Diving into China in Shanghai

Today was cloudy and somewhat rainy. I took the trusty shuttle bus from our complex into center of town The Portman Center Ritz Carlton, my usual beginning, and up to now, ending location of my forays into town. I did my usual shop-walk eastward down Nanjing Lu, finally this time making it through the pedestrian (newly finished among the endless ongoing construction) shop area full of malls, department multi-level stores, and endless halls of jewellers, jade sellers, gold, pearls, and clothing from cheap chinsy to upper end boutique international.

Finally, I made it all the way down Nianjing Lu to the famed Peace Hotel next to the Bund. It was really something in its days of glory, but now is musty smelling and dank, dimly lit, rather unimpressive except for a rebuilt art nouveau corridor and the exterior architechture which you can see better examples of elsewhere in Shanghai (Jugendstill).

Anyway, I attacked the “Book Shop” which was actually an upper terrace lobby with shelves, handcraft displays for sale and leather seats for interested browsers. I bought a Shanghai experience help book, which I feel I could also write some similar.

Once again, but on my own and with a better eye for price comparisons, I headed to the Friendship Store (where we first went with Mrs. W.).  Now I know that its all over priced. There are only a couple of little gift items I would buy there.

Then I managed to hail a taxi on the Bund, and went to Yu Yuan Gardens and Bazaar. Well! This was really China!!! Where she dropped me off was a (one of hundreds) of busy corner throbbing with people walking, biking, honking, taxi horns, manuvering rickshaws, shopping, bargaining, eating, hauling cartfuls of everything, selling fruits, living! It was so pulsating with life, energy, and vibrancy. Even in the dreary grey clouded and misting day it was bright and cheerful.

I had really no clue exactly where I was or how to get to the actual gardens and famous tea house, so I decided to simply soak it in and meander. Just to be. Pooh Bear. And to take whatever comes along. There was something to see and look at in a photogenic way where ever I turned, so I knew I couldn’t go wrong!

There were many little shops all over the place, lining the crowded streets and also a ton of neon flourescent lit mega level stores, which I had to avoid due to the crowds and overwhelmingness, and general lack of what I am interested in purchasing. This was where I first noticed the huge discrepancy in prices. Those tea sets I’ve seen all over are so incredibly under priced here, they seem too cheap to buy. This lady was selling complete sets for 16 and 20 Yuan. How can that be? They also usually go for 250 Yuan and lots more upwards of that.

I also found the peasant paintings that I like at a price I like and the darling little old man showed me every single one and didn’t even get upset when I left without buying any. (I’m thinking of doing the kitchen in those.)

Also I had passed some yummy looking and smelling steamer buns being sold and prepared on the sidewalk of that busy street. They looked so tempting I had to go back for them. By pointing and saying Coca Cola, and holding up the corresponding number of fingers, I ordered a really nice and delicious lunch, which I ate sitting alone under a plastic canopy off the sidewalk, in a light rain, while everyone else in the “restaurant” looked at me, and people who knew some English words, tried it out on me as they passed.

— Next is “After My First Street Food Experience” and Bridge of Nine Turnings

Saturday 18 September, 1999