Am a little sick, so no energy to form coherent sentences. Here is a short recap, to be edited later:
Wednesday 5/26/04
Today I bought eleven more pairs of underwear (grand total comes to 22), and 18 DVDs.
Ate Korean food
Was lucky and flagged a Mercedes taxi, one of seven in Shanghai, and rode with the windows down, taking in the warm night air and watching the city pass by, as Careless Whispers and Hotel California played in the background.
Walking around today, I saw a condom vending machine on the street. I was surprised; I didn’t think attitudes toward sex were so open here!
Beard papa’s cream puffs have taken their place equally beside Lawry’s prime rib for my all time favorite foods. This is, I know, a momentous event. I feel kind of guilty, like I’m cheating on Lawry’s by loving the cream puffs so much. My life in Shanghai literally revolves around the cream puffs: whenever anyone gives me directions, I get disoriented unless they tell me the location relative to the cream puff stand.
Thursday
Got my hair done today. Not too wild of a style and they didn’t color it, but I like it very much. Kind of reminds me of a really log mullet, like Joe Dirt meets Flashdance. Very fob.
Met friend, Jane, at Vidal Sassoon.
Went to Pegasus, a nightclub packed with expats. I didn’t notice too much drinking—how do these people stay up so late without drinking??
Friday
Took at 45-minute train ride to Suzhou
Called the “Venice of the East” with canals and waterways. Visited the Garden of the Master of the Nets, and the Blue Wave garden. Amazing how peaceful the gardens sound when just outside the walls there is a bustling city.
Ordered in Malaysian food and watched the Office on DVD with Liana and Jen. Then both of them went out clubbing and I fell immediately asleep.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Tuesday 5/25/04
Yesterday I met up w/ my friend Neil and we walked out to an open-air bazaar full of all sorts of souvenirs. I bought eleven pairs of underwear and I just cannot stop talking about them to anyone who will listen. They are perhaps the cutest eleven pairs of underwear in the universe. Some of them have 3-d flappy ears for godsakes! And monkeys, with fabric strips for tails! VPL be damned, if anyone asks why I have strange triangle shapes showing through my pants I will be more than happy to explain.
After the bazaar I went to the Bund/Pudong, which is the modern skyline on the river that you see in most pictures of Shanghai. I went to the top of a Captain’s hostel to have a drink and watch the sunset and the turning on of the city lights, and ran into a guy from Laguna Beach there. Small world!
Today, I went to Hangzhou, a city about 2 hours away from Shanghai. It is the top vacation spot for mainland Chinese, because it was renowned through the ages for its breathtaking scenery, and has been immortalized in many classic texts and artwork.
A lady accosted us at the train station offering us a private driver/tourguide for 50 kuai for all four of us, for the whole day! We figured it would be too good to be true but went anyway—the car was really nice and hey, what were we to lose? We knew the tourguide would try to make commission off of us by taking us to overpriced shops. After driving through fields of tea plants, we arrived at a tea shop where I bought some very overpriced longshan green tea (but it was good tea and hey, that’s how the driver makes a living so I didn’t really care too much that I was paying twice the price, it was, after all, just 8 bucks). Unfortunately I and my travelmates apparently didn’t buy enough tea, so the driver ditched us during lunch with a flimsy excuse about “having a situation” that required his return to the city. We guessed that the “situation” was that a high-roller-looking group had just arrived at the train station and he was more than happy to leave us cheapskates. So, we were left alone in the middle of rural Hangzhou. We got a cab and set out to explore on our own.
We first went to the Peak Flying From Afar (cool name huh) which is a mountain with religious sculptures carved into the rock cliffs, and a magnificent temple on top. As with all religious architecture and monuments I’ve seen, I was struck at the dedication and detail that went into these works—and watching the monks pray while a giant gong reverberated across the mountain, and incense-smoke filled the air, really made me feel like I am truly in China.
Then, we headed to West Lake, the famed lake of Chinese lore and countless poems and paintings. We took a boat-ride in what seemed a lot like a gondola, singing gondolier and all. The day began to cool down and the legendary lake, pagodas and mountains were shrouded in an almost silky mist—just like the paintings! I wanted to sit and ponder and perhaps write a poem to add to the centuries of lore about this place—but more practical concerns of making our train forced us to leave.
An old Chinese saying: “In heaven, there is paradise; on earth, Hangzhou and Suzhou.”
Caught the train back to Shanghai, thoroughly stuffed our faces at an excellent Cantonese restaurant, then headed to meet Liana up for dessert at La Maison.
Total cost for the day (includes everything I did and ate and all transportation…and a nightgown for sherry): US$45.
