ISpyShanghai

[January 22, 2007]

Stayed in on Friday night, partly because I got too engrossed in 15 different MSN messenger conversations, and partly because I didn’t know anyone who was going out. Saturday made up for it though.

In Harleys, my local bar, there’s a large bottle covered by a green sack and protected by a figurine of Bruce Lee. It’s a jar full of Baijao (a horrendous, inexplicably popular Chinese white spirit) in which a load of snakes have been drowned. Two of the other lads I was with were having a shot (they were told it was vodka and weren’t happy when they found out the truth later on), so I figured what the hell.

I was a bit nervous about it, but as Homer J says “It passed the first test: I didn’t go blind”, and to be honest, normal Baijao tastes so bad (sort of like an industrial air-freshener mixed up with paint thinner) the dead snakes took some of the edge off it.

The guys I was out with are all workmates of Craig, over for a jolly vital business venture from the UK eager to see the sights and, oh I tell you what, I’m just going to let the photos speak for themselves.

Note the bottle of free tequilla being poured into punters’ mouths

Please note that this last picture is rated “18″, anyone suffering from a meek disposition, Sciatica or vertigo should look away now (click on the photo to find a larger version if you must- it’s on your conscience).

So yes, apparently Shanghai isn’t all dumpling shops and teahouses. A blinding night out, the old adage is true- polymer scientists know how to party (that reminds me, I danced to the “Venga Bus”- why God!? WHYYY!!!!??”).