Im on my way home. I have a flight from St Petersburg to Shanghai. At St Petersburg you check in then go down through a tunnel to the other side of the airport to a round glass building. Aeroflot park their planes around this so they dont have to shuttle you out from the terminal like all the other airlines.
In Moscow I had to get off the plane and go through the customs formalities to exit Russia. Up to the 3rd floor and walk all the way to Terminal E at the other end of the building. Then come all the way back and get on the plane parked right next door. About 40min walk.
At Shanghai I had a fair idea what I was doing cos Ive been here before. I caught the shuttle bus to the city. I was the only white boy on the bus and the conductor was worried why I was on the bus. I asked if we go to Nanjing Rd. She didnt understand so she got a couple of young girls involved. Soon the whole bus was trying to find out Why I was on THEIR bus. Eventually I go off and got a book out of my bag and showed them on a map where I was going and they seemed satisfied. The ride cost me 20y instead of 600y in a taxi. While in Shanghai I did a couple of "big bus" rides. The kind where you pay for 24hr ticket and get on and off as you like. Well I did 2 loops and got off. It was the worst I have ever done with too much time wasted at stops waiting for the bus to fill up. I didnt take any photo's, you have seen it all last time I was here. I stayed the night, in the same hostel I stayed in last time and got to Skype Ash. The next morning I caught the bullit train to Hangzhou. Ittravels at 305km but you have no sensation of the speed. At one point we slowed down to go through a station, to 284km/hr and I ask WHY?
Hangzhou is a small town built around a lake, West Lake. Im expecting Mandurah and what is Perth central in Peak hour. Its huge, fast, loud, and dirty just what you expect in a Chinese city. I got a taxi to the hotel I was planning to stay at. I found it on the net and I dont know where they got the pics but they were nothing like the actual hotel. I ended up around the corner in a chinese hotel with my own room and bath room. Problem is I dont know where I am in the city so I cant find the lake. That will be my mission for this arvo...find the lake. These chinese are a nightmare in hotels. They yell to each other and stomp up and down stairs and make no effort at all to keep the noise down
I did indeed find the lake. It is a typical kind of day here and you cant see much past the polution, but I did manage to get a few snaps. By the lake they have karoke. Old blokes take their musical instruments down there and for a couple of bucks the women sing. They sound terrible but they love it. While I was out I found a new hotel. The Home Inn is also a chinese hotel but it is MUCH cleaner and nicer than the first one so I moved. I blew the $40 for the first one but the second one is worth it. Tonight Im going to the night market to do my shopping. I am looking for shoes, walking shoes, and shorts.
I found the night markets. It took a while and it turned out they are just behind the hotel Im staying in. It was insane. They were pushing and shoving and wheeling and dealing and cooking meat on a stick.....aahhhh its great to be in familar surroundings.

This place is a boom town. I dont know why but every top end brand is here. Think of any top brand and you will be able to find it here. From cars to clothing and everything inbetween.
Everywhere they have information booths. You cant walk for more than 15 min without seeing one. When I walk up to one the person inside usually stands up. I ask a question and they ALWAYS wave their hands, say NO and sit back down. I dont know who they are to give information to or who is paying them. I keep saying "great job".
Today is pissin rain. This morning I tried to walk around the Lake to a Pagoda. You might be able to see it in the photos, the rain just got heavier.Eventually it was running down the back of my poncho and dropping in my shoes. My feet are soaking wet, this is not fun any more, Im ready to go home. See you all soon. Ash dont forget to pick me up.