Monday, June 11 - Shanghai
Yesterday after posting Peter and I went to see the Jade Buddha Temple. To get there we had to take the Metro north of here and change to another Metro line going south. Since it was a Sunday there were not too many people out and about yet, or maybe, it's just because we were not where the action was.
From the Metro station (forgot the name) we walked about a mile or so to get to the Temple. It was a nice long walk. The weather was cool and slightly breezy and the sidewalks were not as crowded, some areas were pretty much empty. We had to walk some small streets, cross huge roads, and walk along a bridge to get to our destination.
It cost us 20 yuan per person to get into the Temple. There are 3 halls lined up which houses several buddhas. The two main attractions were the Jade Buddhas: one reclining and tiny, the other seated, big and very finely carved using a single piece of jade. For the latter we had to pay an extra 10 yuan to see it, and it was worth it. The carving was exquisite and the facial expression of the buddha was just beautiful.
Also located in the Temple is a Vegetarian Restaurant where we had our lunch. There are two places to have it: the one where they only serve noodles, and the other where they serve a wider variety of vegetarian dishes. We were directed to the latter since Peter wanted some rice. The menu had English translations and some pictures with them making it somewhat easier for us to order our food. Peter and I ordered two different mushroom dishes: his, with herbs, while mine was with ramen. He thought his dish was a regular sauteed dish but it turned out to be a soup dish. The food was much improved from yesterday's fiasco, definitely.
After the Temple, we walked another mile or so south to go to Jing'an Temple (one of the wealthiest temples in Shanghai, was owned by an Abbot who had his own harem and was a ganster with Russian bodyguards). There are lots of shops, restaurants and a huge park surrounding this Temple - looks like one of the Japanese temples we visited in Kyoto, so we decided not to go in as it needed an entrance fee.
We crossed the street to Jing'an park where it is nice and cool and shade. The park also boasts of a huge underground (under the park) shopping complex. Peter and I couldn't find an empty bench to sit on but found a nice flat rock instead. The place was relaxing, far away from the crowds. Peter very much wanted to lay on the grass as it was thick and very tempting - unfortunately we didn't find a single Chinese lying on the ground so I persuaded him to just sit on the rock.
Since the park was located along the Nanjing Xi Lu we decided to walk the street, passing through the shanghai exhibition center, which, according to our guidebook, was an old Russian building used to exhibit the advances of the Chinese in agriculture and techonology but now was transformed into a shopping mall. So we went. Got through the gate only to find out that the area is full of trucks and looked like they were renovating or just had a huge exhibition and were already dismantling stuff. We entered the building and it looked dilapidated. Coming out on the other side (the front) it really looked like it wasn't even transformed into a mall. This building might soon be demolished to bring in the new and more modern style.
It was approaching 6 p.m. when we got to the Nanjing Xi Lu station. We went back to this place that sells a lot of local snacks and food. On the second and third floors are the restaurant. We tried to ask for an English menu which they didn't have. Went back down to decide if we should just buy there and eat it somewhere. But after some discussion we went back up to the 2nd floor and just order what they had pictured in the placemat menu: roast duck (18 yuan), 4 pcs. spring rolls (8 yuan), 4 pcs. crab dumpling (18yuan). We wanted some kind of rice to accompany it and I blurted out "fan". She understood me and pointed to the one written in Chinese script for 38 yuan. Peter was a bit surprised why it cost 38 yuan, so he told me "are you sure it was rice you ordered, or was it noodles, and why is it so expensive?" I simply replied, "well, it will be an expensive surprise." (while thinking, I hope I'm right.)
The spring rolls arrived first, followed by the duck and then the dumplings. When the "fan" arrived it turned out to be fried rice with corn, peas and shredded meat (fish, I think). Whew! I was so relieved that our choices, despite the language barrier, were much much better than yesterday's.
NOTE: To eat out here in China, one must know how to say the dish in Mandarin and/or read Chinese script. Only a few restaurants, which cater to tourists, have English translations.
We returned early last night and wanted to post but the internet connection was too slow.
~~~
Last night I was kept awake by this shouting match going on next door, at first it was a bit muffled so I managed to get some sleep, but later towards the early morning hours the shouting got louder and louder. Fortunately I had my ear plugs on and I got some sleep. Peter almost had to call the front desk to complain but we just weren't sure if they were indeed next door to us.
I hope they left already.
~~~
This morning we are washing clothes while posting. Our plan for today is to go to Pudong, check out the Orient Pearl TV building and the Jinmao tower (70 yuan/person to climb up to the observatory). After that we will just relax and pack up for our morning flight to Beijing.
I'll post again later tonight (if the connection is fast).
