Semester 3 Chapter XII: No More Parties In SH

Last week was not really that interesting social-wise. I went out only on Thursday to catch some of those city vibes. Since my weekends are usually fucked, working days are often the only chance to let go, not checking time thinking I should probably get the fuck out.

I met with my friend after 10pm in this Windows Underground bar which used to be Windows Garage just couple of months ago. Located close to Nanjing West Road subway station, it’s still a price friendly dive bar with many expats and students hanging inside. They moved from the ground floor to the basement (hence the name change) and got some better furniture. So besides mediocre music that goes progressively louder as the evening goes (which is symptomatic for all SH dive bars), it’s a pretty aight place to do some party pre-drinking.

After that, we hopped on some OFO bikes and headed to Arkham. It was Thanksgiving and out of the parties that appealed to us, Arkham won with some trap shit on the line-up. And boy, was that a wrong pick. We arrived around 1am, paid 50 RMB cover and got in just to find out there’s like 15 people inside. In a situation like this, it doesn’t really matter that the music is good and the sound is clear. It’s not a fucking party, it’s just depressing. After couple of minutes, we decided to try Elevator with their queer house party. OFO bikes again, like 10 minutes’ ride and another case of like 20 people inside. At that point we gave up, did one beer in front of Family Mart downstairs and went separate ways. So yeah, even in cities like Shanghai, you can just fail when attempting to have fun in clubs. Honestly, I haven’t experience anything like this over here ever before and I do hope I won’t anytime soon.

Other than that, it’s the same old. Slowly advancing with school stuff and waiting for this semester to be over. Got around 3 more weeks to go and after that I’m done with classes for good. Kinda looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to the winter break and some traveling. Sea, sun and shit like that...

 Highlights:

• Kodak Black ft. Lil Wayne – Codeine Dreaming. Gotta be thankful for every new Wayne feature.
• My AC got fixed so life is good again.
• Mindhunter – finished that series. Pretty dope.

Semester 3 Chapter XI: Anti-social & Law abiding

After the previous week, I felt I need to address my anti-social side for a bit. I do enjoy company, I do enjoy being out there doing stuff, but I also need some time alone. Not talking to anybody, not socializing, just music, movies, books, TV shows, and of course school work.

Besides that, I managed to pay a visit to the Czech consulate in Shanghai for the very first time. Since I had not handled my abroad voting rights before, I figured it would be nice and responsible to do that. For whatever kind of fucked up reason, just showing up with your passport or ID and just vote does not cut it. Nah, you have to go to an embassy or a consulate like 2 months before an election take place and fill out a super basic form that entitles you to participate. I have no idea what’s the reasoning but hey... We live in a world where we need some kinda fucking form for pretty much everything. I guess we enjoy shit like that.

The consulate is located on 8^th floor of one of office buildings around 4km from where I live and fortunately, the whole process was quite swift. So yeah, I’m gonna exercise my civic rights starting the presidential election next year. Changing the world and shit...

I also did a bike trip with my Malaysian friend on Friday. It was drizzling but we decided to go regardless. And it would be all good besides the fact I got a flat tire in like 15 minutes. Naturally, we were in an area with no bike shops around so it took us like 30 minutes to locate the nearest one. I’m talking those dirty spots where they fix scooters and bikes for peanuts. One of the great things around here. The guy didn’t have patches so I bought a whole new inner tire. Of course, that got popped in another 15 minutes and since were pretty far from the shop, we did another 30 minutes searching to find this guy reading by a stand full of crap. Apart from his book and bunch of mess, he also had some patches so we were good. After that, we went to Powerstation for some architectural exhibition, and continued to Rockbund museum for some aspiring young artists’ pieces. My first time over there, great location, awesome art deco building, exhibition on 4 floors. Media art, natural art, photos, cool as hell. On the way to a restaurant my friend picked, my front tire (you guessed it) got soft again so after a mediocre dinner in a Taiwanese restaurant in a mall in Xuhui, I got stuck with non-functioning bike. And it started raining like a motherfucker. So, I got one of those public OFO bikes and managed to lead my bike alongside all the way home. I eventually managed to get the bike fixed for good the morning after but man... When it rains, it pours.

Later on that day, me and my bro went for a beer to this joint called Papa’s Beer on Wuding Road. Weather is not really suitable for outdoor drinking anymore so we are switching to alternatives. Shanghai has lots of spots which are generally being referred to as “beer ladies”. This is quite confusing, because many times they are not being operated by ladies and they also differ in size, seating options, price and menu. However, usually it’s basically something like a beer shop offering variety of beers starting at around 15 RMB a bottle, and going all the way to hundreds.

Papa’s beer is one of the better-looking ones with plenty of space to sit inside and definitely more than 100 different beers to choose from. As college students, we went for the economy class and chose some fucking Dutch bomb with like 8.5% of alcohol for 18 a piece. After three of those babies, I was good.

