Starting a long week before MidAutumn Festival....

Time flies so quickly out here and I already am into my 3rd week at university. This will be a long week as next week is Mid Autumn Festival which is a national holiday and lasts for a week, however, as is the norm in China, the missing time gets made up on the weekend so Saturday is actually a normal working day.

As much as I'd have loved to planned to travel during that week I have been advised by so many people not to because the whole of China will be on holidays and travelling. So it looks like I am stuck in Shanghai. I will plan to make the most of it and explore other parts of Shanghai, maybe visit art galleries and markets - perhaps this time I will go to the fabric market and get a Chinese dress made.

On Wednesday it was an old classmate's birthday so a few of us went to her house and had a bbq which was amazing to sit on her terrace in her beautiful home. The weather was good and company was good. Then afterwards me and a friend headed to Shanghai Brewery to check out the salsa night at the expat mixer and met some of my other friends there. It was good fun to go out mid-week.

Most of the week passed just studying, I try to keep busy. I tried this nice vanilla pastry, and felt a bit homesick and wanted some soup so I went to Pizza Hut.

Saturday my friends decided to head to the club but I realised I didn't have the right things to go so I had to head to Yuyuan market to buy a bag and some accessories. I am always nervous to go there and being early there were so few people around. I bought a nice velvet bag which hopefully can go with other outfits and some hair clips. The details on one of them is amazing, I really like the style. Also I like there are so many peacock designs!

 

Peacock and Phoenix

We tried to get into M1NT but they were very busy and telling us to wait, we could get in or not. Then we went to Geisha which was more relaxed but I think after 11pm there is a fee of 100RMB which includes a drink. Geisha has 3 floors, 1st floor is a restaurant, 2nd floor is a dancefloor with "harder" music, and the 3rd floor is more hip hop with an outdoor terrace which is quite nice too.

Day out to Hongkou

Phew! A week into university and it has been hectic. I am now in Primary Intensive level 4 but I'm finding it managable - we'll see how that progresses as time goes by.

So, the weekend I decided to visit the Friends cafe which opened a month ago in Shanghai. The first branch is in Beijing. I read the article on one of the websites and took line 10 to Hailun Lu. The location of the cafe is quite odd and you walk through side streets, very old style streets with people napping, playing mahjong, hanging up laundry in the streets (very common sight in China).

I started to think I was in the wrong place until I crossed the bridge over the creek and was in a newer built up street and saw a big glass window and the "Friends" sign in neon lights. As I walked inside and it was much smaller than I'd thought it would be but it was pretty cosy. The interior is decorated just like Friends, complete with Pugsy, Joey's toy penguin! The orange sofa was there, giant cups, and the TV show playing in HD in the corner of the room. The mugs were all printed with quotes from the series, as were the menus, however one menu is only in Chinese and the other with some cake selections are written in English.

It turns out only the manager can speak some English so helped to translate the menu for me. We had a nice chat and he was curious how I found the place so I explained and now he is expecting more foreigners. I did hint he'd need to translate his menu into English...

It started to get busy so I headed out and slowly walked up to Luxun Park as there was a lantern festival. The weather has turned rather pleasant and the humidity is fading so the walk was nice until this woman with some laminated paper grabbed my arm as I walked past, chattering in Chinese but when I pulled away she grabbed me harder so I pointed at the paper and said loudly in English "I can't read any of that" and people stared and she let go.

Luxun Park was quite busy and the first thing you see when you enter is a big dragon sculpture made of Chinese dishes. The whole park has huge sculptures made of some material which I guess lights up but it was daytime. Also there are many things people are doing in the park, mostly singing their own karaoke from their loud machines, people dancing, some were in traditional dress doing dances, people playing cards and mahjong.

Afterwards I headed into Hongkou Plaza which I had read another article about some churros being sold there. The place is called San Gines and is found in the food court area in B2 level. The queue was long! I bought the ones with Spanish chocolate cost 19RMB for 6. It was interesting to watch how they made them.

I really like Hongkou Plaza, there are many western brand shops which I didn't even think existed in China, such as Desigual, Mango, Pull and Bear, Gap, Zara. Downstairs is a Carrefour, 2 floors of food places from sweet desserts to hot pot restaurants. There are some specialty foods like Belgium waffles, Japanese crepes, Korean Fusion snack foods, Hong Kong style waffles. I will definately visit a few more times!

