Trip with my father

I had forgotten how it was to take a trip with my father. It had been awhile and I was scheduled for my regular buying trip to Hk for my business. My mom wanted my dad to tag along since he was lethargic most of the time. (He just came from getting sick). My mom thought  getting around HK would give him some exercise and jumpstart his system.

I usually stay only 3 days per trip, but this time, I booked 4 days. I only got to work one day out of the 4 days. My brother and my husband went with us, so we were a foursome.

My father reminds me of Sean Connery. He is of the same generation and carried himself in the same suave way. His tastes are also down that alley. He is such a cool dude!

What I love about him, is that he never complains. You know some old people, they complain about the food, being tired... price for eating, shopping etc. But my father, he looks at the menu and declares, "All right, order what you want-- I'm buying!"

He has no qualms at all of entering a pricey store and asking for the price of a gold wristwatch...or buying my mom a $2000 PRADA bag..

I usually don't shop for myself. (I am stingy at times) But my dad was quite the opposite. (my mom said, it was a good thing he was born male.. if he was a female.. whoa is the man to marry him!! He is just a shopaholic!)....After two days, all his shopping was kind of rubbing off on me.   He bought some lens for his canon camera and I asked for the price of the Olympus pen (epl2) I was craving since last year. I crunched the numbers and it turned out a pretty good deal. (the kit included a 14-42mm lens, 8gb SD card, tripod, camera case and extra battery). ~ I got it in white.

Shopping with my father is super contagious. I got a mulberry bag too~~~~

It made me look like Indiana Jones... I love the size and the roomy construction of it. I can fit my camera, notebook and other things as well. It is a "IT" bad without being too loud.

On another walk, My father went looking for a sketcher shoe my brother recommended- it was the newest shoe model. He bought it of course and I was just sitting there when the saleslady asked if I was interested to purchase one for myself. It was pricey at $131. I said no. (I had spent too much already) But my dad said to go ahead and try and he would pay for it. (yey!!)--- new shoe!

I dont think you can find a better traveling companion other than my dad. (My mom always complains about the prices~ loudly too) but my dad just coolly smiles and chats up the saleslady with his charm... Sean Connery 007!

Scoring some plates

I am in the process of moving into a new house. Decorating, cleaning...

I have been hunting for some side tables for my living room and chanced upon a small furniture store.

Browsing through their display, I chanced upon some beautiful plates. They were marked down -- TWICE. original price was about $5 each but the final price was only about $1.7 each. WOW. --

 I love the scalloped edges! Plus, they are microwave and dishwasher safe...!!

I could not pass it up. It was still available in a 6 pcs set (perfect for my table setting) and because they were so cheap, I got the square ones as well.

I was scared though when they told me they could only accept CASH for these (since they were so marked down) -- and for one who rarely has much cash on her... I had to check my wallet.... (WHEW!) - good thing I got some money on me and paid the nice lady for the beautiful plates. I couldn't resist and bought 2 pcs of  appetizer plates...

 love the detail!

 the chocolates look great don't they?

This is also microwave and dishwasher safe.. I really don't know when I will be able to use them but I will find a way! (have to invite more people over!)

So Now, I'm part of a TEAM?

Whew! Just finished running my first 10K race last Sunday. For someone who had no inkling of running 3 months ago, I have come a long way. Not to say that I am a good runner.... just finishing the race was enough for me ( for now). I did not get to train for the whole week before the race. Maybe I was lazy, tired, busy or all of the above~ who knows???

My time, if you want to know was 1 hour 19 mins. I enjoyed the first 4k and I  was running at a pretty good pace. But when we got to the SKYWAY, (the elevated highway).. wow.. it really pushed my knees to the limit. ( the age was showing a bit...), but with no training, I finished in the top 30% of my race category. I even finished ahead of another friend who HAD trained that week for the run.