Yesterday I met up w/ my friend Neil and we walked out to an open-air bazaar full of all sorts of souvenirs. I bought eleven pairs of underwear and I just cannot stop talking about them to anyone who will listen. They are perhaps the cutest eleven pairs of underwear in the universe. Some of them have 3-d flappy ears for godsakes! And monkeys, with fabric strips for tails! VPL be damned, if anyone asks why I have strange triangle shapes showing through my pants I will be more than happy to explain.
After the bazaar I went to the Bund/Pudong, which is the modern skyline on the river that you see in most pictures of Shanghai. I went to the top of a Captain’s hostel to have a drink and watch the sunset and the turning on of the city lights, and ran into a guy from Laguna Beach there. Small world!
Today, I went to Hangzhou, a city about 2 hours away from Shanghai. It is the top vacation spot for mainland Chinese, because it was renowned through the ages for its breathtaking scenery, and has been immortalized in many classic texts and artwork.
A lady accosted us at the train station offering us a private driver/tourguide for 50 kuai for all four of us, for the whole day! We figured it would be too good to be true but went anyway—the car was really nice and hey, what were we to lose? We knew the tourguide would try to make commission off of us by taking us to overpriced shops. After driving through fields of tea plants, we arrived at a tea shop where I bought some very overpriced longshan green tea (but it was good tea and hey, that’s how the driver makes a living so I didn’t really care too much that I was paying twice the price, it was, after all, just 8 bucks). Unfortunately I and my travelmates apparently didn’t buy enough tea, so the driver ditched us during lunch with a flimsy excuse about “having a situation” that required his return to the city. We guessed that the “situation” was that a high-roller-looking group had just arrived at the train station and he was more than happy to leave us cheapskates. So, we were left alone in the middle of rural Hangzhou. We got a cab and set out to explore on our own.
We first went to the Peak Flying From Afar (cool name huh) which is a mountain with religious sculptures carved into the rock cliffs, and a magnificent temple on top. As with all religious architecture and monuments I’ve seen, I was struck at the dedication and detail that went into these works—and watching the monks pray while a giant gong reverberated across the mountain, and incense-smoke filled the air, really made me feel like I am truly in China.
Then, we headed to West Lake, the famed lake of Chinese lore and countless poems and paintings. We took a boat-ride in what seemed a lot like a gondola, singing gondolier and all. The day began to cool down and the legendary lake, pagodas and mountains were shrouded in an almost silky mist—just like the paintings! I wanted to sit and ponder and perhaps write a poem to add to the centuries of lore about this place—but more practical concerns of making our train forced us to leave.
An old Chinese saying: “In heaven, there is paradise; on earth, Hangzhou and Suzhou.”
Caught the train back to Shanghai, thoroughly stuffed our faces at an excellent Cantonese restaurant, then headed to meet Liana up for dessert at La Maison.
Total cost for the day (includes everything I did and ate and all transportation…and a nightgown for sherry): US$45.
Monday 5/24/04
Yesterday I went to the fabric market to have suits made. I was like kid in a candy store…except the candy was bolts and bolts of fabric in every color and texture and pattern imaginable! I ended up having a white suit made, and a black wool-cashmere-silk blend suit. For US $50 each. And two silk dress shirts, one of them shantung silk. For less than US $10 each. Am resisting all urges to go and blow my entire financial aid package at the fabric market.
Liana, Jen (her roomie) and I slurped down delicious street food and then, exhausted from a hard morning of serious shopping, laid on the couch for a few hours before going to a BBQ at her friend’s apartment.
I like waking up at 7am every morning feeling like I slept all day. I’m meeting a friend for lunch today and possibly going to see if I can get some cheap eyeglasses made.
Yesterday I went to the fabric market to have suits made. I was like kid in a candy store…except the candy was bolts and bolts of fabric in every color and texture and pattern imaginable! I ended up having a white suit made, and a black wool-cashmere-silk blend suit. For US $50 each. And two silk dress shirts, one of them shantung silk. For less than US $10 each. Am resisting all urges to go and blow my entire financial aid package at the fabric market.
Liana, Jen (her roomie) and I slurped down delicious street food and then, exhausted from a hard morning of serious shopping, laid on the couch for a few hours before going to a BBQ at her friend’s apartment.
I like waking up at 7am every morning feeling like I slept all day. I’m meeting a friend for lunch today and possibly going to see if I can get some cheap eyeglasses made.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Odyssey: Day 1
Just awoke to the sound of traffic and the glare of sunshine. I looked to my right and peeked out the window to confirm: I really am in Shanghai.
After leaving LAX on Wednesday, a 14-hour plane trip to Hong Kong, 6-hour nap, then 23-hour train ride to Shanghai, I finally arrived yesterday (Saturday) at 2pm.
