CHINA

As our plane lands down in a land so far away Taylor smiles his broad grin and the first thing he says is, "I told you I'd take you to China." Followed by, "We're back!" Although it's my first, I'm guessing he means I am back in Asia, and he is back again to a place he has come to love.

From the airport to the hotel the driving nearly drove me sick and I couldn't look out the window much at the dark evening air, promising myself I'd see more tomorrow when I could stand grounded on my own two feet. The driving did not bother Tay.

Our hotel is one of the nicest, and we got upgraded to a suite. I kept thinking to myself, "Tay's company must like him."

A close walk away is the most famous street in Shanghai that they show in all the Shanghai pictures, Nanjing Lu, and all you can see as you emerge from the underground walkway is a sea of black hair bobbing, lit by thousands of flashing streaking lights. I rememberd that Shanghai has been aptly dubbed, "The City of Lights" as the huge plasma TV's displayed models, and news, and I kept thinking, "When do these people sleep?"

Walking around the mall we needed a bathroom. As I walked in, it smelled deeply of urine and I was reminded of the squatters in Taiwan and I said a quick plea of desperation, "Please don't be a squatter." I just wanted a clean reprieve. My plea was in vain.

The things I'm learning:

The city is very diverse; rich and poor alike. Pointing out this broad difference, Taylor points to the rich businessmen, and then two feet away, the man in his underwear pushing a wheelchair, and the old men on their 800 year old bicycles and rickshaws carrying loads of wood, garbage, and I even saw one full of plastic chopsticks.

Crossing the street is a major feat. Imagine lots of people crossing, while taxis are turning onto the street from the left, from the right, honking loudly and pressing forward into the crowd until there is a break for them to pass. I'd go so far as to say it's dangerous. Bikes, scooters, cars whizzing by with the people inching their way into the road, proceeding when they can, and stopping when they can't, until they're across. "Who gets the right of way?" I ask Tay. "It's like the game frogger" he says, "only you don't get 3 lives. Only one. So be careful."

And if you think walking on the sidewalk is any more safe than walking on the road, better think twice. I've nearly been hit by large construction trucks and electric powered bikes alike! On the sidewalk! They'll honk from behind and scare the soul out of you.

And you can get really cheap foot massages. We did one last night, and they spent an hour massaging our legs and feet and it felt really good. I think my mom would like this.