The Yangtze River Experience

I had recently completed the Yangtze cruise. To be honest, even though I am not a fan of river boat cruise, or any cruises in that matter, there isn’t any other alternatives if your holiday is limited to your work schedule, but desire to see both the Yangtze three gorges and experience the world famous Yangtze Dam. Back packing and land tour is not really an option.

I had no expectation and conception what I will encounter; in the end I had the time of my life. Make many friends a along the way and force-fed many courses on history lessons of the Yangtze and her dam. So this is how it all begins:

I book the cruise thru a Chinese web site, the name of the cruise sounded British, and the contact email address was a Chinese address. When I arrive at the dock on the riverfront of the City of Chongqing. I thought, yeah, that is a Chinese cruise no doubt. There is no fan fare by the dock side, there is no uniform cruise staff on the pier to welcome us, the taxi driver not sure where the piers was, when we finally arrived, all we saw was the name of the cruise boat dock in the distance half way out in the river. There was a pontoon bridge to link us there, while we were left at the drop off point, half way up hill, and there were zigzag steps lead us to the river edge, without anyone to offer any help for direction to get there.

At the same time there were skinny and short Chinese coolies struggle to balance the oversize heavy luggage’s; no doubt from foreigners; on their shoulder with only rope and bamboo rod, could be hire to do the heavy job. The scene reminded me of those classic Hollywood movies on Chinese labors, and please do even try to tell me that you don’t know any of these kinds of movies because you are too young. I know you must saw it one time or the other on the Warner classic movie channels:  )

Although the steps were steep, but my luggage’s was light and I am still relatively strong, not that I don’t want to pay 30rmb for the labor, I can’t possibly ask these poor old grandpa to carry my luggage down those stairs. Can the city just built a ramp, and have some carts to push the luggage down to the boat? I suppose they wanted us to have the exotic experience of travel in old China.

However once I got on board, there were a 5 piece horrible brass band playing what ever they think is welcome music. Is this the Titanic? The grand staircase is missing.

The uniformed crews were all over the main gallery, and the crew directors were standing there all line up to welcome us, just like any large cruise line would have done, except this is a small little flat bottom river boat. Never the less the rooms were large, and each cabin had it own balcony and of course it comes with the ever-famous aluminum lawn chair, no white plastic one here.

The boat was professionally ran, the crew were polite and the cruise directors were knowledgeable and friendly. There were few (forced group) organize activities, other than the shore excursions, which you do not have to participate if you found hanging around the boat to watch the crew clean your room or set up your lunch in the dinning room is more fun. Some of the day excursions into the lessor gorges were more scenic than on the main river. The day trip to the infamous yellow mountain is an added highlight to the entire journey. No one should miss it. Especially the hair rising cable car ride is not for the fainted heart.

I also met many like mined international independent travelers on the boat, the cruise put us into the same group, meeting others and exchange travel stories was my favorite pass time. Not to mention the bar crew came fetch me every afternoon no matter where I hide myself, just me to make sure I do not miss their happy hour, as an official taste tester of the so call cocktail specials. As you know the bar is not the same without me, and I spend a lot of time hanging “on” there. I wonder afterward how I found time even go on to the top deck to take in the breath taking scenery. I suppose with only limited Wi-Fi access I had a lot of time on my hand.

Among many of the passengers I make friends with, were a brother and sister team from Thailand; I swear at the beginning they were husband and wife. The brother is a dance expert, he ruled the dance floor every evening, and I learn a few steps from him as well. I also met a lovely couple from Queensland, the wife is an educator, and also an armature photographer, we share many tips on photos shooting, and how to shoot inside the museum without the guard ran after us for our camera.

I also met a very lively retire Asian couple from Sydney, the husband took me under his wing try to teach me Chinese, without much success, because I do not know what he was talking about majority of the time. There was another couple from Perth whom became my quick friend because they were brave enough to try any, I mean 10rmb bottle of Chinese Cabernet Sauvignon. We laugh so hard and share many stories including their son’s adventure in Mongolia.

