Well today I accomplished nothing.  In fact I did nothing at all.  It was a lazy day here at the hostel.  I played around on my computer.  Checked email and stuff like that.  I took a nap.  Went to the store and bought a few supplies.  I figured I would take it easy today because tomorrow I have a 10 hour train ride to Beijing and I have no seat.  So I get to stand or sit on the ground for the entire ride.  I have talk to other people who have rode the train without a seat and they all say th...
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Today is August 13 and I went to the 1st National Congress of the Communist Party Of China (CPC).  It is a monument and museum of where they held there congress sessions.  I did not realize that China was still communist (sorry I don't follow politics very much).  I thought it was interesting to see what they had to say about the subject and from their point of view.  To them they felt it was the only way to get rid of foreign influences and unite all of China successfully.  I wasn't allowed ...

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Today I decided to see the Bund and the surrounding area.  On my way I stopped to get a steamed dumpling from a street vendor.  It was filled with green and brown mystery stuff.  I think it was vegetables and tofu.  It was okay.  So anyways, I believe the Bund is the oldest building used for official business in Shanghai.  It was built during the days when Shanghai was a French colony and it is still used today.



The Bund is located along side the Huangpu River.  There is a huge walkway along t...
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Hey all.  Today I got up and ran a few errands in the morning (store and money exchange).  I bought a delicious local apple for breakfast.  Anyways after the errands I starting wandering the streets looking for a place to buy a train ticket to Beijing (I am leaving for Beijing on Sunday).  I was lost and another nice local started to help me.  His name was Bill.  This guy works for an American company so that is how he learned English.  So Bill walked around with me for like 10/15 minutes try...
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So it is Thursday August 12th and I am in Shanghai.  I got here yesterday afternoon.  On the plane ride over I was already eating food I would never normally eat.  I am not a very adventurous eater, but I told myself I was going to try all kinds of local foods.  So on the plane to Shanghai I ate shrimp (I am not a seafood eater), mushrooms (I don't eat most vegetables nor fungus), some unidentified meat/seafood (I don't know what it was - it kind of looked like octopus, but it was very chewy)...
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