Shanghai

Paul, a guy from Florida in our tour eating squid from a street vendor.

All our group at a local pub in Shanghai.



We took the overnight train to Shanghai a few days ago. Leaving Beijing was not that hard.
Carmen and I had been there for a few nights and we were just ready for something different. The overnight train was an experience. We almost got trampled over trying to fit through the gate to get to the train. There isn't much order in China as there are so many people and it just becomes a shoving match. I was carrying all my luggage and it was so hot so it wasn't the best experience. Once we got on though, and settled on the train, our group had a good time. Arriving in Shanghai was pretty cool. It had a bit of a New York feel to it. We did a quick tour of the city,of 17 million. Had some lunch and took the subway to see the Jade Buddha. We have definitely seen our fair share of temples since we have been in China. The picture up top was taken at Jade Buddha Temple. That night we went to a Chinese play that felt very similar to Cirque. I loved it, and am fascinated by what people can do. I finally found a bar that served something other then Chinese beer, so that was a bonus. The lounge was on a roof top and had the best Moijitos ever. That night I went back to the room a little tipsy. About an hour later I felt the building move and because I had been drinking I wasn't sure if it was me or an earthquake. Then I heard a guy on a horn outside our hotel, yelling something and driving up and down the streets. I was sure something wasn't right, but made myself go back to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night and was sick, not from the drinking either! In the morning one of the girls in our group, Megan from California, confirmed that it was in fact a very minor earthquake I felt. Not to worry anyone, it wasn't bad at all. Strange, but not scary. Shanghai, although interesting, was also dirty, crowded and smoggy. I have never experienced smog like this before, and although I was warned before I came here nothing could really prepare me for that. I am glad to have gone, but when it was time to leave, especially after experiencing the minor earthquake and getting sick, no Moijito could've kept me there no matter how good it was!