[blazey]

Well, I've been in tears three times today and I get the feeling I'm not going to be sleeping much better again. The situation in China (unfortunately my flight didn't cost less than £99 as lovely as that would be) is that we basically have no idea whatsoever when we could possibly fly but with the backlog of people we have been quoted MAY for a flight. We have been given no other advice with regards to visas, accommodation, food etc and I'm in Shanghai, a city I've not actually been staying in so I do not know my way around and I have no mobile phone here to be contacted.

I'm currently staying in a £50 a night hotel because I was ripped off yesterday and hassled by two Chinese men all evening so I'm playing it safe tonight, but tomorrow I have an hour taxi ride to a hostel that I know is safe to be in, so at least I can be accommodated for less than £10.

On the bright side, I definitely have a few days in Shanghai at least to explore the city. It is eating into my student loan though so I need to live as cheaply as possible, but apparently my insurance company WILL cover this if I prove that I was here for my flight when it was meant to go and that I HAVE been delayed for more than 12 hours, which I inevitably will be.

I've only been abroad once before. Trust a volcano to erupt the one time I go somewhere alone that happens to be halfway across the world...