Real China

I know some people who go to China for the first time is surprised with that there aren't that much of people as they expected.

BUT, they will regret saying that if you are outside Raffles City Mall at 6, 7pm.
FULL OF PEOPLE!!!

btw, I bought the cutest Hello Kitty mouse for my computer today, for only 30kuai!!!! It cost 130 in Science and Tech market and they refused to let me get it for a cheaper price.
Also today, a seller threw me out from their store because I told them that their prices are ridiculous :(
This happened outside Yuyuan..........
I had dinner at Lu Bo Lan Restaurant where people such as Fidel Castro, Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth have eaten! Cool huh? Being honest, I think the food is a bit overrated though...

Time to Bargain!!!!!

Don't pay more than 45rmb for a (Paul Smith, Valentino or whatever) shirt.
Don't pay more than 30rmb for a pair of brand sunglasses.
Don't pay more than 60rmb for a pair of Converse shoes.
Don't pay more than 100rmb for a pair of brand jeans.
Don't pay more than 25rmb for a classical Chinese Tshirt with Mao on it.


Please write more examples in the comment section.

It's enough now

I have been in Shanghai for almost 2 months now and feels that it is enough. I have been hua tian jiu di 花天酒地 in 60 days and I feel that it really is enough. I wonder, what would happen if I lived here, because if I go on like this I will die before 50 as an obese and bad skinned wrinkly lady.

Shanghai is the living proof of what happens when you get too much of the good stuff.
It will kind of feel comfortable to go back to Sweden and live a normal life there, decorating my hall room, take walks outside and breathe in the fresh air, talk to my hall friends about something that does not include which cool party to go to or which cool restaurant to try out.

Shanghai, I love you but you are bad for me (if I would live here for a long time)

Then again, I would really like to live in Shanghai some day but then I seriously need to slow down, because if I go on like this........nothing good will come out from it.

5 Spots to Avoid in SH

Shanghai might be full of great places but there are some places to avoid...

1. First part of Tongren Road (the part close to Yan An Road), the only good place there is City Diner, otherwise it is full of shabby places with prostitutes standing outside the clubs

2. G+, why go to G+ in Xintiandi when you have Babyface? G+ is a smaller version of Babyface with boring people. Although on Wednesdays you can get 3 free drinks before 11pm, just tell them that you heard about Mirage.

3. Carrefour on weekends (if you don't want to come out of the place being mental)

4. Zapatas (which I HAVE avoided, their Wednesdays are just bad bad bad, I know lots of students who go there and love it, I wonder why? The place is full of 50+ German bald expats with beerbelly trying to score with young asians.)

5. Pudong (Tell me which places to go there except for Science and Tech station, Lujiazui or Babaiban?)

I love Changle Road

I have found MY shopping place. I'm totally in love. It is the best place in Shanghai. Never have I found soooo many nice clothes for a reasonable price............on Changle Road.

I see good copies and imitations of clothes from the runway. I bought so much. I bought a dress that looked it came straight away from Marni catwalk, I bought a real PAGEBOY dress, I bought a really nice tunic with this really cool belt on. I can't wait to wear it!!!

One store that I really liked was on ChangLe Road 133 (close to Chengdu Nan Road), if you are by Isetan on Huaihai Road it is very close to this shop. This store had clothes originally from IT (the chain store with brand clothes). The sales person (Emma) was really nice, cute and helpful. I just HAVE TO go back and shop there.

Motorcycle Taxis

I have always heard that they are really dangerous and that I should avoid them. Once when I was really in a hurry by Nanjing Walking street and it was impossible to get a cab I saw an old woman passing me with a bike with 3 wheels and a small seat behind so that my cousin could also join me. The ride was FUN FUN FUN!!!! Also much cheaper than if I would go with taxi (25RMB from Nanjing Walking Street to Dingxi Road), from now on I'm going to try to only go with those.

