Optimus Prime and Maximus Irritation

Freedom is the right for all sentient beings, says Optimus Prime. Well, there seems to be no freedom of choice if you wanna go to the movies around here. We went to our neighbourhood movie theater, which has 11 screens. The ONLY movie they were showing was Transformers II. They have 11 screens, the shows start in every three hours. Quickly counting, that makes about 33 showings of Transformers every night. I did know Sanghainese were big Transformers-fans, based on the abundand Transformers-bumber stickers in every other car, but this big? Are you serious?

Well, maybe it should have told me something, that some colleagues from the office, whom I rarely... I mean NEVER talk with, have asked if I have seen Transformers. I never talk with them, but they consider Optimus Prime important enough to start talking to me :o)

But back to the movie theater. Oh, my Lord. For Pete's sake what was I thinking. Why did I do that to myself? The theater was full. Full of people, who kept eating through the movie. 400 people eating chicken wings, burgers, and all kinds of fried snacks, you know, normal stuff... In China. 400 people who needed to go to the restroom (or to smoke in the hallway, if you want my guess) three times during the flick. But never mind that. What really, really bugged me, was the talking. I should know by now, but O M G the talking! Oh, how I wanted to shut the mouths of those talkers. This guy just behind us kept explaining the movie to his mother. And not in hushed voice! Nooooo, nooo, so that noone could miss what ever important comments he made. To his MOTHER!

Life in China has certainly flexed my nerves, and there are many things I have learned to just shrudd of. But this continuous talking during (such important and culturally important) movie experience! I just wanted to stand up and start yelling. "Shut the F*** up! Shut up shut up shut up!" Or throw my popcorn at this loudest, closest terrorist. (Popcorn, which I, by the way, brough from home, because they only sell SWEET popcorn in the theater, but that is another story.)

I made it through the movie without organazing a public scene, but I am seriously considering signing in to one of those anger managing classes...

Enjoy... classifieds

We got into talking about Shanghai Enjoy Classified's personal ad's with my friend this weekend. She asked why I read them. Why? Why??? See for yourselves. Because it is a lot funnier than most comedies they broadcast in TV.

Now, it may seem I am laughing at their deficient english. Which is partly true. But no offense intended. And I am kind of allowed to, since mine is far from perfect, too. And I really doubt they read my blog anyway.

But there is one pre-requisite: do not read on unless you are tired. I mean really tired.

Special quality:

So did your boyfriend run away? Why are you telling so much about yourself? That won't help us identify your boyfriend if we happen to run into him?

Are you the one? Do you "take seize the day to the principle of value"?

Are you her marrage object?

Bill Clintonian definition of what is "not sex"...

Some are very particular about the nationality of the true love they are looking for:

Who do you think you are fooling you pervert???

"I was a strong muscle guy from U.S"? That's great but what happened? I think your possible clients are more interested what you are now.

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Oh, and the pics from Korea will appear as soon as I buy a new memory card reader. So before Christmas, I promise.

Kesälempeä

Joillain onnekkailla rakkaus todella kestää mitä vaan...

Mutta en ole ihan varman kestääkö Suomen kansa enää.

Where is the soul of Seoul?

I have been in Seoul since Saturday. It is... you know, it's a city. It is more clean, more green, more advanced and more orderly than Shanghai. There is less noise, less running around and less trash.

Taxis are big, black and fancy compared to Shanghai, and they have got working seatbelts. And, oh yes! There are no honking car horns.

The people seem more confident about themselves and their lives in this country. More open and smiling.

What do you mean? Why couldn't I know all this just based on couple of days in Seoul? Sure I can. I am just that good.

But for some reason I have not found the soul of Seoul. I don't know what this city is about.

There's the little stream where Seouliers go to... I don't know why they go there. It is a nice little creek, but it is surronded by concrete walls.

Then there is the garden of the Royal Palace. Oh, it felt like a haven on a hot Sunday afternoon.

And the NamSan, aka Nam-mountain. Mountain may be a slight exaggeration, but it is a green and lush and walking up and down you can exercise your poor calves so you can hardly walk the following day. In deed you can...

Oh, and some of the big malls are open until morning, some are open 24 hours a day. You hear that, all of you in U.K. or Australia? That's the way it should be, not close the doors at 6 pm, so that an innocent business traveller doesn't even stand a chance getting there. Yesterday I was working, today I was blogging, but tomorrow I'll go shopping!

-- Problems loading the pictures... Will add them tomorrow!--

OH...

MY

GOD.

Words cannot describe this combination of black windbreaker-fabrik, white lace and neon pink highlights. I wanted to go to the store and wait around to see if anyone tries this on. As this is China, chances are someone will. I don't know what I woud do then. Well, I had other things to do anyway, but I'll finalise my plan later...

Flower Market

One of the small things one can enjoy when living in Shanghai are flowers. Okei, so you cannot get them from the nature or enjoy them in the nature, but what you can do, is to enjoy them in your living room, bedroom, bathroom and guest room. That is, if you go and get them from the flower market.

And you should, because it makes you smile everytime you come home and the gorgeous orchids welcome you.

And when, despite the best possible care you gave to these beauties, they at some point die, you just morn the flowers, but you don't have to morn for your financial status, as three branches (like above) are less than 90 CNY (10 euros, so 3,3 euros per orchid). I don't remember buying orchids in other parts of the world, but I do know in Finland you easily end up paying ten times what in here, if you buy one orchid with the pot. Flowerpot, that is.

And this jasmin arrangement... I love the jasmin scent. Including the glass jar, this was 20 CNY, or about 2 euros. Perhaps you could figth it even for 15 or 18 CNYs, but for couple of renminbis, I don't bother.

And these lillies. The picture doesn't do them justice. But they are majestetic. And yet so delicate.

Note to self: if you want to promote something, take better photos!

2nd note to self: Next time, remember to get these

Flower Market:

Hong Jing Lu, Hongqiao

Runaway Bride - A'la China

This is what you get for discriminating girls. Oh, plus rushing to marriage. Plus engouraging people to get rich.