Out in Shanghai

Twice I went out in Shanghai, and in the nightlife you can truly see what a cosmopolitan city Shanghai is. The crowd is a mix of western, eastern and everything in between. The first night we went to an area in which a bunch of old buildings and houses that were going to be torn down and turned into high-rises was revamped and now comprise a pedestrian area full of restaurants and bars. We first went to a wine bar in where huge screens were showing runway shows from 2007, then headed to a bar/club with loud music. There was a small stage where a band was playing (it was actually more like a pop group than a band) and Molly and I both commented on how the girl signing wasn’t very good. As we watched a little longer, we realized the girl didn’t match any of the group members and was in plain, everyday clothes which was pretty strange because the rest of the group was in snazzy performance outfits. All of a sudden, the girl got down and was replaced by two other singers (in outfits that matched the band) and they were amazing! They sang some more songs (all American songs) then announced that it was someone else’s turn to sing. We figured out that you could pay to sing with the band….it was kind of like karaoke but on another level. So a new girl got up, and Molly and I both groaned thinking she would be as bad as the first, but we were shocked when she opened her month. This girl belted out “Billy Jean” better than any American Idol contestant I’ve ever heard. After her three-song set we called it a night.

The next night we went to Shanghai’s famous Bund. It’s an area in the city center that is separated by the river; on one side is a pedestrian walkway and a few blocks worth of western style buildings that would be at home in any European capital. The other side holds sleek, modern skyscrapers including the famous Pearl Tower. We went to a lounge on the rooftop of one of the western style buildings, and it had one of the most amazing views I’ve ever seen. The lounge was full of western expat men. I decided if you wanted to find a husband Shanghai would be a good place to settle, because the city is full of young, eligible expats. Being Sunday night, the place was pretty dead and we had an early morning the next day so we headed home early.

One thing to mention: The prices in Shanghai told us we were in drastic opposition to those in Chengdu. Drinks in Shanghai were anywhere from $7-$20, and one of my friends ordered a bottle water that cost $10! Guess you should look at the prices before ordering…..

Photo: Prichard and her $10 bottle of water