Shanghai boogie.

nmballa · Posted: Jul 01, 2008 2:51 am Post subject: Shanghai boogie.

Off to China and then Korea. Sightseeing is going to be minimal, though I do have one day to walk about the city. Any recommendations on temples or sites to see. And Swass, yes I will be trying the local food though I have been warned against it. Hoping to find a good tailor that is reasonably priced while there. Score a couple of nice suits.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

What part of China?
If you stick with the cuisine of noodles you should be fine.
In China - Try a century egg but make sure you have pickled scallions to go along with it.
Fortune cookies are an american invention, usually the meal ends with oranges. (unless it's a funeral it ends with a sweet red bean soup)

fish6942 · Addict Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 603

In Korea, you will definitely be trying the kimchi. It's served with EVERY meal. Ahhh, the smell of fermented cabbage, onion and peppers...It's all coming back to me now.

If you happen to get in a crowd on a hot day and wonder what the stench is??? It's the kimchi coming out of the locals' perspiration. Oh yeah, it's that good!!

Jester · Posted: Jul 01, 2008 7:38 am Post subject:

FYI, if you're walking somewhere in Korea and you're not moving quickly, people will shove you from behind, it's not considered rude.

Justin 1933 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 364 City: The OC, CA

Been to China 35x...Always is the armpit of South Eastern China...IT Sucks and I hate the place...

Have to Go on the 19th...God I hate that place...

jjaszkow · Posted: Jul 01, 2008 8:55 am Post subject:

nmballa, where to in Korea?

Jester, +1 on the shoving people. I've started using the Korean subway a few times, and it's always a bit surprising, as are the vendors who roam the trains.

The metal chopsticks are much more difficult to use than the Japanese ones.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

Justin 1933 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 364 City: The OC, CA

The metal/plastic are slippery, thus making them harder to use....

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

Justin 1933, typical round eye response. Laughing

jjaszkow · Posted: Jul 02, 2008 5:35 am Post subject:

Dragonlady8, after re-reading what I posted, I can certainly see why you asked. It's not so much the material as it is the shape that makes them more difficult to use (at least for me). The Korean chopsticks are quite thin and flat (generally stainless steel) versus the round ones that I have used for years. The material isn't so much the issue for me as is the shape. It seems that most people there eat their rice with a spoon in Korea rather than with chopsticks, even though the chopsticks seem to work just fine.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

The best chopsticks I've ever used are made of Ivory.
My parents still use the same pair they were give when they were married.
Just too bad you can't get them anymore.

criminally_minded · Posted: Jul 06, 2008 5:16 am Post subject:

Skwake · Posted: Jul 06, 2008 8:45 am Post subject:

I find forks work pretty well Cool

cant remember using anything other than wooden chopsticks though? maybe because im a cheap bastard and only eat the cheap ass chinese food. Mr. Green

jjaszkow · Posted: Jul 06, 2008 8:08 pm Post subject:

Skwake, depends on where you are. My experience has been similar to yours ... except for in Korea where almost every resturant gives you 2 flat metal chopsticks and a spoon.

nmballa · Posted: Jul 06, 2008 11:39 pm Post subject:

Just finally got a chance to log on. Sitting Ichion Korea. Spent the last few days at a convention in Shanghai. Neat place to visit but damn is that place dirty. The smog must be some of the worst in the world. Food was descent. Didn't try anything too out of the ordinary. Never got the chance to try the century egg although it was on my list. No real sightseeing. Be back state side in about 3 days.

nmballa · Posted: Jul 07, 2008 4:41 am Post subject:

Just got done using those Korean chop sticks. I actually found them easier to use. I pinch on the corner of where the flat meets the rounded edge. Liked them quite a bit. But after a full meal gotta admit my hands were getting sore. Muscles I almost never use I guess. Pretty good food too.

oshensurfer · Posted: Jul 07, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject:

Forks work pretty good too. Confused

Don't they have forks?

Kidding. I'm with you jt09, wooden ftw. Rice sticks to it better, especially if you have some sort of sauce on the plate and the rice loses a little sticky. I can use all of them, but I prefer wooden ones.

jason_ssr · Posted: Jul 07, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject:

nmballa · Posted: Jul 08, 2008 6:42 am Post subject:

Just got my first thai massage, and no it wasn't the "I love you long time" kind. Although maybe if she had offered Laughing

Basically she kicked my ass for an hour and a half. Was quite enjoyable.

Brit Rider · Posted: Jul 08, 2008 7:03 am Post subject:

nmballa, and then?

Justin 1933 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 364 City: The OC, CA

Massages are what get me through my trip. The best was one time I had five girls massaging me. One on each arm, one on each leg, and one on my shoulders and head.

Nothing shady, just a fat American needing some TLC...