Hanging out at the Great Wall!
Great Wall
Hanging out at the Great Wall!
Hanging out in the Square
Glad we got to discover this area by night with all the beautiful lights. Thom and I walked all over Tiananmen Square neighborhood our first night. Very popular with tourists. Thom went back during the day and he became the attraction-people sidling up to him to take photos with the tall American wearing a Red Star Mao hat. Quite the sight for them I am sure.
Moonlight over Beijing
Beautiful Temple near Tiananmen Square the first night we arrived and the air was still clear. Today-masks are needed and the air is chunky with particulate matter. Hoping for clearer skies for Saturday’s trip to the Great Wall.
Enjoying the flowers!
Even in late October, the flowers are blooming in both Shanghai and Beijing. We thought that the leaves would be falling by now but not so. Wondering now what the winter will shape up to look like but so far, the weather is mild and the flowers are beautiful.
Bookstores are alive and flourishing in China!
Barnes & Noble take note of the crowds forming outside prior to a 7 floor bookstore opening for the day in Shanghai. No Kindles here-people actually were buying books by the armful, especially in the kids department. We found an English section on the top floor filled with all the latest releases and couldn’t help ourselves from buying the British version of the complete Harry Potter series. Cheerio!
China Countryside as seen from the bullet train
Fascinating to see rural China as the train carried us from Shanghai to Beijing. The typical home is a two story concrete structure nestled in trees besides small farms. Far cry from the luxury shops and skyscrapers in the cities.
Street Food
Thom enjoyed a hot egg custard tart off the street today on our walk to the Bund. So far, he has resisted the hot dogs on the street but he’s a New Yorker and loves his “dirty” dogs so despite what they may or may not be made of, I’m sure he’ll try them soon.
Hairy Crabs Take Over Shanghai
Street market full of hairy crabs for all! Oh, I meant for everyone but me….sorry, just not that adventurous in my food selections. Something about the “hairy” part is just throwing me off.
Hairy Crabs Take Over Shanghai
Hairy Crabs have arrived…they are everywhere in Shanghai. Whether on menus in the nicest restaurants (who also have an obsession with bullfrogs as an entrée so all bets are off) as well as on the back streets of the city. I’m sorry but anything with “hairy” is not making it’s way onto my dinner plate. But Thom is more adventuresome than me so who knows–I’ll keep you updated!
You can even buy the supposedly sweet delicacies in vending machines now in China: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/12/china-large-hairy-crab-vending-machines/2803393/
ALL YOU EVER NEED OR WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HAIRY CRAB HISTORY:
The hairy crab is known as one sort of the freshwater crab. The freshwater crab, with Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) as its scientific name, is widely distributed along the long coastline from Liaohe River in Northern China to Zhujiang River in the South. Moreover, it boasts the largest output as well as the most delicious taste in the Yangtze River water system. Exteriorly, the freshwater crab is characterized by a green back, a white abdomen, golden claws and yellow setae. Generally speaking, the hairy crab refers specifically to Eriocheir sinensis from the Yangtze River water system, among which, that from the Yangcheng Lake enjoys the best reputation.
The history of Chinese eating crabs dates back to as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty. As recorded in both Zhou Rites and Zi Lin (a reference book on philology) in the Jin Dynasty, the history lasts 2700 years or so. It is around the Mid-Autumn Day every year that the hairy crab is gradually on the market. It can be cooked in various ways, such as steaming, water boiling, flour coating and wine preserving. Talking of the hairy crab from Yangcheng Lake specifically, it is usually steamed, boiled and shelled before being eaten. Ever since the ancient times, eating crabs has been a refined pleasure which requires careful study. Imagine the tangerine crab cream, white jade-like grease, white and tender meat. Isn’t it delightful to eat them dipped in sugar, vinegar and ginger powder while inviting a couple of intimate friends for cups of good wine? Besides, it will be of a distinctive flavor to pick out crab meat and make with it noodles or steamed buns. Li Bai, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, once wrote in his poetry about the bliss of having good wine and delicious food while savoring crabs.
Laundry Day!
We saw various folks putting up their laundry to dry today. People just string up a laundry line over the sidewalks randomly and hang out their sheets, comforters, etc. to dry.
Thom joked that our laundry that we just sent out to get done by a service would end up on a line by the hotel-here’s hoping I get back what I sent!
Travels with Melinda 