Bachelor City: July 2011

Given that I will treasure my time in Shanghai for as long as I live, it is rather strange that I am currently having so much difficulty describing my experiences there. Perhaps I have indulged in cynicism for far too long; so long that I have relinquished the capacity to pen a happy piece. So long that I have forgotten what it is to be joyful. Perhaps, subconsciously, I do not want to taint a perfect memory with puerile contrivances or slight deviances in recollection.

I intended this post to be long, verbose and frankly, a little contrived (as my stories usually are), however, this post is none of those things.

I did many things in Shanghai. I visited museums and marvelled at fine arts. I was swept away by the night lights. I sat in tiresome lectures, falling asleep to the lecturer's monotonous lullaby. I ventured into retirement villages (nightclubs). I sang karaoke. I took care of people too drunk to remember how drunk they really were. I beheld the beauty of pagodas and temples. I travelled in impossibly condensed trains. I ate in unashamed decadence. I made a fool of myself.

I also had the best time of my life.

But it was not the things that I saw, the aromas that I smelled nor the flavours that I tasted that made my time in Shanghai the best time of my life. It was the people that I enjoyed my time with. Thank you. I was more touched by the fact that you all remembered and celebrated my 21st birthday than you can ever imagine (at this point I would also like to thank my lovely sister, parents and my friends who held a surprise party for me the day I returned back to Australia). You guys and girls are amazing.

I will end this post with some photos I stole from facebook. Enjoy!