Blog War

Humanaught's blog sucks ass. I have tried to read it, but after the first paragraph I'm thinking of cleaning my room instead of letting our ayi to do that, there are not even pics of any goodlooking men in it (duuuuuuh)

He's rude as well, writing nasty stuff about me when I haven't even done him anything. I guess some people are born jealous or full with grief. *sighs*

I’m currently being beat (in no small amount) by Shopgirl, so please:
Go vote for me
Don’t let me live in that shame.

As Chinalyst have this blog competition he was claiming that I was doing everything for getting votes (ROFL, like I am sitting inside all day and clicking on the plus symbol, dude, I have other things to do). He claimed this when I got more votes than him.

Basically I just think he's a sad guy taking things too seriously. Good luck, you have more votes than me now so congratulations, but I still think your blog sucks, but it's quite effective as I want to clean my room now. Ciao!

Qipu Road

Don't bother to go there, it is dirty and superbig. And not as cheap as I have thought it should be. And the worst thing is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get a cab from there. The place is full of clothes. Skip the first floor (typical local clothes with flowers and glitters) and go straight for the other floors with a bit more cool designed stuff.

Although managed to still come back with 3,4 bags, not treasures though.

Tourist photos

All pictures taken yesterday when I spent my day on the walking street and by Yuyuan. Shopeed lots of stuff by their market (including a bang for may hair).
Later that night I was for my first time on a motorcycle taxi, FUUUUUN!!!!!!!!!!

China's Club Culture

This is how I would describe China's Club Culture. This picture was taken at a table in Babyface.

Chinese ppl looooooove cool design and lots of LCD light is required for a Chinese club such as Babyface.

Babyface is China's most famous club chain.

When to avoid the Public Transportation

<--- Rest of the time

Around 7.45 - 9.30 and 17.00 - 19.00 on Weekdays

Late Nights

This Weekend has been ending very late or early should I say. Been coming home around 7am on both Friday and Saturday.

Friday, we went to De La Coast (their Chocolate Martinis are not very good but pretty cheap, 55kuai for 2, and you get free peach with cream on Fridays), later to Attica which sucked (no people at all) and then to Volar outside Fuxing Park, have been there once before and quite like it. Their bathrooms are way too dark though, the bathroom could have been taken from the Hostel scary movie. After some Mohitos and cranberry vodka we walked over to Guandii (always packed on the weekend). We got so bored of Guandii so we decided to give Attica a try again so we go back and find the place really empty compared to other nights *sighs*. Around 5.30 we all get hungry and decide to visit City Diner; Best fries in town!!!

Saturday, we go to DKD, first time I see the place after their big renovation and I like it. It's a bot Chinese style but I like it. The only negative thing is that the guys and girls share same bathrooms which is a bit annoying. After DKD us girls go to Babyface with some superrich Chinese guy. Now I can finally say that I have met one of those top rich youngster in China, I hear a lot about them but have never actually met them. I was really scared of being in his BMW when he drove (too fast, and he might have drank some alcohol). I felt a bit bad when he paid the entry for us, that would never happen in Sweden whereas here in China it is absolutely expected that the guy is paying. After Babyface we decide to sing Karaoke in Partyworld (Fuxing park). It was lots of fun; drinking whiskey and green tea while singing to Chinese and Western songs. We sang until 6.30 am and on going out from Partyworld we could see all the old people doing Taichi!!!

Cityweekend

Cityweekend is my favourite SH expat magazine, they have really interesting articles and tips.
Thatshanghai is too thick and extensive in my taste, talking about wasting paper!!!
8days is ok, they have some nice articles and tips as well.
Adweekly is just annoying, as the format sucks.

This edition of Cityweekend is very interesting, talking about overseas Chinese and their banana factors. Was reading it today in the gym and they said most people do have identity crisis. Whereas I felt like that before but now I just really enjoy being a banana. I can get the most out from both worlds. I can get along very well with local Chinese peope but also with Laowais. I think that is a very important factor to attain if I want to work in SH in my near future.

