sabrina's Comments

Polution in Shanghai - Part II

Living on the 19th floor of an apartment right opposite Pearl tower and Jinmao Tower, we are witnessing how much pollution Shanghai has everyday by the visibility of the two landscapes.

We did a Pearl Tower Index on our blog: http://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://madaboutshanghai.blogs.com/mad_about_shanghai/oriental_pearl_tower_visability_index/index.html

In some bad days, we could taste the thick pollution in our mouth, which make us really sick.

Posted by Sabrina at 2005-11-30 19:30:51. More

How to Read Shanghai Bus Stop Plate

I find the slogan underneath the two info plates funny - �改掉陋习� - Get rid of your bad habits! What a well baby-sitted country!

There are lots more slogans like this in one of the un-used plates at a bus stop, such as "Don't spit on the street", "Speak Pu tong hua (Mandarin instead of Shanghai dialect)", "Use polite language", "Please use pedestrian crossing" etc.

I always wonder what is the point of these slogans because people still spit wherever they feel like, still cross the roads whenever they want, even piss wherever they want.

Posted by sabrina at 2005-11-25 11:52:26. More

Different Views on Typhoon

I was very moved by Jianshuo's entry today - I really like his attitude. I understand his being positive.

From my recent readings, I learned if more people talk about disasters, wars, and any bad things, more bad things could happen because they could be created by these people's thoughts. Since human's thoughts are powerful energy, if all this energy get together and vibrate on the same level, it could create exetremely powerful energy and come back to us (which are all those bad things that people have been talking about and felt compassion for).

So if more people remain positive and send out positive energy, the universe will remain positive and our lives will be easier with fewer disasters,wars etc.

Human mind is so powerful and it can create anything. So we'd better use it properly and use it to our benefit.

Posted by sabrina at 2005-08-12 12:09:42. More

Ability to Make Impact is the Cause of Pressue

I just read an article yesterday and found it very inspiring. I paste it here to share with everyone.

"The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room or the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play with your children.

Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your partner out to dinner.

Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Please share this with someone you care about.

I JUST DID. "

Posted by Sabrina at 2005-08-05 07:52:55. More

Donghai Bridge

Hi Tamie, thanks for sharing your personal "scary" experience with us.

I think there are a few major reasons responsible for the high death rate on the roads.

Firstly as you mentioned, so many trucks are overloaded. A friend from Beijing just told me the other day that he saw a truck overturned on a highway somewhere near Beijing. The truck was obvious overloaded and the driver was dead on the spot. There seems to be no effective regulations to control trucks.

Secondly, there are too many novices who either just have got their driver's licence or haven't practised enough to drive on highways. These people normally cause lots of problems.

Thirdly, lots of people drive while they are not feeling well. One of my friends had an accident a few months ago. She kept working for 3 days and nights without sleep and on the fourth day she drove to visit a customer and ended up driving into a trench on the side of the road. The scary part is that she had no idea how she got into there. She told me later that she felt a momentary pass out, thinking she was having a dream, then woke up only to find herself stuck in a big hole with the car. She wasn't sure how long she has been there till she woke up. Whew!

Posted by Sabrina at 2005-07-19 14:23:53. More

Donghai Bridge

That is a beautiful picture! I hope I can drive on the bridge appreciating the views there soon.

One thing concerns me about driving in China is the death toll on the roads: 680 die and 45,000 are injured every day compared with around 115 deaths a day in far more motorised America.The death rate on China's roads is the highest in the world according to the World Health Organization.

Here is a brief review of "Cars in China/Shanghai" in the following link if you are interested: http://madaboutshanghai.blogs.com/mad_about_shanghai/2005/06/cars_in_china.html

Posted by Sabrina at 2005-07-18 14:54:22. More

When the House Prices Goes Down

The rental property market is coming down as well. Just yesterday I was talking with a friend who has been spending one year investigating Shanghai's rental properties. She has just negotiated a deal for her boss and told me that the rent in Shanghai has come down quite a bit especially for those luxury, fully-furnished apartments. Her boss used to pay RMB10,000 a month living in Xujiahui. Now the apartment my friend found for them is only RMB6,500 a month with the similar square meters and even better furniture and facilities. And the location is still in Xujiahui, only next door to her boss's previous apartment.

I did some reaserch in Shanghai's property market and if you are interested, please read my article here from the following link. http://madaboutshanghai.blogs.com/mad_about_shanghai/2005/07/tightening_poli.html

Posted by Sabrina at 2005-07-14 14:41:44. More

Pudong Starbucks is Nice

As a native Chinese living in Australia, I think I understand why so many Chinese people rave about Starbucks. "Starbucks" in China is not just a place to have coffee, it is also a concept of trend and fasion;It is a place to see and to be seen and even a place of success. These "odd" associations with Starbucks are all thanks to its being overpriced and occuping nice scenary spots.

In Australia,local coffee shops are everywhere and they provide nice coffee and nice environment with reasonable prices. So people don't have to go to Starbucks to have a coffee or have a meeting because they have lots of options. However, there are not many alternative coffee shops in China and there are not many proper places to have a meeting outside offices. Starbucks happens to be able to provide the proper environment for young and modern businesspeople to have a meeting. That's why it is so popular in China.

I personally prefer my local coffee shop to Starbucks.

Posted by Sabrina at 2005-07-11 09:12:31. More