Tourist

So I grabbed my scarf, gloves, and trusty beanie that WM gave me for Kapooka. And hopped into the taxi. Was the first time on my own. But I was comfortable with what to say. Hopped in and said to the cabby….”Nanjing Lu, ZhongShan Lu” then showed him the map….he said a couple of things, but I heard the word “Tower”….straight away I knew he knew that I wanted to see the Pearl Tower…..so I said Yes and nodded.

Off we went. Traffic was crazy. In Shanghai, there is one big main arterial, it is both at street level and also elevated. So essentially, it’s 2 levels of 8 lanes…..4 lanes one way 4 the other…..we jumped onto level 2 and drove off….

Shanghai has amazing architecture. There are bulding everywhere, some old and European influenced, other modern and awesome shapes and designs….Jesse….you would have a feild day shooting here….I’m shit at architectural photography…but I gave it a shot…

We got into town, but got stuck…the cabby detoured and got me to where I wanted to go. Paid him…”She sheh, Zai Jane” I said.

I got out and started to put the ipod on and grabbed my camera. As I was fumbling through things….”Hello?”

Two chicks and a bloke had approached and asked me where I was from and where I was headed….I mentioned I really wanted to go see the pearl tower….in their broken English, they said….”Oh don’t go there now…go at night, much prettier…….we going to traditional chinese tea ceremony…..would you like to come?”

I was hesitant. Thinking…..is this an organised group that cons Westerners and mugs them? They added that once the ceremony is finished you can come back to see the tower…..I dunno why I said ok…but I did….risky….so we headed off…..continuously on my mind…”Ruben get ready to get mugged…and we arrived at a building that from the outside didn’t look special…just a plane 2 storey white box….mmmmm….we went in a young chinese girl greeted us….no english….but my new freinds translated…..she showed us all the awards….apparently this was the place of some grand team master…..and they were his awards….being a buddhist place, I wasn’t allowed to take photo’s, so I respected that. We went up stairs into this small room where there was a table and a whole heap of different tea’s….wow…we sat down, and out of respect in chinese culture, I got the middle chair! And off it went….It was an amazing experience.

My freinds turned out to be learning English, and they needed to practice it, so they stopped me…..they were sooooo nice though…..and they translated everything the host was saying…..so I learnt heaps about the tradition of Chinese tea…..how to hold the cup girl way and boy way…..the reasons behind how it’s poored, how it’s drunk with what etc etc…and how this relates to the overal chinese culture….it really was an amazing experience…..and yes…I got conned into buying tea……all the while, I still had “Ruben be on your guard in my head”….but in reality I didn’t have to. It was an amazing experience, and I got to taste a whole bunch of different tea’s….one which is apparently the best one in all of China and really rare…so…it could have been all a con to lure Westerners in to spend the money….or not…either way…it was an awesome experience, where I learnt a lot….yes…I spent a fair bit of $$’s….but it was well worth….I think those type of things are worth more than money….I was really grateful in the end that they stopped me….put a big smile on my dial….and according to my freinds they were really happy that they got to practice there English, but also show me, a westerner, a little bit of their culture…..a culture so old….4000 years…..that it makes you realise, that no matter how much I love Australia, we are still so very young.

So I made some new freinds! And we’ll keep in touch…..and we went our separate ways…..off I went to see the Pearl Tower…..what an awesome sight that is….you arrive at a place called The Bund…which is like Melbourne’s Southbank….but just waaaaaayyyy bigger…..and colder and bucket loads more people. It was awesome….The Bund is on one side of the Huangpu River and on the other side is Pudong Park…..where all the big buildings and businesses are….and the Pearl Tower….it really is an awesome sight…..and standing next to the Pearl tower makes you feel really small…….it’s just awesome….

At the end of the day, I caught a cab and went off home….through the usual Shanghai traffic and suicidal driving styles! You get used to it. It’s scary though, cause there are no seatbelts on the back seat of the cabbies!

Got home, and had a big smile on my dial…was an awesome day…..then SW rang and said we’re off to the gym! So I’ve now signed up to the gym….which will be good….can start my exermacise regime again….

That’s it for now.

Hooroo/Zai Jane