Not only has my website had a slight makeover, this summer I decided make some career related changes as well . After spending some time in Shanghai as consultant focusing on high tech companies and online solutions, I two and a half year ago joined a bank starting up branch in Shanghai. With a role as relationship manager I supported mainly SMEs, already in China or entering China, with financing solutions, cash management setup and advice in general. Being a small branch I also became deeply involved in the internal processes improvement, new products and strategies for China etc. With time the challenges changed and I felt compelled to go out and find new ones.

So from August I am now re-focusing on China based projects, consulting startups starting up or companies in need business process re-engineering or assessment of China strategy among many things. I am also open for new projects and opportunities so feel free to let me know.

First out is though vacation and a one month trip to Xinjiang is about to start on August 12.

Distance: 39 km
Time: 2:16 hours
Average speed: 16.8
Terrain: City streets (lot of construction)

Last sunday I went out to explore a bit in Shanghai. I ended up following the huangpu river up to yangpu bridge and then sort of crossing Pudong to another bridge before heading back home. A total route of about 40km.

Gave good views of pudong and it is fun to cross the river. I crossed the river twice just to check the photo opportunities and if view of pudong is wanted it is better to cross before reaching yangpu bridge.

Below Yangpu bridge I had my lunch and talked to a guy who later showed me his warehouse where they had clothes of all kinds and acted as wholeseller. It was a bit cheaper there than in many other stores!

Map

I have for a while thought about starting to bike more seriously and last week I went to buy a new bike. A Giant ATX. Saturday was the premier ride where Andreas and I went out for almost 9 hours in and out of Shanghai. Ended up in Anting and a automotive park before going back home. 2 hours from home I was going in high speed when I suddenly heard a sound and realised I had a flat tire. A quickly stopped the bike and jumped off. Looking up where I had stopped I was standing right in front of  a repair shop. Just gave the bike to the owner and he fixed two holes for 4 RMB each.

2009 pandemic has put its mark on Shanghai. Until just recently all arriving international passengers had a fever check on the plane before disembarking. Two persons dressed in white “virus-suits” took one side of the air plane. One used a laser and the second used a thermometer for the suspicious cases. Cases with fever were led of the plane and people close by put in quarantine as well.

And so was it Saturday, the big day, my friends wedding.

We left home around 10.00, once again to the ferry station and a pleasant boat ride to Kadikoj (or how it is spelled).

a German built train station is passed on the way.

and then the wedding! A formal ceremony in turkish and I dont understand much more than it is the lady in white and the gentleman in black next to her who is getting married. The other two gentlemen are there to witness it or  something. And guy in red the man in charge.

After being declared married all guests line up outside to give their wishes to the couple and take photos.

After the ceremony Emre took us for a walk in the neighborhood before going for lunch at another friends house. Along the way we saw the famous bull of Kadikoj.

The guy to the left is the Swedish one (me!)

Since we lived far away from the wedding ceremony place we were invited to a friend of Ali’s house for lunch.. And what a lunch!

After having lunch and resting with many cups of Turkish tea, we left for the wedding dinner!

Ali, the married one!

traditional dance from mid turkey.

Day four we woke up early and decided to go back to Kadikoj on the Asian side. It was just a bit more pleasant to stroll around there, less tourists and lot of outdoor seating, and you had a nice boat ride to there. Below with a view of the old palace.

A small lunch snack and tea was consumed while strolling around the streets.

One market we found was a fish market.

but we also found a restaurant with long tasty pizzas.

and then we found Ufuc, a friend of Ali, that took us to the famous Bagdad street. More modern with a lot of restaurants and cafes. The favourite stop was the most famous cafe for Ice cream and desserts!

hungry as usual we also made a stop at Ufuc’s favorite place and had some spanish/mexican food.

After a full day of walking in the sun we decided to try another famous Turkish delicacy. Not that common among the locals anymore but popular by the tourists, THE TURKISH BATH. We found one close to our hotel on a small side street, same name as the football team: Galatasaray Hamami (hamami as in bath). No picture from inside but can tell it was hot and run by big strong (fat) Turkish men. Pretty much the following: After getting undressed you walk into a large round room with a large hot stone “table” in the middle. On this stone table people lies to build up a sweat. It reminds you of a sauna but the whole room is all in stone and resemble a temple more than a bath. The heat emerges from the table that you lay on. Around the walls are small sinks placed used for washing yourself. After laying for a while a large man comes up and starts to give a soap bath / massage. The one I had appears to be more of a construction worker than a masseur. And I can tell you that his enjoyment was probably to hear people scream like everyone except me did (weekly massage in China makes you used to it). After having a pretty rough wash and massage, you sit down by one of the sinks and the guy splash water over you and finish the soap bath. When soap bath is over you go to another room for a shower. Clean and nice, a second man comes and package you pretty rough in towels and lead you to a third room for some tea and water.

