Yummy ....

Spent a day with Audrey's US clients touring around Shanghai yesterday. We started early as both still had jetlag from the West Coast of United States. Merely came in last Thursday and off today.

We hired our regular airport run driver with his mini-van. Let me tell you, it was the best RMB$800 we spent - for an 8-hour driving.

First stop, an old area of Shanghai pretty much untouched by the building of skyscrapers. A whole street filled with people buying groceries for the day, eating deep fried doughs, pan-fried crepes, congee and various noodle soups. The aroma was nice but not really want to coat our stomachs w/ grease. Easy in, easy out and quickly. We passed on the sampling opportunity. Enjoyed the walk.

One of Audrey's clients is a camera buff. Will post his pictures once we have it or you can later check at "http://www.mandelphoto.com" He has published several star gazing photography books. But now, has switched to wildlife photography. Take a look at the first picture about Japanese snow monkeys.

Anyway, digressed... where was I... O right, that old area reminded me of old China; locals were curious of "foreign invasion". After that US and China diplomatic exchange ;-), we proceed to this place called: Chenghuang temple. Click link here for a brief official explanation. Good that we arrived early as stalks were not fully opened yet. It was about 8:40am or so. We saw some shopkeepers playing badminton in a small lane inside the temple. And then, the bargaining began. Next thing you know, the two clients of iron-wife had bought two bags of stuff. We weren't even deep inside the temple premise yet. After the customary tour around, we went to have Xiao Long Bao, aka, small steamed meat dumpling with soup inside. The place inside Chenghuang temple is famous for. Took a while, but worth the wait. The soup from the dumpling, wow. The skin, so thin and soft and consistent. About RMB20 (CAD$3.50) for six in a steam basket. After an hour of this tantalizing b'fast snack, we left; but man, the "take away" line up was long, 50 people or so queuing. Now, this temple is coming alive. As this is a 'tourist trap", man did we get harassed. Those that went to China with me in 1996, well the soliciting sellers were a bit more subdue then in the South. We elbowed our way thru. Phew, after 15 minutes of "bu yao, bu yao' (don't want, don't want) and the clients' hand gestures of "No", we made it to the sanctuary of our hired van. O, almost forgot. Had a very interesting experience; Steve (a client) and I were negotiating a price for some toys he wanted to buy. Before we whipped out the cash, three guys surrounded this seller and in one scope grabbed the chair and the merchandise. A bit of fighting ensured. Then the guy that swept the chair away smashed it up by the side of shop. The other carried the toys away. Well, we had just witnessed the local enforcement agency at work to evict unlicensed hawker.

Next stop, Xintiandi. It's a Westernized development by a Hong Kong real developer. This is the site of the first Communist Party meeting. Go figure huh? From a Communist location to a very capitalist Westernized location. Bumped around for couple hours. Home....