I had dinner at Cafe de Coral which I'd been so a branch many years ago in Shenzhen. This place you order at the entrance and they hand you a plastic number stand and attach your reciept and waiters will rush around and deliver the food as it is cooked.

I had pretty nice wonton noodles for 23RMB.

I tried to go back to Luxun Park to see the lanterns at night but this now required you to buy a ticket for 50RMB and the queues was huge so I left.

The next day I headed to Shanghai Center in Jing'an where Crepes Co opened. I had a really nice crepe with chopped up ham, cheese and an egg. The coke arrived in some straw holder which was interesting. The crepe was really nice, best crepe I've had outside of France. Price was 55RMB which is reasonable seeing as going to My Old Dutch in London costs £5 only on a Monday.

Another fun-packed weekend!

The weekend kicked off with Jorge, Joseph and I going to Dongchang Lu to the cinema to watch Prometheus. Joseph managed to book our tickets online for 50RMB (not the usual 120RMB). I didn't realise it was in 3D and that it was a scary movie! Ok, so people told me it wasn't scary but it isn't the usual thing I would watch. It was rather dark... Also the atmosphere was so different from the VIP screen and people munching away so noisily I guess it made the movie a little less scary.

Afterwards we popped into Hagan Daaz to see what these ice cream mooncakes looked like. Wow the price was incredible - for 6 small cakes cost around 700RMB! That is almost £70! For 6 ice cream cakes?! Insane... As me and Jorge were in shock the waitress asked Joseph where we were from so he explained. As usual I hear the same old "but she doesn't look English", so Joseph explains my background. Obviously we left without ice cream and went to the metro.

We were supposed to change lines but we were so occupied talking we missed out station, had to exit the train at the next station, cross the platform, go back one station and change lines. We got to Shanghai Library station and called a taxi to Zapata's which is a Mexican restaurant (where Jorge wanted to go for his birthday). Berlinda was there already and got us a table outside. It was really nice to eat outside in this courtyard which is for these 4 restaurants. There is a bar outside, tables with umbrellas, people outside smoking sheesha and a kitchen outside where chefs are cooking pizza for Sasha's (one of the other restaurants).

Unfortunately the service was so very slow and we were rushed to order drinks because happy hour was ending in 5 minutes. The food took over 40 minutes to arrive. It is a little expensive but as I'd mentioned before, non-Chinese food is more expensive out here in China. Just as we were finishing up it was raining a little so we quickly paid the bill and left to get a taxi. In that 5 minute taxi ride it started pouring! That night there was a huge thunder storm and I was so glad I got back home just in time as there was a massive downpour.

Sunday

On Sunday we were meant to go to the Sunscreen event at Geisha Bar where they were showing an international movie and then playing board games. As this wasn't until 3.30pm we met up at Manabes for lunch. I met Berlinda and Karen there and then Jorge came, late as usual. Joseph we assumed was sleeping. After lunch it was pouring with rain so we waited a little until it stopped and Jorge came with me to buy a lightbulb. I was too short to change it in my room so he helped me out and we grabbed some DVDs from mine and went to Berlinda's to watch them.

We didn't make it to the movie screening and instead watched Men in Black 3 followed by some episodes of Lost, during which Joseph turns up and we continue to watch until we are hungry.

We go downstairs to Koala Bar to have burgers and enjoy a drink. We played some pool in teams and a man came in with his pet dog who was so cute and friendly! It was really chilled there and I really like it. We then went back to Berlinda's and watched Snow White and the Huntsman. The special effects were really good but I'd agree with most people, Kirsten Stewert isn't very good at acting...

Ready for another semester at Jiao Tong University

I walked through the university to go to my private class at Hongqiao Lu but as I walked through a taxi driver called me over. He seemed to need help and the man in his taxi asks me if I speak English. I said "yes sure" and he blinks at me "oh you are Chinese?" and I explain I'm from England. So he is looking for the international student building so I give him directions but then he needs me to ask the taxi driver to wait for him. I have to translate and come to an agreed time for how long the taxi driver is willing to wait and where he will wait. They were both very grateful I could help them and it made me feel very happy to help that I can't wait to become a translator now!

