The sun is shining from a clear, blue sky for the first time in weeks and the temperature is around 18C. In other words, it's a great day, so I decide to take a walk in Shanghai and find a park, sit in the sun and catch a tan. I pack a bag including a map of Shanghai and the latest book by Brett Easton Ellis, "Glamorma" and set off into the city, convinced this will be a great day.

First pit stop is at the Westgate Mall on Nanjing Lu where I – after a lot of pointing, smiling and mild frustration at not being able to say anything in Chinese at all – manage to order lunch by myself. Sitting in the restaurant eating a delicious chicken soup, I'm feeling quite pleased with myself. After finishing lunch, I head on further down Nanjing Dong Lu targeting the Huangpu Park at the Bund. Almost at the end of Nanjing Dong Lu four girls suddenly approach me asking: "Do you speak English?" and "Where are you from?" Overwhelmed by their nice appearance – and the look of one of the girls – I respond nicely with a smile. "Where are you going?" they ask, and I explain that I'm heading for the park just down the respond.

They start speaking Chinese amongst themselves and suddenly two of the girls leave, but two, including the of the girls leave, but two, including the pretty one, stays and she asks, "Would you like to come for a cup of tea or coffee and afterwards I can come to park with you? "Actually this wasn't part of my well – constructed plan, but then again you've got to be open – minded when you living in a foreign country, so why not… " Okay one cup of tea, and then I'm off to the park, "I say, "Yes, yes, " she says and starts leading me up Nanjing Dong Lu. At Sichuan Zhong Lu we turn left and she points to a restaurant a bit down the street with a sign saying "Tea and coffee" in the window. "You wanna come?" she asks and I nod thinking why not, this might actually be fun.

The restaurant is totally empty and has room for around 30 people, meaning this is not a big and fancy restaurant. The owner welcomes us and sets up a table for three. As he pouring the tea for us, Lulu – as the pretty girl is named – asks if I would buy them a little lunch because they're starving after having being shopping all day. She looks at me with her big brown eyes and smiles, and sure why not, I mean, a little lunch can't hurt and I could eat a little bit myself. The waiter brings in the menu and I ask them to order since I don't understand any Chinese. As they bring the food – a little plate of shrimps, some fish, vegetables and soup – she tells me that they're on a vacation in Shanghai for three more days, and that she normally lives in Beijing where she's a student studying English and that she likes to speak to foreigners to improve her English.

So basically we're all having a nice time and I start feeling glad that I went with them… "So you want to get check now?" she asks after we've finish the meal. "Ok," I say, reaching for the 250 RMB that I've brought in cash. The waiter brings the check and as I unfold it my eyes read 902, 75 RMB!!! I read it once again in disbelief; 902, 75 RMB. "What is this," I ask, "This can't be true… I mean… ehhh… I haven't brought that much money," I tell Lulu.

The owner comes up to the table and starts looking at me with a very unpleasant expression that's basically saying, "That's not my problem, pay the bill". "Ehhhh, do you take VISA? I ask as I show him the card. He shakes his head, and I start picturing myself doing a lot of dishes in a Chinese restaurant. "Ok, I've got to go to the bank then, " I tell Lulu and she translates to the owner and he then signals me to get up and as I start going he follows me out of the restaurant with Lulu at my side, leaving her friend behind as some sort of security. Well, back at the restaurant after withdrawing the last of my money from the Bank of China, I hand him 1,000 RMB and as he leaves to bring the change, I go to the toilet.

When I come back I ask the owner for my change, and he points out the door where I just spot the two girls walking away. I run through the restaurant, open the door and starts shouting: "Where are you going, I want my change". I catch them just a little up the street, but they won't give my money back. Now I'm getting really annoyed, and start talking about the police, repeating: "Give me my money back". "No," Lulu's friend says. At last I'm so mad that I rip the handbag she just bought from her hands, and after she realizes that she's not gonna get it back until I get my money, she gives me 40 yuan, and looks at me and says, "Do you wanna go shopping for me tomorrow and then go dancing?" I take one look at them and then I jump into a taxi, tell the driver my address, and look out at the window from the backseat thinking: "Why didn't just go to the park?". Still pale and 1,000 RMB poorer, I returned to my hotel room thinking I will never go out again.

From: Travel China Shanghai Edition