Today we are catching a plane for a 2 1/4 hour flight to Shanghai, the only trouble is we have to leave in the middle of the night as the flight is around 06:30. Raymond was probably a little silly in not preparing some people for this a few days ago!
Sitting in the plane waiting to push back and it was a rotten morning.
Rubbish shots taken through a filthy window as we flew over a very mountainous region.
Approaching Shanghai which was once known as the Paris of the East. It is now one of Asia's most influential cities but before the arrival of communism in 1949 it was a city with European style mansions and the most important trading port in Asia.
The Huangpo River running through central Shanghai
It is still the world's busiest container port.
Crossing the Huangpo en route to the hotel.
We were originally given a room on the 8th floor but it reeked of cigarette smoke so I went to reception and had us changed - we are now on the 25th floor which gives spectacular views of the modern buildings (or would do if the windows ever got cleaned).
Having got to the hotel late morning, after lunch we had the afternoon to ourselves before heading out to the theatre. Incidentally I haven't been bothering to mention the meals as they really are all the same and once Raymond realised everyone liked Kung Po Chicken and Sweet and Sour Pork we get those with unfailing regularity. But there's rice and usually one, maybe two dishes, I'll eat and now that most of the group have realised how fussy I am they are very kind in suggesting stuff that I might like.
The ERA Show is one of Shanghai's most famous and is a multimillion dollar acrobatics extravaganza which tells a love story through a sequence of acrobatic performances.
Very bendy!
This guy was really good, he threw the heavy pot around as though it was plastic - maybe it was!.
This section was just incredible.
A motorbike went inside the cage and whizzed around and then another and another until at one point there were 7 inside.
These guys were pretty good too.
It's not something I would have chosen to go to but it was very well done and we're pleased to have seen it.