Blogging in Shanghai

Found this beautiful flower arrangement in Parkson the other day and I thought it will brighten up my blog a bit.

So finally I got my iPhone4s. I'm super happy with the camera and everything. I get to take plenty of pictures and I hope I can blog more often when I have the time. I feel so tired; been working for 2 saturdays already to makeup for what we missed during the new year. I actually cant wait for next friday and I'll sleep the entire weekend.

Bought new stockings the other day to layer with my old ones. I'm feeling cold with one layer. It snowed yesterday but just for like half an hour.

Will grab some food then drowse off. Good night!

Blackberry's Not Fun in Shanghai

I'm gonna give back my Blackberry to my dad. It's not so useful to have Blackberry in China, I realized.
First, before you can even use the wifi, you have to have your Blackberry plan activated (100 RMB/mo) which I have no idea how much data it includes.
Second, on top of that 100 RMB, you have to sign up for a separate data plan whether you will use it or not. Ask 10086 operators they're gonna tell you exactly like that. So, I signed up for 20 rmb/mo data plan.
Therefore to maintain my BB service, I spend 120 rmb per month.
Now, here's the hitch, Twitter and Facebook are blocked here. So basically the only apps you could use are the email, yahoo messenger oh and the weather forecast. BBM is ok but then most people use QQ more often. So much for my 120. Now, other phones like iOS and Android systems survive since they have VPN options which allows you to access these blocked sites. So when signing up for that kind of service make sure they can also be used on your mobiles.
I have no idea how BB is even making money these days. I know a lot of people would like to have other options other than iPhone since not everyone's into touch keypad. Oh well, I'll just buy Blackberry sometime in the near future. 

Buy iPhone 4s in Xiujiahui

Do people outside China think that we don't have iPhones here in Shanghai? First, we have 2 apple stores. Second, we have Media Market, which is like the biggest shop after Best Buy closed up. Third, Xiujiahui stores (like Mei Luo Tian (sorry I think my spelling is wrong) it's the mall with the big globe in front. Metro Line 1 Xiujiahui.) have all the gadgets we could possibly need. Long before Apple store even sold the iPhone 4s, which was early this year, Xiujiahui already has them, most of their products are from Hong Kong. Well, just ranting, coz I thought it's funny I keep seeing these adds in Craiglist and online classifieds that they are selling iPhone or iPad from the US. They sell it here and the prices are not so bad.

I'm finally gonna get mine tomorrow and I'm kinda excited. I had my iPad, now it's with my mom so I'm buying the 4s for now then the next iPad, if I have money by then. I'm gonna buy in Xiujiahui because it's nearer my place and plus there are tons of people there who can help me fix my iPhone when I have problems. Sometimes these big shops are so busy to even bother with their clients.

If you're wondering, an iPhone 4s (16gb) now in Xiujiahui costs about 4,900 rmb while in Media Market it's around 4,988. iTouch4 32gb is around 1,700 rmb. The iPad2 64gb is around 6000 rmb in MM while it's only around 5800 in Xiujiahui.

It's so cold these days, and I thought it's supposed to be warm after the Chnese New Year! Luckily I have enough heater. But I was so shock coz my bill this month is 600 rmb, normally I only get around 200 rmb per month and less than 100 rmb during summer. Argh. Better save up soon.

Eat All You Can at Bricco Cafe Shanghai

I think I'm gonna start a series in search of eat-all-you-can in Shanghai---- there goes my diet! Lol. Today, Jose and I went to Huaihai just window shopping. I'm still trying to figure out whether I buy iPhone 4s or iPad 2 or wait for iPad 2s or 3 or not buy anything altogether. Haha. I'm so fickle lately.

So anyway right across Media Market is Bricco Cafe and it turned out they have this buffet thing for 100 rmb every Wednesday. I'm so glad we went there. Everything was delicious, plus you get two drinks of your choice free. Love, love, love!

You know, I thought it's almost spring already since Chinese* Festival just ended. But then today was so cold, I totally regret not wearing my down coat today. Brrrr. Tomorrow I'm gonna wear just that till spring comes. Lol.

Good night everyone! 

For Cough and Cold

Just came back from 28 Celsius temp to now 5 C in Shanghai. I often
get cough and cold this way and again no voice. These two are
recommended by my friends here. They have instructions at the back in
English.

Going Back to Shanghai

I spent the holidays in the Philippines which meant I got two weeks free of cold windy temperature. And as I have a few hours left before my flight, I thought of doing some articles on my Hubpages. I wrote an article on how to buy stuff from Taobao. It's not really detailed but more of a summary. Don't worry you'll get it easily. My friend taught me how to do them on Yahoo Messenger, and I didn't even get a list of instructions or anything. 

So how was your holiday? I don't even have much time coz work starts right away tomorrow and my head is still in vacation mode. Anyway, I'm thankful coz my 2011 is great and Shanghai has been my second home for 3 years now. Humid winter weather here I come! 

New Layout

I decided to post this new layout on the last minute. I was comfortable posting by email or thru my ipad that I hardly have any time to go online and see the layout. Then today, I saw that there were giant exclamation points replacing my background.

I knew I had to do something about it fast. So anyway, here it is. It doesn't have any "Shanghai" element to it but it's in my favorite color, so that should do for now.

It's freezing cold here today. Gosh, I can't bear thinking what would it be like tonight. Oh well, got to go for now. Ciao! 