However the most impressive of them all, were the mother and son passenger, I was so impress of this 20 years old that already ahead in his class at the university, decided to take 6 month leave to enroll at the Shaolin temple to learn Kung Fun from the master. The hard ship he had to endure for the 6 months were unimaginable. There was no Internet, up at 6AM, no heat in the middle of the snowy winter, up in the mountain, living a monk’s life and exercise 15 hours a day. I don’t think I can do that. Not without a Bar.

Then there was one crazy 26 years old 6’5 Danish man, travel across China back pack, his final destination is Australia, so he be a surfer. That is nothing unusual except his amazing appetite for food; every meal is 4 plates full. Then he disappears to his room or just goes work out. I had never seen anyone ate so much in my life. I suppose he got his ticket worth and more. He is tall and blonde and getting a lot of attention everywhere he goes. It was a great sideshow all week long.

There were many stories and many amazing people I met during the cruise, I wish the journey will never end, the boat slowly drifting thru many water edge communities in the mist of the heavy fog, immerse in this amazing dream like landscape, I was living in a dream scape, like a boat going nowhere, just braking waves and making calls to another strange city everyday.

These are cruises designed mainly for retirees, I can never imagine these two 20 something on the boat providing us with many interesting topic, especially on shore excursion while some of the passenger had to employ sedan chairs to go up the hill, they just rush off some where, way head of the team.

If you ever look for a slow boat in China, try this cruise that was ran by an American company out of NY. If you book a bargain Chinese run riverboat, you may end up riding on the sampan, and hang your own laundry out the balcony every evening, that is no joke guaranteed.

Happy travel

Chance Encounter Yangtze River.

All Steps and Hills in Tuscany

Most of us New Yorker consider our physical shape is in top form, myself included. We work out constantly with one continuous dieting all of our life but are we really in top physical form?

We try our best to keep ourselves looks younger than our age, an American obsession. Therefore at what point are we going to stop having our hair dye, dump the body wrap, forego the heavy make up, cut down on prescription that promise youthful appearance, stop using hair growth products etc. Just let it all go? Is that ever going to happen? May be not, I hate to wake up in the morning and not recognize my bed partners. This is not one of those too much drinking and by the way what is your name again kind of thing neither.

However with this entire beauty obsession aside are we really health and fit. I ate more than entire acre of salad a year, work out every day, run three miles three times a week, and swim every night, torturing my body to the breaking point, in return is many trip to the sport clinic. In my mind it is still worth it until my recent trip.

On my first visit to Florence and Tuscany many moons ago, I was in my prime, I remember I ran all over town and climbed every single tower that was available to climb. In those days I was not into work out and I drank heavily and smoke here and there, never had enough sleep, but my keens never gave up. On my recent rip that was an entirely different story, thanks to all the exercise I was still able to climb up every tower available for climbing, but I was huffing and buffing all the way up, just short of stopping on the middle of the narrow passage and held up eager travelers does feel my pain. Even with all that, the reward was still great surpass the pain. When I finally got to the top, it is worth the 16 euro they charged.

I felt the pain for those their job is to regulate visitors at the top of these monuments, I wanted to ask them how they feel about climbing up there everyday, were there ever a day they wanted to give me all up, and say say that I am not going to do this job any more? Perhaps they were into physical fitness, they do not have a second thought. May it is a job they desperately needed to feed themselves, or just insane. Well my Italian is borderline at best, I do not have enough vocabulary to ask them the complicated question like that. How ever I am still wondering if they take their lunch and stay there all day? What about washroom, there isn’t any in sight?

Never mind the guards, think of the poor monk, they had to climb this bell tower for life, every hour by the hour so they can ring the bell to report time, incase of attract, they had to race up these stairs, I do not know how they can do it. After all that racing up the tower, they still had to go attend to their orchard. Collecting olives and grapes. I think I will skip that life for now. Get up at the crack of dawn is already tough enough for me. Getting the room service to deliver coffee is more of my life.

