It's really hot in Shanghai.

This remains my sole impression of Shanghai so far. Just kidding, Shanghai's actually a badass. Everybody likes to talk about it being that bridge between east and west, and I can definitely see that. 

TODAY, I...

Took an overnight train to Shanghai. I was in car 16, which I found out was the last one on the train. I knew that was probably a bad sign. I walked by about 8 cars or so and peered into the windows of Chinese people stretching out on nice beds in private rooms with TVs. Granted, I knew I wasn't getting one of those because I didn't pay for it, but I expected a decent train seat or something, some leg room maybe, a reclining chair, other first world amenities. Yeah, I didn't get that. I was in a window seat with 2 people to my right, so I couldn't get to the aisle way easily. Leg space was okay, but nothing spectacular, aaand they kept the lights on too bright to sleep, not to mention my chair didn't recline. Oh, and Chinese people blabbering. Anyways, I slept 2 really shitty hours. Woke up and wanted to take in the scenes of the Chinese countryside cruising into Shanghai, but the woman in front of me pulled down the screen all the way and was like "fuck you no scene for you." And the woman next to her was playing horrible Chinese music to keep her stupid kid happy for like half an hour. Now that I've let my bitterness out, let's talk about Shanghai. 

Insert checking into the hotel and taking a 3 hour nap in between train and Shanghai. So glorious. 

Anyways, I got up and went out on the town a little before 4 pm. Took the train over to the Bund area, which I will hitherto refer to as DAS BUND. DAS BUND is an area of Shanghai that used to be the financial center (I believe, didn't really read about it), and it's right by the river and has these really cool stone buildings. It's supposed to be a really major scenic attraction, which by the way is true, because there were a bagillion people crowding the street around it. From DAS BUND, you have the cool stone buildings and across the river is the Pudong area, which is like the major huge tall building part of the city. I walked all the way down DAS BUND to find that the food court was pretty much closed since it wasn't dinner time and a really crappy food court, which was disappointing considering I hadn't had a real meal since dinner the night before. I don't really have much more to say about DAS BUND other than it was really cool and I took a lot of pictures. It just made me feel all warm inside being there. No scratch that, 91 feels like 104 made me feel all warm inside. 

Pudong view. 

Afterwards, by some stroke of luck, I walked straight into the Yuyuan Shopping District, which was really cool. It's in the old Shanghai area and is supposed to be a major tourist hit, which is also true as evidenced by the huge crowds of people there. More pictures, because I don't really have words, other than the fact that I had a REALLY SHITTY DINNER there. They had some different meat kabobs, I got one with lamb and one with beef. It wasn't that they were bad as so much as the value. It was 12 yuan EACH, so I spent 48 yuan for shitty meat on a stick. So disappointing. At least the noodles were okay, at best...Meh. 

I at least got my fill, even though it sucked. After that, I walked back towards DAS BUND (yes I mentioned it just so I could use DAS BUND again) and took a ferry across the river (what a steal, 2 yuan...) to the Pudong side, and freaking waited in line for like an hour to go to the top of this huge building, the Jin Mao building, only to find that the line was for tour groups to get in free, which I couldn't do anyways. Soooo instead, I paid 88 yuan to go up an elevator to 88th floor and take pictures. So not worth it. 

It's the one on the left. The guy on the right is the world's largest bottle opener, standing at like 100 floors.

Anyways, that sums up my day. Yay for shitty vague descriptions of what I did today. Maybe I'll go to the Expo tomorrow if I wake up in time. Or not.