Shanghai Expo with Coca-Cola – Day 3 of 4 (noon)

After exploring the Puxi area in the morning, we headed to Pudong during noon. Pudong is where all the country pavilions are located and where all the crowd is headed.

It is impossible to tour the entire Shanghai Expo area in a day – there are over 240 pavilions spread over 4 zones, separated by the Huangpu River.

For tips on exploring the Expo if you are starved for time, you can read this article I wrote for my paper on 17 May 2010.

Some of the popular pavilions like China, USA and Japan takes hours to queue, just to get in. We figured we were better off marveling the varied architecture of the various pavilions from the outside, soaking in the expo atmosphere and only visiting those pavilions which look more interesting, with a manageable queue.

In this way, we were able to see practically all the pavilions from the outside and still enjoyed touring a select few on the inside.

The expo is great for shopping and food too, beyond pavilion hopping. Cuisines from around the world are available at the various country pavilions and there are over 100 restaurants distributed throughout the zones. Likewise for souvenir hunters, literally, the world is your market with each country pavilion offering unique local delights and exclusive expo mechandises.

Spain pavilion which resembles a giant wicker basket

Estonia - the first pavilion we visited — Estonia – the first pavilion we visited

There's nothing but giant pigs of different colours in the Estonia pavilion — There’s nothing but giant pigs of different colours in the Estonia pavilion

More pigs - I kid you not — More pigs – I kid you not

Latvia pavilion which was still incomplete

You can see part of the bare wall in this picture

We tried to climb up the Latvia pavilion, but were chased down by staff

View of the Expo area atop the Latvia pavilion

Named Kirnu, the FInnish pavilion is built to resemble a small island surrounded by a mirror of water - it's one of my favourite pavilion — Named Kirnu, the FInnish pavilion is built to resemble a small island surrounded by a mirror of water – it’s one of my favourite pavilion

Finnish girl who gave an introduction to Finland in halting Mandarin

One of the ushers in the Finnish pavilion

Finnish musicians with two random Chinese photo hunters

Inside the Finland pavilion:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/v/nRJibzJbLOA&hl=en_US&fs=1″]

Another video piece where you can leave your image behind

Made in Finland products - Nokia is there of course — Made in Finland products – Nokia is there of course

HungarHungary paviliony pavilion — Hungary pavilion

The much praised, beautiful UK pavilion - The Seed Cathedral, which is covered by 60,000 crystalline spines tiat are tipped with tiny lights — The much praised, beautiful UK pavilion – The Seed Cathedral, which is covered by 60,000 crystalline spines tiat are tipped with tiny lights

June and I, pretending to drive one of the Expo cars

There are lots of giant maps like this for navigation

USA pavilion which had a long queue despite the unimpressive exterior

The long queue deterred us from going in

USA gift shop - the product range was very yawn and drab — USA gift shop – the product range was very yawn and drab

The USA pavilion enterprise section which you can enter without queuing

A lot of Chinese vied to pose here for photos

Nothing but corporate videos... no wonder don't need to queue — Nothing but corporate videos… no wonder don’t need to queue

Small kid in front of us in the queue. We took about half an hour to get in.

Inside the Canada pavilion:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/v/DoalJteBcrc&hl=en_US&fs=1″]

The interior is designed by Cirque du Soleil - hence the wavy forms — The interior is designed by Cirque du Soleil – hence the wavy forms

Interactive "pool" which will ripple with the wind chimes — Interactive “pool” which will ripple with the wind chimes

Cycling installation in the Canadian pavilion

The animation sequence the cyclists will see

I love this giant screen which showcases many picturesque scenes in Canada

Panaromic scene of a fish market in Canada

You can buy maple syrup at the gift shop

Noticed a lot of the Chinese have these Expo "passports" where they can get a chop at each of the country pavilion they visited - a lot of pushing and shoving occurred because of this — Noticed a lot of the Chinese have these Expo “passports” where they can get a chop at each of the country pavilion visited – a lot of pushing occurred because of this

Inside the Brazil pavilion:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/v/GBuWh-zFP6I&hl=en_US&fs=1″]

As expected, there were lots of footballs

Columbia pavilion gift shop - they ran out of coffee! — Columbia pavilion gift shop – they ran out of coffee!

I am not joking - this is the coffee kiosk which ran out of coffee — I am not joking – this is the coffee kiosk which ran out of coffee

One of the smaller shared pavilions - Albania — One of the smaller shared pavilions – Albania

San Marino - which claims to be the smallest and oldest republic in the world — San Marino – which claims to be the smallest and oldest republic in the world

Cyprus - another shared pavilion — Cyprus – another shared pavilion

This is about all there is inside the Cyprus pavilion

A giant video installation was spotted inside the Belarus pavilion

South Africa pavilion - there's a giant Nelson Mandela mural on one side — South Africa pavilion – there’s a giant Nelson Mandela mural on one side

Somehow the pavilion felt very "un-Egypt" — Somehow the pavilion felt very “un-Egypt”

For some reason, we chose to have lunch here - there are many such identical restaurant buildings in the Expo area serving a variety of world cuisines — For some reason, we chose to have lunch here – there are many such identical restaurant buildings in the Expo area serving a variety of world cuisines

After lunch, we headed to a Coca-Cola event designated area for their Founder’s Day Parade to celebrate Coca-Cola’s 124th birthday.

There were already a large crowd gathered when we arrived. Luckily, we had VIP passes and I was able to position myself close to the front.

The “Brrr-man”, Baruti, was there to warm up the crowd together with some Chinese dancers and acrobatic performers.

The parade started shortly after. It was a visual feast, much like a mini World-themed version of the Chingay Parade in Singapore. Check out the event photos and videos below.

Baruti singing Happy “Brrr-day” to Coca-Cola:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/v/x9sV_FP3ji8&hl=en_US&fs=1″]

A large crowd was already gathered when we arrived

Baruti challenging the crowd to perform his signature "Brrr" — Baruti challenging the crowd to perform his signature “Brrr”

To the tune of K'naan's Wavin Flags — To the tune of K’naan’s Wavin Flags

The full video recording of the Coca-Cola Founder’s Day Parade:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/v/TGeQGLNiDeU&hl=en_US&fs=1″]

I spot the Expo logo

Our Japanese friend getting interviewed after the parade

That ended our noon activities at the Expo. We will be doing more pavilion-hopping in the evening, including visiting the Singapore Pavilion and checking out the magnificent architecture of the China Pavilion. Stay tuned to my next post on all these and the star-studded Coca-Cola Celebration Concert.