In the middle of an unassuming residential district, several Metro stops away from where we live, we find Bhoomi Stores. Not quite the golden palace of Indian goods we’d hoped for, but good enough to replace most of Indian spices, snacks and other curry-related goods we’d either left behind or abandoned in the heat. Well … Continue reading
It’s Thursday night: we’re supposed to be at a yacht club eating canapés and drinking cocktails. Instead, we’ve finally admitted defeat. Tired after 4.5 hours of language lessons in two days, and Tuesday’s somewhat disastrous attempt at a new pub quiz, a night in was needed. Following the closure of the much-missed (well, a bit … Continue reading
With no apologies for sweeping generalisations: if the British are a nation who love to queue, then the Chinese are a nation of individuals constantly forced to queue but for whom actually queuing seems entirely optional. Whilst the queues themselves can be quite specific (one queue per destination*), people will occasionally amble straight up to … Continue reading
Warning kids: kneeling on concrete is a bad idea. Kneeling with one knee on concrete and a person standing on your other knee is an even worse idea. Kneeling on concrete with somebody upon the shoulders of the person standing on your other knee is just plain daft (and hurts). An interesting way to demonstrate … Continue reading
“Wuxi, Future City of Technology” declared the elaborate multi-media presentation provided by Wuxi’s local government, as the soundtrack to Jurassic Park played out in the background. It’s difficult to take redevelopment of wetlands and new transport links seriously as I visualise dinosaurs marauding across the newly built parks. Dodgy soundtracks aside, we’ve had an excellent … Continue reading
If we’ve learned nothing else this weekend, we now know the fastest way to get through Hong Kong airport: turn up after the flight has been closed. Then get escorted through the airport (diplomatic channel for immigration, crew channel for baggage scanning), boarding just before the airplane doors close. Not ideal… but many thanks to … Continue reading
ShanghaiSims 