Sister Cities?

So I've had a rather hopeless crush on Taipei ever since I was small fry; even back when I thought visiting Taiwan sucked, I always preferred being in Taipei. Something about late nights, bright lights, and bustling life about me resonates deep within my shallow, extroverted core.

Welp, I've found a new Taipei in Shanghai. ^^ I was even gonna comment last night that the weather here is better, but it's probably not much different from Taipei. But no matter!! Lights, subways, buses, cool things to see and do and shoot... Um, SHOPPING?! It's all so w00tful. ^^

Granted, the food is overpriced, the lack of easy Internet access is still regrettable and simplified characters just don't do it in the pants for me, but still. Some of the pros Shanghai has to offer so far are:

1) Distance from family. It's not that I think my parents cramp my style or anything, but it's hard to branch out and develop on one's own when one's parents live merely an hour away and there are no end of relatives for one to stay with in Taipei. A hop across the pond is still... a hop across the pond. ^^

2) People who hover outside our sticker booths, waiting to help us when we get stuck.

3) Something new and fresh: I feel like I know Taipei, at least relatively well. I'd like to explore something I haven't seen before.

Cons:

1) Service isn't as great here... but Taipei's nothing to brag about either. :P
2) It's still as rainy and humid here as it is in Taipei

Still, Shanghai > Beijing by about 10^20.

This is just a goofy list based off of my very random first-day (or night) impressions, lol. 南京路is really fun and bright and shiny 'n' stuff. (Someone hire me to do an engagement shoot there) I danced in the square and sang really loudly throughout the subway tunnels, much to Michelle's annoyance and consternation. ^^ We hit up a sticker booth, traversed the touristy lane of lights, and were super proud of ourselves for figuring out how to bus somewhere we wanted to go, without any help. ;)

Yes, I'm incoherent at the moment; you would be, too, if you had bacon in your mouth.

Still no internet in our room, but we might try switching rooms. XD Yes, we are that desperate.

Here are some of my favorite images to date:









The famous Westlake in Hangzhou, by night in the rainy fog... I like how, if you look closely, you can see a couple on the left side of the pagoda. The girl has her feet kicked up in the air. ^^ I like.













Again, Westlake by night in the rain.