맛있어요

What am I doing in a queue? Anything that is good must be waited patiently, at least that is what I think. While I was walking in the vicinity of Xintiandi (新天地) I saw a long queue outside a shop. People were queuing up for its steamed buns that were freshly-made and sold straight from the steam racks.

The name of the shop is "港台双皮灌汤包" (Hongkong-Taiwan double-skin soup-filled bun). The shop was having brisk business. The queue moved quite fast and within 5 minutes I was served. I bought three fresh-meat buns (鲜肉包) at a cost of 80 cents renminbi per bun. Altogether, I paid less than S$0.50 for three buns. In Singapore, I can't even buy one meat bun for S$0.50.

The weather was cold but the buns was steaming hot. I just could not wait to bite into them to feel the warm. Fortunately, I am not writing a food blog or I would have committed a big sin for not taking a picture of them. I am sorry that I do not have a photo because they were so delicious that I finished them before I could say 'kimchi'. The skin of the bun was tenderly soft and the savoury meat soup oozed out once bitten. I had my hands all messed up eating the buns but it was a satisfying meal.

난경서 로부터

There are lesser crowd along the Nanjing West Road for a good reason. The shopping malls and shops along this road are meant for the rich and well-endowed. There is less dazzle but more elegance in its setting which gives it an up-market feel. Walking along this road, I cannot help but to think that if there is one city in China to have arrived, it has to be Shanghai. It is apparent that this city has its sight firmly set on New York city.

난경동 로까지

Nanjing East Road is meant for the middle-incomed masses. Wave of crowd swept non-stop through the walking street from morning to night. Be ready to be dazzled by its lights. Night comes to live under the lights and the crowd are attracted to them like moths attracted to candle lights. While I am dazzled, I would prefer to stay away from it. I still prefer fresh air and simplicity.

그대 돌아오면

The range of Korean singer albums in Singapore is very limited. Walk into any CD shop and the rack for Korean pop is probably stacked with Boa and Rain albums. But thanks to Internet, I can still get to hear some fantastic voices from Korea without being at the mercy of the CD importers.

It is through Internet that I get to know Gummy or 거미. In the Chinese sites, Gummy is called "spider" because that is what 거미 actually means. Unexpectedly, I have learnt another Korean word here. It is usually easier to remember a new Korean word if I can associate it with an image.

Back to Gummy's song, I do not own her "unplugged" album. I watch her music video "그대 돌아오면" (if you return) in the Internet. I am impressed by her vocal acrobatic, something a good R&B singer should possess. The tempo of this song is light and easy-going, very suitable for freeing up your mind after a hectic day.

상해의 야경

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower (东方明珠广播电视塔) is an unmistakable landmark of Shanghai. The two ball-like structures have lights that changes colour like over-sized disco balls set against the nightsky of Pudong. Fronted by the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower looks picture-perfect. I took many pictures of it but very few turned out well. Probably, my idiot-proof camera's limitation has been reached while trying to take the night pictures.

Darkness arrives early during winter and at about half past four, the night of Shanghai has begun. On 27 Dec, I went for a walk along the Bund (外滩). The night was starting to feel chilly. Wind was blowing and my exposed hands were feeling numb. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my evening stroll under the cold weather. I thought it would have be better if it has snowed. I found it weird that Shanghai people were wearing thicker clothing than me. I should be more afraid of coldness as the country where I come from has a perpetual summer.

A taxi driver told me that Shanghai has a lot of water but no mountain. I find it hard to believe that there can be a place in China that has no mountain. However, I witness it for myself on top of the Ferris wheel. There is really no mountain in sight except high-rise buildings. Since there is only water in Shanghai, the best place to see it is at the Huangpu River. I heard a lot about the Huangpu River from Hong Kong drama serials. Like all rivers that run through city, I thought they would have a lot of stories to tell if they can speak.

I was at Pudong on 31 Dec. Arrived there at 5pm but waited until 6:30 pm for the building lights over at the Bund to be switched on. It seemed that any reputable commercial brand would want to have a piece of action at both sides of and on the Huangpu River. A river cruise sailed past with a very huge LED display panel mounted on it. Commercials were run continuously through the display. With so many brightly-lit signboards competing for people attention, the nightsky of Shanghai was brillantly lighted up.

번화한 도시

번화한 도시(繁華都市) is what I would describe Shanghai. 번(繁) means something like complex and sophisticated while 화(華) means radiance and opulence. Taken together, 번화한 도시 means a complex and sophisticated city that looks radiance and opulence. A dictionary translation would give a prosperous, flourishing and bustling city. Though it is quite a right translation, it does not exactly describe my feeling.

The 번화함 of Shanghai has captured the imagination of my father generation. I could not really understand why my father would speak fondly of the city and his desire to visit it. He did visit it after that. But all I need is to be there in the city to understand why. The mesmerising neonlights, the pulsating city beat and the tireless spirit of the old Shanghai. As what the Chinese oldie《夜上海》(Shanghai at Night) rightly put it, Shanghai is a city that never sleep.

봄과 약속이 있어요

Picture taken in Spring 2002 at a garden outside Gyeongbokgung

Will I see spring in Korea this year? Maybe yes and maybe no. My boss has rejected my initial request to leave for study in Korea. My organisation does have provision for personnel to go on self-paid study leave so it is really down to one person decision now. I am appealing against his decision though. I hope that what I have written in my appeal letter will be able to tug on his heartstring strong enough for him to give his blessing eventually.

