Today is a saturday, our first weekend in Shanghai
On the way walking to the nearby famed Huaihailu, the shopping street in Shanghai, we visited a plant and flower market. Ria discovered it, the unknowing would simply pass it having a large courtyard and a gate, one would think it was anything but a market. You could find trees and shrubs, beautiful collections of orchids and bouquets of flowers, bonsai trees and cut flowers, pots and adornments for a wedding car. And on the second floor everything repeated in plastic and silk.

Then we visited the infamous Xiangyanglu market, hundreds of stalls on some parking lot. Shanghai is terrible to visit in the summer months, may to august, temperatures above the 30's (Celsius) and a smog laden sky reminds one how needful an airco is. Even very small stalls had an airco, not all however. Here you could find the faked brands of clothing and apparel, or the real one's which didn't pass final scrutiny. I fended off hordes of invitations to look at interesting deals supposed to be counterfeit watches and bags. Here sometimes you could find interesting things and risk being ripped off. Should you hate haggling, stick to the normal shops which were having sales and very low prices just a few paces further on the Huaihailu. I had difficulty pronouncing this name correctly too.

After cruising the market for an hour we dipped into the air conditioned department stores, had some (relative) expensive drinks at the cafeteria and regained our senses. We bought some frozen ready made meals from the supermarket in the basement and went home. After preparing the readymade frozen meals we hade a reasonably good lunch. Breaded shrimp rolls, sweet and sour ribs.

Xintiandi
In the evening we went to Xintiandi. This is a section of the city bordering on the Huaihailu, developed to be a place for entertainment. Trendy shops, a theater, walk side music and lots of feisty stalls and places to sit and watch in front of of cafe's and restaurants.

We visited the Crystal Jade restaurant which belonged to a group which had restaurants all over Asia mostly in Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok and Vietnam. The interior design was trendy and would match the Matrix reloaded movie just playing two floors higher. There was a 50 cm's high opening in the kitchen wall through which you could watch the cooks. But the opening was so low that most of us would had to stoop. Interesting, intentionally offering just a glimpse. On the other side the wine collection. Shining floors and ceilings if you care to lookup and watch. Menu's printed like coffee table books, personnel dressed up in chique uniforms but best was it's food. We had a plate of crispy suckling pig, charsui, an intense sweet and delicious kulouroh (sweet and sour meat), exquisitely deep brown tofu in oyster sauce and deep fried sweet and sour fish and also some succulent, just right pieces of steak in an oyster sauce. The price was reasonable compared to dutch standards. We would have to pay twice the amount in Rotterdam.

Afterward we visited a theater showing Matrix reloaded and had again the same problem you often encounter in some asian theaters. Somebody thought let's make sure people know we have an airco. It was freezing cold for Grace who had no sleeves. Be forewarned ladies always bring along a shawl! We came out reloaded but frostbitten!

Then we went to a shop selling all sorts of souvenirs, furniture, chinoisserie, pillows, anything you would bring home to remind you of your visit to China. because of the upmarket place, prices were nonnegotiable and quite hefty. But since we were fresh from Europe we didn't sense that yet. We noticed later that you should have a vast database of streets and neighbourhoods since very often business of a sort were located together. We discovered a neighbourhood where you could find everything you would need as a tailor or seamstress, so there should be one for books too etc.

DVD's
Buying DVD's in Shanghai is an art but once you know your way it's a paradise. There is a very innocent looking street, sultry and silent. A building with two closed wooden doors. Enter it and in the dark your eyes discern a computer and some DVD's against the wall. Then you're invited to go further and enter a room which has more DVD's than one ever sees in a lifetime. More than any Virgin's (Virgin store), more than any Free Record shop. They're on the walls stacked to the ceiling and in albums covering the tables, thousands of them.

There's a fight going on between the lady who is in charge and some guy on a the stairs. At least that's what I thought. But the lady turns her head and smiles to me like this is my lucky night. Indeed it was just a normal chinese conversation at audio levels we weren't accustomed to. There were copies and there were originals for the Chinese market, there were whole serials like Sex and the City, friends, Taken etc. and DVD's you never knew existed. Beware! taking the illegal home is a risk, when discovered you'll be fined and the DVD's will be confiscated. I forgot to mention they had CD's too. Watch out, coming here is detrimental to your sanity. You'll want them all upon hearing the price.

Conclusion
It was interesting to watch how inept and inefficient the young waiters in several of the restaurants we visited were. In the background there were always some older personnel. It was clearly a case of personnel being trained. Which is another impression of Shanghai where things move up so quick. It is almost like the people barely can catch up with the pace. All those new buildings, new jobs and most importantly that seemingly inexhaustible supply of eager willing people to work day and night. I was reminded of my own plans to renovate part of the house in Holland. If I was lucky than maybe in six months time I would be allowed some experts time to do it for me and say a prayer if they would actually finish it. Of course I had the advantage of a recession, otherwise I would have to wait even longer. In Shanghai I would be able to execute any plans within 24 hours, so I am being told...

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