I am very lucky that since starting teaching I have met some amazing, inspirational people and formed some life long friendships. My Facebook is full of many of these fabulous people and I am really loving being inspired by everyone's adventures and passion for education.
Yesterday evening my husband and I were fortunate enough to meet up with Brian and Stella, who were in Shanghai for Brian to undertake an IB Physics course having just begun teaching internationally. We last met in Sydenty a few short weeks before Adam and I were due to head to Suzhou for our first international post so it was really nice to meet a few weeks after Brian and Stella have started their new life in Dhaka.
Normally when we go to Shanghai we are on some form of mission that normally revolves around shopping and our favourite Vietnamese Baguettes from B Real on Fumin Lu. This time we were heading in for an evening and after the fabulous cocktail bar and restaurant choices that Brian and Stella had made for us in Sydney we wanted to ensure that we did equally as well. The route to success involved google and insider knowledge from colleagues and previous Shanghai residents.
Despite my planning and having addresses in English and Mandarin on my phone I did manage to intially walk in the wrong direction, oops. In the end we had cocktails at the Roosevelt Sky Bar which I thoroughly recommend. The pollution was low, the view fantastic and the cocktails delicious. The sky scrapers and lights of Pudong financial district are a great back drop for the tourist and commercial boats that continually sail up and down the river. Now I just need my parents to come back so that I can take them there too!
Dinner was a short, rushed cab ride from the hotel to Lost Heaven. I say rushed as the restaurant gives your table away if you are 15 minutes late even if you call. I can see why they have a strict policy as they are absolutely packed to their dimly lit rafters. It would be a good choice for a date if your skin is in bad condition or you are having a bad hair day as the lighting is incredibly flattering/lacking!
All the place settings at Lost Heaven include some form of bizarre brass cover that is reminiscent of a tagine dish and appears to have no purpose. It was pointed out during dinner could be used in a Jackie Chan movie as a weapon. I can see it now...
Dinner was really delicious and light. They are certainly dishes that you could order in other local restaurants if your Mandarin is up to scratch, however mine isn't. The other great thing was the first question asked by our waitress was if we had any food preferences or things that we didn't eat. My Vegetarianism was no problem at all and she stopped me from ordering a vegetable dish that apparently featured meat. Sometimes the extra fee for a sound stomach and not having to return your meal because it is covered in the obligatory sprinkling of ground pork is worth it.
The night ended far too soon, but it was so wonderful to hear about the amazing adventures that Brian and Stella are having and their future travel plans. I am jealous of a couple of school policies that involve overseas PD and field trips, but then again I can walk to the corner shop and buy a beer for a normal price with ease.
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