If that is not bad enough exercise, every single Tuscan town we visited were hill towns. Example at Siena, the Palazzo comunale in Pizzadel campo, (the site of the famous horse race), you will think the main town square where the race was held, would be on flat ground, How wrong was I, it is located on the  top of the hill.

In Brunell Di Montialcino renowned for it Brunell di Montialcino (red wine) all over the world, the up hill climb was steep, after we got to the top and ready for the tasting, we were the lead to the side of the hill and start descending hale way before we can get to the tasting house. Is that for real?  Never the less it was authentic, because the tasting room was located in a vintage farm. However the view of the Val d’ Orcia valet below will let you forget the pain on your ankle, at least until you sample enough wine.

Then there was Pienza, a papal town famous for its Pecorino cheese and  Montiepulciano, famous for it vintage Nobile di Montirpulciano all have hills as steps as in the 35 degree climb. While the vineyard is down on the fertile plan it was the same story, we had to track up to the top of the hill, just to get to the entrance of the town, then we had to hike some more to get to the top of the town center. There was no car, no motorbike, not even a donkey in sight, just bus number 11, (your own two sore feet). If you decided to join the wine tasting you started descending into the dark rock cut cellar, where original barrels were placed. Some of these cave were even older than the Roman Empire. It may sound horrible with all the walking. We were so captivated by the landscape and the beautiful sight we did not notice it until we got into the tour bus on our way home. There were even snoring coming from all corners.

It is time to say goodbye again Italy, the country I never had enough of, I am blessed with may good friends that lives there, that give me reason to keep coming back. Perhaps I will write about the Italian country wedding I attended on this trip as well, the experience came right out from a movie script. By the way since I wrote some thing for the boys last time, let me add this, In Italy, gone are the days for single girls being chasing around when they walk down the streets alone. Sorry girls, I don’t think they are that romantic any more. However unwedded mother were everywhere, and the boyfriend, father of the child is still around. I don’t get that. But that is another topic some day.

For now stay tune for more later.

Chance Encounter Tuscany

Heaven for guys in China

Hey boys, have you ever imagine being king of a Harem? Can you imagine what it is like? A different girl every night of your choosing no repeating and always amusing.

What would you do if you can go to any event for about 100RMB, got yourself two free drinks and a buffet, served by waiters, and have girls of all colors paraded for you picking.

They are all there for you, like a ripe grape on the vine, juicy and delicious. The good part no date, no fuss, no extra spending on wines included. It could get hefty. No dinner out, no anxiety, and always in lucky for that evening. It is all yours. Will you be out every night, hoping from party to parties?

The girls are all young and beautiful woman. Dress to the best designer clothes. Nothing like what you saw in the horrible TV show about mail order bride. They all speak English well and in some cases, if they are not students, they have a good job. They are not mail order, and they never ask to be a bride more savings for you.

Is it Atlantis, or is it really Heaven on earth for most of you? A dream come true for the hot blood young and strong, even old and tire? You know your bracket. No need to talk about numbers.

Where is this place you area talking about? Not Middle East of course. You will be expected to pay for their very expensive taste there. No Russia, they are expensive there, so where is it?

These women do not ask for expensive dinner but only your company, they all belongs to your make believe harem remember? You own them, because you pay your 100RMB to attend the party and get free food along the way. Mr. “C”.

You can pick them or they might just pick you out of a crowd, if you like to take them out to a dance club that evening, that is Ok too, otherwise you can get a calling card for a more private meetings.

Macho American need not worry, you have no competitions, most others are Europeans, and the girls can spot the strong one from miles away, like across the club. If you are handsome and young, deep pocket is not included in the equation; they will show you with attention. Is that a dream? Stop pinching yourself, it is all true and stop skipping to the end. You will not find answers there.

Is that enough to go that place? If not how about including a massage, and many more sexy games, I wouldn’t dare mention, because some of you are grandma and Pa. I had my limited. My blog is PG rated.

The place is here and these are my real experience. That is the advantage of being expat, for some reason in China, the girls just think expats are the best ticket they ever had, which is different than in HK, the girls will not go out with expat at all.

