Day 5

I am going to try and catch up on the blogging that I have not been able to get to. I was not able to take my laptop to Shanghai, and so my blogging stopped.

Day 5 started out with a taxi ride to the office. We survived, but I think that the cage around this taxi driver attested to him being beat by someone previously for his crappy driving. Check this paranoia out:


Work was especially hectic. They knew that I was flying out to Shanghai and so they had a bunch of questions for me before I could leave. I did not even get a chance to look at my email. This was not good because I had to leave my laptop behind, I did not have permission to take my laptop into the Shanghai office and my hotel in Shanghai does not have Internet. The team brought me lunch, which was real nice of them. I felt a ton better, but I was not ready for more Chinese food, but I ate it anyway.

I was still answering questions as I was walking out to get a taxi to the airport.

The airport was pretty uneventful. We boarded out plane, which was not as nice as the international flight. I was riding coach with the rest of the common folk. What the hell am I talking about. I am common folk, I normally ride in the back, I was just privileged on the way across the pacific. The flight took about 2.5 hours. One meal was served, more Chinese food. Don't these guys eat anything else?

Arriving in Shanghai I immediately notice how much newer everything seems. The airport is very modern with fancy name brands and shiny lights.


I am pretty excited, there is a Maglev Train here that goes 431 km/h (268 mph). It was the first one for commercial use. I have never gone this fast before on land. We spend the extra 50 RMB to sit in the VIP car. What the heck I deserve it. The chairs are comfy and nobody else paid the extra money. We get the whole car to ourselves. The first thing we notice is that there are no seat belts. I was expecting that safety would be a concern. As the train started to take off, it was a very smooth start and just some small jostling around. We could feel the acceleration, but it was not like a roller coaster. We quickly get up to 301 km/h and we max out. What the heck I want to go faster. Max this damn thing out. That is as fast as it gets going. After we depart we ask about it and that is the max speed at night, during the day it gets up to 431 km/h. Bummer, oh well it was still way fun and well worth the money. I recommend it to anybody.


After the train we grab a taxi and head off to our Hotel. This hotel is rated at a three star. I am excited to see this place, my company did not set this hotel up, it is something my friend setup. The payment is coming out of my wallet and I will expense it later. No need to blow through all of my money on a nice hotel. Maybe I should re-think that. My room is on the ground floor next to a very busy alley. The hallway outside my door is also a shortcut for the locales to get to the other side of the block. No carpeting makes all of the noises echo throughout my room. Not to mention that the room has a bed, and a small bathroom. There is not much room for anything else. But hey there is air conditioning up in the corner... ahh luxury.

At least there is a toilet and not a hole in the ground. But the bed is as hard as a sheet of plywood. I stood on the bed and took a picture to show you how much I did not sink in. I think a bowling ball dropped on this might break. I am tired, bed sounds good, and I am looking forward to it.