I guess only those opportunities that have to be fought will be treasured. There is time when I take things for granted. But as I grow older, I start to realise that thing doesn't happen because it happens, I need to make it happens. I know what I want and I am going to make it happens regardless of the outcome of the appeal. I may not see the fully-bloom spring but I should still be going for my study in March but maybe in Kyunghee University for 3 weeks instead. Nonetheless, I will be there.

마음 먹은거니 한번 시도해 볼게요. 아자 아자!

사진을 몇 장 찍었어

Caught in a traffic jam when we were about to cross the Lupu Bridge (卢浦大桥) from Pudong (浦东) to Puxi (浦西). Anyway, the traffic condition in Shanghai may seem a bit chaotic to Singaporeans. Just note that traffic lights are only meant as a guide in Shanghai and you should be quite safe.


These China-made bicycles just made me nostalgic. They used to ply the streets of Singapore but now they are gone - replaced by mountain bikes. We used to own a bicycle like this in our family. Provision shop assistant used to send our neighbour's grocery riding on this bicycle. How time has changed . . .


Business was brisk at this supermarket at Nanjing East Walking Street (南京东步行街). Too much things to see and buy that I did not know what to get eventually. So I was contented to just walk the street and enjoy a night of sight-seeing.


Bing Tang Hu Lu (冰糖葫芦) being sold at the Bund. They looked iressistable and delicious under the light. Heard a lot about this candy but have never seen or tasted it. Anyway, I never bought one of these though. I was satisfied just watching it.


You may be forgiven to think that this a western city. Bronze sculpture, Burger King and Coffee Bean are things that are just so western. But if you look closer, this is still Shanghai. Shanghai is not new to western influence. Western culture is part of the social gene of Shanghai.


Lang Lang (朗朗), a Chinese piano child prodigy, performed at the Shanghai Grand Theatre. He is affectionately called "The World Piano Prince". By the time I saw this big poster, his performance was over. I am no classical music fan but I still felt a sense of lost for missing the opportunity to meet the pride of the Chinese musical scene.

상해에서 뭘 했어?

I went Shanghai because I simply wanted to experience cold weather like those in Korea. But it was freezing cold only for two days. I knew it was cold when my ears lost their sensation after being exposed in the cold air for quite some time. For the rest of the week, I did not even bother to put on my winter coat.

So I did not have a chance to go Korea because it has become such a sought-after tourist destination that all flight tickets were fully booked. But I don't think I need to be in Korea to enjoy what Korea can offer. I found a piece of Korea's action in Shanghai.

So I could not go Everland to take its Ferris wheel. Anyway I had my Ferris wheel ride in Jin Jiang Amusement Park (锦江乐园). The Ferris wheel is about 108m high and cost only 20 reminbi (S$4) per ride. Quite a steal. Except the Ferris wheel, there were probably nothing else in the park that really excite me.

So I could not go Gangwon Do(江原道) for skiing. Its alright. I had my first skiing experience at Qixing Indoor Ski Slope (七星室内滑雪场). Like all novices, I started off rolling all over the ski slope. But with some coaching, I managed to find my balance and did some decent skiing at the end. I think I am ready for some real outdoor action.

So I could not have my Korean desserts. I still managed to have my 'Pat Bing Su' (팥빙수, red-bean ice) and yogurt fruits in Shanghai. I had my share of red-bean ice in the food court at the Raffles City in Shanghai. I also had my yogurt fruits, sitting comfortably on a swing, at the Canmore franchaise outlet located at Fujian Road.

Maybe I don't really need to go to Korea for most of the actions it offers. But I definitely need to go there to study its language.

상해에서 돌아왔다

I am back from Shanghai. It was a 'fruitful' trip. I was right to think that Shanghai bookstore should carry some respectable Korean language textbooks due to the proximity of China to Korea and the presence of the Joseon ethnic group at Yeonbyeon(연변-延邊,吉林省). I bought six Korean language textbooks when I visited 'Shanghai Book City', a seven-level mega bookstore, located at Fujian Road, about 5 minutes walk from the famous Nanjing East Walking Street.


1. [Top Left] The title of this book is translated as " Standard Korean Language" and it is published by the Peking University Press. There are 3 volumes altogether and I bought all three. The book shown above is the first volume. Each volume is about 300-plus pages thick. These textbooks are the consolidated effort of the editorial teams from 25 universities in China. These textbooks should be comprehensive enough for my self-study.

2. [Top Right] This TOPIK Preparation Guide, published by Shanghai Jiatong University Press, is meant as a preparation material for students who wish to attained level 3 or 4 for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) administered by the Ministry of Education of Korea. Whereas, the Korean Language Proficiency Test (KLPT) is administered by their Ministry of Labor. This textbook should be a useful tool for me to assess my proficiency level.

3. [Bottom] These two books explain the Korean grammars. I was so excited when I found these grammar books at the fourth level of Shanghai Book City. I know I badly need some grammar book to tighten up my fundamentals so that I can progress further in my study. These books should allow me to do cross-references if any one of the book fails to explain a grammar well enough. So far, these two books were able to answer all my doubts about the Korean grammars.

These six Korean language textbooks cost me about 186 reminbi, which is about S$37. I must say that books are very cheap in Shanghai. I may not even get two textbooks in Korea for the price I paid for these books in Shanghai. With the latest acquisitions, I hope to better my KLPT grade level to 3 or 4 by the end of this year. This should be one of my 2007 resolutions.