Since this was our third time around in Shanghai with ample enough time to explore at leisure, I had the time to really stroll down the streets and alleyways and soak the atmosphere of this fabled city. Didn't take me long before I made my way down to the Old City of Shanghai, a place a tour guide once teased us about.
Guide : Yes, it's another temple in Shanghai.
Paul : Good God. Not another temple.
Guide : Not just any temple.
Paul : Unless the monks are shirtless and sexy, I think I'll skip it.
Guide : Trust me, you won't want to miss this temple.
He was right back then.
And I wouldn't argue with him this time either since I've returned repeatedly to Yuyuan Garden - and the City God Temple within - each time I'm there. Basically the more Chinese part of Shanghai city that wasn't carved away in the more fractious colonial times into international concessions so part of what was originally there remains.
Sort of.
Monstrous tourist trap it may be with repetitive stores hawking all things Chinese from the traditional arts and crafts to the more kitschy Chairman Mao memorabilia - and on that particular holiday the old alleys were certainly bursting to the brim with haggling visitors - but it was a place that I still managed to enjoy.
Even more this time since I had little qualms over elbowing and shoving people out of my way.
Not that the lil miss Shanghais would even bother since they could be as brash and brusque as anyone else, even dressed in the most demure qipaos. Then again, the local proud Shanghainese would again decry any such association with those they would term country bumpkins.
There is a lack of finesse for sure. Even more obvious when it comes to the surly service received in the teahouses and restaurants around. Smiles are rare indeed, and personal recommendations even less so, something I found alarmingly common here. Just like some of our own reticent Malaysian Chinese back home, they tend to have a stark problem voicing out their own preferences.
It's like if they get the answer wrong I might order them executed on sight.
Paul : So what's the specialty in this restaurant?
Waitress : Oh it's in the menu.
Paul : Well I am new here so anything you would suggest?
Waitress : There's a star at the side of the dish for the popular ones.
Paul : There are so many so which one would you suggest?
Usually an order that leaves them thunderstruck with their brain seemingly crashing as they try to process what I just said. Fortunately after a while I got the hang of their dour yet laconic demeanour - and quickly figured out what was good on my own. As usual though there would be those who whine over flavourful oily foods, I found the eating here as usual incomparable.
Guide : Yes, it's another temple in Shanghai.
Paul : Good God. Not another temple.
Guide : Not just any temple.
Paul : Unless the monks are shirtless and sexy, I think I'll skip it.
Guide : Trust me, you won't want to miss this temple.
He was right back then.
 |
| Wouldn't surprise me if the traders dressed like this less than a century back. Heck, even I've worn the same. |
And I wouldn't argue with him this time either since I've returned repeatedly to Yuyuan Garden - and the City God Temple within - each time I'm there. Basically the more Chinese part of Shanghai city that wasn't carved away in the more fractious colonial times into international concessions so part of what was originally there remains.
Sort of.
Monstrous tourist trap it may be with repetitive stores hawking all things Chinese from the traditional arts and crafts to the more kitschy Chairman Mao memorabilia - and on that particular holiday the old alleys were certainly bursting to the brim with haggling visitors - but it was a place that I still managed to enjoy.
Even more this time since I had little qualms over elbowing and shoving people out of my way.
Not that the lil miss Shanghais would even bother since they could be as brash and brusque as anyone else, even dressed in the most demure qipaos. Then again, the local proud Shanghainese would again decry any such association with those they would term country bumpkins.
There is a lack of finesse for sure. Even more obvious when it comes to the surly service received in the teahouses and restaurants around. Smiles are rare indeed, and personal recommendations even less so, something I found alarmingly common here. Just like some of our own reticent Malaysian Chinese back home, they tend to have a stark problem voicing out their own preferences.
It's like if they get the answer wrong I might order them executed on sight.
Paul : So what's the specialty in this restaurant?
Waitress : Oh it's in the menu.
Paul : Well I am new here so anything you would suggest?
Waitress : There's a star at the side of the dish for the popular ones.
Paul : There are so many so which one would you suggest?
Usually an order that leaves them thunderstruck with their brain seemingly crashing as they try to process what I just said. Fortunately after a while I got the hang of their dour yet laconic demeanour - and quickly figured out what was good on my own. As usual though there would be those who whine over flavourful oily foods, I found the eating here as usual incomparable.
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