Xujiahui and Gubei

On Thursday I decided to get some dinner at the Shanghai Film Center. I thought I'd be more adventurous and try something other than beef noodles so I chose the curry. I wouldn't ever normally order it but it didn't have little icons of chilli peppers so I assumed it would be ok - wow I was wrong! It looked pretty and was spicy and I actually enjoyed it. It was so filling and cost about 35RMB. As I walked out it was raining a little and then turned into a downpour! By the time I reached my room it was pouring and a storm broke out. I was really scared but drowned it out with DVDs.

Yesterday by chance I met up with one of my friends and we went to the bookstores in Xujiahui. We also visited the Udon restaurant. It was such an experience! You took a tray and a side plate and could help yourself to the fried snacks such as chicken skewers, prawn tempura, fried tofu and other various bits. Then at the window you order what kind of udon you would like, then you pay at the till and help yourself to spoons, sesame seeds and chilli oil etc. The food was really nice and it was really quick and cheap, the cheapest udon you can get is 18RMB.

We then went to a place next door for drinks and I had a really rich hot chocolate. The place was called Saint Marc's and they also serve sandwiches and donuts etc.

I still find it amusing when I'm approached by people who work for the Wall Street English company based in the Metro City asking me if I want English lessons when I'm either in the English book section or at the HSK section. The HSK is the exam foreigners take to prove their proficiency in the Chinese language.

Gubei

I took the Metro to meet my friend in Gubei and we went to a place called Secret Recipe. The menu is in English and I had the fish with lobster sauce and fries for only 38RMB! Fish in the UK is so expensive.  It tasted really good and afterwards we struggled to get a taxi to the market.

When we got to the market and were looking at some boots. My friend had bought some for 80RMB before but this woman was selling it for 220RMB! When we made the point it was too expensive and we were heading to the other store on that floor that sold the same boots. She RAN ahead of us to that store and told the woman there not to sell it to us for less than she was offering. She also claimed my friend who had bought from there for 80RMB had ripped her off and that they never sold it for less than 220RMB. We were so angry at their behaviour we walked out.

This market is full of foreigners which makes me think they are less likely to bargain lower prices. We went to another store, saw the same boots and the woman told me 330RMB! As I walked out she then offered it for 120RMB. Its amazing the difference.....

We went to the City Shop which is the biggest of its kind. It was so packed inside but we bought a few things. People are so rude and push and shove and jump queues. You really have to be aggressive to get anywhere.

We managed to get a taxi back to Carrefour and did a bit more shopping. I bought some bedsheets for 75RMB which isn't bad at all. Then we went back to Secret Recipe and had some cake and tea - it was so good to have English tea although I find here they don't serve it with milk. I think by the time I get back to the UK I'll be drinking my tea black.

I've come to realise I have exams coming soon and I really need to get my head into gear and study! So trying to go out less and focus more and perhaps pay regular visits to Shanghai Library ^^