Oh, and yesterday I figured that the temperature got low enough for me to turn on my AC for the first time. Only to find out that it doesn’t real heat. It’s old as shit and apparently, it’s also done. So hopefully tomorrow, a guy’s gonna come and fix that. I fucking hate cold.

 

Highlights:

• Finished the second season of Stranger Things – dope.
• My dad bought a plane ticket to Shanghai for the end of March. I’m happy about that.
• Autobiography of Gucci Mane. I’m in the middle of the book and it’s quite amazing.

Semester 3 Chapter X: Vegans & Elevators

Okay, let’s get back to it. Last week was pretty dope for several different reasons. Firstly, the weather got back to like 15-20 degrees which just makes life little more convenient again. On top of that, I had a chance to attend some dope ass events with some dope ass people... Some cool Shanghai shit right there...

Last Thursday, I met with my vegan connect for an art event at Un Café Bar at Jiangning road. She gave me a piece of pumpkin pie she had made so shout out to her! The bar is on 7^th floor and while I was going up in the elevator, passing 4^th floor, I noticed crazy sounds and 8-bit melodies overlapping one another. I just had to check that shit out. Turned out, on the 4^th floor, there’s an arcade. I’ve never seen anything like that in person. Dozens of gaming machines with joysticks, controllers, steering wheels... All making loud sounds, playing their own theme songs... Like half of them occupied... Looked like a scene from an 80's movie. One of those days, I’m gonna drop by and spend some quality time over there...

The event itself was like a textbook definition of performance art. There were some photos displayed but the main piece was this... A woman wrapped in bandages standing in the middle of the room. For like 15 minutes. With some projection going in the background. A guy appears pouring some colored liquid on the bandages. She stands there some more. The guy appears again. He removes the bandages. The woman is naked now. She enters this small tank full of water and the color dissolves. She leaves the tank and goes away. Art. 

Friday was the best though. After my morning run and workout I met with a friend visiting from Beijing by East Nanjing Road subway station, we walked to the Bund, took a ferry to Lujiazui and then went back to Jingan by subway to get a lunch at Jen Dow. Afterwards, we met up with my biking friend, hopped on OFO bikes and went for approximately 14 km ride towards Songhu Road – the venue of Plantopia, the 3^rd Shanghai vegan fest.

The whole thing took place outdoors and there was a number of different stands offering broad variety of food. We got some burgers, pancakes, cakes, cheesecakes, hotdogs... I got totally stuffed. Everything was super tasty, weather was great, what a time to be alive. To put a cherry on the top, we continued to one of bars nearby for a hookah and some beers. I ended my day at Jingan stairs with my Macedonian guy, doing some beers and getting conveniently drunk.

Saturday evening, I met with my Beijing friend again. She’s actually Czech as well and this time, she brought her former Czech colleagues too. They were in Shanghai for some business. We met up at People Square to go to Hu Bar which is this super posh basic place on 66^th floor of one of the taller building in the area. There was some latino shit going on that night and once we got there, it was clear that we are out of place. Usher in a suit and usherette in cocktail dress staring at my sweatpants partially in confusion and partially in suspicion. We did the right thing, took a cab and went to Elevator for some proper bass music. I got shitfaced, I enjoyed everything from talks to music and dancing, and contrary to my initial plan, I got back home around 4am. So my Sunday responsibilities were exceptionally pleasant. I really needed a dope ass party though so I’m glad it turned out that way.

Before I go, let me drop my two cents on that MeToo campaign and everything that’s going on in aftermath of that. I totally support everything. I totally support all the women coming out with allegations (no matter how dated they are) and all the actors, singers and people of power being shut down. Do I believe that there are double standards when it comes to men and women in terms of jobs, everyday life , expectations, requirements etc.? Yes. Do I believe women get mistreated on daily basis? Yes. Do most of sexual assaults and rapes go unreported? Yes. Do I believe this shit is getting ridiculously downplayed by society? Yes. It’s not about alcohol, it’s not about what she’s wearing, it's not about how famous you are, it’s not about any of that. If I whip out my dick today in front of my classmates and start beating it, I’m gonna get my scholarship cancelled, I’m gonna get kicked out of school and I’m gonna get my visa revoked. Same rules apply to everyone. So sorry, Kevin Spacey deserves this (as much as we all love him as an actor) and Louis C. K. deserves that too (that one actually hurts me the most). I’m just happy that this shit is coming to the light and that it’s sparking some extremely needed public recognition.

Highlights:

• Eminem’s Walk on Water. Say what you want, he is dope. I get all the criticism he gets and I agree he is past his prime but he’s still dope.
• Stranger Things. Started the 2^nd season, I’m 4 episodes in and I love it.
• Vegan burgers made by two lovely ladies from Venezuela. They are opening a restaurant in Jingan sometime in spring so I’m gonna have another spot to go for some veggie shit. Long live vegans!