Tag: China
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(101 Things About Shanghai) Mops
In the Former French Concession (AKA bits of Luwan and Xuhui), there is a parallel universe operating, much like the ones full of street cats and their armies doing their own thing with their own agendas. This parallel universe is made up entirely of mops. They live rich and varied lives in this area, propped…
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(101 Things About Shanghai) Taxis
Taxis in Shanghai aren’t actually particularly nifty but they are remarkably cheap and easy to get around in. A half hour trip from deepest, darkest Pudong to Puxi, with bags and bags of illicit espresso in tow and no desire to take the Metro? 30 yuan max! A half hour trip out to the…
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Harbingers of Dumplings
“Привет!” Our presence in the tiny Russian cafe was heartily acknowledged by the old Chinese man in the fedora who had just entered, elbows linked with his small, silent wife. “Er, nihao? Hello? Hi?” “Я думал, ты русский” I thought you were Russian, he explained (in Russian). We don’t speak Russian. Our Mandarin is pitifully limited…
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Rose Petals and Orange Peel
Sometimes a girl just needs a jam jam jar filled with steeping, fragrant blossoms