Loved Shanghai China

I have been here for 4 days and feel like I know quite a bit of Shanghai. I spent my first two days wandering the streets not really paying attention to the direction I was going which was ok because there are AMAZING buildings here and I hear that Beijing is even more impressive. For those of you who warned me about Shanghai weather, it was sunny and blue for the first two days. Now it’s overcast but we’re leaving today so no worries there.

So far China reminds me of South America. That is the back streets of Shanghai. Granted everywhere there are large shiney buildings. Some gaudy like the Pearl Tower, others impressive like the Jin Mao building with 88 floors. But it’s the back streets where the locals live, those who don’t live in the skyscraper apartments. Their laundry hangs from the windows. Plumbing is attached to the outside of the building. Little children running around with their bottoms out for the world to see. There is what we would call poverty but I think I’ve gotten used to seeing people not live as I do and knowing the difference between real poverty and the hunger behind it. I’m sure I can learn more. Granted, people living in these homes tucked away could use more, but they looked happy sitting out on the chairs in the alley ways watching their children play and laughing at me walking by, getting lost in the maze and passing them numerous times.

I understand why GAP requires insurance when traveling. There are the streets of Rome where drivers are impatient and ready to bump into you. And the traffic of Cairo with it’s haze and many many vehicles going somewhere not so fast. But here in Shanghai, it’s a different sort of controlled chaos. Adding to the cars are scooters, motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrains all on the streets. Everyone is aware as they move in this finely orchestrated dance. Streets lights mean nothing unless you are in the more fancy districts. Sidewalks are places where not pedestrians walk but where concrete and bricks are unloaded. And through all this, I haven’t seen one vehicle puff out black smoke from their exhaust. Sitting in this internet cafe right now is doing more bad for my lungs with the smokers near by than walking along the streets. Some vehicles are so quiet. I don’t know if they are electric or just coasting without the engine on. It’s quite an amazing thing. Actually what is amazing is I haven’t been bumped into yet as I take charge and step out into oncoming traffic. They’ll dodge me, it’s what they know.