Sebastian and I decided to spend a few days in Shanghai, China. You know, just for fun. Two of the trip's five days were spent almost entirely in transit, and the remaining three weren't nearly enough to get beyond the surface of one of the world's biggest cities. But if travel success is measured in volume of pictures taken, it was a total victory for our little international coalition (Seb is German, which is an instant 2x comedy multiplier). [Modem-users beware, lots of pictures within!]

That Shanghai is enormous goes without saying. Its ginormous nature can't really be appreciated from the ground, so we headed to the Jin Mao, the 4th tallest building in the world at 421 meters. Just as in Tokyo, the urban texture extended to the horizon. Unlike Tokyo, the average height of buildings didn't drop dramatically beyond the city center. Shanghai seems to be wall-to-wall high-rise buildings as far as the eye can see. This picture sucks, but may give you a very vague idea of what it's like.

It's been reported that China's explosive growth of late is propelling some to great wealth while leaving many behind, and Shanghai seems to bear this idea out. Everywhere you look, bright shiny new buildings are under construction. Everywhere in between, folks apparently not swept up in the wave of prosperity go on with their lives, socializing or selling their wares on the street in front of their homes.

Shaving is good.

Dry clothes are good, too.

Street mahjong.

A tasty array of dishes for sale. The red stuff in the center is mabo-dofu, which basically means "spicy tofu". I'd eaten it quite a few times in Japan, and it never lived up to the "spicy" part of the name. China was a different story! The deep red sauce was bursting with chili seeds. Hot hot hot.

Though it sometimes made me feel like a dirty voyeur from Planet Wealth, wandering the streets may have been the best part of the trip. Obviously, we did lots of blatantly touristy stuff as well, frequently with the help of Seb's friend Stephanie, who lives there.

For instance, she gave us a wonderful tour of Yuyuan Garden, which has some neat history that I've already forgotten, I just liked the design.

She also suggested the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, much more entertaining than it sounds. It goes to great lengths to describe a golden vision of Shanghai's future. The centerpiece is a gargantuan model of the city center.

Amazingly, not a single visitor has entertained their Godzilla fantasy on that thing yet. The museum also featured a boating/driving simulator that illustrated something or other, piloted by your Able Captain, Seb.

"Liebe, aufregend und neues. An Bord gekommen, wir erwarten Sie. Das Lieeeeeeeeebe Boooooot!!!"

We also rode the fantastic maglev train, the only one of its kind in existence!

An hour-plus drive to the airport from the city center takes a mere eight minutes on this bad boy, which, though it lacks pickup, has an insane top speed.

Things are a bit shaky at 431 km/h, thus the blurriness.

We also found the most wonderful place in the world for those suffering from overconsumption of awful Japanese beer: a bar. A real bar. A German bar! Shanghai has no less than three Paulaner Brauhause (plural?), enabling us to get our fix of hefeweizen and dunkelbrau every night. The view was a nice touch.

In spite of my best efforts to get us lost, we also managed to find the Propaganda Poster Art Centre, easily the greatest museum-like place I've ever been to. Very Mao-centric.

Mao in the fields!

Birth Control for the Revolution!

Castro is our pal!

Joey Stalin, too!

Fantastic art style. Also, Mao is the sun from which all good things burst forth.

Several images depicted the United States in a predictable fashion. Here, we are apparently trying to disrupt China via Taiwan. The characters mean something like "a road to death".

Mao, enjoying some tobacco with his admirers from all walks of life.

Thronged by peasants, Mao is truly at one with the people.

We also hit the most famous antique market in town, Dongtai Lu, now with 5% actual antiques! Still, it was full of funny stuff and more Mao curios. These statues were great. I especially love the kids riding the rocket (or nuclear missile?).

Seb bought a few Mao cigarette lighters that play a nationalistic tune (possibly the national anthem) when you light 'em. I found this Mao watch (video, 2.6MB) to be the highlight. Couldn't bring myself to buy one, though. We did some other stuff, but that pretty much sums up the pictorial of the adventure.

The next trip is Kyoto, with Tim, Laura, and Paul, in a few weeks. Then a weeklong break, and off to 'Nam with Tim. Travel binge = goooooood!

You have posted! I am thrilled! (But very jealous...)

Hey, Bri, I loved seeing your pics and words about Vietnam. Will these pages still be available when I get home August 2 so I can read them and possibly print them then??? Let me know cuz I know dad would love to see them too and he is presently in the Beartooth Mtns backpacking with Jim. Thanks! Take care! Your loving mom!