Thoughts about Shanghai...

After living in Shanghai for almost 4 months now, I find Shanghai pretty fascinating.. There are things that fascinate me in a good way.. and there are some that I just find it shocking in a bad way. One thing that I learnt about China is, Never Underestimate The People Here. Even the late Osama bin Laden also said before (hubby told me about this), 'U can offend any countries in the world, but never offend China'. That shows how powerful China is. And Shanghai, although not the capital of China, is a very powerful and growing rapidly city. So here are my thoughts...

- The streets of Shanghai... are mainly filthy. There's human spits, dog/human pee, dog poo and rubbish on almost all the streets in Shanghai, especially housing areas. Sometimes I feel like wanna puke just walking on the streets. The horrible odour... The older generation are mainly the ones incharged of spitting on the streets. Its just their daily habit or perhaps their way of claiming territory.

- Online Shopping. My new 'best friend' is called Taobao.com. They have everything under the sky. Use your imagination, use your creativy. U can find the usual clothes/bags/shoes and also food stuff. From olive oil to fresh meat to imported goods to fresh cooked food, vacum packed. Oh, u can even get ADULT-Y stuff like blow up dolls, cos-play costumes etc! All in a relatively cheap price. They even have branded goods from LV bags to Cartier Watches to so called very good quality AA grade immitations. As I said, anything u want, just type and search! And Voila... it will arrive at your doorstep 1-5 days later.. Due to its competitive nature, many sellers will provide 7-days return policy/ free delivery/money back guarantee and other marketing strategies to attract new customers and to maintain current customers. I can say, its pretty safe.

- The loudness of the people. Maybe its because of their history backgroud or so. But most of the Chinese here speak REALLY LOUD. This is something I still find fascinating (or maybe more of shocking) and still not understand why on earth they have to scream and shout at each other when they can just talk. Most of the times, when i thought they are fighting, they are actually just friends talking about life. When they speak the Shanghai language, its even worse. Partly because I dont understand 99% of what they are saying, I always feel that they are picking a fight with each other.

- The food. Being a chinese, I love chinese food. But most of the local restaurants here, serve very very OILY food. I went and check in the supermarkets, the cooking oils are not that cheap. Still dont understand why everything has to be SO OILY. The Chinese here loves brinjals (eggplant), tomatoes and also potatoes. U can find it ANYWHERE! oh, u can also find unusual meat products in many restaurants here that U wont find it common in other countries like dog meat, rabbit meat and also turtle meat. Most of the restaurants here are not very clean either but its cheap. Not into Chinese food? U can find Western, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indian, Japanese, Thai food around shopping districts which will cost u alot more than the local restaurants. As long its not China Chinese, it will be expensive.

- Traffic lights. The traffic lights here are mainly redundant.. nobody obeys the red or green light.. Motorist, drivers, walkers.. especially walkers.. After staying in Singapore (which police can saman u for disobeying the traffic law) for 2 years.. its really really hard to adjust. The drivers and motorist will HONK till the cow comes home, and the walkers will just walk as they please like they own the streeet.

- The price of the houses. Theres alot of apartments/condominiums/flats around Shanghai and the price is just ridiculous. A normal 3 room apartments at the city, can enable u to buy a double story house back in Malaysia. Shanghai is just over-crowded and properties are just high in demand. Our rental for 1-bedroom apartment a month is actually the amount we can pay every month as installments for a house in Malaysia. And of course, i really thing Shanghai-neses are pretty rich people.

- The weather. Maybe i'm not used to the 4 seasons yet. But the weather here is really unpredictable. It can be 35 degress celsius yesterday and 20 degrees today. I have to check the weather forecast everyday to ensure that i wear the right clothes. Kindda miss Malaysia's hot n sunny weather.

No where is perfect. Every country has its own advantages and disadvantages. China is a very powerful country in terms of the amount of land they have and also the amount of humans they have. If only Shanghai could be slightly cleaner... then i think, i can really enjoy this place. Day and night, when I walk outside, I have to look at the floor to ensure that I wont step on anything disgusting. Just hope I WONT step on fresh dog/cat/human (human least likely, but never say nevery) poo someday...

p/s: One more week to the place where I belong.... weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee............. wish i'm not travelling alone though...

POPCORN makes me happy!

Found this in a supermarket near my house.. Microwave popcorn.. Always see people popping corns with microwave in dramas, never really get to try it myself. Was very excited when i saw this.. They have loads of flavours, including the original butter flavour.. Got the chocolate flavour instead..

Its a very small packet...

Remove the inside packet from the packaging, and throw it into the microwave for 3 mins or less.. and then it expanded!

VOILA... popcorns at home!!!!! =D and its really tasty!

