Shanghai

I'd normally like to start a blog with something terribly funny or interesting to pique people's interest, but it was a very uninteresting day. Got out to the airport in plenty of time, our bookings were all in the system, the plane departed on time to Sydney, the transfer to the international terminal was routine, and the Shanghai flight was boarding when I arrived. Flew Qantas on an old Airbus A330 – so old that the in-flight movie channel for 'movies you might have missed' was showing Dr Zhivago. Not that the predominantly Chinese passengers seemed to be too devastated that they missed it the first time around.

Arrived in Shanghai on time. A modern, glass and chrome airport indistinguishable from almost any other Asian airport. You can tell that you're back in Asia. That delightful hot, humid and smelly mix that doesn't happen anywhere else. Took the hour long efficient metro service from the airport to the city centre, and walked a couple of blocks to the hostel.

It was there that the issues started. Yes, they had my booking, yes they had my deposit, and yes they knew I was coming, but yes they had given away my single room to somebody else, and I would have to go into a dorm. No I said, and the manager was summoned. Anyway, I ended up in a triple room, but it belonged to another couple who were arriving at midnight. Perhaps a couple wouldn't be happy sharing their room with an ageing Australian male I suggested. Hadn't thought of that was the look I got. So around midnight with me asleep, the door opened, the light came on, and a bewildered guest was shown into my room. He had been booted out of his double room to make way for the couple.

Oh well. Free wi-fi. Skype, Pingchat and Facetime all worked so I could chat to Mandy from the rooftop garden overlooking the Shanghai skyline whilst listening to Abba. An authentic Asian experience!