Yesterday after posting Peter and I went to see the Jade Buddha Temple. To get there we had to take the Metro north of here and change to another Metro line going south. Since it was a Sunday there were not too many people out and about yet, or maybe, it's just because we were not where the action was.
From the Metro station (forgot the name) we walked about a mile or so to get to the Temple. It was a nice long walk. The weather was cool and slightly breezy and the sidewalks were not as crowded, some areas were pretty much empty. We had to walk some small streets, cross huge roads, and walk along a bridge to get to our destination.
It cost us 20 yuan per person to get into the Temple. There are 3 halls lined up which houses several buddhas. The two main attractions were the Jade Buddhas: one reclining and tiny, the other seated, big and very finely carved using a single piece of jade. For the latter we had to pay an extra 10 yuan to see it, and it was worth it. The carving was exquisite and the facial expression of the buddha was just beautiful.
Also located in the Temple is a Vegetarian Restaurant where we had our lunch. There are two places to have it: the one where they only serve noodles, and the other where they serve a wider variety of vegetarian dishes. We were directed to the latter since Peter wanted some rice. The menu had English translations and some pictures with them making it somewhat easier for us to order our food. Peter and I ordered two different mushroom dishes: his, with herbs, while mine was with ramen. He thought his dish was a regular sauteed dish but it turned out to be a soup dish. The food was much improved from yesterday's fiasco, definitely.
After the Temple, we walked another mile or so south to go to Jing'an Temple (one of the wealthiest temples in Shanghai, was owned by an Abbot who had his own harem and was a ganster with Russian bodyguards). There are lots of shops, restaurants and a huge park surrounding this Temple - looks like one of the Japanese temples we visited in Kyoto, so we decided not to go in as it needed an entrance fee.
We crossed the street to Jing'an park where it is nice and cool and shade. The park also boasts of a huge underground (under the park) shopping complex. Peter and I couldn't find an empty bench to sit on but found a nice flat rock instead. The place was relaxing, far away from the crowds. Peter very much wanted to lay on the grass as it was thick and very tempting - unfortunately we didn't find a single Chinese lying on the ground so I persuaded him to just sit on the rock.
Since the park was located along the Nanjing Xi Lu we decided to walk the street, passing through the shanghai exhibition center, which, according to our guidebook, was an old Russian building used to exhibit the advances of the Chinese in agriculture and techonology but now was transformed into a shopping mall. So we went. Got through the gate only to find out that the area is full of trucks and looked like they were renovating or just had a huge exhibition and were already dismantling stuff. We entered the building and it looked dilapidated. Coming out on the other side (the front) it really looked like it wasn't even transformed into a mall. This building might soon be demolished to bring in the new and more modern style.
It was approaching 6 p.m. when we got to the Nanjing Xi Lu station. We went back to this place that sells a lot of local snacks and food. On the second and third floors are the restaurant. We tried to ask for an English menu which they didn't have. Went back down to decide if we should just buy there and eat it somewhere. But after some discussion we went back up to the 2nd floor and just order what they had pictured in the placemat menu: roast duck (18 yuan), 4 pcs. spring rolls (8 yuan), 4 pcs. crab dumpling (18yuan). We wanted some kind of rice to accompany it and I blurted out "fan". She understood me and pointed to the one written in Chinese script for 38 yuan. Peter was a bit surprised why it cost 38 yuan, so he told me "are you sure it was rice you ordered, or was it noodles, and why is it so expensive?" I simply replied, "well, it will be an expensive surprise." (while thinking, I hope I'm right.)
The spring rolls arrived first, followed by the duck and then the dumplings. When the "fan" arrived it turned out to be fried rice with corn, peas and shredded meat (fish, I think). Whew! I was so relieved that our choices, despite the language barrier, were much much better than yesterday's.
NOTE: To eat out here in China, one must know how to say the dish in Mandarin and/or read Chinese script. Only a few restaurants, which cater to tourists, have English translations.
We returned early last night and wanted to post but the internet connection was too slow.
~~~
Last night I was kept awake by this shouting match going on next door, at first it was a bit muffled so I managed to get some sleep, but later towards the early morning hours the shouting got louder and louder. Fortunately I had my ear plugs on and I got some sleep. Peter almost had to call the front desk to complain but we just weren't sure if they were indeed next door to us.
I hope they left already.
~~~
This morning we are washing clothes while posting. Our plan for today is to go to Pudong, check out the Orient Pearl TV building and the Jinmao tower (70 yuan/person to climb up to the observatory). After that we will just relax and pack up for our morning flight to Beijing.
I'll post again later tonight (if the connection is fast).
posted by Mimi | 4:49 PM
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