Shanghai Expo 2010

Beginning with the largest fireworks display in the history of mankind, it was easy to see why the Shanghai Expo cost even more than the Beijing Olympics. The largest and most expensive world exposition ever staged was spread across both sides of Shanghai's Huangpu river. One side had the country pavilions, anchored by the host nation's gigantic red inverse pyramid. On the others side of the river banks were the corporate pavilions and the city pavilions. I explored each side for one day.

Far and away, the the country pavilions was were the action was. Lineups lasted for hours, with digital signboards updating visitors on the latest waiting times. The queues were horrendously long, but part of the fun. The vast majority of visitors were Chinese. Many had purchased an Expo Passport as a souvenir. They would wait hours in lineups, hurriedly rush into a pavilion as soon as they were granted entrance, and crowd around the booth where they could get their passport stamped. Once the initial stamping stampede was over, many would spare only a momentary glance at the exhibits within the pavilion they had just lined up hours to visit before continuing on to the next country on their checklist.

I was given VIP entrance to the Canadian and Indian pavilions, saving hours of waiting. I tried the poutine at the Canadian pavilion for dinner. I did not visit any of the other pavilions of the popular nations, preferring to go off the beaten track and breeze through the smaller nations that had little to no one queueing up to visit them. Most of the workers at the pavilions were unenthusiastic, with the exception being the friendly folks manning the booths of the nations in the Pacific Islands.

Conversations with Chinese Girls - Rule Number One

On boyfriends:

Chinese Girl #1: My number one rule is no cheating.

Chinese Girl #2: That's not my number one rule.

Me: Really? Then what is?

Chinese Girl #3: No Arnab! 

Chinese Girls: [all chuckle]

Arnab's Year in Cities, 2010

I journeyed to new corners of the world in 2008, going to Central America and Africa for the first time. In 2009, I began the year exploring the two Alpha++ cities of the world in New York and London, then returned to India, before making my way to the People's Republic of China.

This year I stayed overnight in 32 different cities in 3 countries. 2010 saw me crisscross the nation during an epic 40 day trip. I attended two of the premier international events of the year in the Vancouver Winter Olympics and the Shanghai World Expo, before ending the year in style in Seoul, Korea.

In alphabetical order:

• Beijing, China
• Chongqing, China
• Guangzhou, China
• Harbin, China
• Hotan, China
• Jian'ou, China
• Jilin, China
• Jinan, China
• Kashgar, China
• Langfang, China
• Longyan, China
• Luotiancun, China
• Luoyang, China
• Nanchang, China
• Ordos, China
• Qufu, China
• Seoul, Korea
• Shanghai, China
• Shenyang, China
• Shijiazhuang, China
• Suzhou, China
• Taishan, China
• Tashkurgan, China
• Turpan, China
• Urumqi, China
• Vancouver, Canada
• Weihai, China
• Wuhan, China
• Xiamen, China
• Xian, China
• Yangzhou, China
• Yarkand, China

Previous years:

• Arnab's Year in Cities, 2009
• Arnab's Year in Cities, 2008

"What we love to do we find time to do." ~ John L. Spalding

With Glowing Hearts

For years, Vancouverites eagerly anticipated the 2010 Winter Olympics. Time passes swiftly though, and a memorable month of February came and went in what seemed like a blink of an eye. The city and the people of Vancouver hosted a marvelous Games. I was in my hometown for this once in a lifetime event, and the story could not have been written any better. For 17 days, the streets were jam packed with enthusiastic fans of all shapes, sizes, and colours. Strangers passing by high-fived each other in downtown Vancouver. During hockey games, whenever Team Canada scored a goal cheers would resonate through the downtown core like a Mexican wave.

The athletes also did not disappoint. Wayne Gretzky lit the flame to signal the start of the XXI Olympic Winter Games. Early on, Alexandre Bilodeau won Canada’s first ever gold medal on home soil. Canada owned the podium, winning the most gold medals ever captured by a single nation at a Winter Olympics. On the final day of competition, a hockey mad nation watched the final of men's ice hockey with bated breath. Overhead satellite views of cities across Canada would show almost no cars on the street. The Games had a fairy tale ending, as Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal against the United States in sudden death overtime.

The Olympic schedule happily coincided with the Chinese New Year, so I combined the national holiday with my personal vacation days. During my month off, I met my friends and family after almost one year in China. A day after the closing ceremony, I was at the airport to catch my flight back to Beijing along with members of the Chinese contingent. I flew from Vancouver to Beijing, from one Olympic city to another, both changed forever by a few special weeks.

*****

I believe in the power that comes

From a world brought together as one

I believe together we'll fly

I believe in the power of you and I

- Olympic theme song 'I Believe'

Deformity Man

In modern parlance, the Western world refers to a person who has a physical or mental limitation as disabled. In less politically correct times when secretaries were called secretaries, disabled people were called handicapped. In China, this is taken one step further. Bathroom stalls reserved for disabled persons have the words "Deformity Man" prominently emblazoned on them. These are of particular use to me as they are often the only Western style toilet option available amidst a sea of fetid trenches, holes, or other open pits in which to deposit waste. I enjoy squatting during emergencies, but when I have enough time I prefer to take a seat.

Many Chinese men are uncomfortable with their buttocks making contact with the potentially hazardous seating surface of a Western toilet, so their allegiance lies squarely with the squat toilet. In a five star Shangri La hotel in Inner Mongolia, footprints were clearly visible on the toilet seat. On another occasion, there were several men waiting around all but one stall in a public bathroom. I went to investigate why this singular outlet was being ignored. I opened the door to find out it was a Western toilet. To my surprise everybody was content to wait for one of the squat toilets to become free, even though an alternative was available to them.

*****

"As easy as lifting one's finger. Be civilized." ~ A message displayed on top of a urinal recommending the user to flush it after use.