my neighborhood

i know i said next blog would be about mooncakes, buuuttt you will have to wait. i will tomorrow maybe once i photograph them and open them up!
saturday afternoon, my roommate Mac and I and our friend Jacqueline did a little exploring of our neighborhood: the French Concession.
look how BEAUTIFUL the streets are! lined with trees...

yes, this is in Shanghai! Hard to believe right? I still can't believe it. This is my street too.... wait... actually no it's not. haha but, it is the next street over! We also found a super sweet little park across from our apartment too...

  

it is going to be the perfect spot come fall to go over and read books, just take a walk... or sit. think. write. i can't wait :) we saw a few old men playing some games as well. haha after we found this park we ventured to a place on Taikang Lu called Tianzafang? (something like that :) the chinese is coming slowly but surely) it is literally in mac and i's "back-yard"! 

   

it's amazing shopping and restaurants! just mazes upon mazes of awesome, artsy stuff! i could go there once a week for sure just to look around! we ate at a super cute place too (horrible service) but great over all! 

obamao? hmmmmm. yes? had to photograph that one.

after the exploration of the neighborhood, mac and i decided to head to Shanghai Chili Cook-off 2010! Yes, a chili cook-off!! I mean, when you hear the word chili cook-off in China, it's kiinnnddaa like you have to go. So, we wrote down the address, hopped in a cab, 15 minutes later we were there!

it was filled with chili and beer lovin' ex-pats. hey, no complaints there! i am a chili and beer lovin ex-pat :) we met some great people, had some mediocre beer (the chinese DO NOT understand how to pour beers or get a beer from tap. the head on the beer, is usually half the beer. i cringe. i ask for a bottle, and i will pour it.)  we met some crazies though! but, you get those everywhere. it was so awesome! 

my saturday was amazing! my sunday... i had to work. lame... BUT we are heading to Moganshan, China on wednesday through friday. I can't wait! Getting some days off work for the upcoming Moon Festival.

Check out where we will be staying!!

Photos of Prodigy Outdoor Base in Moganshan

we are staying in the bunk beds! haha