Almost time to leave - part 2

A day later than promised, but better than usual given my blogging habits. So here we go, the things I won't miss about China:

• The environment. Some days it can be pretty nice (today was sunny and clear), but those are rare.  Generally it's grey and murky and dusty (due to construction below).  When I first moved over here I had a lot trouble running as my lungs just couldn't handle the poor air quality. I've gotten much more used to it...but I don't think that's a good thing.  There have been plenty of days throughout the year where the visibility was no more than a kilometre in any direction due to the haze and smog.  Not good. 

• The construction. I understand that the 2010 World Expo is happening here next year so the infrastructure needs to be improved, but it's absolutely ridiculous. Roads being ripped up all over the place. New freeways and ring roads being installed.  Footpaths being paved, ripped up, paved again, modified for trees, tree implanted, trees being removed, repaved again - enough already!

• The spitting. Obviously it's part of life here, and is a big cultural difference as it seems to be widely accepted (although not necessarily encouraged).  As my friend Shotty said when he left China after visiting me: "I'll be happy if I never have to hear someone hock a loogie again"

• The traffic. Running red lights, going up the street the wrong way, near-misses with buses - these are all things that I have experienced during my time in China.  The roads are horrendous in some places, and with the complete lack of a police presence drivers often do whatever they want.  Also not a fan of being at a pedestrian crossing with a green signal and having to wait for cars to go past.  Grrr.
  

• The weather extremes.  Up to 40 in the summer and -5 in the winter in Shanghai (much worse in Beijing though, so I'm happy I'm not there).  The humidity in summer is a killer, as you just get soaked in sweat whenever you're outside.  In the winter there's always a cold breeze blowing, which probably takes a few degrees off due to the wind chill factor.

The good definitely outweighs the bad.  I've had a really good time living in Shanghai - I can see why some expats come over intending on staying for a short time and end up living here for years.

Almost time to leave - part 1

That's right, in exactly one week from today I'll be on a plane heading back to Melbourne. Via Sydney, which sucks a bit, but that's what has to be done when you fly Qantas these days.  I get back to Melbourne at 2pm on Christmas Eve...barring any unforseen weather circumstances, of course.  Back in December 2006 I experienced my first ever cancelled flight...which was going from Shanghai to Melbourne.  Let's hope it doesn't happen again.

It's been a pretty interesting year living in Shanghai. I've seen more of the country (Xi'an and Beijing being the best trips), had some old friends come over and visit (probably the most enjoyable times for me), and made some new ones locally.  After initially going out to a bunch of bars and clubs on my own, I've got to say it's a lot more fun when you're with other people!  

There are a number of things that I'm going to miss about living here:

• Cheap and delicious food.  A big bowl of tasty noodles for lunch for $AUD1.50.  A can of coke for $AUD0.40. The best dumplings I've ever had. Amazing vegetable dishes that are so much better than anything you can get in Australia. Going out to a hot-pot restaurant and eating/drinking as much as you can between 5 people for only $AUD10 each.  Admittedly the cost of western food is horrendous (and sometimes the quality is pretty average), but that's understandable given there isn't as much of a demand for it. 
  

• Easy bar-hopping. Aside from the premium clubs, there are no bouncers at any of the bars.  And there are bars everywhere.  Show up to one place and don't like it, it's only a few minutes to get to the next place.  And it doesn't matter how drunk you are, you'll walk straight in.  That, plus the regular $AUD15 all-you-can-drink nights make for some massive hangovers.
  

• Cheap taxis.  No matter where I go out in Shanghai, I always end up getting a taxi home because the subway only runs until 10pm or so.  But I don't think I've ever paid more than $AUD12 for a taxi fare, even though I've been on some pretty long trips.  The taxis are cheap and plentiful, which is the way it should be.
  

• Walking to work. A brisk 2.5km walk to work every day is great...except when it's 38 degrees and extremely humid outside.  The summer was not a fun time to be walking to work, but the rest of the year it's a good bit of exercise.
  

• A clean, efficient public transport system. Light years ahead of Melbourne's offering.  There are lines all over the city (with new ones being added almost yearly), and the trains come along every 5 minutes for most of the day (I think the longest I've ever waited for one was 8 minutes...and that was only because I just missed one).  Wouldn't mind living a little closer to the station, but being able to travel anywhere on the entire system for about $AUD0.50 makes up for it.
  

