More interesting things to see at the local market

Fair warning on this one - it's not pretty and might not be appreciated by everyone. Don't read this post if you are easily grossed out. Just skip it and wait til next time.

 I notice that much of this blog so far has focused on food. After this post, I will make an attempt to show other things that are not food related. I suspect food is where many of the difference are in my everyday life and therefore easily shared with you.
Here it goes.

At the local market you can purchase pretty much any part of an animal. Pictured here is the part of a pig that pigs are known for. Sniff Sniff ................. Okay, I'm Sorry but I had to share.

Now, still part of a pig but the part that keeps him running from the guy who's trying to get his nose. WOW. These were displayed out in the open for anyone to touch and take.

These are eels. Just swimming around in something that looks like a Styrofoam igloo cooler. Again, yours to buy should you need it for dinner that night. I am not sure how you get them home. This is found in the meat/produce section of the grocery store.

 Next to the eels are these cute frogs found in a tank. My friend told me she likes to think that they are there to purchase should you be looking for a pet. Kind of like Pet Smart but in the grocery store next to the seafood. My other friend said she and her children actually bought a couple of the frogs once in an attempt to save them.....

Someone told me she read that the Chinese will eat anything with four legs.

Speaking of seafood in need of saving... this guy was not so lucky. OK OK is know this is gross and you might be thinking... Heather, we have all seems a fish head before. I realize this but this fish head was still flopping around and moving when I took this shot AND it was being displayed to be sold. I'm good but thank you anyway.(those were my thoughts as I saw this )  I promise I will do better with the next post. Please check back again. :)

Happy Halloween

Halloween is not a Chinese holiday so some friends and I were happy to find this store with some Halloween costume and decoration items yesterday.

You can see here some pumpkins and candles etc. nicely displayed on this glass shelf. Do you see the Happy Halloween sign proudly displayed as well? It's backwards! it reads NEEWOLLAH YPPAH!
So funny, and yet so nice at the same time. We were thrilled to see this store and the fact that someone wanted to supply the foreigners (us) with some of the goods we want. But at the same time unable to distinguish that the sign is backwards and looks a bit silly. I did not have the heart to point out the error to the store keeper as saving face is huge in Chinese culture; I would not want to offend anyone.
Happy Halloween to all of you! Hope this made you smile.  ;-)

Hong Kong Disneyland

We returned recently from a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland. Brooke and Collin had the week off school for National Holiday.

It is quite similar to The Magic Kingdom in Florida or Disneyland in So Cal., but smaller. We enjoyed and were glad to experience Disney in Asia. I took a few pictures of some of the interesting differences.

First look, this is just a typical scene of a few Princesses waiting for the Main Street parade to begin, but take a closer look, they are mostly little Asian faces. Mark and I thought this was cute, it's the same but yet a little different. In the middle of the parade, the parade paused and these sweet girls all were able to dance in the street with some of the characters - it was fun.

Here is one of the menu's in the park, we struggled a bit to eat. Food and waiting in line were the two biggest differences that come to mind at the park. In China, if there is space, someone will fill it. Translation: you can't leave a few inches between you and the people in front of you or you could very well loose your spot in line. It's everyone for themselves; common courtesy lacks a bit.

Could not get the kids to try this place... fried fish with tomato sauce, not going to happen. We managed OK but the selection was pretty limited. I found fried chicken cubes thinking they would be chicken nugget type food and we think it may have been duck, but we just called it mystery meat. Oh well, the ice cream was good afterwards.

Something familiar to eat is always welcome

We recently learned that there was a Krispy Kreme in Shanghai. The other night while out exploring a bit, we found it. It's quite far from the house but nice to know it's there to have once in awhile, The most unique thing about it is this flavor of donut, Green Tea. No, we did not get one to try. This same night we also stumbled upon a Carl's Jr. so the kids liked that as well. There are some restaurants here that are familiar but mostly just the fast food variety like KFC and McDonald's so we don't have it often. Actually I don't think we have tried either of those since we have been here. Pappa John's and Pizza Hut are here and we have eaten there. The Pizza Hut is a sit down restaurant with a much wider menu than in the States. Collin really liked it and Brooke seems to like the Pappa John's here. Apparently it's much better than in the States. Then again, maybe it's just because we are here and it's appreciated more :)