Destroying Shanghai

The first full week in Shanghai is done, and this place has been a shit show! We went out most of the nights here and enjoyed the nightlife we’ve imagined Shanghai having. I’d like to say that we have been deprived of nightlife in Tianjin, but you all know I’m lying… We had fun in Tianjin wherever we ended up, whether that was Green Man, Helen’s, Heaven, Sitong, or Muse.

We still miss Tianjin a little bit when we look at the cab fares and food prices, but China is still pretty cheap even in Shanghai!

I’ve done my share of exploring around in Shanghai! I joined in most of Shanghai Prides festivities such as the parties, trivia night, and other things. I bought a t-shirt! Now I can say that I have gone to other prides than just Atlanta!

Along with Pride, I joined the LGBT friendly swim team in Shanghai (Hey Trout, I’m trying to get them to come to Gay Games next year). The team is really nice; we have standard practice with about 30 to 40 people. The practice is about an hour and 15 minutes long and it wasn’t too hard even though I’m super out of shape. They asked me why I’m here and blah blah blah, and after the practice we all went out to dinner. It made me feel like I was back home again with the Rainbow Trout.

Some of the other highlights of Shanghai are the two Pub Crawls we did in 3 days. Insane I know!

It’s not all nightlife for us in Shanghai, Saturday (June 22, 2013) we went to the hold Confucius temples and saw the pagoda there. We had dumplings for days and enjoyed a beautiful garden from morning to mid afternoon. Additionally, we went out to explore the shopping areas around Shanghai Jiao Tong University where we are staying because there are six malls in 2-block radius. The malls are huge and they are for people with money! There is a freestanding kiosk for Chloe and Hugo Boss, along with stores like Escada, and Gucci everywhere. So other than that we have been enjoying the nightlife.

So far Shanghai has been great! More updates to come so hold tight! Here are some pics!!!

Oh and I went to the Korean Consulate today to get a Korean Visa so I can attend Yonsei University for the fall semester!

Blast from the Past #5 (Part 2)

Beijing Continued

Chad and I split up with Julie and Kat for our Saturday in Beijing (June 8, 2013). We went out to the Summer Palace! Remember that turf burn, well as it began to scab up, I fell on it at the palace and ripped it right open. It didn’t hurt just a lot of blood. I will not post the picture of it because it is gross. Through me falling down, Chad and I met up with a family in Atlanta who literally live 3 blocks from me! What a chances of that happening?

Well after that disaster, we finished summer palace with a nice ferry ride across the lake. Our next destination is the Olympic Park, so hopped on the metro again with the 1.3 billion people on this country and rode to the park. The first thing on our list was the Water Cube! It was like walking into church for Chad and me. How awesome was it to walk into the greatest pool on earth! It was now turned into a water park, which I hope to utilize one day in my year adventure!

After we took in the greatness of the Water Cube, we headed over to the Birds Nest and the torch, which was not very eventful. The Birds Nest was falling apart at the seams because its not being used, and it’s not maintained like everything else in this country.

After the long day of touring, Olivia led the entire group to the biggest club in Beijing. It’s called Mix, and we had a blast! I forgot about my destroyed leg, and we capped the last night in Beijing with a huge dance party.

You were good to me Beijing!
Like last time, I came back to Tianjin and crashed for the afternoon.
Traveling can be so tiring.

Over and out

I'm in Shanghai

We arrive in Shanghai yesterday afternoon. Part of me is really going to miss Tianjin, but a part of me is ready to take over Shanghai! It is so exciting to see the drastic difference from Tianjin in prices, dialect, food, and more. it is so humid and hot down here, almost unbearable. Nights are okay, but still humid.

The day before, we took our last class in Tianjin, sent out postcards, and walk through campus and took pictures. I know most likely it is going to be my last time in Tianjin and the feeling of leaving was overwhelming. Along with that feeling, knowing that half of this program is almost over makes me really sad. We went out for the last hoorah of Tianjin. A big group of us were determined not to sleep till we get on the train at 5 AM, so that is what we did. We went out to Green Man as usual and signed our names to leave the mark that we have taken over Tianjin. After that we went to the biggest bar in Tianjin called Muse where we danced the night away. We made it back home and packed our stuff. With the still kind of drunk and tired eyes, we boarded the bus to the train station, and crashed on the train. Here its Pride week, so Kat, Chad and I went out to the local gay bar called 390 for trivia night. After that, we went to the midnight premiere of The Man of Steel.

Good way to kick of Shanghai.