Today was easily my favourite day in Shanghai, even more so in absence of that annoying boy that I mentioned yesterday...

We had a slow start, mainly due to the irresistible force of the hostel lounge but we managed to shake the temptations off and went to Yuanyuan gardens and bazaar. Bazaar is a sprawling network of shops selling many different things and it were wonderfully because it captured the authenticity of China compared to skyscrapers of yesterday.

They sell various items including stuffed animals, scrolls, buddhas, stones where the face of the buyer were carved in upon the purchase. I was tempted to buy cartoonish statues of Chinese people across the ages but I changed my mind due to their delicacy against the bulk of my rucksack which only can produce one winner...

On a terrifying side note, there is also various items of Osama Bin Laden merchandise.....Have the news not reached China yet....?

There is also food stalls and restaurants, there is even a world's oldest vegetarian restaurant, a prospect which would leaving Dad salivating at excitement upon seeing it...

Once I had escaped the clutches of the traders, my heart dropped as I saw an amazing zig zag bridge across a beautiful giant pond with the traditional Chinese buildings behind it completed with kops and turtles swimming across it. I could have stay there for ages and so could the rest of the gang if we weren't being papped by the locals frequently.

We then ventured to The Bund which is a giant river, whom the main attraction is the view of the glowing skyscrapers at the night with flashing neon ferries, some for advertising purposes ( Phillips, flashing your brand into my eyes is more likely to give me a headache than to persuade me to purchase your goods) Once again, the view is jaw dropping. We then headed back to the hostel whom on the way back, we saw loads of the locals dancing the night away in gardens. There is also a Big Ben wannabe clock which after a detailed discussion. The boys agreed that the original Big Ben is far superior...

I really enjoyed the day seeing the contrast between the two sides of Shanghai, the frequent hectic and flashy side that want to attract businesses and make money. The other side is more relaxed native China that just bask in its beauty...