More lights than Vagas!

shanghai, is busy, smoggy, and has flashing lights, and big skyscrappers all over town, with more being built around you. i've been amazed at how far along china is along in its development, this efficency, the cleanliness, the wealth that lays here, and apparently its still developing, a super power, going from strength to strength, when you shop, you could be in oxford street, or new york, but with a lot lot more cycles. theres just under 20 millon people here, same population as austalia. touts are common, beggers, kids running up to you with there bowl, kfcs and mcdonalds every where, every 20 m, gerrad, tests them all, inbetween taking photos, everyone has a little catalogue to sell stuff 'watches, bags, dvd's' all day, every day, the most heard words. if not they want to show there restraunts menu, or they just want to talk to you, theres also of scams, where there 'students', who have an art exabition, not fooling us, so far anyway.

1. Don't think this guy was even asking for money!

we head out on a walking tour, some amazing markets, the water front is impressive, and pictures come thick and fast, as do more sellers, and beggers, as well as the odd crazy bloke who just wants to shout at us about wars or something. prices in china, can start 10 times above the price you pay for it, and we may still be over paying, the east london girls love to shop, and just can't stop spending. we're still being strong. the tour finishes and we roam the street, before ending back at the hotel late at night. some of us go out to a cheap club, to meet the other intrepid group, dancing, and drinks, and a lot of telling pople 'there's my boy', we arrive home 3ish, safe in the knowlege that we are going to the museum at 9. 8.30 arrives, and the words 'sod off', and 'back to sleep' leave my mouth. sleep is good, the guide was late anyway (can't handle your booze yajun!).

2. Smogy Shanghi and us

later we meet for more shopping, and a short boat cruise, where we saw the more industrial side of shanghai. we go out for a farewell meal, which again was excellent, before making our way out to the clubs, a good time was had by all, i was home at 3, kate at 5, although she's broken her nose (maybe), by walking into a glass door, can't take her anywhere! she's in some serious pain. 'get involved'. goodbyes are hard, as we made some good friends along the trip, but have tapped up some good future resorces in austalia, and i can promise you all we will be calling in. some us are going to meet up in thailand!

yeasterday, just did some catching up on sleep, moved to a cheap hostel with dorm beds (back to slumming it), and general wanderings, alone, tear. today we are updating you, before we go up the big tower, see pics included, with more to come, and dinner with a couple from the group, we fly to bangkok, early tommorow, and are preparing oursleves for a new adventure.

3. View from boat trip

keep getting in touch, specially a few of you silent gimboids, all communication is good, don't forget us!

4. Pollution adds to the shot!

5. Dinner on the last night

Boppin' in Shanghi

Smiling faces