Absolute Relativity

A bing tang hu lu (冰糖葫芦) seller in front of a Fujian elementary school. RMB 1 for the delicious sugar coated crab apple.

Hangzhou Fireworks Festival 2007

We didn’t stay until the end because there were too many people, a stampede wouldn’t be nice.

Location: In a park around my apartment

The little emperor (approx. 7 years old) has been playing all day and broke his bike. His mom wants him to go home. Translated almost accurately.

—–

Mom : (soft tone) Lets go home now, you have been playing all day.

Little emperor : I don’t want to, I still want to play. You can take the bike home.

Mom : You need to listen to your mom, lets go home now.

Little emperor : I DON’T WANT TO!

Mom : Don’t be like that, you need to listen to your mom, or you will have a hard time entering the society later on. Go home or I will not have your bike fixed.

Little emperor : Then I will not take care of you when you’re old.

—–

To paraphrase Wikipedia:
Little Emperor Syndrome is a name for condition affecting both parents (and retired grand parents) and their one child for example in urban areas of China, Beijing and Shanghai. It is considered to be an indirect result of the one child policy. With both parents (and retired grand parents) lavishing attention and resources on their one child, the child becomes increasingly spoiled and gains a sense of self importance and entitlement.

Location: 七浦路附近

In Thomas Friedman’s book, The World is Flat, he explains on how globalization changes everything, how people try to sell whatever goods of service they have/can do, as long as there is someone who buys. He specifically pointed out an Indian guy who waited in front of the Taj Mahal (if I remember it well), with a scale and gets money from people who want to know their bodyweight.

We found one similar today. But this one is more sophisticated. He (王先生) tells you your body weight, and analyzes whether or not you are within the healthy range. He even has the formula of what a standard weight should be. It is (Height – 105) x 2 (unit in 斤). It costs only 0.2 RMB per person. I think he is doing it just for fun, or maybe he gets the satisfaction by telling people “You are fat, you should exercise!”

Location: JC Mandarin, Shanghai

The reason why we went was because City Weekend misprinted the price. It says 68 RMB on the magazine, they just missed a “2″ in front of it, plus tax. Now I am broke for the rest of the month. That’s what you get for being cheap. The food was good though, and the champagne was free flow, enough to knock your self out! Ritz Carlton brunch this Sunday? …o wait, nevermind, I am broke.

My first time in attending a fashion show. The music was good but I know that fashion is not my thing. A simple jeans and shirt will do for most of the times.
Talked to Neil, operation manager, and found out that this is the first store opening packaged with a fashion show. NEXT Shanghai should be the flagship store in China. The stuff inside is of higher price than H&M but maybe the quality is better. I’m gonna try it out once I have the money , alright…next!….

Eye catching display in front of Fudan’s 光华楼 – the twin tower。

The writing says: 少开车,看看你排入空气的二氧化碳会少多少
Meaning: Drive less, see how your Carbon Dioxide discharge can be reduced

The black balloon was supposed to be the smoke discharged by the car (in this case an older one).

* WWF ≠ World Wrestling Federation, just in case you wonder

Some pics from Metallica concert we attended – October 2004, Buffalo, NY