Excess Luggage

Each time we, or more accurately, Mark returns to Shanghai from the US, he always has the maximum amount of bags allowed and weighed to the limit. Here is why.

 US$6.25 for the small brick of cheese. Not that he brings cheese home but you get the idea of the import product pricing.

 US$14.00 for Granola. We really like Granola but......

 US$9.60 for the Pancake mix.

 US$12.80 for Special K. This one I might have to end up buying some day if my stash gets depleted.

 US$14.75 for the Honey Nut Cheerios - WOW, that one is shocking, even to me.

US$19.55 for these nuts, the Select variety but a small can. We love nuts but I am not sure I can ever bring myself to buy those.
Thank goodness Mark has been able to go back to the states from time to time and we did stock up during summer break.

A peek into a day at the store. Some wonderful items are available here but on an inconsistent basis. Some days you can find it and then maybe in several weeks it will be there again - - or not. It's a gamble; we don't ever get our hearts set on making any particular meal, ingredients are just not reliable enough.

Merry Christmas

There are some signs of Christmas here and I have to say, they are different.
These first pictures are from Metro. The Metro is the Chinese version of Costco but not really even close. I shop there, I like it, and best of all, they play Christmas music.

I have noticed something about the decorating, it looks like the tinsel and ornaments are thrown on. It is really bad but I really do appreciate seeing it. I just have to smile.

This next tree is my favorite. I think I like it best because it was the first tree I saw this month. This picture is taken at the market below the Science and Technology Museum here in Shanghai. This is the underground market where you bargain with the vendors for such items as electronics, bags, scarfs, watches and shoes. It's fun to a certain point and then it's just really annoying and you have to leave. The vendors all yell at you as you walk by as they try to get you in their store. Really aggressive.

Very minimal.


I have to point out one more thing about Christmas here in China. Somehow Valentines Day has crossed over into Christmas here. At IKEA, they have red heart ornaments for the tree and wrapping paper with hearts, all for Christmas, right now.

Here is a card I saw at Metro which reads "Merry Christmas".

See the small Santa holding up the hearts? Not sure how this happened, but I have seen many instances. Merry Christmas everyone!

Warning!

This was fun. An artist displayed his/her work on the walkway as you enter a small strip mall near our house. It really looked 3D and as though you could walk into the water

The best part is the sign right next to the art.

New Produce Place "The Avocado Lady"

I was told about this produce place recently and thought I would share. Really I was so excited about this place because they call her "The Avocado Lady". Of course I had to come once I heard there was someone in Shanghai who specialized in avocados (not an Chinese staple). Her avocados are good quality and at least half the price of what I normally pay.

 Colors are so vibrant.

 Very fresh and not one wilted leaf

 Better than anything I have seen in the overpriced expat markets

 This man is sitting on a bunch of carrots right next door to the market. So funny, this is his stool, and I'm sure this bunch of carrots will be open any minute to sell.

View from across the street.

Stuff For Sale

I'm not sure what's for sale today

Walked by this scooter with a sign 

 I think these small metal pieces are for sale

Here is a closer look. See anything you need?

Low Tech and the Gardner

Low Tech all the Way....

 Gardner's vehicle, and here is what he brought today....

 his broom

and his long pole

 This is the usual sight...

 Hand weeding the yard,

even under the trampoline.

Once in awhile you see a mower run through the yard.

But not as often as often as you might think. We also have never seen a sprinkler system in China. They actually pump water from the water ways (small canals) in the compound with a big hose and water the greenery that way. Low tech every time.

The Basket Guy - Finally!

One of my favorite scenes from Shanghai is seeing the "Basket Guy" walk down the street with his cart/bike full of baskets/chairs. I am always in the car when I see him so I have been unable to capture a picture before now. This time I was in the car again but we were stopping to back up so I got a decent picture.

Here he comes.....

Full view of the team pulling the load as they walk down the busy street at 1PM. - Best shot I have.

Close up of the items on board.

There they go.... I was happy for the these shots. An image for you all to see how different life is in Shanghai China.

I am thinking, next time, I should get out of the car and see about buying one of these chairs. It would add to the experience we/I are all having here. Talk about a conversation piece.

 This is a picture of the the basket man the last time I saw him but didn't get a great side view.

Here is the rear view. I need a chair!

Trees Get Juiced Too!

Before summer, the trees in our area received some "juice". Interesting.

Another incident of Tree juicing.....

 What you are seeing here is an IV bag and tubing inserted into a tree. I really thought at first that it was medical waste someone had thrown up into the tree limbs. Upon closer scrutiny, I was able to see that the tubing was actually inserted into the trunk of the tree. I am sure I do not understand why and there must be a better way. After several days, the contraption was gone.

You Don't Get Email Like This Everyday

Today, Mark sent me this email he received from his work.

 

General Announcement No 40
Air-raid Siren Test全市防空警报试鸣

上海市人民政府通告：9月15日上午11时35分至12时03分在全市范围试鸣防空警报。请市民积极配合，保持正常的工作和生活秩序。Local residents in every corner of the city will hear an air-defense warning on September 15, the National Defense Education Day,the Shanghai government announced. The warning will start at 11:35am and last until 12:03pm. Please stay calm when you hear the warnings.

------------------------------------------------------------

Mark's email read ... "well here's an announcement you don't see very often."  I have to agree. Thank the Lord for The United States of America.

Just a day out

I took a few photos the other while out with my friend. I am sharing these not because they are so unique or different but because they were taken within a short period of time and reflect Shanghai China in a normal way. This is how it is here and what see all the time.

An interesting street view. Modern buildings in the background yet older in front. Clothes are hanging out to dry, we see this ALL the time. Very few people have clothes dryers in Shanghai.

Similar to the first. If only you could smell what it's like. Then you would truly know.

Picture of a man in the an ally way having lunch.

Sidewalk view. Scooters all about and some shoe repair items.

Man with a few flowers for sale. He was camera shy.

This was taken right next to the man with the flowers. This man was asking for money right outside two restaurants. Can you see the Happy Easter sign in the window? There were very few signs of Easter this year.

 There are so many types of housing in Shanghai. This is just one. I will have to get more pictures of all the varieties. It is rather interesting to me.

Typical street. Old bicycles, random items laying about the walkway.