Shanghai 2010 World Expo

On Saturday we took the train into Shanghai for the day to attend the 2010 World Expo. We talked to our parents the week before and neither even knew that there was a World Expo going on this year in China. Please, tell me that somebody out there heard that it was happening!?

Anyway. . . . We had researched which pavilions that we wanted to see. What might be worth standing in line for (to see some country's pavilions the lines were 8+ hours long!!). Thankfully, none of our lines were that long. But then again we avoided the worst offenders (Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Germany, ...) and found some others that were interesting.

One of the corporate sponsors. I think this sounds a little better in Chinese: "Come to the Coca Cola Happy Factory. We will wait for you there!"

But I just don't get the "happy factory" part.

Thailand

Saudi Arabia -- the costliest exhibit

The lines were crazy long at both the U.A.E and Saudi Arabia so we opted for a similar cultural experience and went to Qatar. Wait time: 10 minutes.

Yes, my friends, we are in this line! Waiting to go to India.

While waiting in line, some people behind us were eating these and gave us some to try. They told me what it is, but I had never heard of it. I then proceeded to amuse those around us as I tried to get them open (really hard) and get the nut-like things inside out (even harder). While it wasn't my favorite thing in the world, we ate all that they gave to us. It kind of reminded me of a cross between a nut and a bean. ???

Standing by a Christmas tree (that is actually the kind) created by the set designers of Lord of the Rings (I heard that the entire New Zealand exhibit was created by them).

India -- this is the pavilion that we waited the longest time for (a little over an hour). But it was worth it for the amazing lunch we had inside.

Mmm, curry and tandori chicken.

The girls and I showing off our henna from the Indian pavilion

We ended up seeing almost 20 pavilions and WOW we were tired by the end of the day!