My Gypsy Life

(photo via TimeOut Shanghai)

If only I could go back to Shanghai to see this…super cool! Love this quote…

“People carve out the city they live in but they’re carved out by it too” 

More here. 

Next week starts Chinese New Year. It’s been cool to see the city change from Christmas decorations to CNY decorations. Yes Christmas decorations were up this long.

If I had more time, I had thought about painting my own rabbit to mark the occasion. I read about this place via City Weekend Shanghai. No painted rabbit for me, but perhaps when I come back I’ll make my own Chinese Yo-Yo.

somewhere in Shanghai, 2011

This is my last week in Shanghai and I’ve been having a fantastic time to say the least. I have much more to write about and many more photos to post.

Yesterday was a whirlwind. Not only am I working and finishing a project, but I also have a ton of “errands” to run.

My first stop yesterday was the fabric market to pick up clothes. My jeans still need more alterations. I really have no hope for them turning out the way I want.

Then I was off to Yu’s Massage (366 Wuyuan Lu, near Wukang Lu 五原路366号, 近武康路) for a Chinese and foot massage. Two hours of bliss for only RMB 125! ($19) You can get cheaper but they speak English and it was super effective.

Then I met up with a friend for a screening of Objectified at a cafe. Mostly expats but it was 2-4-1 beer and wine, plus you could order food as well. Then my friend and I ended up drinking too much sake and eating too much Japanese food. Next to us was an empty table, after about 5 minutes they brought platefulls of food. Then about 5 minutes later the people showed up. They pre-ordered their dinner!

candy Haibao with candy friends

(Haibao is the mascot from the 2010 Shanghai Expo)

I read in City Weekend that Nanxiang was a good day-trip outside of central Shanghai, so I gathered a group of people including a 2 and 4 year old…yey kids!

Nanxiang is famous for being the birthplace of xiaolongbao (pork dumplings) and a 30 minute trip on the metro into the suburbs of Shanghai. After a short ride on line 2 we transferred to line 11. I entered the train and saw two men in a corner guarding a large, yellow potato sack with small round holes cut out of it. I thought nothing of it until we rode a few stops and they asked us to move aside in order to exit. They each grabbed the bag on either side and then the most amazing thing happened (why do I find this so funny). The bag started moving and from one of the holes, a beak appeared. We stared at each other, laughed, and then concluded it had to be a bag of live chickens (Oh! how I wish I had a photo of this).

We arrived in Nanxiang, took a cab to the Old Street, and leisurely walked around. What came next were stares as everyone was obsessed with the western children we had brought along with us. All were super friendly, even grabbing the children, saying “Ni hao! Ni hao!” We were quite the spectacle, I guess…about a dozen or so people took photos of us instead of the sights.

happy xiaolongbao, Nanxiang Old Street

making xiaolongbao

“the best xiaolongbao ever”

getting lost in shanghai

down an alleyway, shanghai

More photos from the “Old City Wall of Shanghai”