Originally Posted by Scanner
Very true. My advice for bros that had not been 'conned', is to read up take a browse of past postings before stepping into the unknown. It could save you lots of rmb, which could otherwise had been used for more bonking sessions.
My contribution. A year ago when I first stepped into Shanghai, got entangled in one such situation. That was the first and last. Did not follow a gal, but a tout. They will call you bro, big bro, boss etc. All with the final objective of getting you into their 'hei dian'. Once in, you sit and they serve a very expensive beer and some fruits, you had it. On bill settlement, when you start arguing, you will see 3-4 fierce guys standing about and will think twice about making a dash or not paying. At that time, I also noticed that a few rooms had a few 'sheeps' being conned into the same situation as I was. So I played it and started to talk to one such 'sheep', an american, and a rather big muscular one too. We spoke english and I told him that he's in deep shit (of which he did not know yet - silly fella). Told him in quickfire english to pretend to know me as a friend. He was quick and we talked for a few secs before the chinese thugs tried to separate us. After telling them that he's my friend, they finally relented, albeit suspiciously.
Now what happens after that is completely crazy on hindsight. We talked and decided we will make a dash, but armed with broken beer bottles. Within 5 mins, we told the gals in the room to shut up or we will slash them (i didn't feel gd, esp since such a threat tech carries an offence in China). Then we broke 2 beer bottles and immediately made a dash for the stairs (we're on the 2nd flr). We met with some resistance from the chinese who backed off after we wildly swung the broken bottles at them. One of them tried to used a metal bar to hit us and he being slahed in the front by the american. It was really make it out in one piece or die then. After seeing this, I just shouted in chinese we will fight to leave this place and not afraid to get injured. Who wants to come headlong with us, we will slit their throats (of cuz I was scared shit inside).
We made it to them ground flr and out of the place. After some 500m from that place, we hailed a taxi and headed to XTD. It took us some 15 mins (i think - but it was long) to get there. All the while, both of us did not say a thing in the taxi, and I was trembling after what we pulled thru. On reaching XTD, we went into Paulaner and ordered ourselves some beer. After calming ourselves with 2-3 bottles, we discussed the incident. By the end of the nite, we were back to normal. Decided to head to 999 with my newfound friend and spend out 'savings' there.
So that's the other extreme of Shanghai. Moral - dun follow touts, pretty mm or strangers. Think I forget what my mum told me many many years ago... safe chionging bros.
|