Well here, at any given evening or party out, I have never fail to get separate by girls in the middle of the conversation and try to corner you and your friends. The usually work in pairs, they come up shake your hand introduce themselves, and slip right into the sandwich position between you and your friend.

In the beginning we were polite, now that we know the games, we split and left them standing there back to back. They are not bad looking girls, they are just aggressive, I do not know about you, but we gentlemen enjoy the game of the chase like the fox hound that we are after.

Make the long story short, they are not really after your money, but believe me they are after more than what you can give. Like fleas, once they hop on you, it is not that easy to get rid of. They will call you day and night, and even try blackmail you for going out with them, so of those hot blooded boys fall victim over and over again. Because if you are a boy and your hand is already in the candy jar what would you do.

Except caution: They are not easy to get rid of, and they are clever to make you believe they are so in love with you, and you will pay for their apartment, that you are not allow to live in, and they will call you night and day. When they are tire of you, they just told you they never love you. Uhh, that hurts.

If you try to leave them, they accuse you of dishonoring them, and their entire family. You may end up marry one or hotel Siberia.

Is it still heaven on earth? Perhaps still for the brave hearted, I just forgot to tell you that these are all Asian girls, if you like the sexy silk hair, this may be your cup of tea, otherwise stay put. You have a better chance. European girls know their value. You better have deep pocket, I am sure you understand supply and demand.

Therefore you decided if it is heave on earth or hell in the making.  Happy hunting.

Chance Encounter Shanghai.

Somthing about Italy

Does anyone hate Italy? Silly question perhaps, and that is just my point.  I am always happy while I visited, doesn’t matter what the season or weather. Doesn’t matter if I am alone or with friends, business or pleasure, I love it all. What is the magic?

Italy in many ways not particularly rich countries in the sense of ritzy scenes and money, but I am happy just sit in the local Cafés sip a cup of espresso, enjoying wine with friend on the curb side, the feeling were always the same.

Then it was the food and their wine and cheese and salad and my beloved olive oil, hummmm, I am hungry just thinking about it. But we got all that anywhere, even in Shanghai. It is just not the same. Can’t be duplicated.

Every morning, I get up and run to the restaurant and fill my plate with cheeses, eggs, and sausages. That is before I went back for fruits. As you all know I love cheese but in China, the selection is very limited. With the habits how I buy cheese. I will spend my paycheck for it. With price aside. It was the limited selection that is frustrating. If I act more like Chinese, then I will not have that worry.

Then it was the wine and the language. Every word is poetry in the Italian language, every bottle is great plus the prices were reasonable. Particularly at this time of the year, Chardonnays (My choice) are all fresh and crisp and any vino russo were rich and smooth.

Majority of the time in Italy, I never bother to be fuzzy, just ordering table wine or house bottle, similarly in Shanghai, that is because majority of the restaurants had only limited selections. Unless I am dinning for the evening in Italy, particularly when my wealthy friends are picking up the tab, then baby you are in for the treat of your life. Ha ha. On the other hand try ordering table wine in little Italy, NY, the taste will send you spitting it out faster than you can swallow it.

The fun of traveling sometimes is the surprises. I was taught something new on my recent trip. My Italian colleagues introduced me to a fresh fish bar. I was not sure if that is an Italian tradition, or something new, but like everything else, Italian made it their own. When my colleagues invited me to go to a raw fish bar in Milan, I though they meant going for Sushi, little did I know we went to a place that look like the seafood department in a grocery store in the US, except the fish were so fresh, they were not even displayed on a bed of ice. The place is beautiful and very Euro chic.

After you order what you like, they prepare it into thin slices or chunks, then sauté it with olive oil and a little vignette, and of course what every secret ingredients they put in, it is a slide of heaven for your taste bud. Order a glass of sauvignon Blanc on the side. Heaven just landed on earth. The cost is less than McDonalds, sorry, had to bring you back to earth some how. Sorry about that. I will be back there again ate my heart out in two weeks. Just can’t stay away.

