Those Brits can really drink...
Got through the tours yesterday and then stopped by Carrefour with Alice to restock on bread, noodles, tshirts, etc. On the way out, I realized I was starving, and had just gotten an invitation from Dan to go to happy hour at Cotton's lounge, so I dipped into McDonald's for the first time in Asia. My low expectations were unwarranted! Not only were my chicken nuggets and double cheese burger identical to the ones I've been eating for the last five years at Wisconsin, they were cheaper too! The whole thing, with fries and a coke was about $3.75, so not a lot cheaper, but considering I thought I would be paying the import premium, it was a pleasant surprise.
Moving on... I got home and dropped my bag before running back downstairs and snagging my first "special needs" cab driver (never a good sign when he checks the map at the first red light.) He managed to actually get lost, I know, because we hit a dead end, and then tried to charge me full price, including the detour mileage! Eventually I got to Cotton's and met some more new people... Steph, a journalism student from London, Jack, who does something with television and is also from London, and July, Dan's Asian friend who works marketing and events planning at the Shangri-La hotel. I had planned on a quick happy hour and a nice early night (had meetings in the morning and afternoon today)... well, you know what they say about "best laid plans..." About an hour later we met up with Laurie (a guy from New Zealand, it's pronounced like Larry) and Larry, the Microsoft guy from Seattle (the two Larry thing gets a little confusing after a few cocktails) at I Love Shanghai down by the river. We also met another Steph there, from London, who became Steph 1 (she was at I Love Shanghai first)... and added to the confusion.
Turns out, one of the British contingent, Steph 2 is leaving tomorrow so it was a big night out and we ended up at the "ultra-lounge" Bar Rouge, located on the top of one of the old buildings on the Bund with a spectacular view out over the river. It did have stupefying drink prices to go along with the amazing views and plush couches on the huge open air balcony. All told, it was a slightly more expensive evening than I planned, but I met some great new people and got an unexpected treat with the trip to Bar Rouge on a night when the balcony isn't completely packed.
The night would have been near perfect if I hadn't gotten "special needs" cab driver number 2 on the way home. Taxi drivers here are rated with 1-5 stars on their cab license (5 being the best) for experience, quality service, years without an accident, etc. This character had ZERO stars... a fact I didn't realize until the driving got so erratic I considered copying down his medallion number... then the pieces fell into place and for the first time since I started taking taxis here, I told the guy to pull over, stop (which involves yelling TING, TING, TING over and over) and let me out. I paid the 15 kuai fare (15 kuai too much) and fortunately hit the jackpot on my third try, nailing a 4-star driver who got me home without further incident. Everyday's an adventure, some just happen to be less life-threatening than others.
Heading to Steph 2's goodbye dinner at 7:00, so we'll see where round two with the Brits gets me tonight.
Moving on... I got home and dropped my bag before running back downstairs and snagging my first "special needs" cab driver (never a good sign when he checks the map at the first red light.) He managed to actually get lost, I know, because we hit a dead end, and then tried to charge me full price, including the detour mileage! Eventually I got to Cotton's and met some more new people... Steph, a journalism student from London, Jack, who does something with television and is also from London, and July, Dan's Asian friend who works marketing and events planning at the Shangri-La hotel. I had planned on a quick happy hour and a nice early night (had meetings in the morning and afternoon today)... well, you know what they say about "best laid plans..." About an hour later we met up with Laurie (a guy from New Zealand, it's pronounced like Larry) and Larry, the Microsoft guy from Seattle (the two Larry thing gets a little confusing after a few cocktails) at I Love Shanghai down by the river. We also met another Steph there, from London, who became Steph 1 (she was at I Love Shanghai first)... and added to the confusion.
Turns out, one of the British contingent, Steph 2 is leaving tomorrow so it was a big night out and we ended up at the "ultra-lounge" Bar Rouge, located on the top of one of the old buildings on the Bund with a spectacular view out over the river. It did have stupefying drink prices to go along with the amazing views and plush couches on the huge open air balcony. All told, it was a slightly more expensive evening than I planned, but I met some great new people and got an unexpected treat with the trip to Bar Rouge on a night when the balcony isn't completely packed.
The night would have been near perfect if I hadn't gotten "special needs" cab driver number 2 on the way home. Taxi drivers here are rated with 1-5 stars on their cab license (5 being the best) for experience, quality service, years without an accident, etc. This character had ZERO stars... a fact I didn't realize until the driving got so erratic I considered copying down his medallion number... then the pieces fell into place and for the first time since I started taking taxis here, I told the guy to pull over, stop (which involves yelling TING, TING, TING over and over) and let me out. I paid the 15 kuai fare (15 kuai too much) and fortunately hit the jackpot on my third try, nailing a 4-star driver who got me home without further incident. Everyday's an adventure, some just happen to be less life-threatening than others.
Heading to Steph 2's goodbye dinner at 7:00, so we'll see where round two with the Brits gets me tonight.
posted by Mr. Frisky | 12:10 AM
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