2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 7)

This entry is part 7 of 12 in the series 2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more!

June 24, 2010

2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 7)

By Simon J. Lau

I went to the World Expo a few days ago, but it’s so big that I only saw a small part. I’ve been thinking about going back, but the weather’s been rainy and I don’t want to risk getting my camera wet. Since it looks like rain for the next few days, I might just go tonight and get it done. Meanwhile, here are some pictures I’ve taken recently.

The other night, I went bar hopping with a friend and ended up at a dive bar called Dada to finish the evening. Surprisingly, there was no one there when we arrived. Instead of leaving, I thought it would be fun to grab a drink and take a few pictures. This place had a retro-diner/punk rock theme, and just beyond this frame was a projector showing the World Cup. It seemed like it could be a happening place on the weekends, but I guess Tuesday nights just aren’t their nights.

I took this photo on a small street just off West Nanjing Road. I almost couldn’t blame this guy. It was 1 o’clock in the afternoon and the humidity practically sucks the energy out of you. Personally, I’ve found myself crawling back to the hostel around this time to take my daily siesta.

Not far from where I took the previous photo, I came across this old-timer taking down his laundry after a day of line drying. I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw him with his high-water pants and snug waistband. Looking at this, it’s clear where my father gets his sense of style.

This is the exterior wall of Jing’an Temple, constructed in the 13th century during the Three Kingdoms Period. It stands as a rare historical landmark amidst the bustling modern cityscape. It’s remarkable to think that this 800-year-old structure is nestled in the heart of a busy urban center, surrounded by skyscrapers and modern infrastructure. Such sites add to Shanghai’s unique charm, blending ancient history with contemporary life.

Typical of the differences between guidelines in Beijing and Shanghai, I was allowed to take pictures inside the temple! Like with the Lama Temple in Beijing, this temple was so peaceful, I felt as though I could crawl into a corner and fall asleep here.

Meet Jeff, a tea shop owner who invited us into his shop for a tea-tasting. He had an amazing grasp of English. When I found out he had come from a rural mountainous region of China and had only graduated from high school, I was even more impressed. To give you some perspective, his spoken English was far better than most people from Hong Kong, and students in Hong Kong are taught in English from primary school through college.

After spending an hour with him, it became clear he had a natural knack for languages. In addition to English and Chinese, he had also learned Korean, Spanish, and Japanese. The whole time, I couldn’t help but wonder what he could have done had he been given the opportunity to attend college to develop this amazing talent of his. At the end, we walked out with a ton of stuff, including a lucky pig I bought for myself. Seeing how things seem to be going well enough for him, maybe that luck will rub off on me?

Finally, I wrapped up the day with a hot-pot meal with Steve, his girlfriend Cathy, and Steve’s older brother, Jeff (not pictured). Steve and I go way back, nearly 7 years to when we met at UCLA orientation. He was one of the first people I met there, and although we haven’t had much time to catch up since college, it was fantastic to see him again and hang out in Shanghai. Steve has been living in China for the past 3 years and has become fluent in Chinese! However, starting in August, he’ll be back in America pursuing his master’s in International Studies.