Flashback

Me, dining at 'M on the Bund' in Shanghai, August 2007

I attended the Fuji Rock Festival in July 2007 and spent a few days on my own in Tokyo. I flew home, tired and weary, and after settling down to a late dinner with my husband, he mentioned he was off to Shanghai for business and asked if I wanted to join him. Squealing with delight, we booked my airplane ticket and the next day I was off to the Chinese Embassy to organise a visa. The next day, on a packed Singapore Airlines flight, we were off to Shanghai.

I had a few expat friends living and working in Shanghai at the time which meant I wouldn't be completely alone in a foreign city while James worked. I dined like a lady of leisure, spent a day at the Banyan Tree Spa at The Westin, shopped the fake markets and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of Shanghai.

While I don't know if I could live in Shanghai, it was an interesting holiday. Compared to Singapore, it was much dirtier and busier and not as liveable as other asian cities.

I'm glad I went when I did because I'm not sure when I'll be back. So many other places in the world to see!