Fiji is sending a 40-foot container loaded with food items, liquor, spices, canned foods, shoes, handicraft and kava for its exhibition within the Pacific Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Themed “Pacific Ocean – Spring of Inspiration,” the Pacific pavilion will be the third largest, at 8,300 square meters, showcasing the beauty of the Pacific Islands, its unique culture and lifestyle.

The Pacific pavilion will host exhibitions from 15 booths representing the different island nations of Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and for the South Pacific Tourism Organisation and Pacific Islands Forum.

In some respects Shanghai is more developed than most world cities. For almost a decade now, commuters have used a card, like the one above, to ride the city’s burgeoning metropolitan rail system, taxis, car parking stations and even fast food joints. Similar in size and weight to a credit card, the Shanghai transport card allows users to top up their card at any subway station at their own discretion. Upon using one of the aforementioned services the remaining credit is clearly displayed.

The company I work for produced a branded transport card as a gift to all employees on the occasion of the last year’s 60th anniversary celebrations, with 60 yuan of credit; equivalent to about US$8.80 or €6.10.

A similar system will be in place come World Expo 2010 Shanghai:

PEOPLE will be able to use a single card to pay for all their expenses such as food, transport and souvenirs at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo site.

The Expo organizer yesterday issued a commercial card jointly with Shanghai Commercial Investment Co Ltd, a state-owned company.

The card will cost about 500 yuan (US$73; €51). People can add money to the card at 7,000 locations across the city.

It will be on sale at China Post and China Telecom outlets. The card is refundable.

Water and other drinks will be banned at the entrance to the Expo, so visitors need to buy drinks inside. Rides on eight-seat, golf cart-like vehicles will also carry a charge. Other shuttle buses are free.

The card will be another means of payment apart from cash and credit cards at the Expo site, said Chen Xianjin, deputy director general of the Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

The card will be especially convenient for foreign visitors because they won’t need to exchange currency, said Miao Mingmin, deputy director of the company’s Expo Project Office.

Some discounts will also be offered at some restaurants at the site, Miao said.

Another terrific idea for World Expo 2010 Shanghai!

Uruguay is getting ready for next year’s big event. This country, located between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the southern tip of Brazil, will have its exhibition inside the Latin American Joint Pavilion. Same as Zaragoza 2008 (below), besides their participation in the shared pavilion, they will also present their own restaurant.

Maybe some might think that if they are getting space for themselves, they should rather use it for a pavilion with contents that reinforce the theme of the Expo. Of course that is a valid argument, but on the other hand, food is going to be among the most attractive things in the Expo, so they lean to a restaurant. It is a more commercial and marketing-oriented approach, but still it provides a pleasant experience; and takes in account how important it is in China the whole issue of eating.

On Friday I attended the rooftop ceremony of the joint Belgium and European Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai. Now that the main structure is finished, it is likely that this pavilion will be finished ahead of schedule. Probably the most important highlight will be a giant “brain cell” that will serve as entrance to the pavilion and distributor of crowds. Currently there is just a spacious empty room with lots of scaffolding, but according to models and previews, it will look impressive once it is finished.

Behind the main hall there will be a space for each of Belgium’s regions; you know, this is a country where local identity and self-government are extremely important. Some other of the attractions will be a yummy Chocolate Corner, a spot for showcasing diamonds, another one about the South Pole, and, of course, the beer bar, a must for every Belgian pavilion through the Expos.

It seems that hardly a week goes by that the French pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai is in the news for another spectacular occassion. They’re giving gifts to everyone who attends; perfume, roses and pastries; they’re bringing seven masterpieces from Musée d’Orsay and then there’s the weddings: all 2,010 of them!

Lucky brides who want to have a dream weddings in the France pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo may get to do so in a wedding gown designed by famed French designer Martin d’ Autry.

A total of 2,010 couples will be able to tie the knot inside the classical French gardens at the pavilion during Expo.

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• UK pavilion has lots of good ideas (expo2010.cn)
• Details of the Russian pavilion (RiaNavosti)
• This will be a tough tender to win (4Hoteliers)

• Raclette and Rosti anyone? (expo2010.cn)
• A little principality in a big middle kingdom (Shanghai Daily)
• Uncle Sam may break ground as early as next week (Financial Times)

Lost Heaven is hands down one of the best restaurants in Shanghai. Situated in the heart of the former French concession, this stylish restaurant offers and amazing menu inspired by Yunnan Province, in southern China, and smatterings of Thai, Burmese and Tibetan flavours.

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