Shanghai - The savior of China!

I have been told by many people Shanghai is a great place. I was skeptical because it is in China lol. Shanghai will forever be my savior of China. If I would have left after Xian and Beijing I probably couldn't even talk about this country ever again. So what's different about Shanghai? The city is incredible for starters and the people are different because I think it is a place where many many professionals and businessmen work. Already in China I have met many people from Europe and one American who are working in Shanghai. Funny thing about Shanghai is Chinese say it is a western style city and westerners say it is definitely a Chinese city. Ironic.

Pics of this awesome city I dare say compares with New York City. It has that same feel. That feeling you are in an amazing city!

First shot out of the subway. Wait, is that blue sky real? No smog or pollution? This is a huge mall on the right.


Weird, I kind of like this place. Is this some kind of trick China is pulling on me...?


Views from atop my hostel, which was a really nice place to stay by the way.











Heading towards the river for a peak. I'm way close to the bund. That is the name of the area by the river.


Boom! Look at that!


Daaaaaaang!





seriously dude, did you just back into my picture right when I took it?


This is The Bund. Huge walkway down the river. Very cool place with a lot going on. I walked the entire area.





I then decided to catch the ferry across. All the scooters getting off the ferry.


Shots from the water. This is a magnificent city. Everything is huge!








The area on the other side is called the Pu Dong area. Interesting name lol.








Went into the nicest mall I have ever seen!! Gucci, Dolce, Tiffany's,... Had a movie theatre and movies cost $20 here, wow.


This ad is just silly though.



After the mall I went to the cheap mall and without thinking about it went and saw the movie Battleship. Cool movie. There were 8 of us in this huge English speaking theatre. It was so nice to be honest!


I got some amazing pictures from the roof of the luxury mall! I thought these were awesome shots. Especially this first one!

Coolest location for an apple store.








This is called the Oriental Pearl.











The growth in Shanghai surprised me.






From the top of the Oriental Pearl.

That is where I started in The Bund and where I am staying.














After a good nights sleep and much reading on the Utah Jazz playoff push I hit a cheap mall in search of great deals. The stores went on an on! Multiple levels too. I bought 6 ties, 3 dress shirts, two pair of shoes, a tie clip, a pair of slacks, a jacket, a tee shirt and cuff links all for about $250. The shoes were $120 of that. Clothes were dirt cheap!


My taxi driver is really protective I guess. He totally dropped me off in the wrong place too.

Sleeper train from Xian to Shanghai

This was at the station. The line is huge!!!!


We are all literally jam packed in line. Gosh I can't stand this. China is just too crazy. Every time the security would let another 10-15 more people through everyone would shove forward... And i mean shove! It was just insane and makes no sense because it is so uncomfortable but it's like everything is a race in China!



In the station. My train was delayed an hour. Here's what I had to look at... They do this a lot. Another thing I just shake my head at.


So when I finally get in and am in line boarding my train, all of a sudden I get nailed in the back and whiplash hard! I look back and it is a worker pushing a big garbage can cart and yelling at me to move. I could have killed this guy. Who just nails someone in the back?!?!

On the night train I caught a break. The people in my room were awesome. The one guy spoke in very broken English. He is on the left.


I bet we spoke for 2-3 hours. It was cool to hear him improve. We spoke another few hours in the morning. I recorded these two guys and the woman above my bunk talking and plate it for my parents and family on voxer. They were a great group. They helped me understand the madness of Chinese culture and many other things. I loved talking with these people, I needed it so bad because I was not thrilled with China up to this point. It was a patience testing conversation because only the one guy spoke a little English.
They taught me some commonly used things in Chinese, they especially liked when i said, Zaijian, Bau Chong! Which means goodbye, take care. Everytime i said it they laughed and giggled. Whats so funny? Haha just kidding. they fed me and maked me feel at home. So grateful for the good people that are out there. These guys were all awesome!

Train passing the Yangtze River. One of the biggest rivers in the world!






Passing the city of Nanjing. Couldn't help but think of the Nanjing Massacre and how awful that was!


Yep, that's where I am.


Woman in bunk above me had cool kicks!





Well... That's that. Still want to hunt down the back slammer. A simple excuse me would be good. Who slams an innocent bystander in the back with a cart?!?! Moron.

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