• Living in an apartment complex.  The gardens inside the complex are very well maintained and it makes for a pleasant walk every morning and evening (and a good running track when I've only done a short course).  Living in an apartment has been great - plenty of room, no yard to maintain - it may be the way to go in the future.

Tomorrow - things I won't miss about living in China.

A night out at Sin

Last night I went out with the guys I play basketball with to a club named Sin.  It's one of the newer clubs in Shanghai having only opened about 6 months ago, and is one of the higher end places (being owned by the same guy that owns Barbarossa, which I think I've mentioned in this blog before).  We booked a table for 6 at 9:30, and I caught the subway there after first going home from work and having some dinner. 

The club was on the top floor of a building a few hundred metres away from the subway station.  Initially I almost walked into a hotel which was right next door, as the markings weren't too obvious.  While I was mulling over my choices I was approached by a guy on a bike asking me if I wanted pretty girl.  Somewhat tempted to say yes to see what would happen, I politely declined and made my way into the correct building.  I went up to the 23rd floor and was shown to our table, where only one of the guys was waiting for me - Sherwin.  Sherwin's the youngest of the bunch, and is the only one of us that actually grew up in China. He had come straight from work, so still had his laptop bag with him. I mention that because it will feature later.

The other guys (Ben, Mike and Eric) rocked up at around 10pm.  Initially the place was pretty quiet, but picked up quite nicely within the next hour.  I was pretty happy with the place in general - good atmosphere, nice furniture, a place to dance, decent music - much better than some of the other clubs that I've been to over here.  We had some problems to deal with however - the waiters were refusing to let us use the voucher that we had for a free bottle of vodka.  It had been given to us a few weeks earlier by a promo girl at another establishment (Barbarossa), and was the only reason we'd actually decided to go to Sin in the first place.  We asked for the bottle and showed the card to our waitress, who shook her head and said we couldn't use it.  After a bit of questioning, we got her manager to come out who explained that since a big party was happening that evening, we weren't allowed to use the voucher.  This was complete crap of course, and even if it was true, there were no conditions of use printed on the voucher - it was definitely valid.  I think it was a bit of a bluff to try to get away from giving us a free bottle - not a great way to influence our opinions about the place?  Luckily, Mike argued passionately for us, and after 5 minutes or so the manager relented and we got our bottle.

From there is was on to toasts, shots, and more toasts.  We split the bottle of vodka between the five of us, had a few tequila and southern comfort with lime shots (they actually taste better than they sound), plus some other ones that I can't remember the names of.  Before we knew it we were onto our second bottle of vodka.  Another group had joined our little enclave and were sitting at the table next to ours - I heard an Aussie accent in there so went over to introduce myself...and found myself staring at three guys and their 5 accompanying...'ladies of the night'.  Had a quick chat to the guy that I'd pegged as an Aussie (from Melbourne, been living in Shanghai for 4 years) before going back to my group.

By this time it was past 1am and Sherwin was looking a little average.  He was slumped down in a chair with his jacket and laptop case over on the couch with the rest of us.  We'd finished off the second bottle of vodka and someone decided to order some whisky for some reason.  I protested and bought myself a few coronas at that point.  By 2am we were ready to move onto the next place...but noone could find Sherwin.  After looking for him for 20 minutes (noone had noticed him leaving), we realised that his jacket and laptop bag were still there, so I grabbed them and we went on our way.

The group split up at this point - Ben and Eric went home, but Mike and I and another of his friends that had shown up moved on to Mint.  However, after getting past the door security (one of the few places in Shanghai where you need to have a table pre-booked or be on someone's list), we didn't stay very long. For one thing, it was absolutely packed, and for another, I was carrying my own jacket, Sherwin's jacket, and a laptop.  It was not a good situation.  After a single beer I decided to hit the road, and was home in bed by 3.

The next morning I awoke to find a few messages on my phone from Sherwin (his phone wasn't working the night before so we couldn't contact him that way).  Turns out he had gone to the toilet...and fallen asleep in the cubicle!  Classic.  Anyway, he woke up at 3 and everyone had gone, and he didn't know what to do - so he went to another bar looking for us (we'd mentioned it as a possible alternative). Finally around 4 he gave up and went home, and then got in contact with me to see if I had his stuff.  I handed it over to him at about 11am, and he looked extremely hungover, but very happy to get his stuff back.  All in all, a great night out!