The race was for the benefit of the Dolphins and but what I was curious about is that the freebies were put inside PLASTIC BAGS (what the??? and this is for conservation?~ )

It is the only race that courses thru the main overpass highway in the business district. (that's why most people want to join).. I was thinking if I got stuck on the highway without finishing, will I get run over when they opened it again?? LOL

Honestly, I was struggling after the first uphill. I had to walk to get my wind back. There were water stations every 1.5kms and I went for one by the time I reached the 4.5 km mark. Thank goodness for the bananas. I really needed the food. Although I only managed to eat half of the banana that I swiped off the station. (imagine running and eating a banana at the same time. I was about to puke the banana)

The sponges at the end were a big help too. Cold water on your head when you feel you can't possibly finish helps you regain some strength. (there were TWO uphills for the race course). Everyone who finished got a medal. So I have my very first running medal!!!

So, the big news is.... WOULD YOU BELIEVE?  Me and my husband just got to become a member of a race TEAM. sponsored by SOLEUS WATCHES. We will be running on every run SOLEUS is sponsoring. (Can you imagine me with the soleus team shirt?)--- AND it's colored black... w/c compliments me!! yey! Dont ask me how this came about... I am still in shock at the revelation!

Problems is... I don't have a SOLEUS watch... I use GARMIN.... hehehe
Maybe they will sponsor our watches too!!! (hello soleus!)

For a so-so runner... being part of a running team seems so HUGE.... (It just makes me want to train now... OMG!)

Eating my way thru Shanghai

Food was definitely one of the purposes of my trip to Shanghai. I have heard a lot about the quality of food there and was excited to start trying them.

The skies cleared up when we got to Shanghai which afforded us the ability to walk through the streets without having to manauever through ice. (by this time, they already cleared the streets)

We were billeted at the Pacific Hotel - the design aspects of which deserve a separate blog in itself. It is located near THE BUND. This is a stretch of road on the westside of the Huangpu river. It is the most popular tourist destination in Shanghai (much like Champ Elysee in Paris) because of the beautiful Art Deco architecture. If you didn't know you were in Shanghai, you might think you were in London or some other European country.

First order of business was to try the hairy crab. It a small compared to the Alaskan king crab that I had tasted in Australia. But it was so flavorful. The crab roe was very sticky (not the dry and hard kind we would expect from other crabs)- It actually reminded me of peanut butter. The establishment we ate at was very popular because every table was full and we had to share a big table with two other couples (noticed most of the clientele was Japanese). The interior of the place was like one would see in a Chinese kung fu movie (It even had girls playing some chinese string instruments)

 the restaurant interiors... 

they are kept in the fridge (sleeping in the cold)

cooked and ready to be eaten

chinese music players

For a minimal fee (and because the crabs were so small it was hard to get to the meat) you can have the waitresses take the crab apart - they will serve it to you in a plate with just the meat. (how is that for service eh?) The crabs itself were pricey (because they were very seasonal) about 180-240 RMB (about $28) per pc depending on the size (of course we got the 180 rmb one). The other dishes we tried were forgettable. 

Earlier, we tried the big siao long pao at the YUAN GARDEN. It a big big dumpling where they fill it with frozen soup, crab roe and pork. They steam it until you get soup filled dumpling. You have to eat it very very carefully (bec they serve it piping hot)

yuan garden chinese pavillion

The lines around this place was unbelievable. it just went on and on (they had a take out counter near the entrance) But I found the skin of the dumpling a bit thick and didn't eat it.

 I found another place, near THE BUND which serves a tastier version. The skin is thinner (thus you can eat it) - it't tucked on the second floor of a chinese deli.

 very soupy!!!

you can watch them make it.... (this is before they steam them)

Aside from the regular restaurants, you still have to try the places you pass by on the street. If I see a line forming somewhere, you know the place has something good. Just follow the crowd to good things!

line forming on the street

its some kind of fried dumpling... of course we tried them.. yum! I burned myself in the soup (again!) it came out as I bit on the skin and quirted~ yes, squirted~ the juice 2 feet in front of me. Glad no one was walking in front!

 what is this? a line?

ooooooH.... egg tarts and some local pastry!

ate one before I remembered to take a picture. It's a cheesecake tart!

I was too tired to try the various other things I saw (but wanted to try) - maybe next trip!

