing them; perhaps not "power" look enough... 

Burberry overcoat look. Beige coat, tied in the waist to reveal the slim waist line, above knee hemline. No pants. A skirt or dress underneath, stockings, and heels. Cool shades over their eyes or on their head as hair band. 

Freeze your butts-off look. Like in the above picture, you'll find girls wearing hot pants or mini skirts with just stockings to keep their butts warm. You got to admire these girls! They surely brighten up my days during the grey Autumn days. 


That's all for now regarding the leaves and flowers of Shanghai.