Back To Shanghai
The overnight train was, supposedly, the worst journey, according to the rest of the group, but, ironically, I had the best sleep I had had on any.
Once in Shanghai it was back to the same hotel. We headed out to explore Dongtai Lu antique market. Antiques should be in inverted commas as I doubt very much if anything on sale can be classed as antique. Some was very dusty, but that might just be an indication of neglect than of age. There was all the usual Mao memorobilia on sale; I missed out on a Mao clock cos the price wasn't right, but I haven't given up yet.
The following day was a day of culture. I headed to the newly-built Shanghai Museum, which cost 570 million Yuan to construct. Inside, the exhibits included things that appealed (like the stone sculptures) and things that didn't (like the coins and costume sections).
Afterwards, Steve and I sat off in Fuxing Park after admiring (kind of) the French architecture of the French Concession. We had spent over three quid a bottle on beers the previous night so were reluctant to spend the same on some thing we could get for a few yuan in a supermarket. So while the Chinese were performing a few of their favourite pastimes (tai chi, playing cards, walking backwards in a circle, singing, clapping hands - and anything else that now ceases to amaze me) we proceeded to partake in a shared Anglo-Aussie pastime: drinking beer in a public place. They say that you can tell a lot about someone by what they buy in a supermarket; I wonder what the Chinese worker deduced from my purchase - a toilet roll and a beer.
The following day was spent perusing a couple more of the markets.
Shanghai marks the end of the Geckos tour. It was nice to have a meal with the group for one last time, but it was a bit sad to say goodbye to a bunch of people I have got on very well with. And Dragon will go down in folklore history for his blunt answers, mispronunciation of people's names and appalling maps he drew by using his feet on the floor.
After travelling China, I don't think it would be impossible to do it on your lonesome: signposts in English are now prevalent and you can often find people with who to communicate. It is, however, nice to have a lot of the legwork done for you by having a group leader who can help get you from A to B and suggest things for you to do.
Our leader, Dragon, was a very good guide who definitely improved my experience of China. He was knowledgeable and enthusiastic - essential when travelling a country as tiring to travel as China.
There were downsides. The itinerary was so vast that it meant that you never really felt like you had any time to relax. It meant you were doing things within a day that I might have assigned two or three days if I were travelling alone. Xi'an, for example, we spent only one night, where no-one would argue that there is enough to do to spend three or four nights. This means that you might do more than you would if you were alone, but it means that experiences become things to tick off, maybe not things that you look forward to doing. It also means you spend a lot more money than you might have.
In a group, you are confined to the same people, pretty much, for however long the trip lasts. I was lucky that I got on great with my group, but if I didn't, I can imagine not enjoying the group experience too much. It also means that you are unlikely to meet people every few days, as you do when travelling independently. This was also the case with the accommodation, which was to a very good standard, but often pretty lifeless hotels, instead of friendly hostels full of backpackers who are keen to share their experiences of the places they have been and the things they have done.
All in all, I made the right decision to join a tour for China. It wouldn't be my choice for any other country I have been (Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Thailand, for example, you could travel with your eyes closed) but for China I feel like it was a sensible choice.
