It was great, but goodbye
It is quiet in my apartment. And very cold. My parents, after 9 days in Shanghai with me, have departed for home. Gone with them are their everyday grouse about the weather, the handy help cleaning around the house, and the company.
My apartment!
Oriental Pearl Tower on a cloudy day
We took a ride on Shanghai’s Maglev train, from Pudong International Airport to Pudong’s Long Yang Station. It costs 50RMB per person (40RMB if you have the same day’s boarding pass). The journey only takes about 7 minutes, and goes up to a speed of 430km/h. Although the wind produced a loud noise, it felt like we were in a flying capsule, so it was a really good experience.
We went on to patronize the new Xiang Yang place at 上海科技馆 Metro Station, Xinyang.
Instead of walking along tents and being subjected to weather conditions, the new Xiang Yang place now works like a shopping mall, just that prices are negotiable, and you’d better jolly well negotiate.
Here’s my mom trying out a pair of pants. This is a common sight. Since they haven’t got space for fitting rooms, they create a mobile temporary one as and when necessary.
My mom signed up for the Accor card, so she gets great discounts at Accor hotels. Near the new Xiang Yang place was Sofitel, so we had dinner there.
We dined in a private room of a Japanese restaurant with a great view of Pudong. The location worked well for the 15th day of the Spring Festival, for there were fireworks everywhere from 6pm till about 10pm. I’ve always enjoyed watching fireworks (especially fireworks festivals and Singapore’s NDP’s), but hearing it for 4 hours in the restaurant and back in my apartment compelled me to treat it as a nuisance. Firecrackers were also lit since the start of the day, everywhere.
The food was really good! We were the only customers though.
I discovered this place one day on the way home from 七浦 (qipu, a street of price-negotiable shopping malls, better than Xiang Yang or the new Xiang Yang for that matter in my opinion). Stepping in, you will find a long alley of stalls selling handphone or accessories and various electronic appliances. Behind this area is also the best place to purchase 2nd hand laptops. To get there, get down at 宝山 (baoshan) Metro Station and it won’t take you more than 5 minutes to walk there.
My mom brought 2 of my cousins’ old walkmans to repair, but when I asked the staff at the various audio appliances repair shops, they exclaimed that nobody repairs/uses these things nowadays. So think twice before saying (the whole of) China is backward.
My parents on Nanjing Pedestrian Street. We ate at Nanjing Road’s Sofitel hotel’s Mosaic Restaurant. Splendid selection of food. I had a wonderful dinner.
Chocolate fondue
Perhaps even better than 七浦(qipu), for custom-made clothes, head to 陆家浜(Lujiabang), and remember to bring either the pattern of what you want, a sample, or at least a very clear idea in your head!
These dressmakers really make anything, according to your requests, mostly good workmanship, and at reasonable rates. I ordered jeans!
You can tell, from one look, they are foreigners. If you’re a person with keener observation, I’m sure you can guess that they’re Singaporeans.
We went to 城隍庙(Chenghuangmiao) because my dad called this girl my parents once bought numerous bags from when her stall was in Xiang Yang market, and she informed him that she was selling “high-end” stuff at 城隍庙. I have been wanting to check out these kinda illegal stores, and was delighted at what I discovered! Previously, at Xiang Yang market, I never dared to follow people into their “warehouses” for fear of being kidnapped or robbed. But this opportunity was an eye-opener! Basically the interior looks like a shop, as you see above.
But the goods are actually showcased in one of these old houses.
The shop keepers have to keep watching out for the cops.
城隍庙, with an array of lanterns from the Spring Festival celebrations.
My parents and I went for a good massage session.
We also had a sumptuous lunch, and went 朱家角 (ZhuJiaJiao).
gal, so happening! i am so envious! next time i go Shanghai, muz bring me around see see ya?
of course gal, but first, you must COME to Shanghai! haha…everyone say they wanna come, but going to be 2 years liao still no visitors from home for me leyyy (except Sam and my parents)…How? You and Evan take one week off la…hiakz
[...] I do not exaggerate when I say my house floor is filthy, because the last time it was mopped was when my parents were here. I use the vacuum cleaner on my floor once in a while (more like once a month), but the idea of dipping a mop into water with floor detergent and then having to squeeze the mop numerous times is too much to even think about, let alone act on. I’m usually satisfied if I simply vacuum the floor when the dirt gets too much, which is rare since I let dirt stay in their cosy little corners and build their family there. [...]