"it's not what you know..." - Shanghai, China

It's been 10 days since we first arrived in China, and already I can think of many stories that will be revisited in years to come.... Not that its been all hectic and parties - in fact there was much relaxing and recreational activity - but the buzz alone of finally starting this much anticipated trip ensured a week full of banter agus craic.

After a few days of a completely messed up sleeping pattern, we found our feet (they were attaches to our legs) and began to make some phone calls. Actually, Ali began to make phone calls...his previous experience and contacts in Shanghai meant that within a few days we had arranged accommodation in a hotel...yes thats H-O-T-E-L for around 10 euro a night and were soon attending some ''VIP events'' around this huge city...

Taxis anywhere in the downtown area cost between 11-20 RMB, which is only one or two euro. Also, most food and drink is very cheap compared to back home. One of the highlights this week was a last saturday night: Our new friends in shanghai invited us to a club where Sasha was headlining (apparently one of the worlds top trance dj's)... at this club we had our own table, fully stocked with drinks and snacks ALL night...our own personal waiter/server to serve us said snacks and drinks...right on the edge of the dance floor. The strangest thing about it was getting used to being in a nightclub and having a waiter follow you around filling up your glass, and then going to the toilet and having another guy massage you at the urinals, then give you chewing gums and wash your hands for you. Soon thereafter he would make a gesture that I interpreted as "you really should give me a few quid as a tip after all the effort i put in"....

Of course these super-friendly chinese people are not doing this solely out of the goodness of their hearts. Like many places here, an english speaking white person means MONEY, and you cant blame them for doing anything conceivable to get it from you. In the nice but touristy old-town area, you literally cant walk 2 minutes without having somebody approach you and try to sell you a watch or a phone or entice you into their tea house. Having said that, the vast majority of Chinese people we have come across have been nothing but friendly to us, whether or not money was involved...and because you can haggle so much, if you know what your doing there's huge potential for bargain prices on plenty of things across the city.

So, a good start and a level of comfort which we probably wont have and certainly don't need or expect for much of the rest of the trip. But, 'when in Rome'...do as the Irish do in Shanghai, and LIVE THE DREAM!!

got a bit carried away there. wont happen again. On wednesday night the plan is to leave for Hong Kong by night train. Onwards and southwards!!

a la prochaine

Brian