so this is where we are going.

i'm the kind that is easily attracted to visit a place by one single image. seeing enough scenic photos of various places, this time i'm in awe by this google earth photo.



it's just an aerial photo. but this kind of landscape i have not seen before. we looked at the fabric of cities, or occasionally a cliff or mountain. but these spiky little hills are intriguing... and i've always wanted to go to the hillside.



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(after the weeks of work work stress and work, we finally have got the time to think a little about our new year trip - and it feels good to have a strong surge to want to go to a particular place.)

so that's where we will be going.
to 桂林．陽朔．龍脊 ... ...
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and we went.. ...

Just had to share my joy about meeting an angel

trying hard to catch up with writing about life in Shanghai yet work has became too big a part of it... ... fortunately we had the Franks visiting couple weeks ago and little Chloe angel gives a smile on my face everytime i look at these pictures... ...

the legendary 1933

so much has been talked about the 1933 Old Mill.
One of the many "Creative Industry Parks" in Shanghai, the 1933 earns its credit for its previous life of being a Slaughterhouse. Besides the stone construction that makes it looks like a castle, stripping off its old day's function now giving some interesting spaces.


The plan was to become some sort of creative hub, housing "creative industry" offices along with shops and restaurants - a place of energy and "creativity". Perhaps it is still in an early stage of development that besides a lonely shops there wasn't much traffic. Since most of the spaces were still vacant, we get to go through this labyrinth see its raw (but renovated) stage before occupancy.


One of them has turned into the temporary canteen for the staff before it is transformed into so hip office that can afford the sky-high rent - yet it gives some of the austere beauty that this place was suppose to bring... With the question of how it will be operated and sustained in mind, optimistic we say this is a place to-be. however, what we see now is a latest venue for fashion photo shoot and glamourous events, or on a normal Saturday populated as the location for amateur photographers.

Shanghai Creative Industry Center - 1933 Old Millfun

一些對於北京的偏見

從奧運的時候到北京一個週末旅行回來後,間中也有和朋友談關於北京的感受。被問及感覺如何的時候第一個反應總是：「這麼寛的街道是給人行的嗎？」，而結果通常也是：「北京還有很多有趣的地方，只是你還未有去巳而。」

有可能是這樣。不過現在再想一下，這樣直這樣嚴肅的街道可能其實就真的不是讓人行的。身為一個首都，要建立這樣一個形象也無可口非..一直在說的是指長安街。100m 寛的行車道，兩旁是配合這大道的莊嚴端正的建築。不是故意來裝腔嚇人，只是對強烈的軸線作出適當的回應。

可是朝陽區的住宅群就怎樣也說不通。只能說是市場需求發展並未成熟照顧不到人群... ...而確實在上海也有這種沒頭沒腦的住宅小區 ... ...

而南鑼鼓巷和798，可能只是個人期望太高。其實它們巳經工工整整地執行了它們的責任，並且有了背後軟件的支持 ﹣可能只是欠缺點organic自然發展的感覺... 還有三里屯... 應該是自己還未想通當中的元素，如果按照日常設計工作的思路，其實這裡都巳經達到要求... ...

只有期待下次再訪北京的時候會看到一些其他事物... ...

domestic bliss

so. there are just certain things in everyday life, for a small price, that can pull us out of reality into fantasy for a brief moment.

having lived alone and taking care of myself for so many years, we are used to live in our own mess and be content with it. but when we suddenly coming home to a hotel-quality cleanliness with crisps white sheets and spotless tiles, that is something that can make a girl feels like princess. or the resemblance of putting on a bright new white dress.

(right - although it is not magic and it is arranged and paid, yet the outcome and effect is still somewhat unexpected, thus surprisingly well)

and that is the moment when i have to put on an ella fitzgerald record to celebrate this little blissful moment.

 

五角場底的公共空間

april

so it goes by that fast it's suddenly april

finally a moment setting down quietly all alone writing about nothing. all i need (and wanted) is that cup of coffee and that smoke. it is indeed a good life here. not a shopping mall at sight. i picked up cycling (or i should say riding as the mode of transportation).

being away means leaving the reality mess behind and indulge in the scenery and of oneself. (and thanks to music that put a nice vile over) although there is another reality to face ahead... it might not exactly be the way i wanted but i can see it as a great challenge.

in short, it is the weather (with that little bit of winter left behind), the scale of the street and the trees that lined it. (more on the list: the height of the building and the small shops and cafes that lies among them)...

紹興路．漢源書店