Category Archives: Odd

Learn to read Chinese characters

Some days I think I’ve come so far in talking and getting around in Shanghai and China. And then sometimes, things turn out like this recent cooking event: Jenni: Can you pick up sweet potato? Me: Sure. Beer/Wine? Jenni: Not tonight. Me: Me too. I could murder one. I’ll grab a couple. [Meanwhile...back at the [...]
Also posted in Food | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Is this guy crazy?

No helmet. One hand on the handle bars. And riding with a pane of glass: Crazy as a coconut, right? Maybe. Maybe not. On the maybe side of the argument is common sense which says wearing a helmet will probably increase the chances of surviving a crash on a bike. Those chances of survival seemingly [...]
Also posted in People, Photos | 1 Comment

A what film?

At first I thought this headline in Shanghai’s Enjoy Classifieds was a poor choice of words from a skin cream company, or similar: But, for 2000RMB ($400 Australian) an hour?……Oh.
Also posted in Technology | 1 Comment

Shanghai Shots: Morning on the Bund

If one can get out of bed early enough then you’ll see these scenes of Tai Chi, Kung Fu practice, and other morning exercises down on the Bund (Waitan) side of the Huangpu River. In fact, you’ll see these morning rituals at most parks but this has to be one of the more spectacular backdrops.
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Flying South to Sanya (三亚)

With the Labour Day weekend and 3 days off we decided to pack our swimmers and head to the popular sunny getaway of Sanya, situated about as far south as one can go in China.
Also posted in Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Sprinkle of Ginger

One of the special things about the blog world is the ability to aggregate other people’s content and ideas quickly to fill the void of your own originality. This week I’d like to point to Ella Morton’s new blog and videos from A Sprinkle of Ginger. A friend and fellow ginger, Ella is a journalist, [...]
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Shanzhai Jay Chou

From the makers of Kung Foo Bear is this audition for Jay Chou. This is probably funnier if you know Chou’s singing and acting career, but Kung Foo Bear does make a cameo appearance and throws in a few Hadōken’s for good measure.
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Stop spitting ad from 1950s China

Spitting: It’s bad manners, spreads disease, and illegal in public. Unfortunately, the habit is still rampant in Shanghai with spitting on the streets, public transport, and even on restaurant floors. That’s not to say authorities haven’t tried to curb the problem – take this ad from the 1950s for example:
Also posted in People | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Shanzhai Panda

Ah, isn’t this video cute? It took me almost a minute to notice the panda was walking around like a pet dog. Exactly like a pet dog.
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Video: The Laowai busker

I’m partial to a good busker and happy to give a few clams for entertaining street art. But what happens when Mark, a self-proclaimed ‘crazy Kiwi guy’ decides to take the mic from a Shanghai busker singing his best version “Wonderwall” by Oasis for passing tourists next to the Pearl Tower? Mark says “Move over [...]
Also posted in Music, People | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pepsi – Choice of a Niú Generation

There are some cheesy ads tying products to Chinese New Year but I think this has to be one of the saddest pieces of display advertising I’ve encountered.
Also posted in Drink | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Shanzhai eye: Dike shoes

I love Shanzhai (山寨) goods, aka counterfeit knockoffs, in China. Whenever there’s a fashionable good, a group of entrepreneurial go-getters are ready to re-create said good and serve it up in the fake markets. In Shanghai, western tourists can be seen flocking to the markets for a bit of brand-name Shanzhai action and scuttling out [...]
Also posted in Shop | Tagged , , | 2 Comments