SIMPLY EGGS

I cannot believe how small eggs are here in China. This one was however the smallest I've come across so far. There doesn't seen to be any standardising of the sizes. So just pot luck really. Will be a challenge when baking. To produce an omelette for two people I am using 6 or 7 eggs!

I was amazed to see pigeon and pheasant eggs on sale and think one of the pigeon eggs must have slipped through the net. They also sell salted duck eggs which I am told are delicious, so one day I will have to give them a go. There doesn't seem any reason not to eat other eggs apart from the ones we are familiar with, and I do wonder what we feed our chickens back in UK to produce such large eggs!

One thing they sell here, and I saw being sold for the first time this week, is 14 day old fertilised eggs. The chicks were just beginning to peck their way out of the shell. I had heard of this, they are usually sold as street food, and this is where we saw them for sale. When I had first heard of this practice I had though it was interesting as a blog post. But I have to say my horror at seeing this left me unable to even think about photographing them. And in case you are interested the Chinese just eat them uncooked, as is, feathers, bones and beaks. Actually made me feel quite ill at the thought. This is the first time since I've been here that any food has illicited this kind of reaction from me. I hope never to com across it again. Thankfully it seems to be dying out as a practice. I do hope so.

FRUIT BOWL

How different my fruit bowl is looking here. There are still bananas, apples oranges etc but there are a few new editions. Mangosteens and dragon fruit this week. I love the creamy sweetness of the mangosteen, but I have to say can't see that I'll be buying dragon fruit again any time soon. It's totally tasteless. Beautiful yes, but the favour does not fulfill the promise of how it looks. A perfect case of style over substance. ..

I have yet to pluck up the courage to buy a durian fruit, I think the smell of them in the shops is enough to put me off. One day soon I'll be brave and buy one and see if beneath that horrible stench lies anything which is palatable. I doubt it. However I may be proved wrong as many people here love it. Watch this space.

Apologies if you have read this on my other blog but just feel it's a blog worth the encore.
Just had the worst Indian food of my life, but the experience did make us laugh, so all was not lost.

As soon as we saw the menu we should have done the sensible thing and run............ However the staff were so friendly and welcoming we felt we should perhaps give them the benefit of the doubt. Wrong.

We were brought water, choice of hot or cold, strangely here they drink hot water as it is said to cool the body, cold foods are bad in summer, yes sounds weird to me too.

Anyway a quick glance at the menu soon had us laughing, sausage curry, really? That was only the start of it. The appetiser basket contained, chicken drumsticks with no hint of curry, crispy fried tentacles and chips with ketchup. Was it too late to make a speedy exit? No we really had to stay and experience it.



We made our choices, we needed to order the appetiser as proof! I went for a pork and vegetable curry, how bad could that be? Well basically pretty bad, a fried pork cutlet with some veg covered in the same generic curry sauce as my husband's curried meatballs. I thought he had made the bad choice, but soon realised there was probably no good choices. In spite of this the restaurant was fairly busy.

We made small gesture towards eating it. Drank our Japanese beer, again a weird thing as this was the only alcoholic drink available, and believe me we needed some alcohol to see us through the experience!


It took me back to those awful Vesta curries which was my first taste of foreign food. Some of you may remember them with fondness, I did until my memory was jogged as to just how awful they were. Oh how our tastes have moved on from early days experimenting with new cuisines from around the world.

As we left, and paid what was around £9.00, a worthwhile price for the experience, and the photographic evidence.




So if you ever in any place in Asia come across COCO's Indian Cuisine run for your life, I've taken the hit for all of you lol.

SHANGHAI SLIM'S

Had a wonderful lunch yesterday at Shanghai Slim's. It was a perfect day, the sun was shining and I was looking forward to meeting some new people, and a lunch club seemed like the perfect place. When I arrived there were already three ladies there. The table was set outside in a lovely courtyard, I could have been anywhere as there was none of the old Shanghai charm, but still a beautiful location. The other ladies introduced themselves, one was an American, an Aussie and the third a Kiwi, so this was truly going to be an international group. The rest of the group arrived, 12 in all and the afternoon began. We were all brought a glass of wine to start off the lunch. A starter of mushroom soup with truffle oil, which was delicious, was served, and in the middle of the table were bowls of salad and warm breads. A nice touch. Another white wine was served. At this point we were told we had to guess which wine, and from where, we were drinking. Hadn't realised there was a competition. Anyway I gave it my best guesses. But by the end of the meal had realised they weren't quite good enough. Obviously some serious wine drinkers here.

As we were being served a red for mains I opted for the filet mingon. Again quite delicious. Realised this was the first red meat I'd eaten since arriving in Shanghai almost a month ago. I did enjoy it.

To finish another white wine and a soft and creamy tiramasu. Didn't like the wine with the pud, but each on there own merits no problem.