View of the small street where we found the Turkish bath. It is just of the main street in Taksim, small and narrow where both cars and people share the space.

Almost back at the hotel in Taksim square we decided to have a last evening snack. I had a plate of falafel plate and Silvia a falafel sandwich.

The third day in Istanbul we went out for a cultural adventure in the old peninsula. Istanbul is an expensive city which we realised after paying all the museum fees (and not using a museum card).

The first stop was the Topkapi Palace and its surrounding nature. Inside we also saw the famous Harem and private living quarters.

Hagia Sophia was number two on the list.  Both its architecture and history is enchanting. From being a church it was 1453 turned into a mosque when the ottoman empire conquered Constantinople, and now it is a museum. According to Wikipedia: “Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and to have “changed the history of architecture.” It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until the completion of the Seville Cathedral in 1520.”

And as usual, after walking a lot good food is required. This time the restaurant’s  own speciality; Omar’s Kebab. Nothing special (compared to the iskendar kebab the day before of course) and pretty expensive, about 120 RMB.

Full of energy we went underground to my favority visit, the underground cistern, which is a vast underground water storage tank.  It is believed to have been built in 532 AD and was known as the Basilica Cistern during the Roman period. After the conquest of the city by the Ottoman Turks, it was forgotten of and nobody knew that it existed. Re-discovered in 1545, it was used to water the gardens of Topkapi Palace. On of the most famous sights within the cistern is the pedestal with the two Medusa heads carved into it.

Last on our list was the place that I believe my mother would have liked most of all, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market!

After all touristy stuff we met up with my good friend and his friend for dinner on a roof terrasse.

a delicious grilled Sea Bass that was a bit difficult to eat towards the end…(not sure if the Raki was involved their)

View of the busy small streets you can find everywhere.

before heading home after a few beers we of course had to try the local speciality made of intestines. Beverage for the was youghurt.

top right corner you can see the intestines that they later will prepare for the sandwich.

Up early we had a nice surprise in the morning…breakfast was included and the major part of it was cheese and olives! diving into the buffee I made a brief realisation that I am either going to get very fat after this trip or get too high cholestrol. On the plate you can see two different kinds of “white cheese”, one piece of “Helve”, three kinds of olives, two different sausages, some vegetables and a newly baked baguette. This was the first plate……

just a few hours later it was time for lunch with my friend Ali and his colleague. We went to a third generation run Iskander Kebab restaurant and had probably the best kebab ever. The photo below is not fair at all to the dish and was poorly taken by me with the wrong settings. After serving everyone they came and poured melted butter over the meat…under the meat was bread pieces that sucked it all up..wow…so good!

After the dinner we shared some dessert and had turkish tea. Walking uphill to Ali’s office I realise how come they manage to stay fit eating delicious food like this. At the office we enjoyed some turkish coffee on his balcony with a view of Istanbul (view not fair on my photos so will not show it) with the mandatory glass of water in order to “clean up” the coffee bean remains.

The area on the “Asian” side, Kadikoy,  is a different feeling and a bit younger. Feels like less tourists and with many nice cafes and restaurants.

apparently will smoking be banned in public places such as cafe, restaurant etc from mid July. Wonder how they will solve the water pipe habit that you can find everywhere? 

So, time for vacation and blog writing again. This time from Istanbul in Turkey. Not first time I visit turkey. Two times before have I visited the Mediterranean parts with beaches.

Istanbul seems to live up to the expectations my friends have. I try to go without any expectations of the place I visit but with all friends raising it to the skies I was a bit worried. The main reason to go to Istanbul is for a good friends wedding, but I also was planning to enjoy a different culture and eat a lot of good food. Trust me, both good food and culture can be found!

Arriving in the afternoon we went to get a birds view of the town. Waiting for the sun to settle a bit we enjoyed some turkish tea.

then we climbed up in the tower (elevator) and enjoyed a magnificent view of Istanbul in all directions.

On way back home we jumped into a small restaurant on the street and had two nice dishes (was meat, cheese and other stuff in it).

after these two small adventures we were completely exhausted after travelling for more than 20 hours with only a few hours sleep (first a full working day until 18.00 and then flight 23.30 from Shanghai).  Headed back to the hotel and passed out in the bed around 21.30.