Not Just Retail

Went to check out Tokyo Midtown, the high end retail mall in Roppongi. With it's extensive use of wood and soft lighting, it creates a mood of warmth and comfort that I've never experienced in any other large scale retail space before. Normally, I hate shopping malls. But I would have to say that this is one of the few exceptions - its design allows it to be luxurious and elegant, without seeming inaccessible.

Apart from the retail, there are also great places to eat and drink, including a Terence Conran restaurant, Botanica, as well as a wine bar called Coppola's Vinoteca, which showcases the wines from Francis Ford Coppola's boutique vineyard.

Part of Tokyo Midtown's vision is that there needs to be a shift from a production-oriented society to a creation-oriented society in order to remain at the forefront. With that in mind, this project also includes the Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo Midtown Design Hub, and 21_21 Design Sight, a design gallery/workshop created by fashion designer Issey Miyake and architect Tadao Ando.

"The idea was to create not only a museum that shows exhibits, but also a place for researching the potentiality of design as an element that enriches our daily life, a place that fosters the public's interest in design by arousing in them different sights and perspectives on how we can view the world and the objects surrounding us." - Tadao Ando

The entire project is also eco-friendly, with a lot of green space incorporated into the design (40% of the total grounds), including Midtown Garden and adjacent Hinokicho Park. Water recycling, and electrical and heat saving technologies are utilized in all the buildings.

Tokyo Midtown is the model after which all future urban multi-use developments should aim towards.

More info on Tokyo Midtown here.

Hidden Gems

My friend brought me to this great lounge tucked away in Nishiazabu, called Amrta Bar. It's hidden down an alley, and is in the basement of a residential building, so you'd never know it was there. But once inside, you'll find a cozy bar with a good mix of people, a constantly updated art exhibition, and a chill soundtrack (with some nights having a live performance).

Their website here.

Tokyo

I just arrived in Tokyo and am pretty stoked. No matter how many times I've been here, I never get tired of it. It's just got so much great energy and is an amazing source of design inspiration. The view from my hotel window In Shibuya.

Wasted Youth, Pt. 6

This time my flight was delayed 1 hour due to "mechanical issues". The counter did not give a new estimated departure time, but just said "please wait". I sat there for quite a while, and was getting really hungry, so I decided to go get something to eat. I figured I could just check the screen later to see when the flight was going to leave. Well, a quarter of the way through my meal, I happened to glance over at the departures screen, and noticed next to my flight number, the blinking word "BOARDING". Wtf? No warning? Just straight from delayed to boarding?? So I had to scarf down my food in record time, and hussle back to the gate. Well, I made it ok, but I had the biggest case of indigestion. Stupid airline.

Airline: China Eastern

Route: Shanghai - Guangzhou

Delayed flights: 6

Total time spent waiting: 8.5 hours

FIRE!

For whatever reason, I've never been a huge fan of hot pot. So when one of our distributors in Chongqing decided to take us to hot pot for lunch on a day when it was already a sweltering 38°C outside, I wasn't exactly thrilled.

See how red that water is? It's because it's FULL of chillies and spices. It was the equivalent of dipping my food in burning hot lava before putting it in my mouth. And look at the dish on the upper right - those are pig's brains. Not one of my better lunches..

Self-Empowerment

The 100RMB Challenge - Day 7

The last day.. For a late breakfast, I made a simple congee out of some left over rice and the remainder of the minced pork I bought yesterday.

For lunch and dinner, I also just used up whatever I had left in the fridge - vegetables, eggs, dumplings, chicken wings..

So I didn't end up spending any money. However, after dinner, I was feeling a bit celebratory, so I went down to the corner store and with the remaining money, bought some random cravings - a bottle of Coke, blueberry yoghurt, chocolate ice cream and some jelly candies.

So now that the challenge is over, what did I take away from this experience? Well, first of all, I was pretty amazed that I actually lasted the whole week. It did get a little tough half way through, and I probably don't want to eat another bowl of noodles for a while at least, but other than that, with a little determination, creativity, and patience, it was totally doable.

Second, I have a new perspective of daily living in China, and a new appreciation for the value of a dollar. You know the saying, "Do as the locals do". Well, I did, and it was fine, even enjoyable. And I actually discovered some new and interesting things along the way. In fact, I'll probably incorporate more of it into my daily routine.

Third, I found that living simply actually pushes your creative thinking - it's so easy to just pay for your happiness, but to create or do something meaningful out of little or nothing, that is a more interesting (and often more rewarding) prospect. It makes you open your eyes to new opportunities, and forces you to think of alternative ways of doing things.

This is not to say that I've been converted to a completely new way of life. In the end, I'm more than looking forward to getting back to my western restaurants, and taxis, and going out on the weekends. But perhaps from now on, I'll just be a little more conscious of my spending.

Ultimately, this challenge was just a reminder that you don't always need money to be happy..

The 100RMB Challenge - Day 6

Last night, I ended up staying in and caught up on some TV, keeping what was left of my money intact. This morning I got up early and won the Pro Circuit Table Tennis Tournament on Wii! Woot woot! By the time I finished that, it was time for a late breakfast. I went down to the market and picked up a head of cabbage for 1RMB (US$0.15) and minced pork for 3.1RMB (US$0.45).

With that, and a bit of flour and some sprinkles, I made one of my favourite weekend foods - okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake).

Total for breakfast: 4.1RMB (US$0.60)

Since my breakfast was pretty late, for lunch, I just made a cabbage salad with a simple Japanese radish dressing.

