I'm back!!!

I'm writing this from the car service that just picked me up from Newark. It is also an official end to the blog. I really enjoyed blogging this experience. Until next time...

My flight

Really... Finally

After saying finally so many times, I am finally at the right airport, checked into the correct flight and waiting for boarding.

I can't leave China!!!

I went to the wrong airport in Shanghai!!! I missed my flight from Shanghai to Beijing. I won't make my Beijing to Newark flight!!! I can't believe it! Michelle immediately helped me booked onto the next day flight. I won't be back until Friday night.
I can't believe this. It has never happened to me. Never before. And it had better never again!!! I hate that they have different airports. Why can't some cities have just one big-ass airport?!?
I was hysterical at the terminal. Lucky that I wasn't on the Amazing Race. David Kilpatrick should just forget the idea about partnering with me for the audition.
It must be karma. Up above knows that I was eager to be home. A little joke to keep me here for another day.
When am I going to write the last blog posting?!?

Finally... Savory soy bean soup

I waited for this for 3 months. Finally on my last day...

Fabulous view from Vue bar at the top of Hyatt

I am a bit surprised. It's the best view of Shanghai, frankly. Good to end my long trip on a high note.

Shanghai

View from my hotel room.
Looking at this river, I realize I will miss the river view from my Tianjin's room.

My goodness... actually leaving

Last day

It is such a funny feeling. I almost cannot believe I'm leaving here. This must be how prisoners feel when they are released from the jail.
I still have a couple of hours before the scheduled pick up. I have no idea what to do!?! I guess I should go check in every drawers.

Farewell Dinner

Madame Gao took us out to a farewell dinner. We had traditional dumplings. In fact, it is custom to send someone off with dumplings and welcome someone home with noodles. So, it was appropriate. The dumplings were delicious. The crab filling and the sweet version with red bean are the best. But there were also a lot of other food. It was wonderful. Madame Gao also brought with her 2 precious bottles of Chinese white wine. Think Vodka shots. And lot of them. Thanks to my well training. I didn't embarrass myself.

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Progress photos of the project

According to what Marlon and I saw today, they will be luck if the project can finish by the end of 2010. It will be an unnatural phenomenon if the building is ready for it's scheduled opening in May 2010. 

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To prove that I haven't sold Marlon for a Gucci handbag

It costs more for a small scope of ice cream than our lunch today.

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Some pictures from the final weekend.

It is awful of me to spend almost every weekend in Beijing. But there is NOTHING in Tianjin.

I had a savory crepe from the sidewalk vendor. It's delicious. A picture here is the bar at Maison Boulud. I was quite impressed with the simplicity of the design. The walls are white washed brick walls, and artist's hand drawing of figures and images with Sharpie (!), then a layer of wood frame. How simple, but very effective. Well the high ceiling of the old US embassy building doesn't hurt.

Oh... I also went to check out Capital M. It's lovely. But Shanghai's M and Glamour Bar is nicer. Capital M does have some fireplaces to boost their design.

The other pictures are from the Gallery district 798.

Yeah... just a few more days and I will be back in NYC! Very exciting!

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Final weekend

I spent the very last weekend to drink at Maison Boulud, dinner at Aqua, art gallery hopping at 798, and last minute shopping in Beijing.
2 more work days and out of this project. Thank god. The project is a mess. I can only wish them luck. It's shocking to think that there is such experienced developer running projects like they are still in 20 years ago. The country still needs some major overhaul to go beyond the facade. What can I help?

Only a few days left...

Counting only the work days, there are 4 more days left on this project. Marlon and I still haven't stopped talking about how messed up the project is. I truly doubt if they can get the building in shape. But yet, you never know what can happen in China. Overnight, they can fix the building and open in time.

It has been a great insightful experience. I am glad I spent time in Beijing in addition to Tianjin. That's where you can see the speed of development. Combining news, speaking to people, and just walking around the 3 cities (Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai), I really get a true sense of what's beneath the facade of the country, and what's beyond the apparent consumerism.

One night in Shanghai, I sat next to a table of visitor and expats. The American visitor is obviously first time visitor from New York. He, as a senior level professional in finance, was making excited discussion of what he saw in China. It was painful to hear first time visitor excitement and their dissertation on the country. It was hard to keep myself from jumping up and contradicting him with some negativism.

Don't get be wrong, I understand the excitement. I just have developed a layer of skepticism. If I were stationed in Beijing or Shanghai, instead of Tianjin, I probably will have a tough time prying myself away from this country now. The food, the cheaper stuff, the shops... it's exciting. I need to be back in New York, where is the one few places on earth that is still exciting and have better cultural outlets. If I were going back to Melbourne, I would take the next flight straight to Shanghai and never go back. Sorry Australia.

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Big Christmas decoration in Tianjin