On the up side, I got to ride in a police car
On the down side, I lost my wallet (with the initial cash infusion I’d just withdrawn), hat, sunglasses,camera, map, sim card, and all my credit cards. I got hit with the classic scam of being distracted by one guy, and robbed by the other – they got quite a haul there, all of it in my hat as is my wont when I’m relaxing. I was in a Starbucks at the time, with a friend, Daisy. She went to the bathroom, my guard was down, and the rest is history. They were quick and professional, and even though I realized what happened straight away, the guy gave me the slip. Gotta hand it to them. I was sitting on that stuff and still they managed to get it completely unnoticed by me. They didn’t get the iPhone though – that makes the score Jake 1, thieves5.
The cops were nice and I got to ride to the station in their police car. I’ll write some more about those guys later – the police station was tiny and charmingly casual, with American Idol on the TV and watermelon to be had. That was the highlight of an afternoon dealing with banks and credit card companies on the phone and trying to arrange some food money. Fortunately, I have some emergency cash coming from Mastercard tomorrow, so I won’t starve. It’ll take a few weeks to replace all the cards, and I have to file a travel insurance claim to see what I will get back of what I lost. Losing some photos is always sad.
I got a ride in this car, but it didn't come cheap.
The worst of it is feeling like a sucker falling for the oldest trick in the book on the first day in the country. I’ve managed to travel to countries like China, India, Spain or Panama before without ever falling prey to this, although by being alert I’ve thwarted a couple of attempts in the past. I hope this doesn’t mean I have trouble relaxing in the future – it pays to be alert, but not fearful and paranoid.
I was very, very lucky to have Daisy around to help translate and navigate some of the bureacracy. I hope I can make it up to her – a packet of Tim Tams isn’t going to cut it.
I’m not down on Shanghai or the trip; this could have easily happened in any European capital or even Melbourne. China and Shanghai are still safe places to visit. It’s only stuff. I’d rather be robbed than the more likely scenario of doing myself an injury through clumsiness and having to navigate the Chnese hospital system instead of police stations. Tomorrow I start the apartment search. Going to view one in the morning after I collect my cash.
Hassles
Qantas have cancelled my flight to Shanghai – I now have to go via Hong Kong, getting to Pudong several hours later (and missing the maglev). What a drag – I was looking forward to that.
The couchsurfer I was originally going to stay with seems to have disappeared overseas, so I’m now without accomodation as well. Something else to do today. Luckily, I expect Shanghai has one or two hotels.
Things to do in China
Notes to self on todo list in China.
- Ride the maglev.
- Get a SIM card, with 3G data, so I’ll have Google Maps and not get hopelessly lost.
- Find a place to live, (so I won’t die from exposure).
- See Cold Fairyland /Lin Di play live.
- Everything else.
This is gonna be great.