A Western Getto

After the furniture "looking", we met up with some friend for brunch in the same general area. They just moved there couple months back for their kids schooling. We were in the JinQiao district of Pudong. From the map in my previous post about funiture, you will see it. Just below the word "JinQiao", that was where we had our brunch. That whole area was occupied by Westerners. Chinese was minority there. Scary thought consider we are in China! We went to this Irish pup called Flying Fox. Across from it had a church and in front, just full of 7-passenger mini vans made by GM. Yes, all the Lao Wai families going to church and the drivers were waiting for them. "Lai Wai" is the Chinese term used to refer to Westerners. It was a funny sight to see with all those mini-vans occupied half of a major intersection. And when the church was over, just groups of Westerners coming out. And then we saw families on bikes just like back in the States and around Regina. If you don't want to speak Chinese in Shanghai, this area will be it. All full of Western restaurants and pups.

Back to the brunch, I was surprised seeing lots of Irish dishes on the menu. I order the Banger and Mesh. Ummm... gravy with my meshed potato. Disappointed. What I got was chicken sausages I thought but should be pork. Right... and the gravy... not even close. So I had to drown my food down with katchup. Bummer! I should have order a sherpard's pie or something.

This Flying Fox apparently is the favorite hangout for our friend's husband. He's Irish and she's Malaysian. I hope he only drinks Guiness there.

This JinQiao district has no soul. Meaning, Chinese atmosphere. So sanitized. One thing though, less traffic and flat road to run or to bike, not like the street, Nanjing Road West right downtown, we are living. Air was much better than here; that's for sure.

Looking for a new place, Pudong maybe ended up THE area; it's cleaner and cheaper. Will have to see. Just got a SMS message from an agent, the Four Season developed apartment building has a unit for sale. Quick sale, the per square meter cost is now RMB42,000 rather than RMB52,000. I'll say... keep dropping. Even with the Chinese gov't incentive program started over the weekend, will be hard to find people to buy. The Shanghainese are more realistic compared to the Beijing residents.