Shanghai Trip

During the end of last year, we took a trip to Shanghai. The local weather was very cold and the lowest temperature could reach about 4-8C. However we were very lucky, since staying at the nice hotel, we got the central heating and enjoyed bathing with warm water. On the contrary, some local Shanghainese's house don't have central heating normally. I can hardly imagine how they managed to resist those inhouse freezy air day by day. Some flats were not equipped with a heater also to take bath. I suspected that they might not take a bath for a couple of months in winter time, perhaps few people could stand bathing with icy water? Also, unlike those modern countries, there was no standard appliance like dryer installed. Usually they hang up their clothes for several days in order to dry them up, the good sunshine would be caught by luck.

I can hardly bear on staying in southern part of China during winter season without central heating system equipped. Furthermore, Shanghai is so crowded with large loads of people everywhere. We know that Orchard Road and Bugis are loaded with people in SG, while compared with density of people in Shanghai it was still only half in size. Most of people walking along the street don't have sense to give way to others. Luckily I was wearing thick jacket at that time, unlike in hot summer while wearing a Spaghetti Top, I would surely got those 'chi ko pek' to peep or try to get any benefits from you.

Xiang Yang Market

This market would be moved to another street soon. I didn't go there coz in my deep sense I would not be able to choose any good stuffs from there. This market was very well-known for many fake branded goods that you could imagine.

If I have to choose some particular place to stay in Shanghai, I would prefer those surburb areas like quiet villages. You can find some nice styled houses in the village as below. Viewing from outside, they stands a different building flavors from those counterparts in Indonesia and maybe Malaysia. Houses in Indonesia are quite big in size with 2 or 3 stories normally, in front of which you can park at least 2 cars and plant some flowers as well. It seems that those houses in below photo are more densed also.



Shopping

Any good buy in Shanghai for recommendation? Sadly speaking, it turned to be very hard to get a bargain in Shanghai nowadays. Normally the goods sold in big department stores are too expensive, only if you just want to buy winter clothes for kids, which got a lot more varieties than in SG. But for summer clothes, like cotton materials, the quality was not better and cheaper than those we bought from Pasar Malam at $10.00 for 3 pieces. The only exception goes to silk products, like what I bought directly from a local silk factory, which is actually a soft and lovely night dress sold at S$60.00.

Food

Eating out is definitely much cheaper in China. We loved to eat Guo Qiao Mi Xian (A famous Yunnan Dish), which soup is quite tasty and special in making. I regret for not taking a quality picture so as to share with you, my faithful readers.

At most of times we ate Chuan Cai (Si-Chuan flavored dishes), which were offered at quite reasonable prices and taste very good too. You can view from the series of pictures with us and delicious Si Chuan dishes at here.