Published by Swiss James on 19 Mar 2009 at 12:39 pm
Busy week
I’ve been pretty busy this week:
Monday: T’Ballet
At the Shanghai Grand Theatre, and very grand it was too. The show was Romeo & Juliet and it was sold out (that’s what happens when the tickets are all 50RMB), but we bought a couple from a shady guy outside the theatre for 100RMB each.
Pre-show, they went mental if you tried to take a photo of the ballet
Sadly there was no orchestra so the music played too quietly over the speakers. At times it wasn’t loud enough to be heard over the noise of the audience eating, chatting and answering phone calls all around us.
Nice dancing, but I’m only going back when they play live music.
Ticket to Romeo & Juliet 100RMB (street price)
Shanghai Grand Theatre, People’s Square
Tuesday: Badminton
Me and her have been talking about playing this for ages, and at the weekend we saw people looking sweaty holding raquets coming out of a gymnasium near our house.
dressed for Badminton
It’s a busy place, but is open until 10pm (24 hours on public holidays and the weekend!) so we got an hour from 9-10pm. Great fun. I won.
Badminton court for 1 hour – 50RMB
Jing-An Gymnasium, Nanyang Lu (right opposite the Big Bamboo)
Wednesday: Da Marco’s
Taking a tip from WoAi I went to Da Marco’s italian restaurant last night. This place is really close to Jing-An, 11RMB in a cab, close to the Tesco’s on Zheng Ning Lu.
No image. You know what a pizza looks like
It’s big, busy, and when you wait at the bar they give you free Prosecco and real bar snacks (good cheese and salami, no cheap peanuts or popcorn here). The pizza was fantastic, the mussels and clams starter delicious, service was good, bill was a bargain for Shanghai. Four thumbs up.
Mussels & Clams, Chicken Fennel salad, huge sausage pizza, bottle of wine- 304RMB
Da Marco- Inside an apartment building at Dongzhu An Bang Lu, near Jiang Su Lu
Thursday: Korea!
Tonight I’m flying to Seoul! It’s the wedding party of my friends Cam and Sae Jin. Can’t wait to eat Sam Gyeop Sal, drink Soju and show Emma round the sights of the Korean capital.
Buddha's birthday celebrations, Seoul
I was there for 3 years before I came to Shanghai and still love the place. It’s been too long, I can’t wait.
If you fancy reading about some of the stuff I got up to in Seoul, start here.
One of many classy nights out in Seoul
Return Ticket from Pudong to Incheon airport- 2080RMB (incl. taxes)
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Glad you enjoyed Da Marco James. Amazing value which is probably why it’s packed every night.
Are you sure there wasn’t an orchestra at t’ballet? Usually it’s hidden in a pit below the stage level. Oh and next time try bringing a really big flash gun. The ballet dancers love it when you let it off in the middle of a big jump.
Have fun in Korea. We’ll try and get through the weekend as best we can without you!
Maybe there was an orchestra next door, having a coffee or something. But there was none playing any music.
It doesn’t look sold out to me, did the guy who was selling the tickets at double the face value tell you they were sold out?
i LOVE the last photo, but what did you do to make that Korean man smile at you like that in the birthday bash photo?
(I might make a visit to Korea in the summer – woo hoo! – leave really hot and steamy Texas for hot and more humid Seoul!)
Angie – Forget Korea, come to Shanghai. I know 3 guys who would love to have you over.
PS “Have you over” is a British phrase and is in no way suggestive or sexual, which I know will disappoint you, but we’re not that kind of guys!
Most aggressive peace sign ever.
shanghai will definitely be a part of THIS year’s trip! no pesky HSBF schedule t respect.
you’re the only 1 who’s not “partnered up” woai, H and Emma wouldn’t hear of such nonsense and i wouldn’t either!!! (i’m not THAT kind of girl!)
Angie – I am partnered up with Tommy and he’s the only full time housemate I’m willing to tolerate. Part timers though are always welcomed with open arms!
Liam- did you ever meet American Mark? He’s a Major in the army, could cook you and eat you before you knew you’d been shot.
Dingle- the box office told us it was sold out. This photo was a few minutes before showtime- 90% of the audience arrived just after the lights went down and started shouting around looking for their friends.
Angie, you’re in luck then, Woai definitely doesn’t have a partner whatsoever!
I think there’d be no time for cooking.