Friday, May 20, 2011

Shanghai prison break 5/20/2011

Went to lunch at a Japanese restaurant with several coworkers. One young lady was talking about how she's afraid to "prison break" her iphone in case it will become a "stone". Very cute. As a sign of the growing middle class, almost everybody I meet through work circles has a smartphone and an iPod Touch or iPad. Either salaries are on the rise or people are making these purchases more of a priority, or some of each. I think it's some of each.

Tried a stick of gum that is said to be so strong that it's illegal to sell in the US. I didn't notice anything ridiculously strong, it's very much like Altoids mints, but it's cool to try any gum that's so minty it's dangerous!

Stayed late at work, then got a txt message from my Big boss inviting me for a drink. Hung out with him sidewalkside at a fun nouveau riche French restaurant in a trendy area near our office. It was great fun watching the comings and goings of people, the hostess dancing in place, drunk American guys riding in the back of a flatbed pickup truck, the random oversized teddy bear salesman, the patrons gawking at the oversized teddy bears...

Walked back to the hotel at the end of a long day, past many street vendors selling presumably knock-off books, CDs, DVDs. Noticed a CD set called "Songs for Japan" - Amazon describes it as a star-studded album collection benefitting Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami relief.  You have to be a real jerk to make, sell, or buy pirated charity benefit music.  I'm just sayin'

1 comment:

The other Olga said...

Love the giant bears:))