China- Shanghai

We arrived in China a few days ago after a 13.5 hour painful plane ride. Mentally I had prepared myself for 10 hours, so the extra time was tough. I managed to keep myself awake reading a book called "The Namesake," which I have been meaning to read forever. It's about some kids born to an first generation Indian couple and their experience growing up in the US not knowing if they are Indian or American. Though I think the subject is fascinating and could make a fabulous book, this one wasn't it. Why it made it on the NY Times best seller list I'll never know, but it's now off my list.

Praveen's company owns an apartment in Shanghai. It's a cute, contemporary style place
with American style toilets, which I love and Asian style beds, which I hate. Basically you sleep on an elevated floor. Its so freaking hard that if you sleep on your side for any length of time your shoulder gets practically displaced.

Before going to bed, Praveen wanted to get something to eat so we ventured out.
Since he has been here on business before he knows his way around a bit and much to
my surprise seems to have a knack for picking up the language, which I have to say
seems practically impossible. Every combination of letters makes a completely different sound to what it would in English. Even if you get the sound combinations correct there are like 4 different "tones" you have to master, which I find totally difficult.

His company has these index cards that you can give to cab drivers that will get you to and from the apartment. They have English one one side and Chinese on the other.
Praveen has been managing to get the pronunciations right when we get in a cab and need to go somewhere. I am totally impressed. He keeps asking where my phrase book is and I hate to sound like a dumb American, but though I have looked at it, it seems nearly impossible for me to grasp any of it. Language is definitely not a strength of mine.

Okay so back to the food experience. First off, I hate bad Chinese food. When i think of bad Chinese food the first thing that comes to mind is The China Palace, a little Chinese place in my home town which is edible but not very appetizing. I never knew there was any "other" kind of Chinese until I moved to SF and tasted some really good varieties. Obviously we have no idea what to order being that there were no English translations and no English speakers. Luckily there were pictures. So we took our chances and ordered something that looked like beef and I think tasted like beef. Hopefully it was, I'll pretend it was anyway. It was not very good. Kinda like the China Palace. Oh well. Time for bed.

That night I was so tired, the rock hard bed didn't matter. I sleep tell around four then took my favorite new companion on over seas flights- ambien- a very gentle but effective sleeping pill that doesn't leave you tired or groggy when you wake up.

The following morning we needed to start with something easy so we went to the spa.
The spa building has 7 or 8 stories. Apparently in China they work all day then go to the spa. You can even stay overnight for an extra $3. They have restaurants,
bars, game rooms, and lots of different body treatments. I saw some weird treatments like eyelash combing. I wonder what that is???

I was escorted to my locker by a lovely lady that spoke a little English. She could understand me enough to tell me that despite the fact I didn't see any other naked people, I should be totally undressed, at least I had hoped that is what she was saying. The spa wasn't busy since it was the middle of the day and I guess everyone else was at work. The people working there all had clothes on, which makes sense and since labor is cheap, there were tons of them. They seem to have this similar infatuation with westerners as I experienced in India. I am not sure where that comes from, but I don't mind it. It's better then the alternative, I suppose.

So I walk into what looks like an area that has a hot tub and I think I am going to get in but this lady guides me to the shower, where she shakes a finger at me when I begin to use soap, so I assume, no soap. I rinse off then let her guide me to a table where she puts on a luffa in the shape of a grove and begins rubbing my cold, naked body. I remember Praveen telling me about a similar experience and I now understand how he got himself into it. I figure, everyone needs a full body exfoliation and I remember how soft and silky his skin was upon his return. A few times through out the somewhat painful scrub she pulls out an unidentifiable packet of something and asks (i think) "do you want this?" Not really sure what
"it" is I just sit back and enjoy the ride and nod "yes." I was a little worried because I was suppose to meet Praveen on the third floor in 20 minutes (from the time I got there) and I began to realize that every time I said yes to something, I was agreeing to another treatment. First the body scrub, then the 20 minute milk bath, then some bamboo scrub. Finally I learned to say no. I went up to find praveen still patently waiting. Anyway, it was fun.

We went to this street that sounded like 'cheap' street in English- where they have all the knock
offs. The weather report for where we were going over the weekend said it was going to be raining the whole time and I hadn't brought a rain
jacket so we went there to buy one. I got a North face jacket that looks pretty darn good
for $40. These really annoying mafia guys followed us the whole time. Apparently they hassle
the shop keepers for a cut of what you buy. There were 7 of them. They were awful. If I had
a weapon I probably would have hurt one of them. I grasped my umbrella a few times and really
resisted wacking them with it. I can't imagine what the cost must be on this GORTEX jacket
if they sell it for $40, the shop keeper has his up keep, then the Mafia needs paid after that.

Anyway. We took a flight last night to Huangshan, where we are going to spend a few days hiking through
the clouds.