Would you like a Lolex with that?

Today is my third morning in Shanghai. The highlight so far has been a night cruise on the Bund. The cruise was sold as a one hour experience, but they failed to mention that there was a whole lot of stuffing around included in that time (and they ensured they left us behind on the way back). Nevertheless, it was beautiful. The Bund is still very much a working port, it has a certain raw quality which is not often found elsewhere. On the city side, the foreshore is lined with colonial architecture and a few feats of Chinese engineering. The Pudong side of the river is all 20th century kitsch complete with a Celine Dion/ Rick Astley soundtrack!!! It is on this side that the new China exists. All trees, eco living and clean transport solutions. Shanghai is currently in its 11th five year plan, this will result in more open spaces, less pollution and a better environment for all. Unfortunately, from where I am sitting this seems a little too late and will only create a greater divide between the rich and poor in this city.
Nanjing Donglu is the Champs Elysee of Shanghai. It is nothing like the original Parisian version and there is no monolithic tower in sight. It is THE shopping strip. It has possibly the largest number of stores in such an area. It is filled with all the European/ US brand names and a fine range of touts selling Rolexes ('lolex, cheap for you) and Rui Vitton. It makes for an entertaining experience. They take you off the main strip into a (ussually) dark alley, in a room ussually filled with a number of other foreigners and hey presto.... the bargaining begins! It's great to see their tactics and even easier to figure out their thresholds. The markets may have gone but the legend certainly lives on...
Culinary highlight so far has been duck tongue (I looked at it, I did not eat it!). We went into a hole in the wall establishment the other night where the theme was BBQ. Included on the menu was dog kebab, which no one was game enough to try. Thankfully we had a Mandarin speaker amongst us!
I also visited the most celebrated veg restaurant in Shanghai and that was an experience worth savouring.
More later...