Enter the Dragon

For the second year in a row we decided to stay in Shanghai for the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year.  This year we decided to get closer to the action and booked a two bedroom penthouse suite near the old town!  Over Chinese New Year you can get some excellent deals in hotels as it is their quietest time as everyone goes to their home town or spends new year at home. 


We got to the hotel during the afternoon and settled in.  We were on the 30th floor and had a great view.

William and Oliver were delighted to have a bedroom with a bathroom and balcony.  Thankfully the balcony door could be locked. However, the windows in the sitting room could be opened and had no lock.  Health and safety, what's that?!

Sam and I gave the boys their supper, put them to bed, moved the sofa to in front of the window and cracked open a bottle of Moet!  Early on there were a few fireworks and, not wanting Oliver and William to miss out we called them out of bed three times to have a look.  Each time they were more and more cross with us for disturbing them!  Role reversal!

As it got closer to midnight the amount of fireworks began to increase and the noise was constant.  Down in a courtyard below our window we watched in amusement as some security guards set off firecrackers.  I did become a bit concerned as they then kept returning to ones they had lit already! 

 

 Midnight struck and it was amazing.  Everywhere we looked there were fireworks going off.  From outside restaurants to tiny lanes between rows of houses.  The noise was incredible.  Sam and I were glued to the window for about an hour after midnight.

 

On new year's day there were still fireworks going on and we narrowly avoided going up in smoke among some firecrackers!  There were still fireworks for sale although there were also lots used up! 

There was a lovely holiday atmosphere with families out enjoying the sights.  We managed to find the last remaining bit of old city wall (slightly rebuilt!).

We went to watch a Dragon dance in Xintiandi.  It was not put on by an official group but by a group of men who work for the electricity board.  They rehearse all year for their performance. 

It was very good although we felt much in need of refreshment aftewards and realised that we hadn't been to Costa all week!  It was so busy that, much to the amusement of the locals, we sat outside!  A bit of cold weather wasn't going to come between us and our coffee!

Over the next few days we spent time relaxing in the pool and exploring the area around our hotel. 

On my birthday we decided to head in to Yu Yuan where we met friends for dumplings.  I had been very proud of my efforts to book a table over the phone in Chinese and was determined not to be late.  However, we were delayed by the crowds and the fact that William found some tat on a stall!!

Afterwards we went on to the Bridge of Nine Turnings to look at the decorations.  The bridge was so crowded that we had to carry the boys and allow ourselves to be swept along in the crowd! 

After escaping the bridge we came accross an unusal massage place.  The technique they employ is to beat you with sticks.  Sam generously treated me to a birthday massage which actually quite hurt!

After following a crowded street out of the bazzar we decided to wander back to our hotel through the lanes.  The contrast was amazing. 

We only saw a couple of people and it was very quiet.  It was interesting to see the salted pork hanging out to cure and also to see the electrician's nighmare that some of these older buildings must be!

After returning home towards the end of the week we went to see another dragon dance at a local shopping centre.  This was put on by a dance troup who attempted some more daring stunts.  Many shopping centres like to have these dances on this day in the new year as they believe that it brings them prosperity.  Once the dance is completed a few dancers and a lion tour the shops recieving a hong bao (a red envelope with money in it) from each shop.  The tradition is to put it in to the mouth of the lion.

Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival marks the start of spring here.  The weather although chilly has been lovely for this time of year and we ventured out to a local park to enjoy it.  There were signs of spring already with lots of buds on the trees indicating that the plum blossom will be good.  It was a lovely end to a fantastic holiday.

Doing the Ford Fandango by Sam

At the beginning of December, a Chinese colleague, whom I had never met before, came to my desk and asked if I would like to be part of the entertainment for our annual Chinese New Year company banquet.  It is standard practice in China for all companies to pay for a large banquet for all their staff to celebrate the New Year and throughout the meal members of staff provide entertainment.  He had been informed that I would probably be willing as I was 'fun, energetic and enthusiastic'!!  This flattery was enough for me to be drawn in and I found myself agreeing to be part of a dance group, which I assumed meant I would just have to get up on stage, do a silly dance and that would be that. 

Well I was partially right, there was a very good chance I would make a fool of myself, but it very quickly became apparent that most of the group were taking this very seriously.  I was informed that every Thursday evening I would be trekking across Shanghai to a dance studio, where a proffessional dancer would be putting us through our paces foe three hours to learn a Latin dance routine.  I was paired up with the tallest girl in the group and the eight of us started learning the routine.  It did not seem too bad at first, the steps appeared fairly straight forward, right up to the point we got shown the first lift that we would be doing, suddenly I realised I might just as well have signed up to enter Strictly Come Dancing.

Six lessons and several lunch time sessions later, the week of the banquet had arrived and it was time to sort out our costumes, this can't be too bad I thought, once again wrong!!  Heeled shoes, snug fitting trousers and a black sequined top with a v neck down to my stomach....Nice.

On the day we went over to reherse on the stage and then got ready, there was talk of make up, but I drew the line at that and just agreed to have my hair done, although I fear it was a little bit late to try and defend my manlyness now.

The theme of the banquet was national dress, so not knowing quite what to do for England, I went with a suit, and a comedy England hat.  Much to my surprise, given the spectacular outfits worn by many others, I later found myself up on stage having been nominated for best dressed male.  Needless to say I did not win.

