Hello and welcome to another page in the chapter of Chinese Checkers,

Today we seek refuge in an internet cafe back at the hotel. Outside is a deadly concoction of people, rain, rolex and nike merchants, raw putred sewerage, saliva infused footpaths, chief wiggums, e-coli infested meat, more toxic rain, rotten eggs (they eat black eggs, that have been soaked in what appears to be Castrol GTX2 oil), more bloody people, the army convoy, scooters on footpaths that have a width of 1metre, people that stare like I'm a circus animal, thick unbreathable pollution, dodgy chinese flags and useless plastic flashing crap and NO I DON'T WANT MY SHOES POLISHED...IT'S RAINING!!!

You would understand too when you have seen around 2 million people in the span of 15 minutes. Absolute madness outside, as we spent 1 hour this morning weaving through a crowd of millions on Chinese National Day. The commeration of the Peoples Republic founded by Chairman Mao.

Last night was even worse (like a new years eve). We had to catch-up with some westerners from our last group who just arrived in Shanghai. Typically they were located south of town, and typically, we were in the north. As good sumaritans we made the journey at 7pm along the water front to their hotel.

At 7pm, the army in cooperation with bullet proof tin-men, sealed the main road through Shanghai along the water front. Police, Riot police and the Military were everywhere in droves of troop carriers! I felt a little safe knowing that the armed-linked tin-men were dividing us from the populated side of the road UNTIL we were kicked out on to the road with the mass of people. We made a quick dash to the hotel in the south, and enjoyed some brews on arrival.

We had a great night with our friends from the last tour group, and supposably we must return the favour tonight when everyone comes to our hotel room...ahhhh (hide the mini-bar). We left at about ten to eleven, not knowing the curfew at 11pm as instructed by the receptionist as we left. It was then a dash in hunt for a taxi, waving my arms like a loonie, hoping to grab a cab before the communist police pick us up (coupled by the fact that we had no passports with us).

I managed to score a cab just before the thing ran me over (it had no choice). Safe at 10:58pm (like a James Bond film) and drove us back to the hotel. Driving down the re-opened main road, it appeared that a bomb went off. Trash and more stinky bloody trash everywhere!!! It must of been a wild bloody night. I'm glad we stayed indoors.

Anyway, we are going to spend the rest of the arvo in our hotel room watching cable. It's safe and dry.

Thanks again for all your emails...

Cheers,
Hatton