China life

Beijing Sunset
Originally uploaded by sheilaz413.

Topic of the day: Random thoughts and musings

As the summer draws to an close, the Chinese are starting to prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The other day, while riding a cab to work, I heard on the radio that this year, moon cakes (a traditional Mid-Autumn Festival dessert), are suppose to be more elaborate than ever. Besides traditional fillings such as red bean, sesame paste, and so on, innovative stuffing in recent years have included coffee flavored paste (from Starbucks, of course), various fruit flavors, ice cream filling, etc. This year, one company plans to introduce swallow's nest filled moon cakes. These precious cakes, 6 per package, will be sold at 1,980 RMB!! To put things in perspective, that would be around 248 USD!!! Considering how until very recently, the average annual disposable income for people living in Shanghai was about 2,000 RMB, that is simply amazing...

While picking up some breakfast at Seven-Eleven the other day, I noticed that besides Chinese products, the store also carried Barilla pasta as well as Barilla pasta sauce! If this trend continues, Jenny Lou's will have a run for its money!

While researching for a project, I recently found out that Chongqing, China, is the largest city in the WORLD!!! The Sichuan city currently has about 32 million inhabitants - that's crazy!!! And I heard that the 32 million people are just the people living IN the actual city itself - including suburban residents, I heard someone say that the city's population numbered at 50 million people!!! That's bigger than some countries!!! Unreal...

In case you're curious, I took this photo today at Dom's BBQ (held in his new abode). It was definitely one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen in Beijing (who said Beijing cannot be beautiful?!?! ;) ). The BBQ, by the way, was a wonderful time. It was a small crowd, very relaxed, great company, good food, plenty of beer, and fabulous weather.

Last but not least, because I've been tagged... (but contrary to popular belief, I actually had a very busy weekend! :) )

Tagged by:
Pierre

I am thinking about...
How wonderful today was

I said...
I was very thankful to have the friends that I have

I want to...
Believe more in myself

I wish...
I can fly!

I miss...
Friends and family who are not here with me. And being on the road again

I hear...
Joseph Arthur - Song in the Sun

I wonder...
What the future holds

I regret...
Nothing - I try not to do that

I am...
Who I am

I dance...
When I want to

I sing...
As much as my (currently) hoarse little voice allows me to :)

I cry...
During moving movie scenes

I am not always...
Un-relaxed!!!

I write...
Blogs :)

I confuse...
My directions. Granted, I am still very proud of myself that I learned how to tell north, south, east, and west in Xinjiang. So now, I can at least tell what direction I'm heading...but only when the sun's out

I need...
To take more photos!

I should try...
Scuba diving. And detox (again!)

I finish...
This blog entry as of right...now! :)