I can’t imagine it is ever very nice getting soaked wet
trying to find your bed for the night. I have a sweet little room in a central
hostel in shanghai, it would be perfect if it had access to wifi, as
advertised. So I ponder all the things I wanted to do, wish I had written them
down instead of saved in my email or on my itouch map. I hope tomorrow the
weather is a bit more cheery, as I feel my spirit needs some sunshine. I think
it’s my tendency to look at old videos or photos when I’m miserable that makes
the situation worse. But chin up and ready for action, as that is what a
weekend in Shanghai is really all about. Cripes I should stop putting this
dreaded exam so far to the recesses of my thinking space! In reality it’s hours
away and I am completely unprepared. Let’s hope my luck sees me through the
day, the anniversary of my birth and of 25 years in this plentiful world.
On reflection of my stag Saturday night out on the town;
Logo bar changed, location and popularity, empty, perhaps I was out too early,
it was 10.30pm. Whiskey and move onto Shelter, a UK up and coming dj playing
there, empty. People start arriving but not before I made my friends for the
night, French, Brazilian and Taiwanese/Kiwi. Awesome. I was drunk and dancing
lots, really appreciating the value of mind vibrating bass. Healing for my
soul. I end up in a flash car driving who knows where at 3am for some Korean
food. Back to the club for a last dance, emptier and no sign of the guys,
perhaps our paths will cross again, I hope so they were super nice to the
loner. Bed and sleep in.
Today I suffered, hung-over and miserable, wandered Nanjing
road, famous shopping strip in china. Burger King healed me so then went to
TaiKang road: old laneways of shops and restaurants. It was nice, packed but
cool to see James again in Nuzi, and buy some bits and bobs. Caught up with
Steph for an amazingly good Greek salad and olives and nz pinot. I met Steph in
LiJiang a year ago so it was great
to reestablish a connection. Will definitely be back here soon, too much fun
times and friendlies to party with. I think I will always regret not living in
Shanghai, as every time I come here, I leave saying I would love to live in the
London New York of Asia!!
So now I’m 25. Today was pretty terrible, early rising and
stressing about the exam. Getting to the venue was a trial, typical difficult
to find building far away. I wrote around 500words for each of the 4 essays,
all really averagely done, but no surprises there. The funny thing was that my
one trusty nz pen and two cheap Chinese ones I brought that morning all ran out
of ink or broke before the exam started, luckily some other guy lent me a
decent pen. The whole three hours I was sniveling, I'm afraid that the contrast
in temperature here has given me a cold. Today couldn’t get any worse really. I
wandered the old touristy streets, disappointed in the drizzle and annoying
crowds, then through the maze of shopping malls on my way back to the hostel.
Feeling like my nose is constantly leaking I decide to spend a lonely evening
in my room as opposed to going out to eat on my own. Save the fun for Thursday
back in Dalian where my amazing friends will help me smother this cold in
alcohol. Thankfully I got a few seconds online and saw loads of comments on my
facebook page from friends and family, all around the world I am lucky to have
met and known and loved so many wonderful people. How lucky am I? Recently a
good friend of mine had a really bad night, and I heard myself saying how the
best thing to drive away depressive thinking is to think of those loving
friends you know you have in your heart. Kind of like when I was little and
would have a nightmare and I will always remember mum telling me to imagine I
was at the beach. Today in my heart I was at the beach. No loneliness will get
me down because I'm lucky to know I'm loved and I have the best paradise waiting
for me when I do return to beautiful Aotearoa.