I had been introduced to some fried dough in Milan before. It was very unique too. These are kind of Tuscany country food, you do not get it in the US. You order what every the filling you like, it could be sauce, or Cheese or hummus etc. then of course your vino. When the bread came you just spread it and have a great time. I am so fortunate to have friends introduce the sampling. Friends often accused me that I am rather picky on where and what I wanted to eat, that is not an entirely true description of me. If there is anything unique I may try it but there is a limited. If you do not agree with me, I will put your name down for to sample pig blood cake cube, or dug tongue on your next visits.  

The most amazing thing I encounter on my recent trip, top any chart. Can you ever imagine on any given casual Italian meal, pasta is not included? That is the fact. When I ask why, my colleague told me that Italian is on a health kick, everyone is trying to loose weight and cut out pasta.

Please no, tell me this is not correct information. Cutting out pasta is not the answer. On any given happy hour in the bar in big cities, their spread of antipasto is so impressive. I can have a meal there alone before I had my dinner. So figure that out. Is cutting out pasta alone will get you loose weight? You be the judge.

Chance Encounter Milan.

Are the Chinese really materialistic

There were lots of talks about China these days, and most of them are true, while others are not entirely correct, all depends on your own experience.

Many topics involve topics between the have and have not class in China. Just to name a few, the fight between people of Hong Kong and the mainlander over eating in the subway incidents, the protest on Italian retailer on favoritism of mainlander with hard cash, in HK vs. the natives. The stampede on the April release of I-pad end up in closing the stop and stop the sales, to Broadways show about doing business in China in NY. Almost everyday, there were news about China in the broadcast or on the web twitter that goes on and on, some times it get overwhelm. I do not ready them, but my mailbox is no less fill up of links and forwarded articles from friends and family. Now you know who you are…

Most western nations think the Nuevo rich Chinese are hunger for materialistic things, they seems to be not too sophisticated, and buy anything with the label and use and wear them when and whatever they like. There were malls cater specific to their taste (Glamour’s and the junky) all over China. That is certainly true in many aspects. You don’t have to join the party either.

However, their behavior is certainly no different than ours in our own culture in the US. In the 70’s when the rest of the country was in recession, and everyone wanted to move south to rich Texas for jobs, they encounter the rich, loud, unsophisticated, cowboy outfitted, big blond, hearty meat eater but cash loaded Texans, we put a label on them as well. Are these Texans unsophisticated? You can stay that just like at that oversize ring and the long fingernail. Yet how can you judge the by only their behavior, it is just the culture of the south. Perhaps you may think the deep tan cosmetic recreated California more sophisticated? Never the less that is entirely yours to decide.

As for the Chinese

Dig a little deeper why this is phenomenon happened
1. For starter, being a one-child society, most of the younger generation in China grew up showered with gifts and attention by their parents. They were pampered according their parents social means. What ever they asked for they usually gets. They bare no responsibilities force upon them, no need to share anything with siblings or extended families.
2. They saw their parents lived a life of changes; from sharing a TV with the village to an open society they can acquire anything with cash. The temptation to own everything is far greater the logic.
3. They also fail to grasps the concept that merchandise changes every season or month. The cycle of purchasing will never end. The rate of pushing new products is much faster pace than in any western society. Therefore they got caught in that circle of continue longing for the latest and the newest.

These are just some of the few factors that contribute to their buying. As for label conscious that is because in Chinese society showing off you have expensive goods means your family is well taking care of. Instead of the kind of show attitude in the western society, therefore the more expensive the label, the more they sell. Anything foreign is consider better quality, and in “most cases” it is true.

As long as China continues her path to prosperity, it does not seem to be a problem. Although the Chinese income, in the average compare to our own were rather low, cost of living is very reasonable. Most of the young and unmarried lives with their parents, therefore there is no apt rental cost, lunch is often left overs, average individuals do not have a car, their entire salary earned is for their own disposal. As ¬¬ saving goes there is no reason to, if they wanted to get marry or perhaps their parent wanted them to. They usually flip the bills. A dream, may be next time around you can select to be born Chinese, in China. : )

Therefore they have disposal income much more than any of us. Their buying powers are amazing, and it is an all cash society. Forget about your credit card. It is not welcome here.

