Once Upon a Time in Nanjing Road, Shanghai

A day tour was allocated after our training. Since our exit is in Shanghai we made arrangement that instead of having the tour in Nanjing, we’ll have it in Shanghai, and fortunately our sponsor agreed.

Together with the tour guide that our sponsor hired, off we went to Shanghai after our breakfast on Friday April 4, 2014. 

After a 4-hour drive, we arrived at Shanghai just in time for lunch. Mr. Chen, our tour guide took us to a restaurant that serves Chinese dishes;

Have I asked our tour guide to read the characters written? I think so, but I completely forgot what he said. 

We had about 14 dishes served in front of us + rice, house tea, Minute Maid orange juice and a bottle of Tsingtao Beer.

Some of them were the same as those served in Nanjing. 

Overall the food, taste different yet delicious.

After lunch, Mr. Chen took us to Nanjing Road, the shopping destination in Shanghai, which was only few blocks away from where we had our lunch. After giving us instructions, our tour guide left us there to explore the place and met us after 3 hours.

  

I was so excited when I saw the Li-Ning Store on Nanjing Road, Shanghai hoping I’ll be able to find the badminton rackets that I’ve been longing for, which I failed to buy in Nanjing. Indeed, there were rackets displayed, but sad to say they were all of professional series with a price tag at least ¥1500 (P10, 500.00) which is beyond my pocket and badminton skill capacity. 

I was only looking for low end series suitable for amateur players, sadly none were available, maybe in another branch.

  

 

Instead, I bought badminton shoes that were on sale at ¥399.00 (P2793) for 2 pairs. Way cheaper than those sold here in the Philippines.

Next stop, was the Starbucks Coffee for another souvenir mug. Only one mug had remained when I arrived at the shop, my colleagues went and bought ahead of me. Ang daya nila! buti na lang nang-iwan din kahit isa! hehe

Hooray! To my 2nd Starbucks Mug bought personally abroad.

After that, we went to an underground store that sells mostly souvenir items. I bought ref magnets, key chains for my friends and colleagues and 4 seasons folding decors for my 2 brothers and sister-in-law.

Three hours after, Mr. Chen came to fetch us and brought us to 168 Motel where we stayed for the night. Ate our meals and after that went to the nearest mall in the area for another shopping spree. 

I spotted the Swarovski jewelry shop, but the jewelries sold there were expensive for an ordinary employee like me.So instead, I settled by taking a picture in front of the store for a souvenir. 

Later, Ma’am Edith and I sat on a vacant bench, and waited for the rest of our colleagues, under the freezing moonlight. At past 9PM we all went back to the motel for a goodnight sleep, and prepared ourselves for an early tour the following day.