Quirky Eats

Here are just some things I passed by when I was in Shaoshing

these are stewed eggs (left side) and some sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves. These are sold on the corner Mom and Pop store at the side of the hotel.

these are assorted snacks. some are pigeon eggs, fish balls, beef balls, meat on skewers

here is a video of a lady making rice cakes by steaming. It looks very similar to something we have at home called PUTO BUMBONG. She also puts brown sugar in the middle of the cake. It's actually really good.

This is the end product. (see the purple hectagonal thing on the tray)

I still have some more pictures but I haven't gotten the time to arrange them yet. (noticed I took a lot of food pictures)
It would be nice to hear what you think about the food!

And then it SNOWED

and snowed and snowed..... and it didn't stop for 3 DAYS.

I am back after a almost a week spent in the freezing cold. You get what you wished for and I am guessing my husband was praying hard for snow. (he hasn't seen snow). The first thing he said to me as we were landing in Pudong International airport at was, "Is that snow??" and this was 10am when I was really only FAINTLY snowing (the flakes were sparse and not even visible. We deplaned and walked towards immigration and he looked out..

 "I think that's snow."

I craned my neck towards the wall to wall glass to see if is was really snow. To me, it was hard to tell.

Outside the airport at the long distance bus station, he was sticking his tongue out... "it's snow...." I had to laugh.

From shanghai, we had to take a bus (normally 3 hour ride) to the shaoshing city where I needed to work. It took 2 bus rides and 5 hours to get there. I think the weather was partly to blame.  When we finally arrived, the ground was covered with snow. When I had to change buses, I had to wait in the cold for a good 20 minutes. It was  VERY VERY long day to say the least.  (had to wake up 3am to catch the 6am plane to shanghai. Then the bus ride to the shaoshing province were we finally arrived 5pm or 14 hours later...)

this is at the 2nd bus station. You can see the snow starting to build.

The funny thing is, I asked my supplier if it normally snowed there. He said it doesn't snow every year and if it does, it only snows for one day and then that will be it. Freakish weather that we are having lately, it is the most snow they have had EVER! It was hard to work, where everything is open air (no heat) I couldn't feel my fingers let alone feel the textile I was buying. My head was aching from the cold (I was wearing a bonnet and a hood) , my two thermal socks were of no help either. The snow melted as we walked through the streets (turning it into slush- much like a milkshake) and soaked right into the shoes I was wearing. My toes felt like frozen fish sticks. 

this is where I look like the eskimo from the previous blog

somebody made a snowman outside a restaurant we passed. the eyes and mouth are bell peppers (I think)

I was fine with the 4 shirts and thick jacket- the problem was, my toes and fingers were not properly covered and that made the walking around for 5 hours quite a chore.

I think God didn't want me to work too much, because by the time we were to set off back to Shanghai for the sightseeing part of the trip, it STOPPED snowing and the weather cleared up. (I was wondering how I could sightsee with snow on the ground).

Notes on China:
1. no access to facebook
2. no access to youtube
3. provinces only accept the local credit card (unionpay) so better bring cash (it is only in shanghai that they accept mastercard)
4. be ready to dodge locals who spit EVERYWHERE (its not uncommon to hear... hoourch.... potooo... every few feet)
5. look left, look right when crossing the street. Pedestrians DONT have the right of way here.

next blog, will tell you about Shanghai.

Cold is relative

Well, it's what my friend from the US said when I posted in facebook that I will be going to Shanghai (temp in -3c) for work.

For one thing, lowest temperature in our country only reached 18C (one day only) and for the most part of the year, it stands between 32-34C. so, you might guess I was freaking out at the thought of freezing my ass off.

I quickly scoured the mall (thank heavens everything was on sale!) and bought a thick jacket, some woolen sweaters, thermals  (shirt, leggings AND socks)

I guess I went overboard but as I say, better safe than COLD. The jacket I bought had a furry inner vest that you can detach and wear on its own. It also has a hood with feathers- or was it fur? hmmm...

this is what I would look like if I wore it.

quite a resemblance... don't you think???

It's a chance for me to get some milage on some of the boots I have bought.... the weather here to warm to wear boots often. (LOL)