Ching Chong china man donkey monkey.....STOP

OK, so its been about 2 months since I wrote here last and I now find myself sitting on the 20th floor in central Shanghai thinking.... WTF just happened!

Well, I finished my exams, passed my taekwondo test, went to Hong Kong, back to Sweden and survived Bali which is right about where I left you guys the last time I scribbled away on this often funky but not very updated page......

So why haven't I been writing? I guess thats a good question... and for lack of a better word a personal one at that! Fact is, not so long ago I went back to the place where I left off (Linköping, Sweden) in order to say goodbye to someone that I love very much and whos been an integral part in making me the person I am today. That person would be my grandmother Gunborg Larsson.

Now having to write something as intimate as that is not my thing.... God as my witness I have tried numerous times, but the words in my head haven't really made sense and when I've written something it didn't feel right! Im not a guy to hold back and I believe in being honest and upfront but as this case shows its not always that easy! I did however promise a few people back home I would keep them updated and so I will. I guys my word is my word but in times as such it isn't always the fastest!

So here I am... in a land without facebook or youtube, but with more starbucks cafes, McDonalds outlets, Gucci, LV, Prada etc. stores than any other city I've been in! I always thought things out here would be different seeing as it is one off the most communist ruled countries on earth, but times the are changing and quickly at that! Shanghai is at the forefront off the next big thing and it isn't shy either. The last days have made that very clear. In fact, maybe Shanghai is the New 'New York'..... Everyday here is different, the beat of the city and the rythms of the night along with the honking of the taxis outside remember me of the feeling I had when I was in Manhattan! There is just a whole lot more Chinese people here.... well a bit more than a few, some 20 million more! And the itinerary has been busy, so illgive a quick summary before I head out to get my second Suit from tha tailor

Sunday- Arrived at 15.40 from Singapore making quick roll from the airport with the Maglev(magnetic train) taking me 30 km in 7 minutes at an average of 430 km/h! The night was relaxed as I met Niklas and headed out to his place where Im now sleeping and currently writing from! Later we went outfor Japanese and headed to the bund to check out the skyline over a cappuccino(pictures to come) before heading back for a nights sleep!

Monday- Headed to Tailor to get two suits made. Then strolled around town and peoples park before heading to Astra Zeneca at west Nanjing Road to meet my moms old Collegue and get some insight into Shanghai wonders and business environment from someone local! Later on we headed to Malones for a burger and big beer for just 50 yuan which is about 50 kr! Dirt cheap and extremely good! after that we headed for Zapatas for free all you can drink beer between 10 and 11.... Lets just say they didnt turn off the tap and we didn't spend a dime(Great Concept) After that we headed to Phoebes where for 100 yuan(about 100 kr) you get to drink as much as you want of whatever you want for the whole night..... We got home at around 5 that morning and headed to bed ill quick after finishing of the street BBQ food we got outside of Soho.... which is the place where we went for 10 minutes as they had stoped selling the all you can drink 100yuan bracelets! Good thing seeing as I dont think we needed to drink any more! Slept like a baby.

Tuesday- Summed up as being a hungover day going to the fake market to buy two fake watches(mont banc and Tag Heur) for 250 yuan each! Best thing is they are really automatic and look extremely authentic so good for anyone that wants the watch but cant afford the real one! We later headed over to the aquarium where we watched the fishes while trying to work off the hangover! Later that night we went for some spicy cantonese food at this old traditional place and live show! thanks to a slow cab driver we missed the show but still enjoyed the food! Btw, the taxis here are so cheap... never payed above 30 yuan!

Wensday- Headed to the french concession and the old town to see what was up with the real Shanghai! Almost got coned by a tourist trap and instead headed for a small tea place where it still felt like we were getting conned as we spent 110 yuan on tea! Good on us I guess! After that we went out to this Tapanyaki place for all you can eat buffe with our own cook making it infront of us! All of this before heading to Ascot rooftop bar and later on M2 which is the club we got stuck at until 4 in the morning even though we said we should make it an easy night! Guess we had a lot of fun!

Thursday- Headed to Chinas number one water town... or more like it Chinas little venice! Really nice place will put pictures up later!

Friday- Went for breakfast, fixed my things before we head to Beijing tomorrow and will now go to the tailor to pick up the 2nd suit! Will most likely head to an expat red carpet event tonight before heading to the view bar at the Hyatt and then Bar Rouge! Be sure to stay tuned for details and pictures!


Gotta run!

Epic

So check it dear friends and family,

Its been an epic weekend which was kicked off with the F1 helipad party last thursday at the swissotel followed by the weekends three days of F1 racing and concerts!

Though I would, but most definetly will write and tell you all about this weekends adventures... I am sad to inform you that time is of the essence and I dont have enough of it! This is because I am leaving for the airport at 6 A.M. for my flight to Bali where Ill be for the next week. Considering the clock just hit 2 A.M. I am feeling that I should hit the sheets and get some form of prolonged powernap before I have to wake up again. Therefore, I am going to have to say goodnight, sleep tight and... yea I am unsure as to what rhymes here, but nonetheless I'll try to update as soon as I can so stay tuned!

Should I not be able to find time and a computer, then be sure to at least tune in next sunday as Im sure I'll have stories worth sharing!

So in case I dont see ya, good morning, good evening, and goodnight

HELIPAD party

Last night we went out to the Helipad party on top of the SWISSOTEL!

IT WAS SURREAL AND REDICULOUS!

Being Outside that far up in the air on a helicopter platform with no fence or railing was one intense experience and I LOVED IT! Singapore proves once again its ability to provide the unexpected! Just the fact that parties like that exist is beyond me... Mad Creds!

