Fields of Gold

Biked 41 km through the Pudong countryside and encountered work shift change at a technology company, with hundreds and hundreds of young people buying food on the street. All are out-of-province. But what really captivated me today was the beauty of the wheat fields, which looked ready for the harvest.

Again, I wish I had something better than my iPhone at my disposal...

Tianjin Taxi

At first glance I didn't notice it, but after we had left the city and the sky was blue, a face of someone all too familiar appeared...
The thought crossed my mind for a couple seconds that the driver might have seen me as an American and that I might not reach my destination. Only for a couple seconds...

Sound & Serenity

Unfaced by the maglev train that had roared by a few seconds earlier, a white heron escaped just before I took this shot...

Sudden Summer

A quick bike ride in the neighbourhood (in 30C) presented some nice scenery late afternoon.

Spring Ride to Puxi

Missed two weekends of riding because of my Vancouver trip (where I biked once), but today the weather was fantastic (25C)! I took the ferry by the Yangpu bridge, ventured NE into Puxi a bit, and then back again by ferry. All in all about 43 km.

Reflecting (on) Old and New

Excuse the pun; biking through some Pudong villages right now...

Old Chuangsha Home

Despite the rain, I am glad I made it out there since it's back to work tomorrow after the Chinese New Year break. The weather did not stop boys in several villages from lighting firecrackers, but for the rest most places were quiet since the majority of migrant workers are still in their home provinces. Demolition to make room for new developments have all been put on hold for now, and most shops were still closed.
South of Chuangsha I came upon this old home with an inner courtyard that had been restored. The young couple that lived there was hospitable enough to show me the inside of what probably dates back to the 1930s.

January Rides

Despite the winter temperatures this January, I've been out in the Pudong countryside on my mountain bike three times now, which feels fantastic. Yesterday I ventured NE, and covered some new territory. And as always, if I come across kids, I stop and chat with them. Special moments; for them, because it's probably the first time they've ever spoken to a foreigner; for me, because I can never get enough of a child's heart. Played some soccer with the boys in their yard.

Across the Huangpu

Had a great ride today; a good start to the year and my commitment to bike at least once a week. Did about 44 km; took the ferry under the Yangpu Bridge, then along the Bund, back across the Huangpu River by ferry again, and then along Gaoke rd home.

Shanghai Maglev!

Finally found an overpass that's close to the maglev rail. It's somewhere in the middle of the track (which takes only seven minutes from Longyang station to the Pudong Airport), so it must have been going at maximum speed (about 40 km/h).

Yangshuo 20 years on

I first visited Yangshuo (& Guilin) in 1990 and again in 1991, when it was still a quiet and quaint backpackers' hideout. Going back while on a business trip last month, it was disappointing to see that it had been heavily commercialized, including a McDonalds in the middle of the town.

Magic Moment

I immediately pulled over with my car, got out, jumped a fence and snapped away when the sky turned yellow and a dark cloud hid the sun but not its rays. Unfortunately all I had at my disposal was my iPhone...
The towers you see (in Lujiazui, see previous post) are about 12 km away.

Three Towers

In moments like this you wish you had a better camera than your mobile phone.
In the forefront Jinmao Tower (my workplace), flanked in the back by the World Financial Centre, and a in few years time the Shanghai Tower, will be the highest of all (632 meters; 128 floors).

Old Sailor

These old buildings in Heqing town caught my attention so I biked down this dead end alley. To my surprise an old man came out the next-door grain shop and spoke to me in broken English . He had sailed the world while in the navy from 1973-1987.
He then took me to the inner courtyard which is now being used as a warehouse. It once belonged to the Wu family (character was still on the steel door) but he fled to Taiwan in 1949. When I asked if Wu was a big landlord at one time, the man replied that he was a 流氓 (gangster).

Rural China

This picture was taken two minutes ago in Pudong. None of this was here 1.5 year ago...
(apologies for the cut in half bus...).
Click on the photo to enlarge.