Shanghai to Luyoung
Now Playing: Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jack Johnson
Well folks, I got my wish. Everything went wrong! The directions I was given to my hostel turned out to be more vague than I oringally thought. Strange city, no-one to call, don't speak the language, 9 at night, lost, alone... Did I panic? Did I even flinch at the prospect at sleeping in the streets of shanghai? Did my mighty body quake in fear of this most unexpected situation. No... I merely hoisted my pack, set my steely gaze and stomped off, phrase-book in hand. After shouting at several of the locals that I was looking for "Maggie... *checks phrase book* Jao-dai-swor!" and receiveing blank stares, the wrong directions or apologetic motioning I was starting to think I had booked into a non-existent hostel. I finally settled on a budget hotel for the night which cost around 7 quid and decided that I'd find the hostel the next night.
Next morning I find a net cafe and finally manage to get the right directions. I scoot over to the hostel and dump my stuff then head out to see some sights. The area I was in seemed so different to me, skyscrapers loomed next to ragged shack-like dwellings and shops but it made for an interesting contrast. I walked around a couple of parks and mainly chilled for the day. Although I feel I got the worst introduction to Shanghai possible! Not only did I get lost on my first night but my roommate was a moody londoner who HATED Shanghai and spent most of the night slating it... it left me with the feeling that I had come to an awful city.
The next day dispelled whatever doubts I had when I met my tour group. Our group leader is an enthusiastic American named Brett, who looks like a white version of The Rock, who helped to clear up any worries about the city we were in. The group is small (only 5 of us) but everyone is friendly and easy-going. Dan is a big, friendly Canadian who is pretty much my room-mate for the trip. Then there is K, and Tim, a couple from Nottingham and Peter, a dry-witted Irish lad who is also a tour leader from India. After our group meeting we headed down the Bund for dinner and then onto a bar for a few drinks. I was pretty unsure about the Shanghai food vendors on the streets but Brett said they were not only ok to eat but usually really tasty. And I have to agree... I think I'm addicted to meat dumplings.
Next day we started in Shanghai museum where I was pretty impressed with the works on display. The Bronze-work and masks particularly caught my eye.
After that we had some free time so I beat feet and headed down old-town and sampled some more Shanghai street vendor food. I took in some of the architecture from the old pagoda style buildings to the skyscrapers in the business district. In the evening we went to see the Chinese acrobats in the aptly named "Charming Shanghai Acrobats". They were incredible. Effortlessly throwing themselves through the air and balancing... and they were all around 14 years old!
On the wednesday Dan and I set out to see the oldest pagoda in Shanghai... we saw it then kinda thought... "what now?" We then noticed the temple right next to it and had a look around inside. Very impressive art-works and statues of buddha awaited us. We then headed down something called The "Prisoner Execution Tunnel" which was kinda creepy and a little odd. We ended up at some sort of Martyrs monument which had some strange sculptures.
We then headed to the city bizarre where my Cowboy hat grabbed some interest and a family asked to get their photo taken with me which amused me greatly.