The One With The Internet

Today, I had my internet installed. For years now I have been using the dsl cable under my friend's name and while it's not so bad, the location is quite far. Luckily, we have China Telecom from just across the street. Signing up is easy. You just need to bring your passport and money. I got it for 950 rmb for 6 months. I hope this one is hella faster than my old one since I download magazines and videos almost everyday.

3 days after, the guys came. They told me they were gonna call first but actually they called me while they were on the way to my house. So better stay at home, three days after you signed up, just to be sure. One guy came first and he installed the wires. A few seconds later, another guy came to install the device and set-up on your computer. If you're staying in China for some time it's best if you have Chinese language set-up on your computer. You'll need it soon enough. Also, my friend who has a Mac, told me the guys were asking for a PC laptop to have things installed. I think it's easier for them. I don't know. Just a warning in case you don't have PC. But they did manage to set up everything on his macbook, but maybe you ought to help the guy out or something.

Ok that's all for now. I'm so glad it's sunnier in Shanghai now and it doesn't feel as cold as last year. Woo hoo!

Suddenly Cold

Winter is finally here! It was so cold when I went out today. Luckily, I had my gloves, scarf and socks on my drawer at work. I didn't expect that the temperature would drop just like that. Oh well, in a few weeks from now I'd be back to warmer temperature at home. Brrrr!

Ask Style Shanghai: Shanghai in December

Question: I'll be going to shanghai around dec, may I know what to wear? and what to bring?


Hi! This year seems to be warmer compared to last year, normally at this time of the year I'd be in my coat and everything. Right now, I just get by with cropped jackets and I just layer with a thin cardigan, although most of the time it's just a jacket on top of my shirt. 


You can check the weather before you come here a week or so. Normally it's cold and a bit windy so I suggest a scarf, jacket and some cardigans. It also rains every now and then so try to wear something waterproof for your shoes also bring a small umbrella. Hmmm, gloves are not yet necessary but bring a pair in case it gets cold. 


For what to bring, hmmm, maybe medicines in case you have problems coz it's hard to translate what you want in the medicine shop. Lotion and lip balm. For me that's about it coz they have everything you need here. 


Have a nice stay! :) 


Ask Style Shanghai

Sleepyhead in Shanghai

Gosh! The last time I posted was almost a month ago. Anyway, I haven't been able to type much recently coz i'm using my laptop as my temporary tv.

My apartment's tv got broken and instead of replacing it, my landlord had it fixed for 2 days and I'm stuck in the apt supervising the repair guys. Only to be broken a week after.

Well, my xmas gift for myself should be a flat tv. So anyway, luckily they have this blogger app now, although i wish they have this app for ipad and that we can type in landscape as well.

This year's temperature is quite surprising. It wasn't as cold as it used to. I still get by with a cardigan and leather jacket together. Last night i tried wearing a wool jacket and it was too hot. So that means I wont be wearing these heavy outerwear till after a month.

The weather's just perfect for sleeping. I used to be up early but nowadays it's an effort to get up on time.

Well, that's all I have to say for now. I want new camera, an iphone and a new TV. That's all for now Santa. Lol!

The Collaboration Behind "Inversion"

The show entitled “Inversion” during the Shanghai Fashion Week (2011) was actually a collaboration of creative minds from different cities. Hiro, the designer who conceptualized the clothes, shared how the project came about.

He said it all started with Xiao Yu, who conceptualized the idea of uniting foreign designers from different industries and coming up with a show that screams creativity without presenting themselves as a label. It has to wow the audience and yet at the same time make them rethink things that they see. 

The starting point was the pictures that Romain, the French photographer, took of different cities. Because each of them came from different cities, they wanted to present their view of the city and what creativity means for them. They wanted to present the city from a new perspective.

From these pictures, Kris, who is based in London, dissected them to come up with the motion graphics video that was presented while the models were walking on the runway. 

Hiro, for his part, thought of something that is part of the city and he thought of plastic. It is man-made, and while everybody uses it, nobody takes it seriously. And so he thought of incorporating something so common into something fashionable and even avant garde. He used PVC material for all the clothes and as well as the small envelop purse that were given away before the show. 

Philippe, meanwhile, has come up with a perfume that represents the city. As you know, different scents come to mind when we think of the city. For different people, the city means different things. Thus, he came up with this perfume that is vague yet unforgettable and lingers with a very pleasant scent. 

And that is how the INVERSION show came about. All photos were from Hiro. Makeup by Makeup Forever. Hairstyle by Tony and Guy. 

Related Articles: Inversion Shanghai Fashion Week 2011

Shanghai Fashion Week 2011: Emergence

Emergence is just the right name for this show which showcases creative designs from these emerging young designers: Uyi, Betty, Kelly, Dada and Bean. They used to be my students in Raffles Design Institute Shanghai, which makes this show really special for me. I am amazed at how creative they have become and that they are doing something they love and someday would be proud of. Congratulations guys, your show was amazing!!! 

Designer: Uyi

Designer: Kelly

Designer: Dada

Designer: Bean

everything is made of zippers! 

Designer:  Betty

William, Me and Joyce

These designers just finished last term and I told them that I wanted to take a picture with them coz they're gonna  be famous someday, well what do you know, they already are. :) 

(L-R: with Dada, with Bean)