🍱 Delicacy of the Day

Ninajirachi - Delete

Alright, it’s finally time I talk about this song.

It’s been in the back pocket for some time now. Mostly because it’s hard to explain why it’s so good.

It’s made more difficult since everyone who listens to this song has 2 reactions.

A. “Ew, Brother, Ew! What's That?”

or

B. “I need MORE.”

There’s no wrong answer. There’s a certain “sound” to this song that doesn’t sit right with most.

But to your humble Trashmaster Hz, this sound made me fall in love in the genre.

That’s right, this is another Electro House track. A real delicacy and rarity.

It’s noisy, it’s melodic, its energetic.

If you haven’t had a taste of Abnormal Australian Ninajirachi yet, consider this your chance.

One of the few artists that can embody the spirit of “fun” in electronic music.

It will also fill the cravings of that 2010’s sound (with a fresh and modern feel).

Njoy.

https://tidal.com/track/446039377/u

💭 Quick Drivel

Last day in Shanghai.

It’s also a very important day.

After scrambling to find a place to leave my luggage (Had to go to room 202 which was turned into a… luggage storage?) I got the day started.

Yeah, this wasn’t a run of the mill Mcdonald’s. It had a special name and everything.

The menu here was a bit basic, I’d say Korea had more variety.

However I still got the standard Big mac, nuggies, and something called “crazy fries”

It was… alright tbh (the fries were terrible).

Tasted a bit closer to the US McDonald's but with fewer chemicals.

Pretty fun experience though!

Took a maglev train, whatever that meant, which was pretty cool! Never taken a maglev

The best part is that it will be tilting at certain turns, It was almost like a rollercoaster ride.

Above all, it went 124mph (200kph for the non-imperials), which is slower than the fastest train in America.

There’s no real reason to mention this other than fulfilling the Train Autism demon, lol.

This is also where the email will go off the rails, so hold on.

Beep Beep Beep

“Hey, do you have any batteries in your checked luggage?”

“I do yes.”

“Please take them out.”

I take out the batteries for the DJI camera.

The luggage goes through.

It’s very odd. I’ve been to 4 airports at this point and no one has asked to remove batteries from the luggage.

Oh well, I’m sure it’s nothing.

…then I get to security.

Beep beep beep

They pull my backpack for inspection.

“Do you have batteries here?” Asks the security officer.

“Yes, they asked me to remove them from the luggage”

He digs in my backpack and pulls out the DJI batteries.

After a quick inspection, he puts them back in the bag.

Ah, so it’s all goo-

…then he pulls out the fated Anker battery I got in Japan. (to deal with the coughing baby of a phone that dies after 4 hours of use.)

The security offer inspects it and calls his friend.

They deliberate and try to analyze the battery as if something is wrong with it.

After a minute of inspection, they have a decision.

…what

They throw the battery in a confiscation bin and call the next person.

…

Fun Fact: If you’re flying domestically within China, ANY non-compliant battery has to get confiscated.

That Anker battery was considered non-compliant since it was missing their mystical CCC seal.

This is REALLY bad.

My main phone only has 30% and I still have a flight and hotel commute to figure out.

Not only that, there’s still 19 days to go and the battery on both phones has only gotten WORSE.

And so the journey to find a new battery begins!

Which led me to a place I wouldn’t dare enter even with a loaded wallet.

I ask around to see if they offer portable batteries.

3 stores say no.

“Airports don’t sell them.” they all said.

Except the third store did something different.

They asked if I would be interested in someting ELSE.

The security situation bummed me out, so I didn’t really feel like buying anything except a battery.

…but then she said the magic words (through a translation machine)

“We have some headphones you can check out”

Well…………

Even lawn chairs take longer to fold.

I saw everything.

Earbuds that came with auto-translate (would have been handy for the past 3 countries)…

Ones with a weird clip design (very uncomfortable)…

And some over-ear ones that I’ve been using for a couple years now (oladance).

Except that next to those were some “Cleer Arc 5” earbuds.

“Those are really popular right now. Wanna try them?” said the lady who smelled the leak in my wallet.

They seemed right up my alley so for the next HOUR I analyzed every nook and cranny of these headphones.

I still feel bad for the sales lady who patiently answered all 1 trillion questions.

But one thing got me over the edge.

After an hour of asking stupid questions, it was time to pop the question “can I try them?”

She accepted and gave me a phone with Chinese spotify installed.

I thought for a moment about what to play to experience the power of these headphones.

So I played today’s song.

It had been on repeat over the last couple of days, so I knew it like the back of my hand.

Except when I heard ONE new sound while testing the headphones.

This was the seed of a very dangerous hobby.

I bought the headphones shortly after.

