China diaries, pt. 3...FINALLY

Okay, so I got a little sidetracked with life and haven't gotten around to the last installment of my vacation in China. I barely remember what happened in those two weeks so I'm sure you've already forgotten I was even in China. Remind yourself here and here.

Ok, so here we go...

Day 9: Shanghai

Um, so in my notes taken on my iPhone all I have is "Really losing my patience for the Chinese." Apparently everyone pushes their way in front of everyone else...and there are lines just about everywhere you looking in China. So all the pushing and shoving and elbowing that the old Chinese ladies do on the 30 Stockton bus to Chinatown? Yup, they brought that skill from China...it's not just an act for courteous Americans that wait their turn.

I think this was also the day I went to the Shanghai Museum...a museum about Shanghai. It's located inside the Oriental Pearl, the third tallest tower building in the world. The view from the observation deck was pretty cool, but the best thing about it was the museum. The wax figures were the best I've ever seen. My favorite was the opium den with the crackheads (opium heads?). I also dug the miniature city scenes depicting Shanghai through its history


View from the observation deck...so much smog


Wax woman


Opium junkies

Days 10-12: Shanghai/Xiamen

Nothing really spectacular happened the last couple days. I was kind of over it and was really exhausted from walking around everyday. We did get a chance to go knock-off shopping, which turned out to be pretty disappointing for me. After reading about the Chinese government shutting down the knock-off operations because of complaints from the designers about intellectual property and whatnot, I was worried there was only be cheap non-designer things to buy. Leave it to the capitalists to proof me wrong! Only a could minutes on the street and a lady comes up to us with a printout with photos of bags from Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, etc. We were lead down an alley, then through a maze of side streets, and then into a showroom full of fakes. Some were pretty damned good. Our tour guide was able to talk them into selling a 4,000 yuan bag to my sister for less than 400. Lesson: don't pay the given price...ever. I dreamt of going home with an authentic looking Gucci wallet but left empty-handed. At least my sister scored.

Since not much happened, here are some more random pictures from Shanghai. Chay chen!!!


Knock-off Lane


More wax statues


Most enjoy Least annoy


Miniature Shanghai


Miniature theatre