They buy anything, shoes, cloth, watches electronics, games, music etc. Buying make them feel accomplished rather than show off. It makes them feel good. I am not sure if they even know what materialistic means.

They also love to eat. Not like us, going out to have a good meal in a nice place. Although the principles are the same, fill the stomach an find something that tastes great. For them however is more like going to a place to hang out socializing, food is secondly. Think again, they have no one at home to hang out with but their parents. Going to dinner is just an excuse for an escape from the planet of the “Parents”


What about saving for travel to experience the world? That is entirely difference story. I learn from my friends that in China, you have to provide proof that you have a reason to return before a visa will grant; (like having property or married). That is also the case for a foreign entry visa. The country you wanted to visit wanted to make sure you will leave, it is not as simple as get the round trip book a hotel and go. Still wanted to become Chinese? Plus for those that stock your parent in old folks home, there is a disgrace to do that to your parents. They are your responsibility when they get older. It is only fair isn’t it? Who’s been changing your stinky diaper for years? “Nanny”?
Sorry, you are not I, I have one.

This only my own experience, I am sure there are many more. You are welcome to make your own. I may not entirely correct, but it is my observation and lone encounter.

Chance Encounter Shanghai_ Spring

I join the party

Am I becoming Shanghainese?
That is the question.

May be not actually became one, but becoming one?
At least I come to term that I can get everything I need to survive on. May not be the same as back home, but all human had the basic needs and back home we are just a little more picky.

An example for toothpaste and tooth brushes; they have it. It is just basic right? I can get the easily at “7-Eleven”, yes, the Expat survival outpost. You look for “Crest toothpaste, sorry P&G, not here, but there are alternative like “Colgate”. So what is the big deal? The fact it is may look the same price the same, but it is not taste as sweet and fresh as it is back home and it is not so thick either, but it is after all toothpaste.

I also get use to the fact the if you really need something badly, you will spend a little more time and go an extra miles to get it, no need to bend all out of shape, if you can get that tuna in a local grocery store, you can always get it at the expat store, and prepare to get ripe off. Still, watch that blood pressure, before it got so high.

The reason I say that I may be fast becoming local is that on this very morning as I cross the same avenue; yes (It is call Park Avenue, and it does have flowers on the middle of the street). On route to work, as cross many times in the last five months, same routine everyday, say hit to the concierge, and the doorman, say thanks for opening the gate, and they never say hello or acknowledge my existence. Then on to the street corner waiting for the light to turn green, so I can cross, and watch the kamikaze driver run the red light in front the traffic cops. Remember I told you before they are there to regulate you, not traffics. Look and make sure there is no on coming traffic, then cross.

But this morning, it will forever change my life here. The light turn green, and I cross, the buzzing traffic still trying to cross in front of me, I just stood my group and they crash, I close my eye and walk straight thru, and left them on the road just like everyone else does. Wow, that felt great. I am not longer this foreigner, just waiting politely for my turn that using the entire duration of the green light and never have a moment I can actually cross in safety, not in the morning anyway, so if you can’t beat them, join them. Even old ladies cross the road fast than I am. But did it, I do not know why now or why is it this morning, I am not in a rage, am I becoming local, or just a little bold?

My friend told me I should be careful. It is about power play, and sees who get scare first, and give the right of way to the other, supposedly being a little stronger and stand the ground. You know what will happen if two hard head met one day. I may end up getting flatten like as a pancake. He is quite right, but it is just too tempting, for once I had the upper hand, they crashed. (This is where you scream Bravo Eduard).

It is all about power play, I do know what people gain by practicing that, for me they are just annoying, so I am not taking the back seat, or left holding the stick. I did my leap forward this morning.

