smouldering shanghai

was in shanghai for the past two weeks and it was hot hot hot there - temperatures went up to 40 degrees. at least that's what 'they' say. anyway, below are some pictures from the trip.

this was taken at some wholesale market that sells curtains, bedsheets, household stuffs, about 1 hr ride from puxi city. i bought a quilt cover there and its amazing - choose the fabric you like, they will sew and it will be ready within 10 minutes. it will probably take me an hour to do it.

the english translations are usually amusing. the picture below's just one of the many i have seen.

this is nanjing buxingjie - a vibrant pedestrian street filled with shops and people. somehow, buxingjies are very popluar all around in china (@ least i have been to a few already) and usually, there's a mini tram to ferry people up and down the long street for a small fee.

my favourite xiaolongbao, especially those filled soley with hairy crab yummies. this place's called JiaJia Tang Bao @ 62 Liyuan Road

these ppl make the best use of what's left. here's what i saw - the lift door opens, a construction works rolls out a cart and empties it on the floor. the people would then rush towards the rubbish and rummage through it for scrap metal or anything remotely valuable exchangeable for money and put into their own carts or boxes - first come first serve. its a sad sight, yet its amazing how ppl make full use of everything they have.

cleaners do not use modern machines, nor nice brooms to sweep the roadsides. they merely gather dried twigs into a bundle to become a broom. another money saving and environmentally friendly idea.