A Chongqing Surprise

It has been a while since I have updated this blog. Mainly due to work, the dreaded report writing season and the subsequent deadly (yet necessary) sin of sloth that followed.

Last month, Kate suggested a surprise visit to Chongqing to celebrate Lyra’s birthday. So, on the 13th of March I joined Kate, Becky and Mike to put her plan into action. It had been five months since we attended Omar and Lyra’s wedding, so we were all excited for a return trip.

After the three-hour flight, we took a taxi to a top-secret location that Omar had suggested (a subway station). We anxiously waited there while he took a taxi with an unsuspecting Lyra so that we could ambush her with a slightly drunken barbershop quarter remix of the happy birthday song.

Lyra was genuinely touched by the gesture and we quickly made our way to a small restaurant where we sat outside, chatting, drinking beer and gorging on aubergine into the early hours of the morning.

The following day, we explored more of central Chongqing. After a delicious meal, we took a cable car across the river. The views (apparently) were rather nice. I was a tad apprehensive at the prospect of dangling on a cable in a rather full cable car and therefore did not appreciate the scenery to the fullest.

Becky and Lyra enjoying the cable car journey while I assess the risk-factor.

Omar and I with a haunting rendition of Wuthering Heights.

Chongqing is famous for spicy hotpot so it would have been a travesty if we didn’t try it on our second visit there. Later, we went to KTV and belted out karaoke classics. The only way to soothe a hoarse throat after a singing marathon is to guzzle a bowl of beef noodle soup (or two…).

Oodles of noodles

On the final day of our weekend trip, we had brunch at an Irish bar before bidding farewell and making our way to the airport. It was such a great weekend spending time and reminiscent of our first few months spent in Beijing together. Thank you to Omar and Lyra for being great hosts, thanks Kate for the great suggestion of spreading birthday cheer and thanks to Becky for the photos I have stolen!

Tháng trước, bạn thân của tôi có một bữa tiệc sinh nhật ở Trùng Khánh. Chúng tôi ăn lẩu – nó thật là ngon! Sau đó chúng tôi đi hát karaoke. Thật vui mừng được gặp lại bạn bè cũ.

Hi Shanghai!

I landed in Shanghai yesterday evening. After the meal on the flight from Seoul, I wasn't too hungry so I had a stroll along The Bund.

On my way back to the hotel, I stopped at a small shop and discovered my favourite Chinese rice cake snacks, 旺旺小酥 (wàng wàng xiăo sū). I think I like the pepper flavour the most.

Today I have managed to take in some more sights. Yesterday it had been raining and was quite cloudy, so after a clearer view of the iconic skyscrapers, I walked to Yu Yuan market, visited the People's Square and decided to have Yang's pan fried dumplings for lunch. I had shrimp and pork dumplings. They were piping hot and juicy. I had already read that the correct way to eat them is to pierce the dumpling, let out the steam, slurp the soup from inside and then munch away! I preferred the pork dumplings but both were great. If I was to stay longer in Shanghai, I fear a potential dumpling addiction would be on the cards.

This evening I had another look around the city and admired the different architecture. For dinner I had hot pot. It tested my Chinese reading skills as everything was ordered by computer. However, the staff were very helpful and were able to talk me through the procedure. I chose a sushi starter, three different soups and beef with vegetables. Washed down with a Tsing Tao. Yum.

As I walked off my dinner, I went back to The Bund to take some photographs as the lights were turned on.

Thượng Hải nổi tiếng về gì? Bến Thượng Hải là một thắng cảnh nổi tiếng của Thượng Hải. Đường chân trời bị bao quát bởi các tòa nhà chọc trời cao ngất . 

Hôm nay tôi đã ăn bánh bao áp chảo Thượng Hải. Ngon quá! 

Sau đó tôi ăn lẩu. Ở nhà hàng này, tôi gọi món ăn bằng máy vi tính. Tôi đang ở khu công nghệ cao ◑▂◐