Shanghai - a new love affair

Weather: mild winters day
Temp: -1 - 11
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,53
Days left in kitty prison: 21
Look Helen, you're famous: My friend Helen is perhaps not "big in Japan", but she's pretty big in Shanghai.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON JAMES HUMPHRY! Have an awesome day babsie - your godmother loves ya big time. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wish I could have been there for the party.

We just spent an awesome weekend in Shanghai. For the first time we stayed on the Puxi side of the Hungpu river and it made all the difference. We usually stay in Pudong cause it's close to Frikkie's office, but the thing with Pudong is that it's a bit of a hole. Story goes that 10 years ago it was muddy farmland on the wrong side of the river, but because Shanghai was bursting at the seems it was developed into a monster of high rises, 12 lane roads, some horrific architecture and is generally aesthetically challenged. Like I said, a bit of a hole. But Puxi is where it's all happening. It's the old party of the city with character, tiny little lanes, hidden bars, hole in the wall restaurants... right up our alley.

I spent most of my Friday in the alleys of Taikang Lu. The little lanes are packed with galleries, bric-a-brac, people hanging out their washing, life happening, coffee being brewed, cocktails being shaken. Absolutely amazing and the antithesis of Beijing. In Beijing everything has been restored, cleaned up, ordered and redeveloped to within an inch of its life. That has, thank god, not happened to Shanghai - it's all still pretty organic. Which means that the streets are a little messier, you get lost more easily, but the city has a creative edge to it, that I think is missing in Beijing. Met Rachel (Aussie friend) for some drinks late afternoon before we hooked with Frikkie and Pete (Rachel's husband and Frikkie's boss) for a couple of glasses of good Australian Sauvignon Blanc at the Australian Chamber of Commerce get together on the 90th floor of a hotel. Great views and as long as you don't mention the rugby Aussies aren't that bad to hang out with :-). The whole Hassell crew headed out for dinner afterward to a place called 1930. Imagine Shanghai in it's hay day of decadence, opulence and opium - that's what 1930 was like. It's tiny, with great cocktails, music and good friends. Pretty much perfect.

We had dinner at Shanghai's most famous vegetarian restaurant on Saturday night, Godly. We literally skidded in there 5 minutes before they closed and the waitress was none to pleased to see us, but when Frikkie ordered rice in Chinese she was all smiles and we had great service after that. See, already those Mandarin lessons are paying off.

On Sunday we went to a truly beautiful Buddhist temple. Don't ask me what it was called, Rachel navigated us there, we just went along. The temple is still active, which means there are monks floating about in orange robes and the whole place had a feeling of deep serenity. We were lucky enough to observe a dedication service held by a family for their deceased parents. There is something about monks chanting brings inner calm and peace.