Had a wonderful afternoon, although not sure I recommend all that wine in the heat of the day, but as we were under shades it seemed okay. So good food, good company and a few follow ups, beginning with a supper next week with Kathy, the Kiwi, who is going to introduce me to someone who lives in my building. Although initial contact with new groups of people can be intimidating, the thing I always remember is that people are the same all over the world. People you will like, people you may not like and who may not like you, but somewhere there are new friends out there. Just takes a wee bit of effort to search them out. This effort can reap some wonderful rewards, and some life long friendships, which will not suffer from thousands of miles in between.

NEW WOK

My nice new shiny wok where I hope to cook up some delicious chinese meals, although edible will do to start. As the water appears to be off this morning there will be no cooking done today, probably just as well that I have a lunch club meeting at Shanghai Slim's. Never been before but looks good. Only drawback I see is how the maid is going to clean the apartment up for the weekend without water! Whoever thought that would be a problem for me, not me for sure. Life is so different for me here and is taking a little sdjusting to but I'm getting there.

MOVING IN

Hope you enjoy the view from my sitting room window!

TUESDAY
Moved into apartment with six large suitcases, some towels and bedding and enough china and crockery for two of us. Place is furnished, I wish I could say comfortably, but sofa is definitely a case of style over comfort and it is probably the hardest bed I’ve ever slept on, but, as it is only for a stop gap until our own stuff turns up, probably in around 6 weeks. I’m sure I can put up with it.

It's great having an apartment ready and waiting. A couple of trips earlier in the year secured us a 14th floor, 3 bedroomed, 2 bathroomed + study. Really happy with it. Especially the location. Right in the heart of the city.

After everything was dropped off we were taken, by Jack, our driver to do a big shop. Not used to someone opening car doors and sitting waiting for me but I’m going to have to get used to it, as I’m sure I will, as Jack will be my main mode of transport around town.

The shop was a little testing, and for my husband I think best described as traumatic! I was happy wandering around trying to work out what was what, and wondering what I could do with all the wonderful produce on offer. Strange though when you are seeing things which you have no idea, what they are or even what you would do with it. I have a lot to learn here.
However, with 2 overflowing trolleys and it costing about £200 we weren’t complaining. Hate to think what it would have cost at home.


We finished the day off in a restaurant around the corner from us. We were tired, hungary but very happy. It was a Chinese of course. Place was not pretty, but really busy. I was also a bit concerned to see, for the first time, dog on the menu. However, what we ordered was delicious, if a bit hotter than we had eaten previously. This will be a great little local for us, and it is cheap.
Exhausted we fell into bed and at that point realised how uncomfortable it was. Hey ho!

Wednesday.
Holiday here today, Tomb Sweeping Day................
So, for us it was good. A chance to explore the city around our apartment. We were amazed at just how central we were .We began by visiting our local market. Managed to buy bags of fruit and vegetables, very cheaply. The people were amazing and kept asking us to try things. I could see durian fruit on sale, one of the smelliest fruits around. Fortunately was not offered it. Whew!
First attempt a success. I think I’m going to like shopping there. For today I stuck to fruit and veg, decided against any of the live produce on offer. Mainly fish, shellfish, turtles, frogs and chickens. Another day perhaps.
And yes these are live frogs for sale, for food!



Well, another successful day. Tomorrow reality will begin. My first day alone and Robin at work. This is where my new life really begins.

ARRIVED in SHANGHAI

SWFC building, 5 minute walk from apartment. At present tallest building in China.



Saturday 31st March we arrived in Shanghai. The sun was shining and already it felt as if summer had arrived here.

Lots of thoughts were going through my head, as they had been since the decision to come here had been made. What would it be like to live here, how would I cope with the language, which would make even the simplest of tasks difficult? Deep down I knew everything would work out, but I have to keep reminding myself that this visit is not like the other times we were in Shanghai, this time it’s going to be our life for the next few years.

Sunday we had to go and buy a few things for the apartment. It was quite a strange experience. An assistant follows you around the stores, however, unlike at home it is to help you shop, not to check you aren’t stealing things! It is a bit weird, and I guess I will get used to it, but it kind of throws you. I felt I rushed and ended up forgetting a few things. Another trip needed.

Lunch with friends, yes we do have friends here. We lunched with the couple whose wedding we had attended last year. OK so just 2 friends but hopefully those numbers will improve in time.

Monday.
Robin off to work. Breakfast in hotel then off on a solo wander around this part of the city. This is a new area to me, and is close to where our apartment is, we move in tomorrow. That will be a big day. Anyway day didn’t pan out exactly as planned.

First waiter seemed not to have understood breakfast order, although he repeated it to me. Ended up with what was brought, plus what I had ordered. Still not too sure how this happened.
Then ATM wouldn’t pay out money. Don’t know why. Didn’t want to try again in case I lost my card. This is when the language is a huge stumbling block. Although instructions are in English receipt given out isn’t. A little disgruntled I then attempt to cross a very wide road, and although there are lights, there are some vehicles which seem to have right of way against the lights, and bike and motor cycles do as they want! I will have to work on my road crossing skills I think.




By mid afternoon it was already 26c so I returned to hotel, took a shower and nap. I knew that on waking I would feel much better and ready to take on the next challenges, of which I am sure there will be many, that is what I both enjoy and dread about living in a foreign country.