Here is one nice restaurant to pay a visit.

We went to Sichuan hotpot restaurant “海底捞火锅” (HaiDiLaoHuoGuo). Friday night, day before 中秋节 and without reservation, we were in bad timing. We waited for one hour to get a table, but it was still ok, because there were plenty of things to do while waiting. Have place to sit for waiting, cards, chess, game supplies, computers with internet, nail beauty service, drinks ,snacks, fruits and shoe polishing were provided all free. Customers can kill their time without being bored, more importantly not likely walk out of restaurant tired of waiting. In our case, my sister went for nail beauty service, and my dad and I had time to catch up stories while waiting for my husband to arrive.

Nail beautify service

Once we got seat, food was of course good quality and tasteful, but more amazed was the service they provide. Provide endless hot towel to wash your hands, cloths to clean your glass, transparent cover for your phone on the table, hang apron for you and also have cover for your bags. Plus whatever you order, they respond very quick. It’s real good even extreme service that you rarely see in China. Another fortunate thing was that they had English menu that made our lives easy. We had great time together. My dad can be very tenacious when it comes to restaurant service, but he was fully satisfied.

One thing should try to order in this restaurant is Laomian (老面). Someone will come to table and start dancing with dough making thin-wide noodles. I think this is highlight event in this restaurant. Also have sauce buffet that able to make your own sauce here.

It’s depends on what you order, but four people came out restaurant all full and satisfied, we paid about 300 RMB. Very reasonable price and after this good service even felt we should give some tips.

There are 9 of them in Shanghai, and can check out at http://www.haidilao.com

But currently I noticed that things are changing. My little cousins in Korea, primary students, are very busy cramming Chinese character these days and every month they set for Chinese character test. English is still important in Korea but Chinese is quickly becoming as important language. And this seems to happen not only in Korea but also in other parts of the world.

Yesterday, my husband showed me a cartoon called ‘Nihao Kai-Lan’ which is airing in The Netherlands. He said, It is mainly targeted for Chinese kids in Netherlands, but many of Dutch kids also watch it. I watched few episodes, and it surely is fun, attractive to kids as well as very educative in terms of learning Chinese.(I also decided to watch this everyday to learn Chinese and Dutch for myself ) Many of easy Chinese were repeated carefully in the middle of English/Dutch, so that kids would not feel overwhelmed or perhaps not even realize that Kai-Lan (Main Character) spoke different language. My husband and I joked that; pretty soon parents would not able to understand what their kids saying.

Nickelodeon has introduced ‘Nihao Kai-Lan’ cartoon in US in 2008 and now it has expanded to Ireland, Canada, The Netherlands, Russia, Israel and France. It really got shocked and once again realized that China is surely next world power. Most shocked was the fact that it is aired in US. While many of Americans does not think that US would not step down from world biggest power, yet young generation is already preparing to face China.

US just downgraded their credit rating and China is busy making RMB as world currency. I wonder in near future, Chinese would become compulsory language in school education just like it did with English.

As it’s sin to stay inside the house with beautiful weather and we started to miss The Netherlands, we decided to look for Dutch town in Shanghai.

Holland village is situated in Wai Gao Qiao (外高桥), North part of Shanghai neary by Huang pu river. It can be reached by subway line 6 ‘North Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone station.’ Once got out of the metro, take taxi to Datong lu & Helong lu.

Amazingly the place was real copycat of Holland.

Except for few differences such as Chinese street/building signs, air conditioner and laundry hanging on balcony. I guess external life can be changed but internal life (culture) is difficult to change so quick. However because of this, it made this place more intersting

Place was much alive than I expected, since I heard it’s a ghost town. We also hoped to have some dutch snack, but guess it’s not that developed yet. Place is nice and quite but better prepare well because benches and restaurants or coffee shops were lacking.  So far this place is purely for architectural scenery and due to this reason many couples comes to this place to take their wedding photos. Despite of beautiful weather we could not see any new groom and bride today.

It’s nice place for a date

Search engine

http://www.baidu.com/

Baidu is  google of China

http://www.sina.com.cn/

Sina is getting more popular with blog and twitter concept.

Movies/ Videos

I love tudou (it means potato). They have section for drama and movies for Korea, US, China, England, France e.t.c. Now I do not need to download Korea drama and also practice my Chinese by Chinese movies that can easily found.

http://www.tudou.com/

http://www.youku.com/

Travel (ticket)

These sites are mostly for tickets within China. It’s time to travel~

http://www.qunar.com/

http://www.china-sss.com/

http://www.ctrip.com/index.asp

Public Transportation

http://www.ddmap.com/

http://maps.google.com/

Shopping

http://www.taobao.com/index_global.php

http://www.vancl.com/

@ vancl you order product to be delivered first then check the product. Once you like it then decide to pay.

http://www.360buy.com/

http://www.ganji.com/mobile/client.php

http://www.shanghaisecondhand.com/page1.html

Discount shopping

Can buy cheap movie tickets here~

http://www.lashou.com/

http://www.kutuan.com/shanghai/deal

News

http://www.cntv.cn/

http://www.cri.cn/index1.htm

http://www.chinanews.com/

After nice lunch, my friend Yvonne and I decided to visit largest shanghai book store.

