Hey, so its been a while since i did a ramble, and im bored now so since i had a fairly eventful day and night last night (normally my day consists of waking up, washing, internet surfing for 15hrs, eating, sleep) i decided to post here!

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Ive been in Shanghai now for 13 months nearly. Throughout my stay i have never seen it snow, also never seen it snow on my last stint here when i stayed for 9months.
We were on our way to our second home, which is 1.5hrs from main shanghai centre, when it starts to rain, but then it turned to snow. Im a kid at heart really so it excites me to see the white stuff as i never thought i would while i am in Shanghai.
Here are some pictures i took when we arrived at our second home we call ‘The holiday house’

These were taken about 2 hrs away from this post, and ive just saw that its more ‘whiter’ outside yay. So more then likely more ‘exciting’ pictures later!

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In Shanghai, you get a lot of people wanting to make money any ways possible. One of the big money makers is illegal taxis. Basically a small van converted into more then usual seating, and charging 15-20RMB (One english pound) per person. They dont have insurence, and the police let them through the toll booths and dont bat an eyelid
They cram a lot of people into these as possible, having little plastic stools in the aisle way to get more passengers and more money.
I myself have on more then one occasion had to sit in an ‘aisle’ seat.

So imagine my horror when the coach we were on today (thankfully a legal one with only us 2 as passengers) came past this:

Yes, one of those illegal taxi vans. I dont think it would be on the local news but i hope no one was seriously hurt. It haunts me that we do usually use these vans when we cant get the legal coachs on time. Its actually one of my fears to be in an accident away from my blood family.

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Another one of my fears, or nightmares of being in China, is kidnapping. Call me stupid because i may have watched too many Jackie Chan style movies, but its real and it happens in the world, (especially if your husband is in a wrong crowd :roll:)

So last night we went to dinner, afterwards, it was freezing cold, spitting of rain a tiny bit and i had a little tiny thin leather jacket on and we couldn’t find a taxi anywhere. we walked for about a mile or so and got to a familiar long stretch road, where ive seen and walked down plenty of times. Hubby had to go elsewhere first, so he told me to go home first, and to phone him when i got back. He put me on a bus, with 32RMB in change (2RMB for the bus ride)
The bus was full so i had to stand, couldnt really see out the windows much as it was dark. The first busstop i recognised, and knew it wasnt my stop. The next stop, i couldnt see but guessed it wasnt mine due to how far we had travelled.
The bus kept on going and it got fuller and fuller, it was a very tight squeeze (another thing the chinese like to do, cram like friggin sardines!) A tannoy type thing read out a road name which i recognised, so i fought my way to the door. Unfortuneatly, it closed, i thought "shit" and i said to myself il just get out the next one. Off i get out the next stop (not without shooving a guy out my way as he was blocking my exit yet again). Surroundings did not look familar to me at all Even though the tannoy message said a familiar road name, i did not recognise where i was and i certainly was not on the road it said it was! It looked like a backstreet.

So i walked up ahead towards tall buildings with bright lights, to try and figure out where i was. I saw a sign saying "Metro City" and guessed it was a shopping complex (i was right) I waited around looking for a taxi, couldnt find one, or people around me stole them before me. I started to panic and had a little cry to myself thinking of the worst. I was vunrable, not a tourist in sight to ask directions, and i didnt know where the fuck i was. I also wondered what would have happened if my hubby didnt give me extra 30RMB money, i had not another penny on me. The only thing i did know, was the road name of where we lived *thankfully* BUT i have once asked a taxi driver before and he couldnt understand my accent or the way i said the road name, so i was unsure wether anyone would understand me this time.

I carried on walking down a road, just guessing and basically thinking "im in the shit" I knew if i cried too much and it showed, someone might take advantage or see me vunrable, so i stayed calm as i could. I knew my hubby would either had gotten home before me and realised i wasnt there (i had the key) or he would be phoning the house phone wondering why i hadnt phoned him yet. I finally got a brainwave to find a hotel and hoping someone spoke English. It wasnt long till i found one and just as i climbed the steps, a taxi showed up! I jumped in and said the road name, the driver said it and i nodded and he started driving. I could of lent over and hugged him i was that happy! lmao
During the ride, i realised where i was, i reckon i had missed my initail bus stop by 2/3 stops and possibly walked another stop finding a taxi. Finally i was in familiar surroundings. Thanked the driver and ran to our home. Phone rang as i stepped in, it was my hubby Jack, sounding rather relived i picked up. He said he rang at least 20 times worried sick.

Turns out i had been out for an hour which should of been a 15min trip! I was so glad that my night didnt turn out much worse!