Shanghai (4/19 - 4/21): Pat + Jack = Pack

It came up very last-minute for me to go to Shanghai, and as I said in my last blog, the main reason I went was the availability of two people to use as mules to bring luggage down from Shanghai for me.  Were I to try to do it myself I'd end up spending much more money on 3 trips up and down, so this way I could kill 3 birds with 6 suitcases.

Pat, Jack and I all met up at the office very early on Thursday morning.  As I also mentioned before, I had stayed up all night working because I knew that there is no such thing as 4 hours of sleep for me when I go home.  For some reason, if I'm at home, I sleep pretty much until I wake up.  At the office, it's no problem -- i can cat nap all night long ... an hour here .. 2 hours there.  But at home .. it's like I enter coma-ville.

So, we grabbed a cab over to Kowloon and went to the Turbo Jet terminal, got our tickets, made a quick trip to the ATM machine, and then hopped on our overly air-conditioned boat.  An hour of sleep later and we arrived in Shenzhen.

Then it was on the shuttle bus and to the ticket agents to buy a ticket.  For those of you who don't know, buying a mainland ticket outside of the mainland can be problematic sometimes (mainly just annoying because it's not as convenient as from within China), and since we had decided to go so late we figured on just buying the tickets at the Shenzhen airport. 

They turned out to be a bit on the pricey side (around $125 USD each) but these things happen.  We grabbed a bite at the terminal before getting on the plane and sleeping for another 2 - 3 hours.

Since Pat had a lunch meeting in Pudong he went on his own to meet up for that and Jack and I grabbed a cab to my place.  I knew that my home was probably in a little disarray since I had not been there in quite a while and a pretty constant stream of friends had been crashing there, but when I got there it was pretty ... bad.

I think some of the food in the sink had grown food of it's own.  The bathroom floor looked like something that the sink had rejected.  And everything was sort of in disarray. 

But it was China, so after a quick visit to the front gate, and a phone call (with Jack's help) I had arranged for a cleaning person to come the next morning and do their thing.

As we waited for Pat, Jack and I wandered around the neighborhood.  I showed him a few of my favorite spots (dumplings, yang ro chao fan and DVDs galore) we went back home and then went out to meet up with Pat and Nora at A Future Perfect (get the 300T -- it's delicious).

Pat and Nora

My favorite lamb stick stand

After that the 3 of them went off to go clubbing, or bar hopping, or whatever it is they do, and I, after a quick jaunt to my favorite yang ro chua'r stand I headed home to do some serious packing and cleaning.

As it turned out I came home to find Tam there.  He stayed at my place on the weekends and was surprised to discover all these things (luggage, etc.) at my place.  We stayed up for a while chatting until Pat and Jack got back.  Then we all slowly crashed for the night.

Tam sitting in my messy home

The next morning the cleaning lady came and I shuffled Pat into my room to sleep while she did her thing.  2 hours and 20 RMB (only $3.00 USD) later my home was fairly clean ... well .. by mainland Chinese standards, at least.

In the afternoon we decided to head out to Ding Tai Fung which was quite yummy.  Sure, I know .. not as good as Taiwan, but better than the U.S.  But you have to realize I didn't grow up on this style of dumplings so I can't tell the difference.  They all taste good to me.  (If you try to pass off an inferior type of pop-tart though .. then I'm all aces!)

Pat is out of it at DTF

Jack contemplates his comparative analysis of DTF restaurants around the globe.

After eating Pat and Jack went to get a massage and I did some quick shopping for socks (hey!  they're cheap!) and then headed (in horrible traffic) back to my place.  I ended up having to take the subway due to the rainy weather and slow progress of taxis.

Oh, by the way, I also grabbed some wushu shoes from the Shanghai Wushu Yuan. Just thought I'd add that in.

Milo is on the wall next to the Wushu Yuan!

At home I packed and cleaned things up.  Pat and Jack were out hanging with friends at a club (after a day of massages) and I eventually went to meet up with them.

I've come to the conclusion that I will probably never like the clubbing experience.  It's nothing to do with the company I'm keeping (contrary to what Pat may think) because even if I'm surrounded by 20 stunningly beautiful women and Jet Li is on the side teaching me wushu while Jackie Chan gives me a free segway, it would still not take away the 3 reasons why I don't like that environment: 1 ) it's too loud (even with ear plugs).  2 ) it's too crowded (even in an "empty" club)  3 ) it's too dark (who said that???).

If those wonderful things could happen to me in a quiet, not-so-crowded park with the sun shining down, then I would have my most perfect day ever.  But as it is, I'd rather those things never happen to me if it had to be at a club.

Maybe I'm old, but I'd rather just go to a coffee shop or a casual restaurant with friends than go to a club.  How come people don't do this sort of thing anymore?  Is it just in Seattle?  Am I hanging out with too many young, deaf people?  I don't know ... in any case, just my own personal ramble.

After going to the first club we went to Guang Di, but it was so crowded I pretty much immediately just went outside and sat down.  After about 30 minutes I messaged Pat and then took a cab home. 

Yeah .. I'm a party pooper, but I'm not much of a party-goer to begin with.

The next morning the plane tickets came in.  Pat and Jack got theirs and I loaded them up with luggage.  They were going back on Saturday to make it down for a club appearance by Pat's DJ friend (whom I haven't met) but I was going to stay another day to do more packing and cleaning.

But ... I will leave that for a part 2 blog ...