The entire 6th floor building is full of books

<<Shanghai Book City>>  No.465 Fuzhou Road

This Fuzhou road is also has small book stores around the Shanghai Book City. However All the small stores  seemed going to close down soon. All the books were placed in a huddle and people were shouting that they are giving huge discounts. Yvonne explained that maybe the store is closing down due to  Shanghai Book City. I felt bad plus discount made me enter into small store.

I  found 4 Chinese traditional story books with CD, hoping that it would help to improve my poor Chinese. Each book originally costs 79.2RMB so I wondered how much I would get discounted.  20%? 30% or70%?

Interesting part was when cashier weighed the book on a scale!! Half a kilo will cost 15RMB. (Depends on the theme of the book, cost per half a kilo will change. Variation of 6 RMB, 11 RMB and 15RMB)

How heavy is your book?

It was bit shocking concept to me. Content of the book would not really matter but number of pages and quality of paper would matter in this case. If authors finds out about this, it would be very insulting but I guess for seller it makes sense to judge a book. Instead of calculating percentage of the book with headache (i also have headache when i have to calculate discount %), weighing book would be much easier.

So just like I was buying fish or meat, I bought 5 books for 55 RMB . Although I was only planning to buy one book but still i feel satisfied with prices. Guess now my job is to READ THEM!

After I  got out of the small book store, I started to notice that almost all the book stores near by Shanghai Book City, had same discount notice hanging on their door, attracting people.

It’s written 0.5 kg for 11 RMB

All over sudden I started to doubt if this is a market  strategy,  not necessarily clearing out the shop.  So my next mission is to find out if I was an aimed fish or store really closed down next time I visit this area.

Lecturer explains that most important thing to success is to find niche market and understand the culture. Even though you found niche market, culture important matter to consider, and followings are failed episode due to this reason.

Tinted window

In Korea, the more care is expensive, the more likely will have tinted window. It’s because owner would like to have some privacy as well as it looks cool! (Just like celebrity). One business man thought since China has so many cars, Tinted window business will be prosperous. But it failed.

Why? Chinese people like to show off their richness and car is the one of their important main pride. So if one apply tinted window, how can people see who is inside the car?

Fashion

As Korean TV drama is popular in China, fashion as well influence in China. One thought if she could bring all the popular clothes in Korea and sell it in China pricey, it will be great success. (I would not consider this as niche market though)

Anyway she failed while shop next door shop run by Korean born in China (朝鮮系中國人) was very successful, selling lots of clothes. To her clothes next door seems bit odd and not really Korean style. This person simply ignored or forgot that Chinese have their own taste and trend.

Last night, fireworks were all over the Shanghai sky once again. My first thought was; ‘Ah!  Chinese people are probably clearing off the remain fireworks from Spring festival.’ But later on I realized that it was Great Full Moon Day.

Great Full Moon day is first full moon in New Year. In old days, it indicated start date of farming and It is very big celebrating holiday in Korea especially.

Why follow moon?

Moon is considered as Yin, which means female. So moon represents as goddess or ground,and of course most important thing women do is give birth. Therefore, when moon becomes full, it not only looked rich but also represent full power of maternity- good harvest. I guess in old days, people used moon as to see the season change, since it changes shapes unlike Sun.

What people do on Great full moon day?

Korea

Korean people eat nuts in the morning to guard oneself against boils for a year and in the evening, would go to hill to view the moon, make wishes. People also predict that if moon light is white, it will bring many rains, if red then will bring drought, if color is strong it will bring rich year and bring bad year if moon light is dim. So as to hoping for rich year, some region do some ceremonial events.  Such as…

making fire to lighten the area as well as chasing away bad spirits

At night, kids would put fire in empty can and play like photo. After play, they throw on empty rice field

This is to kill all the harmful insects and mouses

write one’s birthday/name on the kite and send it to sky

Later cut off the string to send off bad luck and brings good luck

Eat Ogokbap

Bowl of steamed rice mixed with grains including barley, foxtail millet, millet and soy beans

China

In China, not only huge firework, but also special events takes places called Lantern Festival, where families walk the street with lighted lamps. Also make bean porridge and do ceremony infront of doors (I think to chase away the bad sprits- same ritual happens in Korea on longest night of the year). Alos eat rice dumplings (tangyuan) are eaten and lit outside houses for chase away bad sprits just like korea.

Japan

In Japan, it used to be ritual day for them as well but do not celebrate much anymore. Some people eat red bean soup.

