Budget SE Asia trip, Summer 2016 Updated real-time - Page 17 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Yeah!
In terms of true Chinese culture, that's a lot harder to find in Shanghai. It's my least favorite place in China. But if you have a day, I do recommend you go to Yu Garden. It is a beautiful tranquil spot, very Chinese, in the midst of a bustling European-type city. That's where the crooked bridge, or 9 turn bridge is (Yu Garden). It's in Old Shanghai, and is metro accessible.
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Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147
If you read Her Dotness' TRs, you know that she often mentions that Drew spoils her. Well, typically this is not the case with DH and I, but today he said "with all the time you spend on your Disney hobby, I'm just about at the point of putting my foot down about Shanghai". Meaning, even though it's not his thing, he's not willing to have me miss out on this chance. $700 later, we are booked for Bangkok to Shanghai on Aug 20th and Shanghai to Hong Kong on Aug 24.
No take backs. I'm really going to DL Shanghai!
Plan is a solo day followed by a day with DS. Whoop!!!!!
As far as China tourism is concerned, we are already talking about that for a future trip. DH is dying to see the Gobi Desert, and training around China is certainly a trip into itself. We'll have a day to see something in Shanghai, and that will have to do until the next trip.
Yay! If your husband is on board, that's awesome! I normally wouldn't encourage someone to spend huge amounts relative to their income on Disney, but when it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you've saved up for forever and may never be able to do again....well, you have to jump on it if the family agrees.
Glad to hear that you husband caved in to your demands! I'm sure it will be worth the $700!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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Enough about Shanghai! It's my birthday, and I'm spending it with friends on the Mekong delta in Laos. Having coffee on their porch looking over the river.
Since I last posted we did an overnight train to Yangon (Rangoon), a flight to Bangkok with free upgrade (!!!!!) then a 5 hr layover at the Bangkok airport, where we found the locals eatery where we dumped our bags and took turns keeping DS entertained. Then it was on to a train directly from the airport across the country to the Lao border (overnight) then bus to Pakse, then pickup truck bus to Tad Lo, Laos, where our friend are friends with a retired elephant guide. We got an amazing elephant trek with a lovely elephant the next morning!
We then traveled to our friends' house, were we will base for about a week. Very basic but very comfy. Love it!
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Themed environment junkie
Last edited by KimmyAnn1147; 08-11-2016 at 10:04 PM..
We've spent 7 nights in the little bungalo next to our friends onthe banks of the Mekong river in southern Laos. It's been a good rest, but if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't spend so much time here. I forgot how the 4 of us get on each others nerves after a couple of days!!!!! Oh well, we're having a fine time anyways.
Tomorrow we head out on the 24 hr journey to Bangkok, and then we fly to Shanghai! We have some work to do getting things figured out to navigate China, as we will definitely hit the ground running.
8/19 bus north, then east across Thai border. Catch night train for Bangkok. Hope they still have beds available!
8/20 Arrive in Bangkok at 6 am. Fly to Shanghai at 6pm, arriving at midnight Shanghai time. Taxi to hotel.
8/21 this is Sunday. DL prep day and tourist day in Shanghai. I will be buying park food for both Monday (solo day) andTuesday (DS and me day). I will also be trying to buy a China SIM card so I haveweb access in the park for wait times. In the evening we plan to go check out the night sights in the Bund district, and maybe a museum as well. I would really like to make the trek to the park, and get tix sorted on this day too, but I can see that this is going to be WAY too much, unless we are really on it. Everyone seems to be buying online, but I'm hesitant to do that since I'm buying a 2 day pass for DS and a one day pass for myself. I also want to go check out the Shanghai merch, but really, I know I can do that during the heat of the day on my solo park day.
8/22 solo park day. I have a rope drop strategy. My goals for this day are to ride the headliners that DS isn't into and drink in the theming on an adult level that he also won't have patience for. Additionally, I'll be doing research so that DS and I can have a great day the next day, trying to avoid the park burnout we ran into at HKDL in June.
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Last edited by KimmyAnn1147; 08-17-2016 at 09:10 PM..
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I'm sure it will be worth the $700! 
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