wild

We must have been very sheltered living in Shanghai.  Last night, I got a chance having dinner & drinks w/ a Shanghainese friend and her visiting BF.  He was being "interviewed" by me.  She wants input.  Funny both of us were speaking in Cantonese while he wasn't around.  Ha!   

We went to this restaurant called Lost Heaven (http://www.lostheaven.com.cn/).  Sorry boys who came to Shanghai before last night.  It was a high-end posh Yunnan food restaurant located by the Bund just doors down from the ferry wharf toward the Expo site.  The restaurant was decorative.  Apparently there are two Lost Heaven in town.  The lighting was a bit dark to my liking.  I was worry I might twist my ankle or fall flat on my face with the not so well marked steps.  Food was excellent.  I did not suffer any ill effect of MSG the morning after.  I liked the wild vegetable cake and the steamed cod fish.  We had noodles and chicken.  These latter two were a bit bland and salty.  3 of us w/ a bottle of wine came to RMB 780.  Pretty much on par w/ a night out in North America.  O yeah, had a drink before dinner on the roof deck.  3 drinks, RMB 220.00 Not bad for the price IF one CONVERTED back to Canadian dollars.  Yesterday, the conversion rate was CAD 1: RMB 6.52.  

That wasn't the wild part.  I was stunned w/ the amazing food and how pack the place was!  Guess we never go out at night hanging at a "Western" establishment.  All I am saying is that, with the amount we spent last night, we could have about 10 healthy meals at our favourite vegetarian restaurants.  Or pretty much hire an Ayi for a month as our housekeeper full time.  I felt like since Friday, I was spending ridiculously amount of $.  A distortion of my normal day to day living.  I walked on the wild side?  ;-) 

Alright, the real wild part.  After dinner we went to a bar called Bar Rouge on the 7th floor at #18 The Bund.  http://www.bund18.com/en/entertainment006_en.html   5-min walk toward Peace Hotel.  It offered an excellent view at night at the sore sight of the Pearl Tower and Pudong area.  Mostly tourists out on the deck having a drink.  We said inside.  Music was loud. Considering last night was still a working night, it was busy.  Or was it just starting to fill.  When we left close to mid-night, more "low cut" dressed Western women appeared.  Why bother wearing anything then?  The scene and the atmosphere would have make Mao calling his students for a 2nd uprising.  Alcohol burns faster than books and artifacts ;-)  I had to remind myself that I was inside the biggest commie countries in the WORLD.  While we were sitting down talking facing the dance floor, there was a blond woman, fully dressed in black, started dancing by herself.  Then she basically turned around and faced us.  Started dancing closer and closer to our table, making the flexible bodily movement.  Phew, good thing we were on a platform.  My friend didn't like that nor did I, so we all called it a night.  Couldn't talk that much anyway from the loud music.  

Now I know where all the taxis went late at night.  They all knew where to get a good fare.  Unfortunately, most waiting were the independent red taxis.  They were scary drivers.  The one us three in were driving thru red lights away from the Bund.  And on the wrong lane at times!   Good thing it was late at night.  

I poked my head out last night.  And now, I am even more "sheltered".  Ha!  

The only way to frequent these establishments like last night's: the bars, the high-end restaurants, etc, is either get an expat package (well, it doesn't worth much these days), an expense account, or just filthy rich....