Anyways, here are some pictures! (Note the F1 GP track below, for tonight its day 1 and the drivers will warm up the track.... going to be AWESOME)

Clockwork

Wise words of the week:

“Time is the chief difficulty of every problem in economics”

-Alfred Marshall as quoted by A. Reisman, Prof. in Health Economics

Thinking of the weekend seems small when you’re writing about the US and EU national debt and potential exchange rate crisis. I find it ironic when thinking about it. I feel as if with whatever we do or chose to do, we are almost always meant to either destroy or fix what we ourselves have created. The only difference is within what dimension or arbitrary lines we are doing it. We create things for which there are imperfections in need of constant mending. But hey, maybe that’s life. It is probably the only thing which still makes us humans and not god like.

Now, perfection may be an idea out of our reach, but maybe that is just what we need it to be. The beauty of things is in its flaws and its broken parts, not what we render as whole. If there were no flaws in the systems we build what would we do? Consider everything being perfect... It’s a scary thought and maybe too philosophical and deep for it to even be healthy to think about. But nonetheless I do in a way hope we never have to reach the point where perfection is in everything and everyone because that in itself wouldn’t be healthy. There is too much pressure in such a life.

It’s weird to say, but I think these last weeks have truly made me love the fact that I chose to study economics! There is always a new problem, something in need of fixing. I feel as though there is a purpose in it… something I feel we all need! But hey, then again, there is always that problem with time! How do we learn everything? How do we stay in tune with these issues without losing the ability to live? I guess that’s another thing to figure out… But in due time of course, for now I’m going to enjoy a nice bit of partying on a helipad on the roof of a 73 story building with a view of Singapore in the night! ; )

So till next time, here are some of those pictures I promised!

All the best from Singapore!

BBQ at Parc Oasis Condominium

Salvador Dali exhibition at Marina Bay

Drinks at Screening Room

Almost there!

Hola,

First, I want to give a shout out to my sister who has her big 25 today! Happy birthday big sis!

Second, the week has finally come to an end and as I look back it wasn't at all as bad as I thought it would be! The two projects/ presentations that I had in Health Economics and International Business Environment are done and turned in for assessment. Though they could have been a bit better, I am pleased with the result and the notion that its over so I can focus on the last two projects which I have to finish next week and present the week after recess! But before I go and do all of that I'm taking a little break from all things school! ''

Tonight I have taekwondo practise and then afterwards dinner with the team, where I will receive my Taekwondo-suit(picture to be posted) along with handing in my registration for grading so I can move up from white belt in october if I pass the test!!! : ) Tomorrow its time for more activities as we head over to the east of singapore for cable wakeboarding and then climb asia to get some gear! After that I'm heading for Andre's condo, Park Oasis, where there is BBQ and chill before we head to the opening and world festival party at Avalon, a new place down by Marina Bay! So from now till sunday there will be no studying for me!

Then next weekend is the F1 Grand Prix in singapore along with the start of recess week where after the F1 race I head to Bali! So almost there and then officially halfway through our semester! It is completely insane how fast time is flying over here, feels like I'll be back home in the snow in notime!

Anywayo, got to jet so i can eat before the practise! But stay tuned as some more sweet visual footage is coming your way!

Cheerio

Blisters... Man I hate them!

So I guess I'm getting a semi flow to this online monologue... Feels good : )

Now buzzing off to more important ventures, namely:

So as you might have read, heard or maybe even dreamt, I have joined the university bouldering(climbing) team so that I will have the skills to both climb and fight(taekwondo)! I suppose I'm just following my childhood dream of becoming a ninja. But thats neither here nor there, for yesterday I had some serious doubts over such possible achievments and if I would ever know the green pastures on the other side of awesomeness.

The thing about mondays practises is that it actually doesnt involve any climbing whatsoever... Instead its all about the physical training(henceforth known as PT), involving 400m intervals, pull-ups, chin-ups(all different kinds of variations on the wall), static chin-ups, and core training! In others words one kick-ass workout :)! Only down side are the blisters, for not only are my feet ridden of the once baby surfaced skin due to our barefoot workout on a 'tennis court' ground in taekwondo, but now my hands will experience the same joy as I climb higher and higher! So in an attempt to become a true man of steel, the goal is to be able to do both taekwondo and bouldering for one practise without getting a single blister on either the hands or the feet! Though a highly uncertain bet against myself as there are soon only 2 months left, do wish me good luck!

Some pictures during the Chin-up session on the workout wall!

Now even though the pain is temporary as far as the blisters are concerned, it does help when you come home and you get to see this thing of beauty which you can let the battle wounds heal in:

Now need to grab school by the horns and study as I'm sitting on the 5th floor of the library! Oh and by the way, I can see Malaysia from here.... gives you a surreal feeling!

All the best and Cheerio

School high times

So we be kickin' it once more in the Nanyang valley as school just won't chillax for more than 2 seconds. Sitting with 4 group projects at the same time isn't exactly the most optimal thing I've had to do in the 21st century, especially not when coming from sweden where we just have one at a time. But with Aerosmith and 'dream on' blasting through the headphones I do find the situation quite ironic. I mean, I always knew what I signed up for by coming here, though I would have hoped for the workload to have been evenly spread out across the semester.

Now instead, I find myself in the global lounge on campus on a sunday morning, while others with nothing to do en up having another blast downtown. But at least I have the good sense to 'dream on' as 'times are changing' because there is a cycle to everything and soon enough I'll have an upswing and this hard months work will give me that sweet ragidy blues of 'sweet emotions'!