Tumblr’s website isn’t made for what I want to do.

Switching over to Travelpod since it can track me a bit better

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nguyensv/2/1326760843/tpod.html

Before we switch over there, let me tell you how I’m able to travel to India and Australia!

Credit Cards and Flyer points and promotion points!

The first card below, Citi AA I applied back in March. It had a promotion of “spend 4,000 in 6 months and you get 75,000 A points”

simple, buy $1000 coins from the US mint, deposit it in your bank account and use that to pay off your credit card!

what does $1000 in coins look like?

That’s $1000 in $1 coins, 19lbs

The Citi AA got me my flight from Dulles to Delhi, and Melbourne back home. All I had to pay was taxes and fees which turned out to be around 450ish. The 2 american express got me 50,000pts and 75,000 pts. used some to pay off my carbon bike. The rest of the points paid for my ticket from Delhi to Melbourne. Which turned out to be around 400 after using the remainder of my points. the Hyatt gave me 2 free nights with the purchase of ANYTHING! yes, anything, like a stick of bubble gum. I’m staying in the Park Hyatt my last night in Melbourne and its FREE! The priority select card I got through the platnium AMEX. Get’s me into most airport lounges around the world. Found out London doesnt use that…. And poof! I just saved over $1000 that would’ve been airfare!

After we say our goodbyes, I head on to the mag train! it’s a magnetic propelled train going over 300km/h.

Upon arrival to the airport, my flight is continuosly delayed, so i’m off killing time….

July 5,2010.

Today is my last day in China. As well is Neil’s family. His mom/dad/sister head back to the states. While his aunt and cousin head back to hometown which is north of Vietnam. (i forgot). They were convincing me to go with them then take a flight to Vietnam later. so tempted… but this is where we had to part ways.

our last meal was eating Shalong Bao. Dumplings filled with soup inside! Shanghai is famous for this dish, and this restaurant makes the best!
Afterwards we walked around the area, This was the same place where i was 2 days ago. I bought a good friend of mine a ‘Pipa’. A chinese guitar.  

Got a free ticket into the Expo with some new found friends.

Went up to the USA Pavilion for some free food/drinks and trinkets!They had guest performances of the winners of “american’s best dance crew as well several speechs from the haed of the USAP relaying a message from the president to the Ambassadors.

The free food was american catered with burgers. hotdogs, horderves, beer and wine to our stomachs’ content. Exchanged some stories and made some new friends. who would’ve known I would be hnging out with Americans on July 4th!As the party came near to an end. I followed the crowd into downtown shanghai for some night clubbing. I finally got to know why all the night clubs in China have metal detectors and make you check in your bags. You have gang leaders and their minions all over these places and the last thing you want to do is hit on Mob Boss girl and pay the price.

Today I hit up some of the tallest buildings in the world!!!

Jin Mao Tower: 1381ft

Shanghai Financial Tower (looks like a bottle opener): 1614 ft

Both are side by side

Today July 3, 2010.

Trekked it into back into the main city limits and got a hotel. I’ll be leaving Shanghai in 2 days to go to Vietnam.

Visited the main tourist area with all the shopping and souvenirs. Had “shalong bao” wich is like a banh bao but with soup in it! Also bought a night flying Kite!!!

Went back to the hotel and bid farewell to my Shanghai Buddy Cai Cai.

Hit up a Foot massage palor. Managed to have a conversation in Manderian with her.

It went along the lines of:

Steve: Hi, how are you?

masseuse: hi, good, how are you?

Steve: I’m good.

masseuse: how old are you?

Steve: My name is Steve. ^_^

masseuse: aiya….

masseuse: what did you do today?

Steve: I don’t understand

masseuse: aiya…

Steve: OOO I am 23 years old!

masseuse: OOO, (says something)

I noticed on the TV that they were showing a commercial of the World Expo.

Steve:I went there and walked a lot, therefore I am getting a foot massage.

masseuse: OOOoooooo

During the massage, I got a phone call from Neil’s mom to join them for dinner.

It was in a different part of town and I had no idea where or how to pronounce it. I gave the phone to my masseuse and she understand and got my a taxi and onwards I went. Upon arrival, I had no clue what restaurant they were at. I stopped 2 ladies walking towards me said:

Steve: Friend… on phone… eat… restaurant.. don’t know where.

Ladies: OK, I understand!

They both took me arm in arm to meet up with my traveling company.

We met with a friend of the family that was living in Shanghai for work. We ate a meal that I can’t recall and exchanged stories. After dinner we went to Bunt road for drinks and hanging out.

I didn’t bring my camera because I had left it in the hotel going to the Foot massage palor.

Video clips throughout the World Expo

What is pretty amazing is, each pavilion is run by people from that country. They bring relics and souviners that you can see and purchase. What’s also great is to meet and hear different accents from all over the world!

One of my favorite Pavilions is Canada. It was interactive, the deisgn was very neat as well as the interior. Norway’s pavilion showed off a more urban design of buildings. New Zealand showed off it’s ecosystem of rain forest and ways to help preserve it.

After asking around what people’s favorite pavilion was. Germany, Russia, England… They all had 4+ hour waits..

 USA had 2 videos which talked about what they would do in the future to better theselves.. It had a lot of cameo apperances from many celeberties including, Obama, Hilary Clinton and the Laker Girls!

After rewatching some of my video. I remember it was HOT. I would say high 90’s with humidity… Thankfully the pavilion had lots of water stations and Airconditioned Themed pavilions. They were good escapes from standing in line.

World Expo day!!

This place is HUGE…. to visit every pavilion and wait hours and hours in line… would take about a week to do. Everyday this place is packed with tourists from all over China and the World! I think the residents of Shanghai all get free single passes to visit the Expo.

To get in you have to buy a ticket to enter, then to enter all the pavilions is like waiting in line for rollercoasters. Some pavilions are more elaborate than others and therefore have longer lines… China, Germany, Russia, USA, etc.. etc.. These lines last anywhere from instant access to 3-4 hour waits…

The big red pavilion is the China Pavilion. That’s a 3 day wait to get in.. What is inside all of them? The overall theme is “better city, better life” Each country that participates has prototypes or already implemented ways to better their own country by sustainability, being green and eco friendly. They have prototypes of building designs as well as future concept ways of living.

There is a souviner booklet I purchased which is the “World Expo Passport” You get stamps whenever you enter a new country. People here made it their goal to get every single country stamped. In addition, they came in different colors. They are crazy…

The spiky white building belonged to England. Each of the spikes contained a seed to a plant. Very Awesome…. 4+ hour wait

I got to the USA pavilion… 3 hour wait.. I went up to the VIP line and flashed my US passport and bam! instant access!! Talked to a few of the workers, they are all from America and getting paid minimum to spend there summer and help run the pavilion. Managed to get hook-ups to come back on July 4 for independence day Party at the USA pavilion!