First thought upon stepping out to the main plaza in front of the train station: goddamn there are a lot of people here! Second thought, while crossing the street: I wonder if I’m going to die. I met Liana up at Mc Donalds and we took a cab to her apartment, where I was offered my own PHAT room overlooking the city and introduced to her warm and welcoming roommate, Jen. I took a much-needed shower, sifted through Liana’s clothes for suits and pants to have copied at a tailor, and headed downstairs with her to meander the streets of her neighborhood.
We first went to a touristy outdoor mall, and I was shocked at how much it resembled the malls at home, except this one looked brand-new, was impeccably designed, and if you looked up, you could see the ubiquitous looming skyscrapers and skeletons of skyscrapers-to-be.
I booked a free appointment at the Vidal Sassoon salon there, offering myself as a guinea pig for one of the salon students, so on Thursday I will have completely different hair. I will be sure to ask for as many colors of the rainbow as possible. Pictures will be forthcoming.
Then, we left to meander the narrow streets, dodging the occasional crazy taxi. Sucking down fried dumplings, we walked through the antique market, where I was sorely tempted to but a Mao lighter (must…hold…out…for...better…deals).
When we stepped into the open-air market I felt as if I had stepped back in time, or traversed from some ultra-modern world back to the China I remember visiting as a child. Street vendors laid out their food on blankets on the side of the road and yelled at us as we passed by. All sorts of goodies were for sale—delicious bright-red tomatoes, all manner of vegetable, chickens dead, alive and somewhere in between, but what amused me the most were the live sea snakes and eels. My dad will have a field day here when he arrives in 2 weeks.
We tried to follow the elusive scent of some stinky tofu, but alas were unable to find any that had not sold out. Stopped by the apartment to change and headed to Liana’s boss’s house to meet people before going out to dinner.
Liana has a dream-job: she does creative consulting for what must be one of the most alive, intellectual yet down-to-earth men I have met. In the next hour, I met the dinner guests: a painter from Paris here to visit after his exhibition in Hong Kong, an antiques collector, also from Paris, an ambassador to France, Sun Yet-Sen’s granddaughter, an architect, a fashion designer, the editor of Vogue magazine China…and the list goes on, each as interesting as the next. This being barely a week since leaving the confines of USD, I appropriately felt like I had stepped into some sort of dream. Even more so when we reached our destination for dinner—a complete replica of a Suzhou (spelling is wrong I know) water garden, in its center a restaurant that looked like a palace, floating like a jewel on the water. I was overwhelmed to say the least—I had never been privy to such high-brow company, and it surprise me how warm everybody was. Talking to them inspired me to pursue a path in life I enjoy, as these people all had one thing in common—they love what they do.
Then, off we went clubbing until around 3am, at which point I had to leave for utter exhaustion and oversaturation. I had a cigarette with Jen and JD (a new acquaintance) on a swing, staring up into the sky at the one visible star.
Happiness is: getting away.
Just awoke to the sound of traffic and the glare of sunshine. I looked to my right and peeked out the window to confirm: I really am in Shanghai.
After leaving LAX on Wednesday, a 14-hour plane trip to Hong Kong, 6-hour nap, then 23-hour train ride to Shanghai, I finally arrived yesterday (Saturday) at 2pm.
First thought upon stepping out to the main plaza in front of the train station: goddamn there are a lot of people here! Second thought, while crossing the street: I wonder if I’m going to die. I met Liana up at Mc Donalds and we took a cab to her apartment, where I was offered my own PHAT room overlooking the city and introduced to her warm and welcoming roommate, Jen. I took a much-needed shower, sifted through Liana’s clothes for suits and pants to have copied at a tailor, and headed downstairs with her to meander the streets of her neighborhood.
We first went to a touristy outdoor mall, and I was shocked at how much it resembled the malls at home, except this one looked brand-new, was impeccably designed, and if you looked up, you could see the ubiquitous looming skyscrapers and skeletons of skyscrapers-to-be.
I booked a free appointment at the Vidal Sassoon salon there, offering myself as a guinea pig for one of the salon students, so on Thursday I will have completely different hair. I will be sure to ask for as many colors of the rainbow as possible. Pictures will be forthcoming.
Then, we left to meander the narrow streets, dodging the occasional crazy taxi. Sucking down fried dumplings, we walked through the antique market, where I was sorely tempted to but a Mao lighter (must…hold…out…for...better…deals).
When we stepped into the open-air market I felt as if I had stepped back in time, or traversed from some ultra-modern world back to the China I remember visiting as a child. Street vendors laid out their food on blankets on the side of the road and yelled at us as we passed by. All sorts of goodies were for sale—delicious bright-red tomatoes, all manner of vegetable, chickens dead, alive and somewhere in between, but what amused me the most were the live sea snakes and eels. My dad will have a field day here when he arrives in 2 weeks.
