Shanghai Sigrid

Chinese Lunar Festival: Tiger Tiger

So we have reached the end of new years celebrations.

No more banging and shooting of fire crackers, waking up 7 am in the morning momentarily thinking you live in a war zone. Finally being able to speak on the phone again.

I had heard that the Lunar Festival would be celebrated in YuYuan Gardens in Old Town so Campbell and I headed over there together with about 200 000 other Chinese people.

I was very excited wondering what was actually going to take place! Not quite sure what we were looking for we made our way through the masses which were worse than People Square Metro Station at 5.30 pm.

This was a mistake.

Wobbling around like penguins on a pointless trek somewhere. There were nothing that "happened". Just masses of people walking around. The biggest attraction as far as we understood it was this plastic Tiger (it is the year of the Tiger now) posing with a giraffe (?).

 Please note how I skillfully managed to get the full moon in the picture. Appreciate and enjoy.

More tiger

Chinese Lanterns that attract good spirits

"Beautiful" Flower Ornaments

Happy 2010!

China's rise to civilization: how to cross a road correctly

Another post about Zebra crossings:

As the World Expo is just around the corner the Chinese government have started a series of teaching videos to promote civilization. For example in the metro there are video clips showing people how to stand correctly in an escalator (stand to the right, let people pass on the left).

Recently they have started showing videos on how to cross the road correctly (walk on green man, wait on red man) which they now show in all taxis:

Walk on green man

Uh-oh!    That's a red man!

Don't loose face, don't walk on red man!

Streching in the park

I have decided to become a healthier person!

Yup...It is about 2 months delayed but I shall start with my new years resolution this weekend!

Im going down to the gym to bargain my way to a cheap membership fee and then I will join Campbell and Kyrre in my quest to strengh!

And flexibility will be conquered by stretching in the park with all the other Shanghairens!

Pyjamas: Shanghai Streetwear in danger!

This is a long overdue post that I was meant to publish a week ago.

There is a lot of debate in Shanghai about their fashion habit of wearing their pyjamas whenever wherever, some think it is not civilised enough for a city that is to hold the world expo.

I personally think it is fantastic and hope it won't change just because there will be a bunch of westerners here.

 

Below is a translation of the article Campbell has tried to translate:

The custom of wearing pyjama's in public is gradually changing.

 

At yesterdays press conference, shanghais deputy  mayor, 杨雄， answered the on line furor against the rule that "during the shanghai expo period ,it is not allowed  to wear pyjama’s in public" which has generated many responses。

 

杨雄 said that although wearing pyjamas in public in the late 80's and 90's was a common phenomenon, this  practise has slowly evolved. "In my childhood we had no pyjamas to sleep in, now conditions have changed. We can wear pyjamas to sleep in , and our quality of life has strengthened, as well as our desire to display this quality (trans: through ways such as wearing pyjamas in public)." This is what i recently read in a piece of research and thought was of great interest. To some extent this phenomenon can be explained, as at the time societies economic foundation had just been achieved.

 

杨雄 expressed that “in reality wearing pyjamas in public should follow shanghai's further development, the city has transformed, everyone has accepted their positions, in reality we are now past the greatest changes.  While we cannot deny certain areas still have some of this phenomenon, i think it’s correct that this issue will be disseminated，people will eventually understand that this practise is no longer suitable. I think we also want to be more relaxed about this, we shouldn’t take this matter too seriously, we follow the path of development and civilisation, and everyone can gradually change their life habits, especially for Expo. Everyone can see by themselves whether or not wearing pyjamas in public is suitable. Recall the fall of this bad habit; I think expos usefulness is just beginning to arrive.”

东方早报， 1月19日 星期二

The Highway: Shanghai Street Picture of the day

Shanghai's 6 level highway actually looks pretty cool :)

well if you can't have breath taking nature then woo people with electrics!

Blueberry and Kiwi flavoured Chips

mmm...any one want some?

Religious tolerance: China vs Switzerland

Hmmm I guess in some aspects China has greater religious tolerance than Switzerland...

Pearl Tower from the dirtier side of town

Pearl Tower seen from Dong Men lu

A War Zone in my back yard

Woke up this morning to the sounds of fire crackers outside my flat.

I dont understand fire crackers...fireworks yes, they are pretty. But firecrackers?

Seriously? They are just annoying.

The sleeping construction worker: Shanghai Street picture of the day

The statue represents intellectuals of the May 4th movement discussing the future of China... and a very tired modern day construction worker.