So I decided to go to flower market, perfect place to feel spring. Plus last Christmas I got mustard & watercress and tulip bulbs from Holland as presents. So I had to find pot and soil.

Hongqiao Flower Market

718 Hongjing Lu, near Hongsong Lu -虹井路718号, 近红松路

So I head to Hongqiao flower market, which was about 20 min cycle distance from my house. Last time we went there too that could not see much, so today I decided to take my time to look around.

Flower market was busy as valentines day is coming, lots of roses in different colors, little teddy bears for decorations and colorful wrapping papers were being prepared in the market. I guess these flowers will be delivered all over the Shanghai, ready to make lucky girls in Shanghai smile and happy.

‘Who will be my owner?’

Surprisingly, this place was more than a flower market. There was also place to  sell fish and handicrafts behind the flower market. All the nice tea pots, antique furniture, western kitchen supplies and Arts & paintings  can be found here. Actually this place had more foreigners shopping than Chinese people.

Found typical dutch pot in China. Cheaper in China of course!

Can find lots of house decoration stuff here!

Bit pricey but still cheaper than western standard

After wondering around, I finally bought soil, pot and little spade. I find it bit ridiculous to buy bag of soil for 10RMB, but had no choice, since it’s easy to find asphalt road than soil road.

On my way out, beautiful flowers caught my eyes. ‘Oh! Spring has arrived!’ And just like that, I bought 6 new flowers, hoping that this time, flower would survive.  To be honest, I have minus hand when it comes to plant but since my husband have plus hand, I am hanging on to him. And what the heck, it makes me happy and smile just by looking at it.

Our little spring garden

Called ‘닭볶음탕/ Dak bokkeumtang’

What to prepare?

Chicken, Potato 2~3, Half onion, one carrot, 2 green onion

Sauce: Korean red pepper sauce 1 big table spoon, 4 table spoon of red pepper powder, 2 table spoon of soi sauce, 1 table spoon of alchole, 1.5 table spoon of starch syrup, 1/2 spoon of crushed garlic, 1 table spoon of sugar, little bit of salt & pepper, little bit of sesame oil

Wash chicken and let it stay in cold water for half an hour

After 30 min, Put chicken in pot,

Add fresh water and boil about 30 min

While chicken is boiling, prepare other ingredients

Cut Potato, onion, carrot and green onion

Mix all the sauce ingredient  in a bowl

When chicken is cooked, take chicken out

Remove impurities (foam/oil) in the soup

Then put potato in the pot to boil

While  potato is boiling  marinate chicken with sauce

(Do not use all the sauce, use 2/3, rest will be used later)

When potato is done,

add all the ingredients including potato and rest of the sauce

If there are too much soup, you can throw some of it,

but leave little bit of soup.

I usually leave about 1cm from the pot

add green onion when onion is cooked

Boil once more

Also can add sesame seed for more taste

Eet smakelijk!! 잘먹겠습니다~

Unexpectedly this subject brought in to the surface during the seminar that I attend few weeks ago in Korea, Internal Control Assessment Certification Program. Just like the title, it was mainly about how company can control/manage their employees and system in order to manage risk and increase productivity of work.

X bank is foreign based bank in Korea. Recently headquarter sent new policy regarding Gifts and Entertainment. When it comes to receiving business meals, employees cannot receive more than $200 worth of meal and if it is over the amount, every employee should get approved by head department or CEO. Also receiving gift are only allowed under $200 or promotional items with corporate logo items but cash or cash equivalent are not allowed. If item is more than $200, it also need to get special approval from Head of Dept or CEO. Moreover, if giver is Sovereign, policy is even tougher than others.

It seemed clear and reasonable, but when it comes to apply in Korean culture, presenter told us that it was a bit problem. Around New Year (lunar year) Korean people send gift to whomever they want to thank or show respect. Most believe that the greater gift is the more they show their respect. Gifts are various, such as  a box of fruits to gift certificate. This applies not only to personal life but also in business life to manage relationship with customers, partners and subcontractors e.t.c. Some might think it is very superficial but this is how things work in Korea. Basically it is like Christmas in Korea.

Not only New Year but also marriage or funeral events people send some cash (sometimes including flowers) to show their heart and support. (Anyway this money always comes back when person has their own wedding or family funeral) This means, in order to keep relationship with people in Korea, some cash transactions are necessary.

Therefore when this new policy applied in Korea branch company, due to this reason, people could not accept fully. Their argument was, if this policy applies, either employee have to use their personal money to keep customers or take a risk to lose customers.

For this matter, this X bank is in the process of discussion with head quarter. However, once policy has distributed, it is very difficult to make exception, otherwise the power of policy would decrease.

I am really curious how this company would solve this matter, as I myself wonder where to draw line between bribery and receiving/giving gifts. Plus I personally think it is not just a problem in Korea but many other Asian countries.

*Special thanks to Mr. Pyun, who invited me to attend these special lectures!