Did I tell you about my adventure on Saturday when

I was on my way to take some photos and buy a Shanghai English map at Nanjing Rd The Bund. Of course not much goes to plan, well it seems that way lately. Although this new job and college seem like things are looking up.

Anyway we have to work 3 days week, might have already told you that .. so forgive me. Yeah Mon - Wed and then 4 days off ... every week. So I decide to go buy a map and take pics of Shanghai tourist area, The Bund & Nanjing Rd and then come back across the river to the Jinmao Tower in Pudong and get some pics from the observation deck. Good plan I think.

Well my first mistake was to decide to go to Nanjing Rd first. I have been there before but always with other people. Before when I am with other people we have been approached by street people for various things but... not like this Saturday when I am on my own. Now, I know there are always dangers in an area like this (pretty girls, pick pockets, con artists who want to be your friend). I have never been before on my own.... until now.

Well, I think I must have had a sign on me or at least my forehead saying pick me. Man, what an experience. I had many different people come up to me and "chat". Some very beautiful girls, and oh so smooth and well versed with their spiel. Of course I refuse to believe that they just want my money, I am to smart for that. And am very flattered by the attention. And of course now yes I am significantly lighter in the wallet for my stupidity but hey life is short and for living .. .right?

Actually there was a procession of people who came up to me and talked and suggested and proposed things to me. I was a little smarter after the first situation but is very interesting the way they go about the whole thing. And who says that Chinese people cannot speak English well. Hey I was surprised pleasantly at first then quite sad and finally angry with myself for being such a dunce. But I am still alive and well and unharmed, so that is a good thing. Just a little poorer.

So I spent the afternoon there chatting and drinking in outrageously expensive bars and wandering around Nanjing Rd until about 7.30pm. What a great place. I highly recommend it. But take my advice ..be sensible. Ah der ... not like me.

And by the way the actual details will remain my secret at least for now. I am embarrassed enough now for being such a dunce, without letting it all out. I think I will be going back to Nanjing Rd, but this time I will be much more cautious and wiser. I still need to buy that map. Didn't get it after all that, so I need to go back to the tourist information centre. But it will have to wait a while now. No pics for this post, I posted them all yesterday.