Bored of the Bund

Going to the Bund....again. I always go there. At least two times a week.

How on earth could I ever love Bar Rouge before?? My friends love it though....

Attica is good, but after 7 times it gets boring as well....

The place I like the best on the Bund is Glamour Bar, very chic place. Haven't been to Laris yet but am sure I will in near future.

Going to the bund right now and am wearing this...not very appropriate, but who cares?

Taking Art pictures

Before and After pictures......





All Chinese girls do that at least once in their life, I decided to do that as well. I wanted to take those old traditional art photos of me in Qing and Tang dystany clothes.

Well, the service was CRAP!! They put a really awful makeup on me, and literally told me I was really ugly. (You eyes are so small, if you don't buy our eyelashes your eyes will look even more ugly)(Your lips are too big and fat, I will paint them smaller)(Your eyebrows totally destroy your face)(Your face is too long)(It's hard to make you pretty) etc, etc.

Usually I am secure enough to handle this, but when she didn't even let me put on my own eyeliner (We know how to put make up, you don't) or forced me to wear fake eyelashes I got so mad. I was boiling inside, if I hadn't already paid I'd slap her and walk out from the place.

Well, the photos turned out really bad because my makeup look like shit, I look like a ghost. EW.

SPA night

Today I went to a SPA with a former work colleague, took us over 2 freaking hours to get the body scrubbed and face done. Now my face is soft and clean with no black dots on the nose! Very nice. Everything for only 128 kuai (for first time vistors only), the place is next to Koala Bar on Huaihai Xi road/Panyu Road.

Funny thing is that they know my body just through giving me a massage, it is AMAZING. They told me that during winters I get very cold feet and hands which is so true, also that I don't digest regularly (ROFL, you shouldn't know this).

Also, the girl who gave me a facial asked me if I have done plastic surgery on my nose, HAHAHAHA. And the other girl giving my friend a facial yelled at her for asking. That was a bit funny.

What I found in a Chinese magazine

Maybe they forgot to check this lifestyle magazine before the printing...

So I heard that Robert DeNiro is really fascinated with Mao, so fascinated that he is going to make a movie about him and he is going to have a role in that movie. INTERESTING!!!

I don't only love to shop

My friend has the coolest apartment ever with his own DJ set!!!
This Friday, Mark Farina at bonbon
13th August, Deep Dish (bonbon) is coming to SH again!!!!!!!!!! That will be my last night partying.

Hope more cool DJs are coming to Shanghai.
Soon Ben Macklin is coming!

I joined the gym (MOB Fitness) and after going to Hatha Yoga for the first time in my life I can say that Yoga is nothing for me. I saw that 23 July they will have Strip Dance classes, interesting. They also offer Wushu and Hiphop classes, I will definitely go. Today I tried out the kickboxing dance, it was hilarious (I laughed so hard). MOB is an awesome gym (the one on Ladoll apartment complex)

Best Brunch in town

After having a very busy Saturday night (Hooters, Moca Party, Ministry of Sound at Attica) we decided to have a nice brunch at Maneo (under Mint club on Tongren Road). For 158kuai it is "All you can eat" from the menu. I have heard a lot of good things about it, but it really exceeded my expectations. My friends thought it was awesome as well.

It was soooooooooooooo good, and the quality of the food was really amazing as well. The waiters were a bit stupid but that is totally OK when you get food like that for ONLY 158kuai.
If I had this brunch in Sweden, it would have cost at least 600, no doubt about that.

I'm still in awe. It is absolutely AMAZING. Best brunch I have ever had in my whole life.

Today, I joined the gym, MOB Fitness. Wooooooohooooooo!!! I need some endorfins.

Sven Väth @ bonbon

What an awesome night!!!!! I was the one who beat you with the glowstix, sorry!

What can you get for 28 kuai?

28 kuai is about 4 US dollars.

