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Shanghai vs New York: The streets are safer in our fair city
By Mahmood ur Rehman |
October 20, 2009, Tuesday
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EDITOR'S note:
Shanghai may not be as great as the author of this article says, but the city and her people are charming in their own ways. Share your opinions about the city with us. Criticism is welcome.
I have been to so many countries and so many places with fascinating environments but it never occurred to me to jot down something about them.
Then why now? Well, to me writing something about Shanghai is so special, exciting and fascinating that has no parallels in my past life.
It was a normal routine day of cold weather in Islamabad back in November 2008 when my boss called me and broke the news that I had been assigned to Shanghai. I could hardly believe my ears.
I work for the navy and over my career of almost three decades, I was more often than not trained, posted and also acquainted with Western countries, their navies and more so their systems.
Given a choice, I would always have opted for my posting or foreign tenure duty to places like the UK, USA, or Turkey where I had cozy environment, nice atmosphere, good looking faces and peace of mind.
With respect to the above mentioned things, Chinese cities in my reckoning were nowhere near my expectations. I was still thinking of how the Western media portrays about them.
One fine morning in early January 2009, I landed with my family at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.
I never realized the depth of a common saying that "the first impression is the last impression." The airport was incredibly neat and clean, big enough to accommodate and handle probably hundreds of flights in an hour or so and was of the same quality, if not better than any European or American airport.
Bikini girl
That's the beauty of the city's hardware. Now a glimpse into its "soft" side.
Shanghai is a peaceful and calm city with respect to personal security and the safety of one's own and family belongings.
The other day I was talking with an American friend and we started comparing Shanghai with New York.
Although New York has its own attractions, we both agreed you are safer here in Shanghai.
For example, if you are walking in New York even at 8pm along a Manhattan street, you'd better carry US$20 or so in your pocket because if the mugger encounters you and he doesn't find anything, he will slit your throat for wasting his time.
In Shanghai, even if a charming, attractive model walks at odd hours of two o'clock in the morning in a bikini swim suit, no one dares even touch her because of the excellent protective environment. Shanghai is calm and peaceful in some other ways. My experience on Nanjing Road is an example.
I have walked for a while on famous walking streets of Paris and London, yet Nanjing Road has no match particularly in terms of human feelings.
There are Europeans, Africans, Arabs, Americans, people from the South Asia and Southeast Asia, and local Chinese who come along with their families, and it seems like a big occasion for celebrations every evening.
Like every part of Shanghai, there is complete tranquility and peace on this street despite a great hustle and bustle.
Sweet people
My toddler son of 21 months is being showered with love, affection, friendliness, warmth, care, fondness and hugs even from strangers on this street - treatment I have never witnessed, even in my own country.
The people are so fervent and eager to touch him, cuddle him, take pictures with him, adore him and take him in their lap that he is a virtual snake charmer.
Many times even the cops stop by when they see a gathering, and some of them even adored my boy.
This speaks of what? In my opinion this speaks of the greatness of this very grand and illustrious city, of its culture, its sweet people, its traditions and more so of its hospitality.
I am speechless at times when I see the type of love that I and my family in general and my son, Sameer, in particular get on the Nanjing Road and it fills me with emotions of gratitude and appreciations.
(The author is a reader of Shanghai Daily. Shanghai Daily condensed his letter.)
Shanghai may not be as great as the author of this article says, but the city and her people are charming in their own ways. Share your opinions about the city with us. Criticism is welcome.
I have been to so many countries and so many places with fascinating environments but it never occurred to me to jot down something about them.
Then why now? Well, to me writing something about Shanghai is so special, exciting and fascinating that has no parallels in my past life.
It was a normal routine day of cold weather in Islamabad back in November 2008 when my boss called me and broke the news that I had been assigned to Shanghai. I could hardly believe my ears.
I work for the navy and over my career of almost three decades, I was more often than not trained, posted and also acquainted with Western countries, their navies and more so their systems.
Given a choice, I would always have opted for my posting or foreign tenure duty to places like the UK, USA, or Turkey where I had cozy environment, nice atmosphere, good looking faces and peace of mind.
With respect to the above mentioned things, Chinese cities in my reckoning were nowhere near my expectations. I was still thinking of how the Western media portrays about them.
One fine morning in early January 2009, I landed with my family at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.
I never realized the depth of a common saying that "the first impression is the last impression." The airport was incredibly neat and clean, big enough to accommodate and handle probably hundreds of flights in an hour or so and was of the same quality, if not better than any European or American airport.
Bikini girl
That's the beauty of the city's hardware. Now a glimpse into its "soft" side.
Shanghai is a peaceful and calm city with respect to personal security and the safety of one's own and family belongings.
The other day I was talking with an American friend and we started comparing Shanghai with New York.
Although New York has its own attractions, we both agreed you are safer here in Shanghai.
For example, if you are walking in New York even at 8pm along a Manhattan street, you'd better carry US$20 or so in your pocket because if the mugger encounters you and he doesn't find anything, he will slit your throat for wasting his time.
In Shanghai, even if a charming, attractive model walks at odd hours of two o'clock in the morning in a bikini swim suit, no one dares even touch her because of the excellent protective environment. Shanghai is calm and peaceful in some other ways. My experience on Nanjing Road is an example.
I have walked for a while on famous walking streets of Paris and London, yet Nanjing Road has no match particularly in terms of human feelings.
There are Europeans, Africans, Arabs, Americans, people from the South Asia and Southeast Asia, and local Chinese who come along with their families, and it seems like a big occasion for celebrations every evening.
Like every part of Shanghai, there is complete tranquility and peace on this street despite a great hustle and bustle.
Sweet people
My toddler son of 21 months is being showered with love, affection, friendliness, warmth, care, fondness and hugs even from strangers on this street - treatment I have never witnessed, even in my own country.
The people are so fervent and eager to touch him, cuddle him, take pictures with him, adore him and take him in their lap that he is a virtual snake charmer.
Many times even the cops stop by when they see a gathering, and some of them even adored my boy.
This speaks of what? In my opinion this speaks of the greatness of this very grand and illustrious city, of its culture, its sweet people, its traditions and more so of its hospitality.
I am speechless at times when I see the type of love that I and my family in general and my son, Sameer, in particular get on the Nanjing Road and it fills me with emotions of gratitude and appreciations.
(The author is a reader of Shanghai Daily. Shanghai Daily condensed his letter.)
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