Beijing
Wednesday and Thursday of this week were spend in Beijing, doing some work stuff. Didn’t manage to go into town, but there enough fun to be had in the hotel.
First off, there was some sort of exhibition game going on of professional bowlers (from the USA of course) doing some sort of tour through Asia competing against local ‘talent’.
Since when has bowling become a sport in which to compete? Since when has this pass-time game, only to be played with a beer in one hand, swearing lots and wobbling about on the approach of what will turn out to be yet another gutter ball become a ‘sport’?
I guess it’s like golf, also a game which has crazily developed in to some sort of respectable sport now that everyone can do it. The dress code is eerily alike too. Hurt my eyes just to look at the guy from the US. Pink, purple, yellow, blue AND Khaki?
After this stunning display of culture clashing (the Chinese guy was dressed in black and had a GF which was actually pleasing to the eye) we ate and then retired to our rooms.
Where I showered. Twice. After 6 weeks of Shanghai ‘water’ (raw sewage more like) it was great to actually come out of the shower having just improved, not impoverished, the way you smell. The small things in life one comes to appreciate, eh?
Well, the Chinese national holiday week is coming up too, and news has it that Shanghai’s population will increase from about 16-17mill to 100 million. I think I’ll be staying at home most of the time…………………..
Irish WE
Well,
It was great to meet an old Irish friend of mine, who I haven't seen since I left Uppsala in 2003. The venue to meet were the Asian Gealic Games 2005 were a tons of Irish people from all over Asia come to play football, and eeerrrmmm.... basically get sloshed. Very nice, and my kind of event. :-)
Unfortunately my photo uploading skills are not as good as they were, so a pic will have to be posted later.
Saturday was a much quieter day, spend all day just watching DVDs and doing nothing.
This week i'll be leaving Shanghai for the first time after arriving here, a business engagement will be taking me to Beijing in 2 days time. Am really looking forward to it too. I really hope I'll get an hour to myself in order to look around for a bit. I heard it's very different to Shanghai, and there's much more culture and an old school Chinese feeling there. Can't wait.
Niek
Bowling
Yesterday I bowled for the first time in a year (+) and it was great fun. Of course I sucked and in the 3 games I started out with a pitifull 81, then moved up to a 114, before a beer-induced collapse to 102.
It was great fun though, and I even managed a few strikes, although usually I followed it up with a 0 or 1, making the strike points rather useless. Ah well :-)
Made me think of the bowling game I had on April fools day 2003 with Stuey and Chris in Uppsala. I sucked then too..........
But I'll meet Stuey for the first time in over 2 years this WE, because he's coming to Shanghai for (what else) a great big piss up disguised as a sporting event. I'm not fooled. And I'm going.
Prepare for my mood on Monday, till then, greetings from Sauna Ville.
Pudong District viewed from the Bund (Part 2)
Aiesec Shanghai
Had a nice dinner today with the local Aiesec guys here. Was tons of fun.
I was supposed to meet Kristy at a Department store near Ppl.’s square somewhere, but because I got lost, I just decided to wait in the conspicuous place. (see above)
Then we went to the restaurant, which works with one of these revolving tables middles, so that everyone can try everything. Some of the food was very interesting indeed. Got to eat snake for the first time in my life too. Well…….. eating is a big word. More like picking out all the bones :-) I passed on the fish-heads.
Afterwards we went to the Bund and hung out there. There was a massive group of Japanese guys too, who were here to start an exchange project. I must say, the difference between Chinese and Japanese guys is not that big. Between the girls, the difference in mind boggling. Chinese girls are MUCH more direct. The Japanese girls were mostly giggling etc. Pretty funny though.
Anyway, a new meeting is following on Thursday, during which I’ll do some other Aiesec duties.
Week no. 3
Last weekend was a good one, checking out the local sites, having some drinks at various places and shopping amongst the locals.
I went to Mint, the Blarnay Stone and Barbarossa, the latter being my favourite. It’s in a park right in the centre of town (near ppl. Square) and the atmosphere is very nice. Also, It’s the only place I’ve found in 3 weeks where it’s actually quiet. Finding a place in this city where you can hear yourself think is definitely a rarity.
I’ve also become
www.smartshanghai.com ‘s biggest fan. Very usefull site, and gives you info on what to do during the dark hours of the day.
On Sunday I went shopping with a co-worker mate. First we went to a ‘fabric market’ where they basically copy anything you give them, so you can have new business suits and shirts etc. in great quality on all the colours of the rainbow for 7 euro’s each. (60 for the suits)
I think I’ll go there more often…..
Afterwards we went the fake market. Shanghai must be one of the world’s capitals of fake merchandise. No matter what it can be, they make replica’s here, sometimes even coming out of the same factory.
DVDs are well known, and great quality, but I got myself a backpack and a fake IWC watch as well. It looks nice and it was 9 euros. :-) It’ll tide me over until I can afford the real deal.
Still runs too. :-)
Nightlife
Busy WE coming up.
4 parties in 2 days. Man, how come I know this many people already?
I did already go to Zapata's (Mexican joint) on Wednesday which' ladies night sure did attract a lot of attention. 60/40 ratio in the favour of the foreigners, and a nice atmosphere and tropical heat made for interesting viewing as the free margeritas went to some of the female party animals' heads. Not too bad, not too bad. :-)
Headed off at about 1, seeing as I had to work on Thursday, but definately worth a come-back tour later in the season.
Places visited also include Bar Rouge and Mural, the latter's 1o euro unlimited boozing deal last Friday sure made me a happy guy. Going there again tonight. No big surprise there.
Bar Rouge is something everybody has to see once. (or twice in my case)
View of the Pudong district is breathtaking (esp. before 11pm when the lights are still on) and the place itself is quite posh, but the good music and other advantages ( ;-) ) more than make up for it.
Other reviews to come (along with some pics this time) on Monday.
Niek
