Xi'an

Rain Rain Rain. We went to change money and got so wet that we decided to hide in the hostel for the rest of the day. As we were walking up the stairs of the underpass I saw a little girl about 8 years old. She was skinny and filthy and dressed in rags. There was a baby under 2 years old with her. the girl had a bun in her hand and was shoving pieces in her mouth and the baby starting grabbing it. They were both eating so desperatly, as though they hadn't eaten for awhile and someone might snatch it back at any moment. That fit the image of China I had before I came-- poverty, dirt, illiteracy, the country-side.

I looked up the stairs and saw 2 little girls, maybe 6 and 8 years old. They were clean, nicely dressed in matching pink outfits and holding balloons. This is the image I got of China while in Shanghai-- well-educated, well-dressed, affluent people. A thouroughly developed country.

The girl with the balloon looked down at the other girl with a look of shock, horror, disgust and what appeared to be a light of understanding. That is quickly becoming my new image of China-- the overwhelming gulf between the nouveau riche and the poor. There doesn't seem to be much of a middle class.

I have begun to wonder about the resentment that is building as the poor watch others climb the economic ladder but are unable to change their own impoverished situations. It seems like a slap in the face. It also seems like a betrayal of the communist ideals the people of China supported for so long.

Last night we went to the Bell Tower in Xi'an to take pictures. I saw an older western man give some money to a little girl selling flowers and begging. She ran after the western man and began kissing his hand and the hands of all the people in his group. This took place in front a row of designer shops. The dichotomy between rich and poor is suprisingly vast and very depressing.

We stopped in Burger King to cool off and have a cheap soda today. Ironically there is a sign on the wall (in English) that says, "You have the right to stand up and fight for what you believe in." I'm not sure what the Chinese translation next to it said. But even to write it in English is funny from a country that doesn't allow freedom of speech of freedom of expression.

In Shanghai it is easy to forget that though. Shanghai is so modern and capitalism has taken hold so strongly that it is easy to forget you are in a communist country. People walk past stylishly dressed, everyone has cell phones and digital cameras. I had to keep reminding myself that this isn't like the USA or Japan. These people can buy anything they want (and can afford) but their opinions they can't express in the same way.

The sea has turned a brown muddy color as move up the river. We tiptoe along crowded by boats and ships on all sides. The Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower appear in the distance. An hour later after weaving our way through all of China's shipping/export industry (or what seems like it) the towers loom above us. We disembarked and made our way through customs-- a remarkably easy procedure. I have heard rumors that the Chinese are trying to make tourism easier and everything I have experienced seems to support that theory. We take a taxi (incredibly cheap) to our hostel. The roads are wild but lack the lawlessness of Vietnam.

The heat is sweltering. We take the subway (beautiful and clean) downtown and end up in the Mariott for a drink in their observation deck. Shanghai is amazing, it just goes on and on forever in every direction. We met a friend from Japan in Shanghai and a group of his friends take us out to dinner at a Brazilian BBQ place. I am impressed with how international and diverse Shanghai is.

Small mist covered islands floating in a sea of glass. Small fishing boats bob past as we weave our way through the scattered islands. My last sight of Japan.

We start the beginning of our journey on a Chinese ferry. The boat seems like a perfect way to acclimitize ourselves to Chinese culture and to let go of Japan. It is also nice to relax after the weeks of stress and hectic activity leading up to our departure.

So I entered an FJET sponsored photo contest a few weeks. I didn't win, but it was my first photo contest so I wasn't really expecting to. Anyone who wants to check out my fabulous photo (and the amazing pics I was competing against) can go to:Photo Contest. Mine is at the bottom second from the right.

Less than 2 weeks until I leave now...