The final day and after breakfast I headed for the airport. I took the Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) train, which sped me the 30 kilometres to Pudong Airport in about 8 minutes. Reaching speeds of 431 kilometres per hour, I watched a jump-cut sequence of Shanghai’s urban sprawl pass by my window.
It’s been a trip of extremes whilst travelling throughout this giant of a city – a heady mix of enthusiasm and fascination countered by logistical struggles and language barriers that have been a constant reminder of the magnitude and foreignness of the place. I think I need time to reflect on what I’ve achieved and, as usual, spend a few weeks immersing myself in the lengthy editing process. I’ve been feeling a bit homesick over the past few days so I’m ready to take the long trip home and deposit myself back in the familiar, miniature–sized territory of Brighton, England.