Afterwards I decided to try a beginners guided meditation class that I found on the website Spiritual Shanghai. I left a bit early from my flat to go to People's Square to buy some stationary ready for starting my course next week. I was surprised how long it took me to get there and I decided whilst I was in the area I would drop by my favourite place to eat beef rice. The restaurant is called Forever Young on Fuzhou Lu which serves rice in hot stone bowls - very hot but very tasty!

I then walked along East Nanjing Road to get to the Metro to go to the class. It is really pretty to walk here at night and always lots of people and things going on.

The class was actually in this lady's house which she was kind enough to invite people in to teach them meditation. There were 4 of us in total and she explained how it would work and did a Deeksha blessing which is pure energy being put into us to help us gain clarity. I have to say I did feel it briefly and it was an amazing feeling. I haven't yet been able to connect to my inner divine but I will continue practising.

I got a little lost looking for the Metro again but that is what I love about Shanghai that I never panic and just flag down a taxi is very quick and easy. When I get back home I feel much better.

Back to Jiao Tong

I went to Jiao Tong to enrol for my next semester - well actually I already enrolled, I just needed to get my class schedule and textbooks. I couldn't believe it took me over an hour to do this though! And that is without the testing portion! Queues were crazy long and I was surprised it seemed a lot less organised than the last semester enrolling process.

First I went to a room where they confirmed my details then sent me to the 4th floor. There I queued and sat down for 2 seconds where I wasn't even asked which class I wanted to be in and given a piece of paper with my schedule and told to go to get my new student card made. Another long queue to have a photo taken for the card and then went to get my textbooks. I spent 260RMB on textbooks and that is even minus one textbook that a friend kindly gave to me before she left.

Right then there was a huge storm and downpour! I seriously had never experienced so much rain, I felt grateful for coming early and not getting caught in the rain although I was very hungry and wanted to leave to get some lunch. It took an hour for the rain to stop and the thunder and lightning to pass. The rain was so heavy that it caused the canopy to collapse!

I hurried home in case it started raining again but was stopped by a girl asking me for the main gate of the university. I did my best to direct her although I'm not too clear where it is exactly myself but she kept asking and wouldn't take "sorry I don't know" for an answer.

I stopped by my little snack shop outside my house to get some lunch as I was starving! Back in my room to eat and then the drilling started again. I was so annoyed I decided to go out for a while and headed to West Nanjing Road to Krispy Kreme. I miss English tea so much that this is the only place I actually find the tea tastes like English tea!

Afterwards I went to get some dinner at Ramen Play. I quite like this place and they have many choices. The prices are little more expensive than other places though. I wasn't too hungry so opted for the udon noodles which came in a steaming hot bowl!

 
After dinner I walked around the shops here and saw a man selling cute puppies. I am not sure if they are ok or not but they brought a lot of attention and were so very cute!

I then left and walked and walked, enjoying the night life and the cool evening. I eventually found myself near Jing'an Temple and decided to take the bus back home.

Pepsi chicken crisps??

For the last few mornings I've awoken at 8am due to loud drilling and hammering that actually causes my floorboards to vibrate! This morning 8am went by and silence... I thought I was safe until 9.30am came and the drilling started again. Defeated, I got out of bed and headed to KFC as it is halfway between my house and my class.

I still can't order without a picture menu here and when there are 5 cheery women standing there greeting me and I'm flustered asking for a menu and they look at me a little funny - she looks Chinese but needs a menu? So I explain to them I'm from England and they start chattering to each other in Mandarin, too fast for me to catch.

So ordering and one of the women asks me in broken English and when I respond her colleagues seem to congratulate her on her English speaking skills.

I don't know if it was because I was there early but the price was different as normally I pay 28RMB but today only 15RMB. I'm not sure what time breakfast is finished serving but according to what I could read on the signs they have 12 kinds of breakfast for only 6RMB.

I went to my class and my teacher tells me there is nothing wrong with my grammar at all, I just need more confidence to speak so tomorrow we will do an hour of speaking. I'm quite nervous about it but I know this is something I should have been doing more of for the last few weeks.

As it was finally not raining today and not humid I decided to go to Yuyuan to the market place that I couldn't get to the other day as it was closed. Walking to the Metro and a woman behind me was talking and I assumed she was on the phone but she walked up next to me and was still talking like I heard her from the start! Finally she asked me again and I worked out she was asking where the station was so I managed to give her directions. Even Chinese people are asking me for directions - I really must blend in well here!

