Shanghai

---

Nihao,

Getting to Shanghai was a much more comfortable experience than Beijing - Xi'an. We had the bottom two bunks of 3 and there was far more space this time and a handy luggage rack. Shanghai instantly feels more western as soon as you arrive here. It apparently has more skyscrapers than New York. On our first day we wandered around the shopping area and dropped into the fakes market for some fast and furious haggling. It was like an episode from the apprentice. Rich was in the market for a Ralph Lauren Polo. He encountered some difficulties when it turns out that all the shirts are exactly the same size (contrary to what the sellers tell you) and they just have different sizes written on. After realising he was not going to look as cool as he had planned in an oversized polo he instead purchased a knock off Abercrombie t-shirt. I was on the look out for a far classier item, a pair of shutter shades as worn by Kanye West in his Stronger video. I haggled with the seller until agreeing upon a price of 40RMB (3.20GBP). I think I may have been had though as they sit slightly wonky on my face but then you're going to look like a tit with a pair of white shutter shades on your face regardless of whether they sit straight or not.

Later we headed over to the Pudong district to pay extortionate prices for cocktails with a view at the Hyatt's Cloud 9 bar at the top of the Jimao tower. At 87 floors up it claims to be the highest bar in the world. I'm not convinced but they might have a claim for the highest prices in the world. Rest assured we made the most of the complimentary bowl of nuts. The views were certainly worth it though the smog took the edge off it and we timed it to perfection as the sun set and the lights came on. We also stopped at the most pretentious bar in the world for a mojito. The decor was flamboyant and the American Jazz band were awful. I don't like jazz but I'm sure its not all as bad as that. If I hadn't been out of pocket for the cocktails I would have paid them to stop playing.

Yesterday we wandered around the Bund and saw all the old colonial buildings. In the afternoon we sifted through the tat in the Shanghai version of TK Maxx. Today we will saunter through the old city and take in some nightlife, perhaps in the form of an acrobatic performance.

Al.

---

Photos

Kanye Rae
Looking the shnizzle

Comments

[dave]

lol get some piccies from the night out if yous head for one!

[dave]

oh, and was there a pic of the train toilet from the previous piece?