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Published: February 12th 2009
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This is the story of The Tortoise and the Hares.
It was a cloudy, cool day in Beijing (as per usual) when we woke to embark on our next adventure: The Great Wall of China. It was only us on a wild tour bus headed, or so we thought, to The Great Wall and the Ming Tomb. Our cab driver zipped in and out of cars on the highway as we sat peacefully in the back excited for the day. After numberous, and unwanted, visits to government factories we quickly became experts in Jade, Pearl and other Chinese art craft production and eventually made it to the wall where standing from the bottom it took our breath away - then - it literally took our breath away. We went about 15 steps up this mother fucker and were gasping for what little clean air is left in this smoggy country. This was the most beautiful, scenic treck we have ever been on and we took to it like white on rice. And that's when we met "The Tortoise" (from Miami). As we bolted up past him in steps by the 20s, this guy would continually pass us as we stopped
on the edge gasping for breath every 10 mins at a slow, steady pace with his shell-like jacket rounded on his back. At one point, Alex thought she had him beat: "I've figured this out," she declared, "we must take 2 steps at a time!" Time and time again the Hares worked up the energy to pass the Tortoise. Though aspirational, this proved to be the wrong plan of attack and, alas, the Tortoise beat the Hares to the top of the wall upholding all childhood storybook morals. The good news was, however, the Tortoise was old and wise and knew of a ton of great places to visit in Shanghai so we got on a plane the very next day and landed in Shanghai city in less that 2 hours!
Shanghai, what can we say? Love at first sight. You are not as clean as Beijing where there are 8 cleaners to do the job of one usless worker, mopping sidewalks and such, but you are exciting and full of life. This city is threaded with just about a zillion people and has a lot more energy than Beijing (much like an Ottawa - Toronto dynamic). Literally there
are people everywhere - the subways are a mad attack for the door when you reach your stop, heards of people cross the street dodging bikes, scooters and other motor vehicles. Walking in a crowd I have often found myself loosing sight of Alex in a sea of dark hair - she doesn't have the same problem. We are staying in a fantastic hostel called the Shanghai Center City Youth Hostel - we have a great room, and there is free breakfast which is "gold jerry" on a budget. We steal the pork buns for a mid-day snack too. It is a serious operation, as taking breakfast outside is "forbidden". We are here until Friday and then flying to Shenzhen for the night and then spending about 5 days in Hong Kong.
Genius: $1 dollar Tsingtao beers at our hostel
Non-Genius: 3.1% alcohol. Sneaky.
We have done a lot of walking in this city, visiting many popular tourist strips, including the Nanjing Rd Shopping Distrcit and The Bend. We went back the first night to see the city lit up and it was increadible - we had a rediculously over priced beer in The Captains Hostel rooftop bar
and enjoyed the last day of the Chinese New Year viewing fireworks, floating lanterns and the Shanghai Skyline from a sick rooftop patio - A M A Z I N G. The skyline here is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. Tuesday and Wednesday night we partied with a huge group of mixed individuals from around the world, most notable being the crazy Aussies who smoked copious amounts of illegal substances and hung their asses out the cabs on a dual taxi race for Big Macs at 4am- sadly the only comforting food in China, we are ashamed to say. Yesterday we went on an unsuccessful search for the Sex Museum, and today we do more exploration.
Tidbits:
1. Alright Western men listen up! Men in China wear their girlfriend's purses as an act of chivalry. Not gay, very cute, and we like it.
2. Horking. All the time. Everywhere. We spend half our day dodging hork. Gross.
3. Bargaining. LOVES IT! We have mastered this talent, and you know you have if you manage to get down to the Chinese price when you leave the person in a state of tears, sobbing, "okay, okay. Your
price, your price!.
4. Alex is very concerned about the low population of cats in this country. There simply isn't any....suspect.
Leaving tomorrow, but not before we get some more street eats!!
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