The time to dance had arrived and I suddenly realised that I was dancing in front of 600 people, many of whom could influence my career!  Fortunately it went well, we didn't make any mistakes, even the on the shoulder lift and spin, and we got a big round of applause.  We even got voted as joint first best act, but lost out on the prize as the person due to present the award decided to give it to the group who had done the communist dance and song!

 

All in all it was a good evening, but I went away empty handed not even winning any of the lucky draw prizes, which, given there were 3 iPad2s and an iPhone4s on offer, was a bit dissapointing.

As thoughts turn to next years banquet, I think we might fly to New Zealand early!!!!!!!

Lions in the playground?

On Friday we were invited to spend the morning at Ducks to begin the Chinese New Year celebrations and watch lions in the playground!  As we made our way to school that morning William and Oliver closely questioned us as to the nature of the lions.  Would they be able to stroke them?  Do lions bite?

We left Oliver and William in their classroom and popped down the road for a coffee!  On our return the playground gate was shut and we were told to watch through the railings - maybe they were going to feed our children to the lions!  Suddenly drums began beating loudly and music started playing and the children, who were all dressed in Chinese costume, paraded out and round the playground. 

When they were all in position two lion dancers came out and performed.

They were then joined by two larger lions.  The dancing was fantastic and another amazing chance for us all to expeience more of Chinese culture.

After the parade we collected William and Oliver and went to different classes to partcipate in activities.  Oliver and William had to collect four stamps to then be able to collect a prize.  We also went to get a prize from the entertainers.  It was candy floss, much to the delight of the children and dismay of the teachers! 

In the dinning room there were demonstrations of some Chinese crafts.  One man was making pictures with heated sugar that then set and were attached to a stick and given to the children.

Another was doing glassblowing but with sugar which is a traditional Chinese art form that is at risk of dying out.

William and Oliver decided to have a go at the chopstick trick and managed to pick six fluffy balls out of a bowl using chopsticks!  They also made dragon bookmarks, did a Chinese version of an egg and spoon race the rice ball and spoon, played hoopla with characters from a Chinese cartoon and, of course, had a snack!

It was an excellent morning and got us in to the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) spirit.  Later in the week we were invited back in to school to Oliver and William's end of term party.  All of the parents brought in a Chinese dish and we had a Chinese New Years eve banquet!

Christmas and New Year - Shanghai style!

As December approached we began to feel concerned that there would not be much of a Christmas feel to Shanghai apart from the decorations in Ikea.  However, we had forgotten the fact that the Chinese embrace anything where they can put up a few decorations.  Shanghai was decorated and felt very Christmassy. 

Wherever we went we seemed to bump in to Father Christmas.  We first spotted him at a Bazzar, then at the Dulwich Winter Fair and he also made a visit (with his sleigh) to DUCKs.

At the beginning of December there was a 'Carols by Candlelight' at DUCKs.  Luckily the weather was good enough for it to go ahead outside and we were treated to a range of carols and Christmas songs.  William and Oliver enjoyed it very much, especially the surprise visit from Father Christmas!

Oliver and William finished school for Christmas on the 9th December and we spent two weeks Christmas shopping, making decorations and Christmas food, having haircuts,and going to soft play and the aquarium. 

It was with trepidation that on the second weekend of December we made our way to a German Christmas Market.  Having been to the real thing we were nervous and had low expectations.  However, to our surprise it was excellent.  It felt very Christmassy and had lots of stalls selling wooden decorations that you would expect to see in Germany.  There were also a range of food stalls selling sausages and saurkraut and gluvein!

The following day found us at a five star hotel in Shanghai having breakfast with Father Christmas!  The  grotto in Basildon will never be the same again!  There was a delicious range of food and a chance to chat with FC in his grotto.

Sam finished work on the 23 December and we had a family trip to the wet market to stock up on fruit and veg for Christmas.  After splashing out about £7 for it all we felt able to treat the boys to a Shanghai pancake for 10p and a ride on a helicopter for 20p!  Although the helicopter did look like it had seen better days it did work and attracted a small audience!

On Christmas Eve we awoke to the shout of 'Father Christmas hasn't been'!  After a minor panic that we had somehow missed a day, we explained to the boys that they were a day early!  We had friends over for lunch and then after putting William and Oliver to bed Sam and I headed out to the pub - a novelty for both of us!  We took it easy, which was wise as at 7 am the next morning Oliver and William burst in carrying stockings - Father Christmas had finally been!!

Our Christmas morning was very relaxed.  After opening stockings and putting our 12lb turkey in the oven we relaxed over smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, drank champagne and played with the pressies from Father Christmas. 

After a lovely lunch at which we barely dented the turkey we went out for a walk and then came home to open family pressies. 

Sam then had the following week off work.  The first few days were spent with friends, where we were treated to a concert by Ria, William and Oliver, going swimming and eating leftovers!

We then decided to venture out and visited the Christmas display in the Hilton. 

Followed by the Jing'an Temple which was turned in to a plastics factory during the Cultural Revolution and has spent the last 10 years being restored.  It is interesting to note that, although in 10 years the area we live in, most of Shanghai's skyscrapers and 8 underground lines have been built, the temple restoration is still ongoing!

After wishing Grandma a happy birthday
New Year was celebrated with friends in Shanghai where we thought we were being shot at at midnight when all the fire crackers were set off!