28 February 2009

2 different worlds...


This past week has been one of those weird weeks...

For starters I can actually count the total number of hours slept...

I spent most of my nights eating out instead of in... The sky has been a constant grey which has been just about the only factor that has remained the same...
Been seeing Shanghai using two different sets of eyes... It has been a really interesting experience...
It all started when Chris and I went down to the Shanghai World Financial Center for a meal... When you leave the street level and enter the sanctuary of the building, there is a silence that greets you and it feels like you are in a totally different part of the world- transported out of Shanghai... It is like living a totally different existence while in the building and this is only from being in the basement of the building having a meal... But when one takes the escalator back up to the ground level, you are back in reality...
Went shopping over the weekend at Superbrand Mall and once again that feeling of 2 different worlds came popping back into my head... I went from the fast paced frenzie of Lotus center to the calmer normality of Esprit... It is strange as both happily coexist in the same building... In saying that, there is always a change of attitude among the service staff and it is really intesting at times to just people watch... Ok it is one of my favorite activities as it is but to just watch how people react and respond is a real eye opener for me...
But the truth of the matter is, can I exist in this artificial world and be totally removed from my reality or do I happily code switch between the two or do I turn my back on one of them?

26 February 2009

Cleansing

In Shanghai
  • I don't do any housework...
  • I occasionally do my dishes...
  • I do the laundry...

Anywhere else in the world

  • I need to do everything
  • I am totally lazy and a great procrastinator

In Shanghai

  • I do not need a colon cleanse or any cleansing in that sense...
  • I have secret pets...
  • My best friends are salt and vinegar....

The rest of the world

  • Have to watch my intake...
  • It is way too easy to find comfort foods

22 February 2009

Memories of SAM bar

Well... last Friday night brought back memories of Uni life in Sydney... The only difference was it was a Friday night and not a Wednesday... Right now to the other not so interesting details... It was at the Shanghai Financial Center... It started at 2300... Drinks were not free but relatively cheap... I went there with Emma (after a really yummy wine and food match dinner at the Quaffers' Club)... It was trance music... had a free glass of white wine- the goodness knows number of glass I had that night and it was out of a proper wine glass and not a plastic cup...

But just realized how old I am as by 0100 I was feeling totally ready for bed... When I went to say goodbye to someone there was a slight disappointment on his face... that made me feel really bad so compensated by giving him a really big hug (which my friend said was a very nice touch)... Guess I can say watch this space... will see him again on Tuesday at this stage.... 

02 February 2009

Happy Niu Year

Well the CNY holidays have come and gone once again... Now it is the long stretch till June... Lets see what did I get up to?

Met up with friends, got licked by Jersey, ate and ate, got my yearly bonus, met relatives for the once a year chat... ate some more.... I am officially addicted to any cookie and cake.... I know it is not good for the waist line but well I only live once... Oh I had to con Jersey to eat his medication every morning... He has acquired a liking for sukiyaki beef...

Okay think age is catching up at last- I can't cope with the lack of sleep... In order to maximize utility I travel out of PVG at 0010 and it is a 5 hour flight... Hence I arrive in SIN just after 0500 and that means realistically 4 hours of sleep then I hit the ground running for a full on day which is very tiring.... I leave on the last plane out of SIN at 1705 and arrive just after 2200 in PVG and by the time I get back to my apartment it is closer to midnight... Today is a full day of school... So there you go.... what to do??? All for a holiday....