The bus to Shanghai

It's Friday night and we (Matt and Emily - no Dean) are riding on a bus to Shanghai. I'm on a work related trip and I dragged Matt with me. He's very good at problem solving and has more knowledge than me regarding the industry for which Plaid is developing a new product - 2 things which will come in very handy the next few days. My thinking is that he'll get to see a little more of China while Plaid gets free labor.

When I say little, I'm not exaggerating due to the whirlwind nature of the trip. Getting from point A to point B in China can be very time consuming, and we're trying to visit 4 factories within the next 4 days. Even though they are all in areas around Shanghai, it will take many hours and different modes of transportation to get to each.

This morning we got up at 5 am to catch an 8 am flight. The plane was delayed 2 hours, then it took 2-1/2 hrs by car to get to our destination. We arrived around 3:20 pm. We worked fast and furious to cover what we needed to cover with the factory because we had to catch a bus to Shanghai that left at 5:50 pm.

I had just enough time when we arrived at the bus station to use the washroom - an eastern style ceramic hole in the floor. I wish I could post a picture here now for anyone who has not yet experienced The Squatter. Unfortunately, I now have a permanent image of how low the locals can go because I accidentally opened the stall door of a woman using one. "Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Was all I could stutter as I quickly shut the door.

I must admit, I'm feeling a little cranky right now.

It's hot and muggy on the bus, and little things that normally wouldn't bother me much are getting under my skin. The bus driver spent the first 45 mins blaring his horn as we swayed from side to side traveling through town to reach the interstate.

Then the woman across the aisle from us started clapping. That's right, clapping aloud. To herself. For the next 45 minutes. We're not sure what she was doing, but we're guessing it was either her form of entertainment or exercise.

We just finished a 15 minute stop at a Chinese rest joint for fast food dinner that makes KFC seem gourmet. I wolfed down my rice and stewed cabbage, the only things that looked even remotely appealing among a lineup of mystery meats. I got a short workout sprinting to the bus, since the driver was backing up to leave when we came out of the cafe. Now we're on our way again, lumbering towards Shanghai.

Hopefully my bladder will forgive me for not taking my chances on the restroom. The odor wafting from the doorway combined with the mental image of the last time I used the pee pit today kept me away.

The man in front of me is snoring loudly. Is it time to cue the crying baby to chime in?

I'm going to risk sounding a little snotty here, but Chinese public transportation is not my idea of fun on a Friday night.

We should arrive in Shanghai around 11 pm, and if we're lucky, to the hotel by midnight. Ahhhhh, I can't wait to crash into bed.