In China most of the under class are not very well educated, perhaps it is a way they wanted you to know that they are a force to be reckon with, they challenge your courage in every ways, like child play. It happens everywhere, Taxi ride before rush hours. It is more than a thrill. In line at the convenience store I can guarantee, every time some short, tiny Chinese usually girls will in front of you. At he beginning, I usually let them get away with it, lately I just yell at them. Some try to ignore me, and keep on going, other time, people in line behind me will say the same thing to them as well, then they pretend that they do not know there is a line, get real people.

By the way, My friend as me, how is my first birthday like in Asia I told them I don’t know, I was in dapper, hopefully did not wet one at the same time while Mommy is blowing out the candle. If you ask me about my recent birthday here, then there is another story.

My team gave me a huge surprise party, which is really a surprise, because I thought Chinese do not do birthdays.
Never the less, it was three cakes, one from each department. I was actually in a meet, they came in to tell me my boss wanted to see me, and there he was in the conference with everyone there, it was a lot of noisy fun, and lots of candles for an old man.

The whole birthday weekend was like a three days celebrations. I do not know how everyone found out. I am getting tons of email from around the world, most surprising, I even get two real paper cards, one from an old friend in Chicago, the other from my new friend from China. I also received foreign gifts, a Thai dinner, an American style steak dinner, and an authentic French dinner, with the collection of international friends. A visit to the spa top the weekend. Best of all, drinking is optional. I am blessed to have some real friendship in Shanghai. Thanks.

So here is the week

Another week, another thought

Another week in Shanghai burning candles on both end. Working for 12 hours and entertain another 6, and then back to the grinder the next day. If you already tire reading about this, you know how I feel.

Yet there are times this kind of entertainment is unavoidable. For starter, I have a houseguest, together with my other expat friends we decided that we could ignore the downpour to patron one of the more famous Mexican restaurant. Yes, Mexican.

Believe me, I try all day couldn’t get thru the line for reservation. My friend told me not to worry it is a big place, and how wrong was he, even though it is a huge place and a weeknight, and pouring rain on the outside. We were denied entrance for no reservation. A little disappointed on the other hand I am not kin on spending 600-700rmb for Mexican dinner anyway. With my luck we decided to go to another place, and it turn out to be a very decent dinner. An A+ since the dishes tasted nothing out of ordinary. If it is not because all the chefs in the kitchen were Chinese, I will not noticing any difference between Mexican restaurants back home.

Thursday night I went to the only Vodka bar in Shanghai. My first in four month to wander out on a school night, because I had no choice but to entertain one of my new found friend here in the city. The décor is nothing fancy, but the price was. The bar got pack at 11PM, like everywhere else in the world; needless to say, I stayed a little too long, and broke the bank along the way. Does it worth it? I suppose so.

That bought me to the point of my blog this week. A lot of you had been following my adventure since I got here, you also saw the changes on subjects from culture shock, to making fun of the experience, to a little more of my own opinion recently. I am hoping that everyone reading this blog and my encounter with a little humor, and not take it so seriously. After all this is only my personal encounter, your experience may not be the same as mine.

What worry me is that I am starting to get email from friends saying that they have not desire to live or visit china after reading what I encounter. In the contrary, I wanted you to come visit and see for yourself. We cannot always use the standard in US to judge other culture. European cultures are not Eastern culture. You wanted to expand your horizon, go south or East.

I hope I did not paint a negative picture for you on China. A lot of the articles that you read in some odd ways were true, but yet it is far from the experience I had here. Just like most people from Far East we are all over weight pigs, ate steak every night. Most of us wear boots and cowboy hats. Do we?

Yes culture different is expected isn’t that make the world interesting? How would you like it if I fed you just your favorite dish repeatedly, without changes for the rest of your live. In a way we are living in a monoculture, every cities and towns you can find the same thing. We can call it unification of a culture; others may consider it as boring.

In a city like Shanghai, it is actually not really China. Just like visiting Hong Kong is not really visiting the orient, it is just big shopping trip to the mall.

This is just my opinion.

Chance Encounter Shanghai.