country's ocean-going cargo. Shanghai is one of China's youngest cities and has a population of 17,000,000, comparable in size to Tokyo & Mexico City. Australia has 21,000,000 people in the entire country. When referring to China's overall national performance, what is most frequently considered best, biggest, most modern, efficient or productive invariably is found in Shanghai. The municipal government is working towards building Shanghai into a world economic, financial, trading & shipping modern metropolis and is vying with Hong Kong to be the financial hub of Asia. From what we saw they are rapidly succeeding. There is construction everywhere. From our balcony alone, which faces the city, I counted 20 cranes. Our friend counted no less than 18 ships passing his cabin at all times. A slight haze hangs over the city from the pollution. However, they do have an inferior infrastructure and what we saw in Shanghai is only a small fraction of the country. The surrounding areas are very poor and underdeveloped. 
We walked in the main part of the city for about 3-4 hours. There were throngs of people everywhere. We would have bought a camera, as Gary broke his, but we found the prices better at home. We were on a walking street called Nanjing where the only traffic was from very small 3 car trollys. The huge opulant signs reminded me of Las Vegas. Shanghai was an amazing experience. By the way, travel Charmin is my new bet friend. No paper in the store bathrooms, not ever to dry your hands nor was there an automatic hand dryer. The opposite of Japan.
Walking down the street we were stopped every 10 steps by people trying to sell us watches, cameras, t-shirts, purses, etc. If we went with them we would have been taken down an alley into a small store with few items on the shelves. The shopkeeper would then open a bookcase or some portion of the wall and behind it would be a room overflowing with merchandise. By the way, every store was packed with people. We were stopped by some college kids and asked to take a group photo of the 3 of them. We began to converse and they asked if we would like to accompany them to the annual "tea festival" (SCAM). They wanted to "practice their English and though it might be something we would like to see." Gary & I didn't go but several people on the ship went and were taken for about $50.
Walking further down Nanjing there were several men carrying shoeshine boxes. They ask to shine your shoes and before you can answer they squirt toothpaste (it looks like toothpaste) on your shoes. Gary had on gym shoes and they squirted his shoes. So picture Gary, walking down the street with these 2 big blobs of toothpaste on the top of his shoes. You have to love this city!
Gary needed a haircut so we stopped to get one at a shop we passed. On either side of the reception desk were 7 chairs filled with people getting their hair done. The left side for men and the right for women. There were also several people waiting. We walked 2 flights up a spiral staircase to a room that had only 2 chairs. The fellow gave Gary a great haircut (it'll grow) for only $6.50.
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