At Yuyuan I went to Fuyou Lu to the market. Again, when I'm on my own it seems I blend in and people don't keep hassling me to come to their store to buy so I felt some relief to browse in peace. I'm able to understand what people say to me and can respond now very basically but my confidence still is quite low that when it comes to bargaining I can't do it very well and have to give in. I hope by January I will be able to haggle much better with them!

I bought a paint by numbers which wasn't bad at 60RMB and is a really cute piece of kit. I also bought some cross stitches in case I get bored here. I'm unsure what a Shanghai winter is like but it already is quite rainy.

There has been an advert showing a lot lately for a new flavour of crisps. The advert shows a young Chinese guy being sent to the store to buy some Pepsi. He comes back home and the girl takes the bottles and pours them into her wok where she is cooking some chicken wings. He then eats these crisps. So I guess they are Pepsi flavoured chicken wing crisps! I haven't tried them yet but I'm looking at them quite curiously as my local shop stocked them...

Gongqing Forest Park

I met with the guys again and we went to Nenjiang Lu Metro and took a taxi to Gongqing Forest Park. The taxi ride cost 15RMB and there are many gates to the park. Also many parks like this cost money to enter which was another 15RMB.

The park was very big and said to be the 2nd biggest in Shanghai. There are many activities here such as hiring rollerskates, horse riding, biking, boating and some fairground rides. It was beautiful weather with a nice breeze so many people were flying kites. There were also many wedding photoshoots.

After a few hours in the park we headed to Yuyuan Gardens to eat xiaolongbao. This famous place has a few choices of price range so we opted for the minimum 50RMB spend. Afterwards we tried to go to the market on Fuyou Lu but it closed quite early which was disappointing.

We chilled out for a bit but noticed the many scams that happen around this station.

Tourists need to be aware of young Chinese people hanging around this metro station. They will strike up a conversation or ask you to take a photo and then try to find out where you are from etc. They will convince you they can take you to a teahouse or something and if you follow them you could be the one ending up with the bill or you could be escorted to a cash point and forced to take money out for them. Please beware!!

So we noticed this American man following these two Chinese girls so Jorge and Joseph wanted to try and help so Joseph asked one of the girls for directions and Jorge and I tried to warn the man of these two. I'm not sure if he believed us or not but we tried our best and left.

We slowly walked to Xintiandi and Joseph helped me sort out my mobile phone (I will write another entry for this). Afterwards we went into Xintiandi Style and had some drinks and in the basement there is an international supermarket with many imported brands which is nice for when you are homesick but the prices can get a little crazy!

Quanjude, famous Beijing roast duck

I met up with Jorge and Joseph and we went to Dongchang Lu which is over in Pudong to go to the cinema to watch Batman, The Dark Knight Rises. When we arrived we were told we would have to wait 4 hours for the next showing which cost 120RMB or we could wait 30 minutes and pay 140RMB for a VIP showing. Since we had dinner plans to go to Quanjude we decided to go for VIP.

It was a small private screen with about 10 other people. The seats fully reclined and were really comfy!

I saw the movie in England already but I really enjoyed it and wanted to see it again. It's also interesting to watch with Chinese subtitles.

Afterwards we walked to the ferry and saw the Shanghai Tower getting windows put in. I have been seeing it for the past year and it's progressing really fast and expected to be completed in 2014.

We then took the bus to Shanghai Railway Station where Quanjude is located.

The roast duck is really lovely, much better than any roast duck I had before and I highly recommend it! The service was pretty good too compared to another duck restaurant I'd been to (Duck King). The duck gets carved at the table and they serve the chest meat which is apparently very important and recommend it is dipped in sugar and garlic. I actually didn't like it much as it is quite fatty but the manager stood over us to see our reaction at eating it so we had to enjoy it!

The rest of the duck on the bones they ask how you would like it served and we had ours put into soup. The duck meat we ate with pancakes and we also ordered a few other dishes. In total for 3 people it came to around 300RMB.

After dinner we headed to The Bund as it was such a beautiful clear night it was perfect for some photos. We also managed to stop by and see the World's biggest sofa...