Day 2 at the Shanghai Expo
After my first visit, I realized that going to the Expo wasn’t so painful. But I made the dreadful mistake of not wearing my new gray New Balance shoes. Ouch.
My friends and I started with the USA pavilion. Thank goodness for Mr. C and Miss. L for fast tracking us inside. Though I know some people thought this pavilion was a bit boring with three videos, I thought it was a nice break and start. At least the last video was more interesting with a story background. But I could have swore that Obama’s speech was different from the last time I was there. Its too bad that no one listens to the rules and not take pictures during the videos … all these flash bulbs were going off. Though I took my shot without the flash. I was told that most of these pavilions have a VIP area, with the USA one upstairs with meeting rooms and a bar. Since I overheard that the USA pavilion isn’t paid for by US tax dollars, but by major corporate sponsors, the VIP is where they get entertained. A little bird also said that they were still scrambling for sponsors up until the last minute.
Next up on the list was Brazil. A last minute call to my Brazilian classmate, Mr. G, got us reservations for the VIP line. Special thanks to Miss Green, who remembered my name on the list. Brazil’s pavilion was an interesting one with videos and interactive area. The first room featured a cool floor to ceiling wide screen video with a net above our heads with soccer balls. The room made you feel the exciting Brazilian spirit. Then you moved into the main room with a center area where you would watch a video showcase Brazilian life from four sides. On the walls, there were interactive screens, with Microsoft’s surface technology – I think, celebrating the different cities of Brazil, green technologies, and culture. My friends even bought a few T-shirts, and I got a hot dog. Good pavilion. Check my video of the Brazilian Pavilion.
The Brazilian Pavilion from The Thirsty Pig on Vimeo.
China was next on our list. But it was quite an effort. I was told that people line up at 5am in the morning to get reservation tickets. They also line up for the Taiwanese and Saudi Pavilion and other popular pavilions, as well. But there was no way I was going to be able to get up that early for tickets. This system creates a black market for enterprising individuals to resell the reservation tickets. The scalpers, which aren’t too hard to find, walk around talking about tickets to anyone walking nearby those pavilions. We tried to bargain with the scalpers, who were asking for 150 RMB each. I was told that there are 50,000 ticket alloted each day for the China Pavilion. Weekend and holidays demand higher prices. But after the expo is over, the China Pavilion is one of the few that will remain standing.
Even with a ticket, it doesn’t mean that you won’t wait. I thought we would be able to just go inside. After getting giving your ticket, you then wait underneath for about 45 minutes in a moderately moving line to the elevators that take you up to the top. But keep in mind, the unexperienced might have people move quickly in front of you if you don’t keep up. Unfortunately, people in China tend to take advantage of open spaces quickly.
Once inside, there’s a short film encompassing 180 degrees featuring great sights of China and ending with an ambitious vision of a future Shanghai with abundant greenery. You could feel quite patriotic while watching this film.
China Pavilion from The Thirsty Pig on Vimeo.
Then you move to a showcase room with imagery featuring the recent past of China from the late 1980′s. I think it was from the 1980′s was when China started it fast accent to global domination. Then as we were ushered into this long room with a hugh floor to ceiling animation of a traditional painting. It was probably one of the most impressive things I had seen at the Expo.
China Pavilion No. 2 from The Thirsty Pig on Vimeo.
There was also an statue of four horses, in a separate area, which was 2000 years old. Quite impressive, though I expected a bit more, since we stood in a line just to see it.
