Upmarket Xintiandi ...

Shanghai is fast becoming a semi western metropolis. The place all the visitors like to go to be seen here is Xintiandi(shin tee ann dee). Close to the city by subway and is kinda like the Sunday market place to go for many. Although it is not really a market, is mostly restaurants and bars but the surrounds are all the Chinese shops of both local and international brands.

Here are a couple of pics for you. Including one of the the local nacho snack we had.

And also on the way there is always something to see that is amusing. I mean the Chinese trying to be English speakers. People wear stuff on their T shirts they cant read or do not know what they mean. Example, I saw a female student wearing a shirt that said " I date athletes". As she walked past I asked her .. Do you ? and she just looked at me blankly. I rest my case.

Anyway, on the bus going to Xintiandi I saw this bag being carried. see the photo f the "happy virus bag". Don't ask me what that means. It seems that as long as it looks good, and they like the colour, the content is irrelevant.
ok enough on this topic except to say. If you are coming to Shanghai, do yourself a favour and visit Xintiandi cheers

mt

Peach Blossoms .. in Nanhui

Riveting stuff the peach blossoms. Being the avid gardener that I am ... anyways the college offered to take us all to the place nearby to see the peach blossoms and I have not been (this year) so i thought it would be rude to say no. As with most of these things here in China the entrance is a big fanfare. colour, markets, music and dancing (usually in the market stalls by enthusiastic sellers). In this case it was a very very gay guy selling BBQ squid/octopus. you just had to be there. Pic at least of the entrance with all the pink (fake) flowers to walk under.

So anyway we get inside and ... well, there it is. All the peach trees in blossom. Some pics attached for you. Lucky for me two of the teachers from my office came (Owen and Connie). And we spend all the time walking around chatting. Here is a pic of Connie walking across the swaying bridge .. was funny. She was not happy some boys made the bridge sway.
Also there were some animals and canals and shows like dancing. an awesome pic of a goat eating ( i caught it with mouth open) ... the dancers do shows thru the day. Mostly from ethnic areas around China. None from local Shanghai people. Its a job for them I guess and they would keep fit with all that dancing and bouncing and flag waving and stuff.
And here is a pic of Connie and some other college teachers. Don't know there names on another more stable bridge.

So I can tick that off that I have been to and seen the peach blossoms now. I cant wait for the actual fruit to arrive. Yum .. peaches. That's about if for now. next installment will be about the very very upmarket area in Shanghai called Xintiandi. Many foreigners and also Chinese. The place to go for a visitor here for at least a meal, and night out and beer.

I'm confused ..... but the cappuccino was good

A normal state of affairs quite often here I can tell ya. However in case it is about the international brand street of outlet stores just up the road from here. I can see Calvin Klein, Espirit, Nike, Hugo Boss etc etc and there is even a directional signpost but .... it is all written in Chinese? So which way do I go to the store I want ... I don't know, sorry. Guess I will just have to look for myself. here is a pic of the sign in front of Calvin Klein store. Not very helpful to me i am afraid.

So I went to a coffee shop just nearby. And if you have been here you will know names like Dio Coffee, Straits Coffee, and this one was called UBC Coffee. These are places where you can go and have some coffee and cake or other food as you choose. And lounge around and spend the whole afternoon if you like... doing whatever there. A little expensive but nice environs. So did that recently with another Aussie from here and had lunch, talking lots of normal English and cappuccino. Here is a pic of it. I have never seen one like this before .... maybe is cappuccino Chinese style. Had to take a pic. Tasted oh so good as well.

And then walking aroud my college I saw what I did not believe existed in China. A residential estate with actual detached houses of a modern looking design. see the pic. this is the real deal. Proper entrance through security for cars, nice little gardens about the houses and all. I was stunned and it is 5 minutes walk from the college. ... civilisation. Mind you i didn't see any people so maybe it was a fake... and just a facade. all is possible here

Anyway that is it for today on this trivia. It is April and the time when the Peach trees blossom. Nanhui is apparently very famous for the Peach blossoms. So we did go to there as a college ... everyone almost last Friday. Next blog post is about that with some pics.

bye for now