Ginita in Shanghai: 7月 2010

What a month July has been - I have eaten my way around this vibrant city, hence my ever expanding bum!!!

Juz was here for almost 2 weeks which was so lovely.... here's ALL the places we frequented (managed to do all this while being sick for a week!).

Kathleen's 5 - http://www.kathleens5.com.cn/. Quite a nice place near the Art Musuem in a lovely old building looking out over the city.

Mesa - http://www.mesa-manifesto.com/. Another nice place - nice food and some good cocktails. There is a bar, Manifesto, but we didn't get there.

Bell - http://www.bellbar.cn/. A fantastic little bar in an old Chinese house. Like most bars in Shanghai, they have a daily 3 hour happy hour. Great way to while away an afternoon.

La Grange - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining/french/has/la-grange/. We had a beautiful French dinner here with the lovely T & X - even if the manager is a tad odd.

el Coctel - http://www.smartshanghai.com/radar/elcoctel.html. Arna, Filomena and I headed here one Saturday night for a few quiet cocktails. Really nice bar even if it is almost pitch black. Run by an Aussie and a Spaniard... say no more!

Lounge 18 - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/3183/Lounge_18_shanghai. Juz and I have been here a few times. A really nice bar to watch the world go by on The Bund (if you go early - I hear it gets a bit cheap and nasty as the night gets later).

Wagas - http://www.wagas.com.cn/. Ok, so it is a salad bar essentially, but the food really is great and I frequent it most days for brekkie, lunch or dinner.

Mr Willis - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/4661/Mr._Willis_shanghai. Enjoyed a great brunch here with some new found friends whilst Juz was here. Brunch is a big deal in Shanghai with many establishments offering fine fare. Word is The Westin is the best Brunch in the world... am yet to find out!

Baker and Spice is downstairs from Mr Willis (it is a Wagas concept) and it is a divine litle bakery/pastry house. Perfect for something sweet after Brunch... Quan and I managed to share a few sweet treats.

Luna at Xintiandi - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/bars/has/luna/. Luna is just down the road from where I live at the very, very busy Xintiandi http://www.xintiandi.com/english/index_e.asp. The food was quite nice and it is in a great spot to sit and people watch.

Fountain - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining/fusion/has/fountain/. Also at Xintiandi, another great bar/restaurant for people watching... and they make quite a good French Martini (my all time favourite Cocktail along with a Mango Daquiri).

Mr and Mrs Bund - http://www.mmbund.com/. Well yes, I have been here many times... Juz and I finished his visit with another great dinner here.

Sichuan Citizen - http://www.smartshanghai.com/radar/sichuan_citizen.html. I love a few of the dishes here and I enjoyed a fun dinner here last week with Lou, Arna, Filo, Jared and Mr Lucas. We followed this with a few quiet cocktails at The Apartment http://www.smartshanghai.com/radar/the_apartment.html - a really nice rooftop bar.

Phew.... Was a busy few weeks. And of course the World Cup finally came to a conclusion so everyone in Shanghai finally got some sleep. We were to go and watch the final at 1am with T, Q, T, G and S..... but I bailed at the last minute (which means I now owe them all a night out on me - planned for 20 August...) - I am getting too old to go out to a bar at 1am ;-).

My Chinese lessons continue but of course, it is in one ear and out the other pretty much. The staff at the Pavilion practice a few words with me here and there - they think it is hilarious.

Our Interns made a cracker of a rap video in response to a challenge to all interns from one in the US http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuPA9Nrnz7U. They are awesome young people with amazing talents, awesome natures and are a huge asset to us (they assist with anything our customers need; getting from A to B on the Expo site, ensuring they have umbrellas, entertaining kids who come with customers, picking customers up at the gate and so on.

Hanging out at Shirleys - the tailor - is becoming a regular habit for many of us (Filo - addiction in your case ;). She really does make lovely things and the cost is unbelievable. The shoe man should have my custom made heels ready this week (well, ok.. x 3 pairs) and Arna, I will take you to the glasses place this weekend!!

I did work too in the last month too....! The Pavilion is getting busier week after week as we head toward the end of Expo. Only 96 days to go, which sounds quite odd as I can still remember when we were counting days to opening the doors.

Last week the sky was completely blue with lovely, fluffy clouds... for 5 entire days. I actually looked up at the sky and smiled. One of the guys from the Pavilion told me he had not seen skies like that in 10 years! Yep - I miss the sky.......

So that was July up until last Friday - when I flew to Tokyo for a sensational weekend. Blog post to come in the next few days with a few pics.

This week I have bitten the bullet and am starting with a new trainer on Thursday AND have registered for the Sydney and Melbourne half marathons in Sept and Oct which I will fly home for. Will definitely be a challenge given running outside here really is not an option - the treadmill and I are going to be very good friends.

Off to bed I go...

xxxx