We tried to follow the elusive scent of some stinky tofu, but alas were unable to find any that had not sold out. Stopped by the apartment to change and headed to Liana’s boss’s house to meet people before going out to dinner.
Liana has a dream-job: she does creative consulting for what must be one of the most alive, intellectual yet down-to-earth men I have met. In the next hour, I met the dinner guests: a painter from Paris here to visit after his exhibition in Hong Kong, an antiques collector, also from Paris, an ambassador to France, Sun Yet-Sen’s granddaughter, an architect, a fashion designer, the editor of Vogue magazine China…and the list goes on, each as interesting as the next. This being barely a week since leaving the confines of USD, I appropriately felt like I had stepped into some sort of dream. Even more so when we reached our destination for dinner—a complete replica of a Suzhou (spelling is wrong I know) water garden, in its center a restaurant that looked like a palace, floating like a jewel on the water. I was overwhelmed to say the least—I had never been privy to such high-brow company, and it surprise me how warm everybody was. Talking to them inspired me to pursue a path in life I enjoy, as these people all had one thing in common—they love what they do.
Then, off we went clubbing until around 3am, at which point I had to leave for utter exhaustion and oversaturation. I had a cigarette with Jen and JD (a new acquaintance) on a swing, staring up into the sky at the one visible star.
Happiness is: getting away.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Bon Voyage
Today I leave for Hong Kong. I'm going directly to Shanghai, spending a week there (and maybe visiting Seoul), then back to Hong Kong for 2 months, then to Taiwan, and Thailand, and wherever else I can fit into my itinerary.
Many of my friends are headed to Italy today....have fun and be safe, guys! I'll miss our 16 hour study sessions...or not.
Stay tuned for pictures and stories!
Adieu
Today I leave for Hong Kong. I'm going directly to Shanghai, spending a week there (and maybe visiting Seoul), then back to Hong Kong for 2 months, then to Taiwan, and Thailand, and wherever else I can fit into my itinerary.
Many of my friends are headed to Italy today....have fun and be safe, guys! I'll miss our 16 hour study sessions...or not.
Stay tuned for pictures and stories!
Adieu
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Sadistic law school exam tactic of the semester
So far the award goes to torts, where we were given 3 hours to answer 50 multiple choice questions. SOunds easy huh? Well, yes, except for about 15 cryptic questions that will determine the curve. So, since everyone will get the 35 easy ones correct, this was essentially a 15-question test. Miss one or two, and it's an automatic C, or maybe D?
I can't believe I worked so hard for so long to be tested with 15 questions.
So far the award goes to torts, where we were given 3 hours to answer 50 multiple choice questions. SOunds easy huh? Well, yes, except for about 15 cryptic questions that will determine the curve. So, since everyone will get the 35 easy ones correct, this was essentially a 15-question test. Miss one or two, and it's an automatic C, or maybe D?
I can't believe I worked so hard for so long to be tested with 15 questions.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
SHIT!
So I had the option to invite 2 friends to open gmail accounts, which I enthusistically did.
Earlier today I read a news article: apparently, a gmail account is the coolest and most covested internet status symbol (go figure) lately, since there are such a limited number of people who have them. As a result, existing accountholders are selling their invitations for up to $50 each on eBay! So I just basically gave away $100. Again, fate has punished me for being nice.
But, to all fellow blogger users: you still have a chance! If you sign up for gmail, sell your invite-a-friend options!!!!
So I had the option to invite 2 friends to open gmail accounts, which I enthusistically did.
Earlier today I read a news article: apparently, a gmail account is the coolest and most covested internet status symbol (go figure) lately, since there are such a limited number of people who have them. As a result, existing accountholders are selling their invitations for up to $50 each on eBay! So I just basically gave away $100. Again, fate has punished me for being nice.
But, to all fellow blogger users: you still have a chance! If you sign up for gmail, sell your invite-a-friend options!!!!
Saturday, May 01, 2004
gmail
A WHOLE GIG of email storage space in return for letting robots scan my messages so they can deliver ads on a little bar on the side of the screen? why, yes, go ahead--why hasn't anyone asked sooner? after the PATRIOT act, who has privacy these days anyway? plus, i've pretty much conditioned myself to ignore banner ads. and since it's so new, i actually got my full name as my email address, so a big HA! to the person out there who has beaten me to that address for hotmail and yahoo all these years.
A WHOLE GIG of email storage space in return for letting robots scan my messages so they can deliver ads on a little bar on the side of the screen? why, yes, go ahead--why hasn't anyone asked sooner? after the PATRIOT act, who has privacy these days anyway? plus, i've pretty much conditioned myself to ignore banner ads. and since it's so new, i actually got my full name as my email address, so a big HA! to the person out there who has beaten me to that address for hotmail and yahoo all these years.
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