First Published – 24 July 2012

Day two in Shanghai we met Querida, from couch surfing. She is 19 and studies English at Shanghai university. We went to the Jingan temple, and then she took us to a few different districts. We end up in Dapuqiao – a really cute market with narrow streets, that twisted and turned until I was thoroughly lost. Luckily Querida showed us around, we stopped in a bar that had postcards and it also had Wi-Fi, and Metallica.

So we stayed for coffee(flea), beer(Linz) and Ginger ale(Querida), we all checked our emails. Querida had travelled in China, including to Chengdu and she showed us her pictures. We then found the post office and got stamps. Querida then left for a friends birthday. Linz and I went to get circus tickets. Shanghai circus!!!! We got tickets, phew.

Headed towards the hotel on the metro, but instead of going back we played a board game in the games arcade. We chose Carcasson, as it is good for 2 people to play. We confused the owner of the game Cafe as we didn’t want drinks. The game was missing half the pieces and Linz won, twice.

But I didn’t really care as we were going to the circus. The Shanghai circus!!!!!

Later that night…

The circus was incredible. It was a bit like the cirque du soleil, there were acrobats and girls who balanced and walked on their hands and there were high wire bungee acts and terrifying swinging on a piece of silk. My favourite were the acrobatic boys, as they leapt through ever higher hoops. Oh and the bit where they used see-saws to throw each other all over the place. The man with the mono stilt was brilliant. The finale was a motor bike ball of death. Really really good. Excellent.

Over night I had what can only be referred to as the Shanghai S***s, you know what I mean. Anyway, I woke up not feeling too bad and tried to go sight seeing with Linz. And failed. Headed back to the hotel to sulk and read my book. Eventually did go out for a bit but was miserable. Sorry Linz.

I managed dinner, at pizza hut. I thought chips and chicken nuggets would be safe, but it didn’t make it any better though. Still suffering.