Short version written March 1st at the Shanghai airport.
Short version - Shanghai has been upgraded to the worlds worst airport and a great teacher of patience and non-entitlement. Which is saying a lot if you’ve spent much time at LAX.
My atm card doesn't work here to get Chinese cash, my credit card wouldn't work at anyplace but Starbucks(had to break my pride and policy of not going to Starbucks when there are local places to support) and everything here has meat in it(rice, noodles, veggie soup all made with animal stock), and the internet is terrible. I needed a visitor visa just to stay at a hotel in airport. Oh and there are very few USB charging places and I don't have an adapter for China. There are helpful people in Terminal 2 who handing out power packs with with a cord, but it turned out they are selling and renting them, so I handed it back. The wifi at the airport is incredibly slow, remember dial up? This is worse. The data included in my plan is equally as slow. But somehow all this has made me grateful and happy for the experience! It actually brought a sense of amusement to my soul.
Long version- After arriving in Shanghia it took me about 45 mins to get through the customs and then figure out how to get the visitor visa to leave the airport to go to the hotel I reserved very close to the airport. But then the shuttle bus didn’t arrive and I decide to spend a few extra dollars to just stay in the hotel between terminal 1 and 2 which still required the 72 hour visitor visa. But it was before 9 am and there were no rooms available yet. I did find an all you can eat breakfast buffet, which was made up of Chinese food and Chinese business men. I was able to find some things that were promisingly vegetarian and thankfully, for this, my credit card did work. After a questionably delicious breakfast I was able to get a room and lay down. Which was much enjoyed after the very long day of travel.
My original plan for my 16 hour layover in Shanghai was to leave the airport and go into the city and see some sights but I was just too exhausted. Mentally and physically. I felt old but I have to remember that travel is actually hard on a persons body and that some people are more sensitive to the stress of travel than others. Just like some people are more capable of dealing with extremes such as hot or cold weather.
Long version- After arriving in Shanghia it took me about 45 mins to get through the customs and then figure out how to get the visitor visa to leave the airport to go to the hotel I reserved very close to the airport. But then the shuttle bus didn’t arrive and I decide to spend a few extra dollars to just stay in the hotel between terminal 1 and 2 which still required the 72 hour visitor visa. But it was before 9 am and there were no rooms available yet. I did find an all you can eat breakfast buffet, which was made up of Chinese food and Chinese business men. I was able to find some things that were promisingly vegetarian and thankfully, for this, my credit card did work. After a questionably delicious breakfast I was able to get a room and lay down. Which was much enjoyed after the very long day of travel.
My original plan for my 16 hour layover in Shanghai was to leave the airport and go into the city and see some sights but I was just too exhausted. Mentally and physically. I felt old but I have to remember that travel is actually hard on a persons body and that some people are more sensitive to the stress of travel than others. Just like some people are more capable of dealing with extremes such as hot or cold weather.
After a nap and a shower I decided to find some lunch and try to charge my phone so I could send some messages. I left my room and walked around terminal 1 and terminal 2 trying to find an obvious place with vegetarian options but the Shanghai airport is meat heavy and English light. There is even a kiosk dedicated to duck. I’m not one of those people who think that everyone should speak English by any means but I was surprised that in an international airport where I know many business travelers from many countries pass through there isn’t more English spoken by the restaurants and shops. I realized I should have at least figured out how to write the word for vegetarian but the internet was to slow to google it so a friend who was still in India and so in a similar time zone sent it to me via WhatsApp. So after trying to find a restaurant that would take my credit card AND had something without meat or meat juice in it I was able to have some late lunch and dinner. Which I’m glad I did because the two meals on my next flight home did not offer a vegetarian option. Even though I asked China Eastern airlines twice to add a vegetarian option for me and they assured me there would be one. Beef noodles or pork rice for breakfast and dinner! I’ve apologized to my vegetarian friends for all the times I thought they could just eat bread or lettuce and be happy about it. :)
I’m more of a pain in the ass vegetarian than most because I typically don’t eat fake meats, soy/tofu or many grains or beans. Yesterday I was asked by someone (who I think was looking to argue with me about vegetarianism) why I was a vegetarian. So I explained why I stopped eating meat and the reasons that have reinforced that decision for me. I realized that many people in my life don’t actually know why I went from being a heavy meat eater, who ate paleo, keto or straight-up Adkins diet for years made the switch. But this post isn’t about that topic.
Spring is here and I’m feeling the effects of the longer days and beautiful flowers! I hope you have a little spring fever too! Nothing wrong with a little mania and love in your hearts.
Love and hugs, as always only with consent!
XO,
Serena
It literally took me 48 hours of travel to get home. Was it worth it to save $400 on the flight? The verdict is still out.
Spring is here and I’m feeling the effects of the longer days and beautiful flowers! I hope you have a little spring fever too! Nothing wrong with a little mania and love in your hearts.
Love and hugs, as always only with consent!
XO,
Serena
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