Trip Report Shanghai (K)nights (and days) - A Max Trip Report - COMPLETE

Hello to All
Welcome to my Trip Report to Japan and China!!

As per previous trips to the Orient this is a business trip with a few leisure detours along the way

The trip was from Nov 16 - Dec 9

It will include a visit of Shanghai Disneyland, and two weekend adventures to Hiroshima and Osaka.

I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did.

Max

PS
I am really struggling with my pictures for this TR. (this is one of many reasons why it has taken my so long to start it)
All pictures are from my iPhone 7 and my work phone (also a 7)
Every since I updated my iOS I cannot extract pictures from it.
I am trying to email them to myself and they are too big to download.
If anyone has advice please send it.

 

[riverside]

The lights are beautiful!! Don't think I would have had the courage to get in that lift!! Good for you!!

 

[amjt660]

Oh my gosh where so I start?! I am so excited for Tron after seeing those pictures! POTC also looks incredible! Everyone always talks about how cool it is! SDL in general looks breathtaking although I had a hard enough time with line cutters in DLR not sure I could handle even more in SDL! That Toy Story Hotel is a dream. Thanks for sharing all of the other pictures as well. Love that deer selfie!

You will love Tron - lineups will be uber long
I would not let the line cutting limit your opportunity to see SDL - just do what Scar tells us to do

The Toy Story hotel was a nice surprise and I enjoyed the theming

Deer Selfies rule!!

Panoramic is excellent!

Thank you - that means a lot to me when it comes from a great photographer like you.

Beautiful island photos! Glad no one took a hoof to the head

I am glad too
But then again a "hoof to the head" might help explain my sometimes warped sense of humor!!

I've always wanted to ride on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Love your little video. That train is so smooth and sleek, and FAST!!

They are fun to ride in the daytime - night time not so much (kinda hard to see!)

The lights are beautiful!! Don't think I would have had the courage to get in that lift!! Good for you!!

If you are afraid of heights I would not recommend it
The view was great with all the lights lit up!!

Max

 

[riverside]

You will love Tron - lineups will be uber long
I would not let the line cutting limit your opportunity to see SDL - just do what Scar tells us to do
View attachment 264356
The Toy Story hotel was a nice surprise and I enjoyed the theming

Deer Selfies rule!!



Thank you - that means a lot to me when it comes from a great photographer like you.


I am glad too
But then again a "hoof to the head" might help explain my sometimes warped sense of humor!!


They are fun to ride in the daytime - night time not so much (kinda hard to see!)


If you are afraid of heights I would not recommend it
The view was great with all the lights lit up!!

Max

I’m sure the view was amazing!! I need to get over my fear of heights(& the older I get the worse I am). I hope everyone doesn’t hate me for saying this but I went on Splash Mountain 21 years ago & haven’t been on it since!! Just can’t do it.....

 

[krause]

Finally caught up! Love the parade photos (I lol’d at the Nemo seagulls), the history lesson, the deer (also lol’d), and of course the selfies .

 

[amjt660]

Day 16. - Osaka trip
Day 11-15 was another work week
Travelled by Shinkansen to Osaka on Friday Dec 1 and checked into hotel

And similar to my trip to Hong Kong I had another meetup on this trip
My brother in law T lives in Japan with his wife M.
He lives in Fukuoka but agreed to meet me in Osaka for the weekend ( It was a short flight for him and M to get there)

The plan for Saturday Dec 2 (day 10) was to take a bus to Arima and visit a traditional Japanese Onsen (bath/spa)

And here is M!

We stopped on the way to the onsen to see this great street side show

They both bowed to the audience after each applause

This little guy was talented

 

[amjt660]

Day 10 cont’d
It was a nice cool day in Arima and even though it was early December the trees still had some colour

The spa or onsen was located in a nice hotel

We had lunch first and then spent two hours going between the 3 hot spring locations (not coed)

M was on her own and T and I were on the guys side
It was a unique experience for sure.

 

[amjt660]

Day 16 cont’d
More pictures from around Arima

and yes - I went to Arima and bought a tshirt!!

The cider is a non alcohol drink - sparkling water/soda/pop like

Before we boarded the bus back to Osaka we stopped at the local Sake Bar!!
This one is for you two guys (@lostpro9het and @wdisney9000 )
and yes - it was good sake - T and I had cold version and M went for warm
and a very generous pour!!

 

[MinnieM123]

Max, I am just in awe of all the beautiful places you visited on your trip. So happy you took many pictures--it's almost like being there, too!!

