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Shanghai – Garden of Pleasure and the Analog Tinder
Shanghai is a city of many names – the “Pearl of Asia”, the “Paris of the East”, the “New York of Asia” and a place that seemingly never sleeps. There’s always something going on here, and its energy can be felt on every street, in every pub, and on the riverbank. What really surprised me was its incredible diversity: ancient temples coexist with modern skyscrapers, elegant European-style buildings pop up here and there, and yet the streets are surprisingly orderly… and clean. If you’re thinking of a typical Chinatown, forget it, it’s a bit luxurious here. I had only two days to explore – one on the way to New…
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Thames Town – Chinese Truman Show
Thames Town is a charming little town straight out of a British postcard. Red telephone booths, Victorian architecture, brick terraced houses and old-fashioned post boxes give it a typically English vibe. Yet something feels off – it’s way too cute, tidy and suspiciously perfect. After a while, the oddities start to show. Cars drive on the right, most of the shops are closed, and the people walking past in no way look European. On top of that, there’s an eerie silence, and everything is so perfectly arranged that it almost feels unnatural. The truth only becomes obvious when you notice the signs. Alongside the English names, there are Chinese characters.…
