I Would Call it Cheating...Wouldn't you?
Trip Start
Jan 10, 2008
1
19
26
Trip End
Feb 06, 2008
Shanghai,
China
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
If Shanghai was beginning to wear thin, it would have to become thick again.
What's to be done today? Go up the Oriental Pearl Tower? Too cloudy. Wouldn't capture good views. How about capturing more of the nightlife and architecture of the Bund?
I sat in Starbucks first, recriminating myself about lashing out at the Chinese. It's absolutely pointless, won't achieve anything, and besides it's their way of life and their culture. It may land me in trouble, some day. However, I couldn't quite get over the problems of yesterday.
"Beijingers had better stay out of the main area of Beijing come August, during the Olympics," one commented , "It's going to be absolute chaos, if not a clash between them and the influx of foreigners. I don't think they'll be able to afford the ticket prices, anyway."
True, Beijing gets quite crowded at the best of times; like the scene outside Shanghai Railway Station. But whether the situation during the Olympics would erupt into a crisis, I don't think so. Everything will be carefully managed and controlled.
Darkness had fallen when I left the coffee lounge. I stopped off to take picks of the peculiar lit-up and flashing tall buildings, seen from a different perspective. Skyscrapers have an absolute fascination.
I was just getting the first shot ready - with tripod and all - when who should call "David?" I stopped suddenly:
"David!"
I turned around, and lo and behold, the call came from two of the girls who swindled me out of 65 Yuan. I still felt cheated and bitter about them, so I turned on the one who demanded 150 Yuan, at once, like an unleashed dog:
"YOU EXPECTED ME TO PAY TOO MUCH!!" I declared angrily.
She couldn't exactly grasp my meaning, and conferred with her friend who I accused:
"YOU PAYED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!"
I think I was going over the top at this stage.
"Can I give you back the money?" I looked away frozen, and thought for a moment. She asked again.
"Yes, OK, fine! I simmered down."
She went into her purse-wallet and took out 70 RMB. "You must give me back 5 Yuan."
I gave her back the change. "The point is, we should have shared the bill equally. There were four of us."
"If I wanted to cheat you I wouldn't have called you over. We thought you were a good friend."
Before I could attempt a further justification, she said, "Go away," and they left. The girl who demanded the money told me she worked as a kindergarten teacher, so is not an impoverished student.
Any excuse is better than none, but I would call it cheating...wouldn't you? It's happened before, in Wangfujing Shopping Street in Beijing. Students encroach on you and ask you to see their art exhibition, or try and take you to an expensive tea house. Some girls once got me to pay the entire bill for a cooked fish meal, and another took me to a restaurant. Just as I questioned whose to pay the bill, she went into a panic and left hurriedly. I met one English-speaking guy in Beijing who was caught out and payed 400 RMB at a tea house. It was the same situation with those girls. I don't owe these people anything, do I? Any comments?
Pacing down Nanjing Lu, I went to town quite literally on any punter who asked for something involving money.
A few girl students asked me to view some art. I quickly turned on them:
"No, absolutely not, you want to cheat me," despite their protests to the contrary. They found no answers. China's becoming resolutely rich, richer and powerful year by year, as decreed by the state, the Party, and those in the top notch positions, with 10 or more per cent GDP growth per annum. Let these people sponge off it, not so-called rich foreigners. Wouldn't you agree? Everyone's hankering after the 'new prosperity,' even though their ways of balancing or organizing it are a bit archaic.
It was breezy and icy by the Huangpu River; quite slippery under the smooth slabbed ground. The buildings lining the Bund were elegantly lit-up, and looked outstandingly stately as I captured more photos. They were built at least a hundred years ago by foreign delegations from western countries, including Russia, who traded and did business and commerce in them. This classic architecture is carefully preserved like some UNESCO heritage, and has escaped the new construction invading Shanghai like some Terracotta Warrior Army.
A fake watch and designer label seller was at the other side of two Chinese men from me. He deliberately tried to get over to me. The moment he tried his persuasion trick, I intervened:
"You're talking to these guys? Why are you trying to talk to me? Why not them?
He ducked and dived with an explanation: "because you have an nice face."
"No it's because I'm the foreigner with a foreigner's face, and that means money."
I drew a line around my face as I remonstrated.
According to a picture in my Lonely Planet edition, there's a really fine lit-up glitzy bar and night club district. I took the subway to the supposed area. Couldn't find it, except for many neon and pretty lights. I came beck and ordered and plate of fried jouzi and a beer.