Hubby and I finished it in less than 20 mins...will get more to stock up at home!!!

p/s: Shanghai is fun.. as long u open your eyes to explore it and open your heart to accept it.. but, staying far away from your loved ones is not easy..Missed my grandma's birthday and though i know she wont be reading this... Happy Birthday Granny... sorry that i can't make it to your birthday again... =( the downside of living overseas....

Home cook dinner 05.06.2011

I'm gonna add a new label for my blog!! My cooking diary. Its meant to record down my cooking experience and see my progress as the time passes. I love cooking, but hates cleaning! Especially our new house here has a very small kitchen.. which kindda frustrates me sometimes. The landlord only provided on electronic stove for us and I always prefer to have at least 2 stoves. Cooking with electronic stove was (and still is) quite a challenge for me as I'm so used to fire stove. The feel is very different.

Anyway, i love pasta. I love to cook pasta and i love to eat pasta. Pasta is an easy dish to prepare and u can hardly go wrong. Unlike Chinese dishes that requires alot preparations and fast cooking..Pasta (in my opinion) is much simpler and faster.

Dish for the night: Pamela's Pretty Bow Pasta

I love Farfalle pasta.. they are so pretty and it kindda looks like butterflies..
After 10 mins..

farfalle pasta with pork meat pasta sauce + oregano leaves = Pamela's Pretty Bow Pasta..

I AM NOT A PREFESSIONAL CHEF.. so whatever that's written here is just my personal opinion and experience, and for personal improvement.. Thank you for reading! =) BON APPETITE!

p/s: Fried rice with fried honey chicken tonight.. (first attempt to fry chicken, nervous!) Hope it turns out well!

The Yet-again resurrection of PamPamSoo

It's been (another)awhile since i last updated my blog.. I've once again resurrected my blog and i'm determined to keep it alive! Since now i'm living in Shanghai with my hubby, and most of the people i care and love are back in Malaysia or NOT in Shanghai, this is a great way to communicate to all of u who actually bothers to read about my life.

Since August 2010 to now, June 2011, ALOT has happened in my life. I quit my flying career with SIA, moved back to Malaysia and started planning for my wedding which happened on 25th Dec 2010. Here are some of the pictures that i really love (u might see them in my fb, but i can't help to repost these pictures that meant so much to me), and thanks to Ck San Photography who really did a wonderful job following us the whole day and capturing these precious moments!

In the morning with my family, waiting for the groom aka my hubby to arrive..

My 'sisters' with me waiting for the 'brothers and groom' to arrive...
The moment that melts my heart...

A christmas wedding..

My 2 awesome good friends that helped me through thick and thin... thanks canna and ivy! i love u both!

Newly added member to the family...

The 'brothers' and 'sisters'.. love the reaction of my friend Carriene in the picture...

Us with my dad's side of family...

Us with my mum's side of family... Really appreciate everyone that came to bless us and excited for us..

One of my favourite pictures after we have finished the morning tea ceromony..

During the wedding ceromony.. went in my dad.. it was a torn feeling.. Happy that i'm getting married to the man i love, sad that daddy has to give me away...

Out with my hubby.. after Pastor pronounced us as Husband and wife!

Us with the bridal party.. the girls look amazing.. custom made the dresses and not expensive at all!

Us with my college mates that came from Pj and kl area.. (Dont say i never put your picture..)

Us with my ladies...The friendships that I cherished...

A big thank you to you guys! oh, the baby is my godson!

My lovely brides maid... *hugz*

Happy family!!!! my sisters looked stunning!

My new family... my in-laws.... =)

I never really like Va-va-voom gowns, but I love this one! partly because its purple... XP

There are so many more pictures that i can't stop looking at but unfortunately, unable to post all of them up because its quite a pain to post pictures on blogspot especially when u are in CHINA (china banned blogspot as well! so we have to use VPN to access)..
After the best day of my life (so far), I have to start preparing to move up to shanghai to join my husband. It was a bitter sweet time as I have to leave my comfort zone and the people i love for the man i love to disembark on a different kind of life! Shanghai wasn't the city that I ever thought of living, nor starting a newly-married life. But so far, i'm glad I came!

This picture was taken in my parents' house before I leave for Shanghai.. =(

My sisters and my ex-bridesmaid in the airport waiting to SHOO me away..

I cried for like half an hour after I say goodbye to everyone in the airport.. Thank god i wasn't alone and hubby was right beside me. The flight was very uncomfortable as the aircraft is really small and it was a full flight.. (we will not wanna take southern china airline again!)

Starting a new life on a foreign land was quite a challenge for both of us. We have to adjust to one another's different living habits and also the 4 seasons in Shanghai which we never had back in Malaysia/ Singapore. There were ups and downs but we managed to go through it hand-in-hand. Marriage wasn't as scarry as what some people had told me. Marriage is beautiful. Marriage is a life-long learning experience.

Hubby and I while walking on the streets of Shanghai during the after winter days.. Not so much of Spring yet... (i look CACAT in this picture!)

p/s: More entries to come, promise! XP