 

[amjt660]

Day17 Sunday Dec 3
Sunday was a train ride to the Aquarium
A beautiful day in Osaka

Lost in translation?

Ferris wheel outside Aquarium - LEGOLAND is also at this location

It was a good display of sea creatures

that is one big fish!! (yes I checked that it is the biggest fish and not a mammal)


And again @Tuvalu - maybe a do want to be a Pirate - I seem to be fixated on Pirates and their ships

mandatory cute penguin shot

Me and my SIL in front of the giant tank

 

[amjt660]

Day 17 cont’d

Okay so this next set is for @krause , @AKemily , @Doc Disney and @Tuvalu

If you think the Deer Selfie was good I now present...

Whale Shark Selfie

Ray Selfie

Sea Turtle Selfie

Penguin Selfie

Stuffed Penguin Selfie

OK, OK the last one was a stretch.

Interesting ice cream flavour

and final wrap up picture of the group

Okonomiyaki is a dish made in Japan with noodles, eggs, cabbage, meats and other vegetables on a hot skillet.
Two different versions are originated in Osaka and Hiroshima

Think of it like the southern states all claiming to have the best BBQ

The Hiroshima version is layered while the Osaka version is mixed.

Below is the Osaka version we had on Sunday - I prefer it to the Hiroshima style.

My BIL and SIL had to catch a train to the airport so we rushed them to the gate and said our goodbyes
It was great visting them in M's home country for a change (they come to Canada every 2nd year)
She was proud to show me her country (even though she admitted to also being a tourist in the city of Osaka)

Up next - a quick walk around Osaka before I headed back to Toyota city

 

[riverside]

So, I'm curious, how was the ice cream?

 

[Rotel1026]

Yes, how was the ice cream? Did it taste like whale?

 

[Rista1313]

I like the shape of that cone!

 

[Kiwiduck]

I'm also curious about the ice cream taste. It seems the weirdest ice cream flavour I've ever heard of and we live in a world where people eat charcoal and bacon flavoured ice cream.

 

[TheMouseFan]

I,too, am curious what the ice cream tasted like! It looks delicious, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to eat something called whale shark ice cream!! I'm really enjoying following along on your adventures!

 

[riverside]

I,too, am curious what the ice cream tasted like! It looks delicious, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to eat something called whale shark ice cream!! I'm really enjoying following along on your adventures!

I don’t think I could either...

 

[Tuvalu]

The deer selfie still trumps the others.....

 

[amjt660]

Day 17 cont’d
With my inlaws on their train back to the airport and then home I finished up my weekend with some shopping before heading back to Toyota city.
First stop?

Found some more Tsum Tsums

And other neat things

I purchased a couple of Christmas ornaments and then moved on

Found an entire store dedicated to ..

And then found the Hard Rock Osaka

bought a hoodie

Beautiful day - walked back to the hotel , checked out and took the bullet train

 

[amjt660]

I’m sure the view was amazing!! I need to get over my fear of heights(& the older I get the worse I am). I hope everyone doesn’t hate me for saying this but I went on Splash Mountain 21 years ago & haven’t been on it since!! Just can’t do it.....

I suggest you give it a shot (as long as it doesn't stress you out so much that you would not be able to enjoy it)

Finally caught up! Love the parade photos (I lol’d at the Nemo seagulls), the history lesson, the deer (also lol’d), and of course the selfies .

More selfies later.....

Max, I am just in awe of all the beautiful places you visited on your trip. So happy you took many pictures--it's almost like being there, too!!

I am glad you are enjoying it. I have been very lucky to work for a company in a role that allows me to travel.
And I do my best to take advantage of the opportunites..

So, I'm curious, how was the ice cream?

Yes, how was the ice cream? Did it taste like whale?

I like the shape of that cone!

I'm also curious about the ice cream taste. It seems the weirdest ice cream flavour I've ever heard of and we live in a world where people eat charcoal and bacon flavoured ice cream.

I,too, am curious what the ice cream tasted like! It looks delicious, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to eat something called whale shark ice cream!! I'm really enjoying following along on your adventures!

I don’t think I could either...

A few of you asked so I will do my best.
Not easy to describe - when I asked they said it was cider flavor like the drink that I had the day before
Basically high sugar/sweet soda flavor.
It was good!
To the best of my knowledge it did not taste like whale shark - but I have never eaten a whale shark so maybe they taste sweet??

The deer selfie still trumps the others.....

The aquarium shots were time consuming (to try to hit a moving target) but the deer selfie had a higher degree of difficulty and danger involved.
So I agree with your assessment


Max

 

[krause]

Yaaassss love the selfies with animals montage!