Seriously I think I have to get a T-Shirt which says “I went to Shanghai and I survived the rush hour traffic !” I really must eradicate the twenty minute period after my alarm clock rings where I just snuggle up deeper into the blankets and try to pretend that I do not have to wake up because I can just catch another class in university. In reality, fifteen minutes can be such a big difference between 8 am rush hour and 7.30 am calm empty train station. I was crushed by hundreds of bodies and was lucky enough to be at a door where you do not have to squeeze yourself in by force. As it is, I think everyone has been molested (intentionally or unintentionally) at some point in time. I suppose one solution would be to wake up earlier. But it probably will not help since I would just reset my alarm. Urg. I guess I would rather wake up early than to brave the mass of bodies, though I guess this is just like at home where I leave early to avoid the traffic jam.

Spent Sunday walking around the West Side of Shanghai where I encountered hundreds of stores and spent thousands of seconds walking and saw millions of people. By chance, or maybe because I got lost at one point, I stumbled upon Hardware Heaven. It was basically a whole road, just full of hardware stores. And every store was selling nuts, bolts, hammers, wire…….exactly the same stuff ! Crazy. I also managed to stumble upon the Starhill equivalent of Shanghai, with Times Square and all the higher end type of stores. This includes the Shanghai equivalent of LowYat where I managed to get an adapter. These things make you feel that sometimes, just because the language and country changes, does not mean that the lifestyle changes. They are still the same ! I found some little galleries which were like the Little Collins galleries with anime and otaku fan shops. I found in the suburbs, areas which were entirely like those in Malaysia !

Which brings to one of my experiences. I was looking for a cybercafé, as I was feeling the strain of unconnectedness. After searching high and low, I finally found the words ‘Internet Bar’. Anyway so I climbed 2 flights of stairs, walked down several dark corridors which led past dodgy karaoke joints and massage parlours, 2 dirty toilets and finally found the Internet Bar. It was definitely cleaner and nicer smelling than the first one I went to, but to my disgust, I had to register, with my passport. All the walk for nothing. This was in one of those tall dark buildings in a back alley with bad lighting, just like one of those buildings on Elizabeth Street where it apparently encourages underground activities. Quite creepy. Anyway I left soon after.

Work is tiring. Very tiring. Lengths one must go to for one's career.

On the bright side, have met up with all the Shanghai GAs, and still fun. In fact, I may have talked to some more in the last few hours than in the whole 6 weeks in KL ! They have planned an expedition down to YanChengPu Lake on Sunday for a crab feast ! Whoa. Tantalising. And Fun.

Feet are killing me and would love a massage.

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