Day 17 - The Jingan Temple, French Concession and Boom Boom Bagels

Stunning Temple in the middle of Shanghai

Day 17th - 10th July

With a new / old companion in tow, whatever way you look at it, Tom and I headed out to the Jingan Temple to see what it had to offer. The incense was strong in the air but I strangely found myself pensive and unable to moan. I must be getting older. 

Oh sweet mother, of all which is good and pure!

Shortly after, we popped straight across the street for A half dozen Dunkin' Donuts and a Salted a Caramel Latte. One thing I love about Shanghai is you can be immersed in history and culture one second, losing yourself through the ages and then you turn around and realise you're still in a huge metropolitan city, with Starbucks, McDonalds and the like at your disposal.

It's all good fun with the Uni kids, trying to learn English.

We then moved down to the French Concession, a particular favourite of mine from my time here in Shanghai. It's a maze of alleyways, filled with clothing, trinkets, technology, bars and eateries. You could easily spend half a day getting lost in there. I was approached by some Chinese Uni students, trying to learn the language barriers between English and Mandarin. After a brief Q and A, the obligatory picture with the westerner ensued.

A bottle of Guinness was a new experience.

We stopped off for couple of beers, of course, at a little street bar in the Concession called Friends. A Guiness and aTsingtao were just the ticket as we watched the world go by. My attempts to interact with a local and two accompanying Americans broke off as quickly as the umbrella I bought. As soon as I opened it, it snapped and crumpled in a heap to the floor. That's what 1 Quan will get you! I was told I should learn more Chinese so I could interact properly. Swivelling around on my stool made my thoughts clear on the subject.

One for you Mumma, but too much to ship home I'm afraid!

We headed out in the evening to Boom Boom Bagels, another hang out and work joint for Mike and Co. The shredded beef was delightful on a plain bagel with salad. A smooth ale washed it down nicely. The windows had begun rattling furiously and whispers reached my ears that two typhoons were on the way, moving across the Pacfic to the coast of China.

Undeterred, we headed for DogTown to bid farewell to a crazy assed Skiwi (a KiWi with an S), a Canadian who lost his Ray Bans and a guy from Southampton, who was glad Tom and I knew where he was from, because no once else had a clue. I pointed them towards the first ten minutes of Titanic!

Again, we ended up in the sports bar with Mike, with more nachos and beers. It was low key and I also got to see Murray get dominated by Federer. Ah, the simple pleasures . . .

Day 16 - Back at the Bund and Dog Town

Why do I keep thinking of the Crystal Maze . . . Mummsie!

Day 16 - 9th July

Another humid day, with thick clouds covering the skyscrapers brought more skepticism as to how long it would be until a storm would begin . . .

I headed down to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum on the other side of the river, hoping to see some cool gadgets and glimpses at the future. Instead I was treated to long queues, children running around aimlessly and street sellers trying to get me to buy trinkets and 'silk' scarfs. I don't know if they thought the best way of getting to my money was to avoid offering me magnets and postcards and instead offering me fake silk scarves, which could be worn around my neck whilst I walked the city,  but I walked away empty handed. To say I was tempted would be an overstatement.

As I reached the ticket booth, I decided the 60 Quan fee for entry was a bit too much, so I hopped back on the subway and went to the Oriental Pearl Tower. More kids and parents. It was then I came to my senses, admittedly it doesn't happen often, and I realised it was the school holidays! Of course it was, it's bloody July. 

So a short stroll along the muggy Bund and I thought what could I do that's different, that I've never done before? Then it came to me . . . I've never seen a movie on my own, and especially a movie where subtitles would be present. I found a nearby mall which anyone who knows me knows I was desperate because a. I hate shopping and b. I hate shopping. This was seven storeys of pure torture. No shopping precinct should take you fifteen minutes to get to the top. When I arrived at the cinema, I looked for Terminator Genesys. Nope, not showing, yet five screens were showing Jurassic World within the space of half an hour of each other. I know 24 million people need catering for but that slightly overdoing it.

I headed back to RockandWood and settled in to do some writing. A few hours passed and an old acquaintance from Xi'an, in the form of Tom, the Gravesend guy from back home. My almost two days of silence that any monk would be proud of was over.

'Michael you came . . .'  'That's what she said.' Yes, this is Michael Scott.

That evening we set off to meet some guys Tom had met in Hong Kong. They worked at a little place called DogTown, a side of the road, four stall pop up bar that did tacos, and boy were they good! I also met Tom's Hong Kong buddy, Michael Scott, and being a big American Office fan I almost fell off my chair. Also working with him was a chirpy Irish chap called Charlie who persuaded me to go for a DogTown cocktail - punching close to 85% alcohol, 15% something else. It was great to chill out, meeting other Americans, Australians and some locals. We headed to a sports bar shortly after, had some nachos and beer and then headed home at 2am.

And I was greeted by more snoring . . .