Unfortunately, my main phone was now at 20%.

No time to charge it as by the time I got there the plane was boarding.

This was one of the few planes I didn’t instantly knock out on.

Was a little bit too excited to try the new headphones to sleep.

Unfortunately, I was the exception.

Shortly after the plane took off I felt something hit my shoulder.

…the head of lady next to me knocked out cold.

I genuienly wish I was making this up. I have a picture but I ran out of time to edit it and post it.

No biggie! I decided to focus on the sights outside.

…except the windows were filthy and barely visible.

Which is a shame because I saw some of the most breathtaking views.

I also saw an illuminated tower from the plane.

Since we were landing soon, I had to think of something fast to revive the main phone.

And that’s when I thought of doing something illegal.

Still not sure of how this came about.

It was a mix of seeing the music phone with 50% battery and going “wait, if I plug a usb cable on both ends, will it charge?”

And it did!

The main phone had 15% dfter completely draining the music phone! (truly the works of a higher power that I’ve made it thus far)

That was enough battery to exit the plane and make it to the luggage claim before the phone died again.

So I had to bum out at the luggage claim for a good 30 minutes while charging the main phone again, just to have enough battery to make it to the hotel.

“I’m here. I’m here. I’m here. Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?”

“I don’t see you.” I texted back.

“Hurry. Hurry. I’m here. White car. Hurry. I’m here. Hurry”

Then I get a picture of my lost ass.

I look up and see a white BYD car.

“Hurry. Hurry. I’m here”

(These are individual messages btw)

I waddle over to the car while still feeling my phone vibrate with every text notification.

It seems I ordered the crazy taxi because the second I closed the door bro TOOK OFF AND DIDN’T PRESS OFF THE GAS PEDAL.

The best way I can describe it is actual road rage.

Sitting on the horn whenever someone is moving “too slow” (we were already speeding)…

Flashing high beams to get people off his lane…

Swerving in betwen cars like some weird fast and furious movie

Almost crashing twice...

One hand on the wheel, the other on the phone...

Whatever this guy was on I had to get some of it.

Probably the most insane 30 minutes of this trip.

Regardless, we made it.

And to drive his point home, he floored it the second I closed the door after exiting the car.

Gave him 5 stars because the ride was supposed to be an hour. (And it was mad entertaining to experience this)

I approach the front desk concierge and show him the reservation with the hotel name.

“This is not the right hotel. Sorry sir.”

…what.

I step outside to open the map. I put in the name and it shows that the hotel is 20 minutes away.

I’m not sure if I want to order another crazy taxi and it’s already pretty late.

And as they say…

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

And for the first time in the whole day

I decide to read.

By doing so I find an address on the top of the page.

It matches the one in the building.

“What about this address, its here no?” I ask the concierge.

“Oh yes, thats right, please take the third elevator.” he says.

I guess reading does pay huh…

While waiting for the elevator I feel an arm wrap around my neck.

I look to my left and see a phone camera.

Next to me is some random guy I’ve never met before.

He smiles and takes a picture.

Before I can react, he tells me something in chinese and boards the elevator.

What the hell is this place man hahaha.

I genuinely wish I was making ANY of this up. Everything about today has been real.

Regardless, the elevator arrives.

I get in and see the following buttons.

“3” “21” “24” “45” “58”

My floor is 23. How in the world do I get there?

I exit at floor 21 to try to find some stairs.

There are no stairs but there sure are more elevators!

And so starts the game of wack an elevator.

Its a fun game where you:

In my case it took 5 guesses.

Thankfully, everything went well.

I was able to check in and the hotel staff even let me borrow a portable charger!

For what?

Well, I gotta get something to eat.

I was hungry as a dog and wasn’t gonna repeat the fasting charade from last time.

Unfortunately all 3 restaurants I tried were closing so they sent me away.

On the way back to the hotel I saw some food stand selling mystery meats with noodles.

…So imagine my surprise when the lady said “yes you can pay with WeChat”

You truly can do anything with this app.

The meal was fantastic. I can’t even lie.

And hey, its as they say, if it doesn’t kill you it can only make you stronger.

After that I was exhausted and just went to sleep.

The most unreal day of the trip, and it was an AIRPORT DAY.

And you might notice that I didn’t include the name of the city.

Well, that’s for good reason.

This place is so incredibly crazy that it would be a disservice to spoil it in this email.

It’s not gonna be as wild as today, but it will surely blow your mind.

See you tomorrow.

Hz

P.S. TRIP SCORE: (26 days)

Hours slept total: 149.

Times phone died: 8.

Times lost/taking the wrong train: 25.

Strangers met and talked to: 37.

P.P.S This is the longest email of the series so far. If you’ve read this far, let me know in the poll below.

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