Shopping Fortification

Shopping takes effort and requires energy. Noah and Bob needed liquids. Noah was excited to get a Mountain Dew, only to realize it does not taste like Mountain Dew, but the bottle is a pretty electric color.

The shape of the Mountain Dew is different.. and the color is definitely unusual. The liquid is not that green. 

Electronics

On Saturday, we headed to the local electronics market. A little research revealed its location, but not what to expect.  Being adventurous, we embarked on the mission of finding and exploring this shopping area. It turned out to be similar in style to other areas we have explored, large multi-story buildings with flea-market type stalls selling their wares. Usually, the first floor is the most polished and one might even be tempted to believe the large electronics manufacturers sponsor these stalls. Level two, three, four and basement were different, yet offered a plethora of electronics and parts. We wandered up and down two building.  Lukas had been wanting to get a new screen protector for the hand-me-down phone from morfar, and so far the prices he had been quoted were in the $10 range. In one of the stalls, he got a brand new one installed for less than a $1 and afterward, we realized we probably could have bargained to lower the price.  We also picked up new charging cables, the price was right, so the boys accepted the baby pink color. "It is now apparent where electronics go to die. If these vendors would fix each of the broken down systems in their possession, everyone in China could have a computer, printer, or phone, or at least it seems like that.

Not even sure what this is .... Sounds impressive

Fancy computer towers  - maybe this one does not need to be hidden...

Ink, ink, ink - refills of any kind

Noah was annoyed this phone was not rotary dial - he said it was the deal breaker and he did not buy it. 

I am sure what we need can be found in this bin or in one just like it at the next stall, or the next one....

Parts?

what size monitor do you want?

Please note, no bags - no major purchases

Public Transport

We have options for transportation in Chongqing. The bus stops not far from campus. The cost for all four of us to travel downtown is about $1.20. If we want to splurge we grab a cab and the bill might be $5. Taking the bus allows us the local experience, and it saves us money which we use for street food. It is not often that we get the luxury of a seat on the bus, and maybe that is good as our long legs barely fit.

This Saturday, we took the Metro for the first time. It was fantastic. It was clean. It was clear. It was inexpensive. All the signs are intuitive and also in Pinyin (the Englishized version of Chinese). Every announcement was made in Chinese and English, and the trains were clean, orderly, and fast.  Some American cities can learn a lesson or two from the Chongqing Metro system :-)

although many cars, they are all connected making one long car

the only way to enjoy the seat, legs on each side of the chair in front of you

Exploring the City

When we have free time, we are exploring the city. The desires to see more of China is, at the moment hampered by bureaucracy, so we are taking full advantage of all that this area has to offer.  A young Chinese man we are getting to know explained that there are so few greenery areas that the city planners add in parks in which people can spend their recreational time.  It is not uncommon to find unusual and whimsical sculptures, eye-catching building facades, and intricate plazas. This Saturday, we explored another area of the city, and it did not disappoint.

Written on the stairs that were just swabbed with lots of water by the conscientious attendant 

Facade that looks like a bookshelf!

Kids exercising - learning to roller blade

Unusual terraces

No, we are not in London all of a sudden

small garden plots in the shadow of a skyscraper

A Bit of Color

It is pretty gray and overcast here in Chongqing.  Despite the large city feel, the many huge skyscrapers, and concrete barriers, the parks are filled with gorgeous and colorful flowers.  Our eyes are drawn to the beauty and cannot resist capturing it. Enjoy!

Chongqing has many underpasses for pedestrians to cross the heavily trafficked streets. Some of them are just gray, drab, and utilitarian, others hide large underground shopping malls or food courts, and then there is the one we found that housed a flower market. Our noses alerted us to it being something different in this tunnel, the scents that greeted our noses were sweet, flowery, and pleasant. It was fun walking through the multitudes of shops selling flowers and plants.

Trying New Snack Items

The grocery stores are filled with lots of exciting and unusual items.  In the middle of the store where we generally shop, there is a large section of items sold by weight. Small boxes and shiny bags filled with pickled chicken feet, roasted nuts, crispy crackers, colorful jello cups, and soft rolls.  Since we do not know what most of these things are, nor can we read what the labels indicate, if we are to find out we need to buy and try. We do this frequently. This past weekend, it was time to try the many little jello cups.  The verdict, not a repeat.

Better than Dumbbells!

Since we have a small kitchen and an even smaller refrigerator,  we are shopping daily for fruit and essentials.  Bananas are always on the list, and then we purchase other fruits that are in season. When we first got here, Asian pears and plums were in season, and we indulged. For a few weeks, we enjoyed watermelons. When the Asian pears became scares, and the plums disappeared, the pomelos showed up!  Although it takes a bit of time to peel a pomelo, it is well worth the effort. We now haul several of these large yellow orbs up the hill daily.  Who needs dumbbells?