This is taken at a Japanese Restaurant on Xinle Road close to Donghu Road (almost opposite the clothing shop The Source). You'll see a red Japanese lamp hanging outside the entry.

You get a main course plus around 5 several small dishes for only 28 kuai (that is what mine costed) plus Japanese tea.

You see how happy and satisfied I am?

Bad mistake

I did something terribly wrong last night, I can't believe it I did it. When I think about it I don't know if I should just cry or laugh. Sending text messages are fcuking dangerous, please be aware of WHO you are sending it to. I happened to send this sms to the person I was talking about, it was supposed to be for my friend. What makes me feel bad is that I'm a very superlative and extreme person when writing and he might not know that. So the text message is worse than I actually feel.
I seriously think I'm the clumsiest girl on earth, at least in Shanghai (I mean, which normal person would wear this wig at a house party?) I'm such a weirdo.

Swedish girls in Malones and Mint

VOTE FOR US! (click on the grey plus!)

Worried about myself

At the moment, my Chinese is getting worse and worse, even being in Shanghai. I started to realize it when I came here. The reason to that my Chinese is seriously lacking at the moment is because I have been in University where I don't speak Chinese, before I spoke Chinese with my mother at home.

Also it feels like I have lost my ambitiousness. In high school I was one of the students that was teachers' favourite. Where has that all gone? I know that Univeristy is very different from High School. Still, I have now one test to re-do because I did not pass it >_<

I try to tell myself I will have fun here in Shanghai and enjoy the rest of my stay and then when back in Sweden really drag myself up there again. I'm just worried that I won't, I know I didn't this January when I promised myself to do that.

I have a mother that is very demanding as I'm her only child, also all my cousins are all so successful so I feel really stressed and worried. I see those other Swedish Chinese girls who know better Chinese than me and who are better students than me. Makes me realize that I'm not that good after all as I thought. I promise here on this blog that I will start be more responsible and ambitious when I return to Sweden. Once I get back to Sweden I will also borrow some books in the state library about China's history as I'm very interested in it. I also want to read the book about Mao that has been banned in China. Then I will write a review.
You guys probably don't give a shit about what I am doing, but this is very important for me and I feel that I need to write it down so I can stick to it. :)

What is happening this week?

Tuesday: Celebrating last day of internship so I'm having buffet dinner with a friend today.
Wednesday: dinner with a friend, Zapatas (going to try to convince my friends to leave immediately) and Mint
Thursday: Speed dating (just for fun)
Friday: Sven Vaeth & Loco Dice in Bonbon (techno/house/electronica)
Saturday: Scratch Perverts in Bonbon (DnB) or Mob (warehouse party)
Sunday: Hint Magazine Party in Castle Oktober

busy busy busy

I just quit my internship

My relatives and family are upset but I feel like I want to have a real summer vacation and see a bit more of China. I'm going to Hangzhou with my relatives, possibly to HongKong with some friends or to Beijing.

I don't regret my choice and am excited that I will have some time on my own in Shanghai.

Weekend of SH

I'm starting to get bored that on every Monday I'm writing about what I did during this weekend and I guess that you guys are bored as well. But I want to remember how much fun I have had in SH.

On Friday I had my first pedicure in my life (I really needed it), with my clean toenails my friend and I went to HFZ (Red house) - the first french restaurant in Shanghai. The interior there is beautiful!!! We stayed at the terrace with our drinks. Later we went to my friends leaving shanghai- house party. It was one of the best house parties I've been to. A lot of cool outgoing people there. Later to Glamour Bar (but they were closing), so we left for Attica (I'm starting to get really fed up with Attica), last to Be for Time 24 hour restaurant (GOOD STUFF).

