Shanghai, The Whore of the Orient.

Wake 0600.

HSR, High Speed Rail to Shanghai
0930-1040

SHANGHAI (By the Sea)
POP: 15 Million

Famous for adventurers, swindlers, gamblers, drug runners, tycoons, missionaries, gangsters and of course pimps.

Used as a trading port by the British in 1842, the French in 1847 and the Japanese in 1895
-opium, silk, tea-

The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) was formed here in 1921 and they liberated the city in 1949.Was the city power base for the 'Gang of Four'
-The members consisted of Jiang Qing, Mao Zedong's last wife as the leading figure of the group, and her close associates Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, and Wang Hongwen.

We check-in to a business hotel and then hit the streets of 'Old Town'

JANUARY 4TH

I drop off Miranda at the airport and am overcome by a deep sadness.
I check out of the hotel and into a hostel.
I do what any self-righteous person does when left with loneliness, I have a drink.

I go to a place by the name of Time Passage and then into the dungeon of another place.

JANUARY 5TH

I go to a place by the name of Kangaroo and meet some people.
Jay-Z Jazz bar.
I hang out with an American and a Belgian who says he doesn't like me.

JANUARY 6TH

I wake up at Shen Shen's place and her Canadian friend Bonnie who's studying here takes me around to some of the sites.

That night I meet more people
-girls drink for free and a pint of Tiger costs 40RMB = $7, I sneak out a couple times.
I meet German Julie and French Anna who has a love for cinema.
Then we all go dancing.

A middle-eastern guy almost stabs me with his keys.
-but really, if you're not gonna dance, get off the floor.
I hop into a taxi for a ride home and am propositioned by a woman in the front seat for a blow-job 300RMB = $50, I politely decline. She drops the price to 100RMB = $17, I don't change my answer.
I try to repeatedly tell the cabbie where I want to go in Chinese only to find out I am actually already there.

JANUARY 7TH

I move into my American friends place, Devin. 36 year old Engineer working in China. His friend Biney has just moved here and is currently looking for a job.
Devin returns and introduces me to his friend Aaron and Sweet Aimee a life-like molded cyber vagina.
We go out for dinner and meet his friends. We go to John from Texas' house. Cold. Their other friends job in China is to investigate fraudulent c0-Chinese / American companies.

JANUARY 8TH

Go around with Devin and Biney.
German Julie has a house warming party. Someone pees off the roof because someone is passed out in the bathroom.
Not Me bar, meet Derek in the line-up for the toilets, DJ from Cleveland, he plays a nice selection and changes music to suit the people.
I hit my head on an overhanging bar, wash my hands and see a girl staring at me in horror. I look into the mirror and see blood running down my face. I smile and shrug my shoulders.

Tunnel bar, 3AM getting sleepy, home.

JANUARY 9TH

Devin sees a sasquatch and asks if I want to go and watch American football. I watch Social Network and Black Swan, overrated. Eat pizza.

The Sights I Saw Things I Did While In Shanghai:
-The Bund, Wall Street of Shanghai
-East Nanjing Rd, Shopping District
-Renmin Square (People's Square) home of the Shanghai Museum

-French Concession, good for a walk/exploration, Propaganda Poster Art Centre
-Shanghai PavillionMONDAY JANUARY 10TH

Devin and Biney take me to Crabby Dumpling and then I head to Qingdao.