I knew there was something weird about this place

Shanghai is the trippiest city I have ever been in. Today I went for a walk down the Bund, all old granite buildings, which wouldn't be out of place in Dublin or London. Not Chinese as I would expect. in a way it has the colonial beauty which I missed in and was lacking in Hong Kong.

They also have what they call The Bund Sight Seeing Tunnel. Now for me the phrase, "sight seeing tunnel" is an oxymoron, so i had to see it. Well let's see; it was a tunnel under the river in which you traveled in a little cable car and see lots of psychedelic lights ... I couldn't really see the point. Experiencing Acid without the two day come down? But it was interesting in a totally pointless and meaningless kind of way. I kept imagining the guy who designed it bringing his bosses on the maiden voyage and the silence which must have ensued.

also spotted some men flying kites and a spaceship. Kites always remind me of China. I'm glad that i got to see the kites.

I have also seen way more homeless people and beggars here than in any other place i have visited in china. And being a westerner i am a target, it's very difficult because these people aren't taking the piss they are genuinely starving, but I can't just stand on the street and give out Yuan's to everyone who asks. But i don't want to get hard either. It strikes me that Shanghai is like LA or New York the magnet city that people come to from the country to try to fulfil their dreams, and then they don't well many don't.

One of the weird things about travelling is trying to find a line between cynicism and genuine friendliness. I have met lots of Chinese people who were just genuinely friendly and wanting to practice their English, or show off their English to their girlfriends. But my initial thought is always, what do they want from me, what's their angle, and what's their scam. I know most of them don't. But the 1% of scammers make it so much more difficult for the 99% of genuine people.

The other thing that has become totally out of synch for me is my concept of time and distance. Tomorrow I am going to Hangzhou, it's only a 3 and half hour trip from Shanghai, that's short, it's the same distance to Mayo, but here it's and quick jaunt. After all those over night trains, all distances have become so small. It's no big deal. Big mountains will never be as big as the mountains in Chengdu, a palace will never be as big as the Forbidden City and a train journey as long as the trans-siberian.