On Saturday I went to Air Bar's Anniversary Party (one of the worst parties I've been to), the air condition didn't work so it was like a sauna inside. Drinks were so light, too many people around the bar, boring music, the interior sucks, etc. Don't go there!
Bonbon was a lot better, Dnb DJ Fabio was playing and I had a very good time there from what I remember. My friends had a bit of too much tequila. I love bonbon but their alcohol is SHIT!!! Don't drink much of it if you don't want to throw up the next day.

On Sunday I didn't feel very good but still managed to go to Azul Viva for brunch with some girls. I have only good things to say about it. It is sooooooooooooo good!!! For 120 kuai you get scones, muffins, 2 courses (their goat cheese bruschetta and Spanish chicken with saffron risotto is the best thing ever!!!) and coffee. Too much food for me, I couldnt even finish my half Spanish chicken.
But I will have to go there again some day, because it is simply the best restaurant I've ever been to here in Shanghai.

Blog competition

Chinalyst is having a blog competition. You can find lots of other good blogs from there.

Please help me to gain votes! :D

Vote for me (click on the plus thing)


IT'S FRIIIIIIIIIIDAY!!!

Before and After

Now you guys might understand why I love my double eyelid gel???


BEFORE

AFTER

If you're new to Shanghai

If you are new to Shanghai and don't know anyone, I would like to suggest you to go to Malones 3rd floor every Wednesday. The website www.shanghaiexpat.com hold their weekly mixers there so that people can meet new people. Yes, the people there tend to stick in groups/cliques, but remember it is like this everywhere. Everyone there are openminded and like to meet new people. If you don't like it on the third floor, they always have good live music o n the first floor. I really like the atmosphere.
I use to go there a lot, because some of my friends go there on a regular basis. Also, I go there for the cheap drinks. Anything from the drink menu cost 25kuai and you also get free finger food. Amazingly Cheap!
The Location is great, because afterwards I can walk over to Mint. I looooooove Mint on Wednesdays!!!

Laowais are starting to get bad reputations.....

Recently I've heard lots of bad stuff about them. Just at lunchtime our office's receptionist said, there are soooo many sleazy laowais in Attica, one flirted with my friend and asked if she wanted anything from the bar. The girl said water, and the laowai went and came back saying: Water here are 45 kuai, I won't get it.
And our receptionist who was standing there together with her friend had said: Fuck off!


ROFL LMAO, this makes me laugh.

Top 5 cocktails in SH

1. Pina Colada (Barbarossa)
2. Dragon Pearl (Glamour Bar)
3. Frozen Banana Daiquiri (KABB)
4. Dry Martini (YY's)
5. Redbull Vodka (Mint)

My friend say that they make the best Chocolate Martinis in Laris which I haven't tried yet.
Please tell me where you have had the best cocktail/drink in Shanghai.

Another weekend

The whole Saturday I went to grocery shops to find the ingredients I needed for my aunt's birthday on Sunday. Finally after 3,4 shops I found my dill in Cityshop in Portmans. The picture shows what I made :) (smorgascake, meatballs, mashed potatoes with parsley, appetizers, browniecake etc.)

Later that night I went to the launch of Lords and Ladies First in Cafe Neo (I loooove Cafe Neo, the interior is so fun and creative) on Weihai Road. It was so funny, I saw the guy in Cafe Neo that was standing before me in the line in FreshMart (Cityplaza's basement). Turns out that my friend knows him and we get introduced. I know I say this all the time, but SH is soooo small).

Later Mx and I took a cab to Glamour Bar, their drinks are awesome (try Dragon Pearl, something like that) and the service is quite good; The waiter accidentally kicked my almost empty drink and got me a new one fast. The lightning in there is awesome and makes you look better :P. The crowd varies a lot, there are old businessmen, there are sleazy guys, there are gay guys, there are ladyboys (saw 2!!!), there are younger crowd, etc. This very stupid Brit was so drunk and aggressive that he smacked some car's window outside and made traffic chaos.

Later we went to Attica (through the VIP line of course, hehe), the music was awesome!!! Went home around 4.30 and today I'm sick!