STADIUM Each of my walks was unique. Even when I started out by walking the same route, it would differ from one day to another. [ + ]
STADIUM
Each of my walks was unique. Even when I started out by walking the same route, it would differ from one day to another. One day something would attract my attention in a much stronger manner than another, effortlessly making the decision of which path to take for me.
This time, I had an early dinner at the lilong. I had a discussion over the bright red shrimps, which I would eat and savour one after the other, with some of my neighbours sitting on the tables in front of the street vendor.
I decided to go for a walk, in order to digest the feast I had just enjoyed.
Now, without noticing, since there are always so many people on the streets at this time, in the early evening I wasn’t focusing much on my walk. Suddenly, I began to wonder whether this might be one of the largest and therefore most crowded renovated streets, and continued to do so for the next three hours.
However, this time I saw more lighting items to be purchased than normally. Binoculars , items to put in one’s hair, flags and light-up hands. I looked up to see the sky filled with bright little UFOs in every colour of the rainbow, moving up and down the plaza. For indeed there was a plaza in front of me. My gaze shifted, and I saw the stadium, where a concert was in progress. I managed to follow the people, all going in one direction. The concert was sold out; however, they allowed me to come closer, since they thought I must have a ticket; they probably assume a laowai always has one, especially in a crowd of Shanghainese teenagers.
Even afterwards, I didn’t know the name of the band, but I will never forget the view from the top of this megastructure over the city and the football pitch, brightened up by colourful objects and singing citizens.