Total for lunch: 0RMB (remember I said cost does not include sauces or seasoning)

Right now, I basically have enough food in the fridge to last till the end of Sunday. And I still have 34.1RMB (US$4.99) burning a hole in my pocket, so I'm basically home free! EXCEPT, that my friend from L.A. just flew into town and wants to go for dinner tonight. However, it's on his company, and it's work related, so I can justify that as a "business dinner".

Total for dinner: 0RMB

Total spent today: 4.1RMB (US$0.60)

Money remaining this week: 34.1RMB (US$4.99)

The 100RMB Challenge - Day 5

Today for breakfast I got a couple of steamed buns, or "baozi". One with basically a pork meatball inside, the other one filled with some sort of vegetable and minced pork.

Total for breakfast: 1.2RMB (US$0.18)

For lunch, I got these mini pan fried pork buns called "sheng jian bao", which are a street food staple here in Shanghai.

You have to pay attention when eating them though, because the juices from the meat are locked inside; if you're not careful when you bite into them, it will squirt everywhere! I've messed up more than one shirt while eating them at work. Considering their small size, they are a lot more filling than they look - I got eight of them, and I could just barely finish.

Total for lunch: 5RMB (US$0.73)

I wasn't so hungry at dinner, so I decided to just make onigiri (Japanese rice balls). Three different types of sprinkles, for variety..

Total for dinner: 1RMB (US$0.15)

Total spent today: 7.2RMB (US$0.91)

Money remaining for the week: 38.2RMB (US$5.59)

Now here's the REAL challenge. It's Friday night, and people are gonna want to go out. What to do, what to do?..

The 100RMB Challenge - Day 4

Breakfast this morning was a "zhua bing" - a greasy crepe, with green onions and an egg inside, all wrapped around a sausage - basically a heart attack to go.

Total for breakfast: 3RMB (US$0.44)

Lunch. Seems like I'm eating oodles of noodles this week, and although they are great, to be honest, I'm starting to get a little tired of it. But that's one of the few things within my budget. So here I am again at yet another noodle shop. This time my bowl is topped with preserved vegetables and minced pork.

They tasted good, but if I have to eat another bowl of soup noodles this week, I think I may develop a permanent gag reflex to them.

Total for lunch: 5RMB (US$0.73)

On the way home from work, I dropped by the outdoor market again and picked up some more vegetables which cost 2.4RMB (US$0.35). I also got some chicken wings from the supermarket for 4.9RMB (US$0.72). Dinner consisted of hot and sour wings, and stir-fried morning glory with bean curd sauce.

Total for dinner: 7.3RMB (US$1.07)

Total spent today: 15.3RMB (US$2.24)

Money remaining for the week: 45.4RMB (US$6.65)

I was slightly over my daily allowance, but again, I still have vegetables and some chicken wings left, so I'm good. With all this extra food in my fridge, I'm starting to think that I can break the bank on Friday and Saturday and not have to spend any money on Sunday! A little early to tell for sure, but I'm feeling cautiously confident.

The 100RMB Challenge - Day 3

I thought today would be a good day to stop at the fruit stand, since I've mostly just been eating rice and noodles so far..

I got a couple of bananas.

Total for breakfast: 2.4RMB (US$0.35)

For lunch today, I had a nice bowl of beef noodles.

Total for lunch: 7RMB (US$1.03)

And for dinner, I kept it ultra simple and boiled some dumplings, adding a bit of left over vegetables.

Total for dinner: 4.2RMB (US$0.62)

Total spent today: 13.6RMB (US$1.99)

Remaining money for the week: 60.7RMB (US$8.89)

AND I'm ahead by 3.3RMB! Man, at this rate, I might even have enough to buy a beer at the end of the week!!

The 100RMB Challenge - Day 2

Alright, Day 1 went relatively ok. I think I might actually be able to do this. Let's see what this 2nd day has in store. Walking to work, I spotted this stand:

They sell these savoury pancake type things, mixed with chives and some spices, and topped with sesame. They sell it by weight. I asked for half of one of those big pieces.

Total for breakfast: 1.5RMB (US$0.22)

Next came lunch. I really didn't want to have to have soup noodles 2 days in a row, so I was willing to up my lunch budget a bit. And I was pretty psyched when I found a cheap non-noodle spot. I went with what is pretty much my favourite Chinese dish of all time - kung pao chicken. I can't even count how many times I've eaten that same dish back in Vancouver at Snow Garden on Main and 50th, the only Chinese restaurant in India town (go figure). It was a sad, sad day when they closed down after I don't know, like 15 years (may it R.I.P.). Anyways, I digress. Back to China.

Inclusive in the price, you get unlimited refills of rice and soup. Deal!

Total for lunch: 8RMB (US$1.17)

For dinner, I bought a pack of instant noodles, and used an egg and some of the vegetables that I still had left from yesterday to make this tasty little fried noodle dish.

Total for dinner: 1.1RMB (US$0.16)

Total spent today: 10.6RMB (US$1.55)

Money remaining for the week: 74.3RMB (US$10.88)

I'm pretty stoked. I am actually ahead in my spending. I have an extra 2.7RMB! That's breakfast tomorrow!!

The 100RMB Challenge - Day 1

14.2RMB per day. US$2.09. That's how much I have to live on today. How can I possibly do this?? Lunch normally costs me anywhere between 30-80RMB (approx. US$4-12), and if I eat out for dinner, which is pretty regularly, at least 100RMB (approx. US$15). Plus you add in taxis, which start at 11RMB (US$1.60) per ride. It seems virtually impossible. In reality though, people in China are doing it everyday.

I guess I just gotta get creative.

Luckily for me, I live close enough to work that I can either walk or ride my bike. If it wasn't for that, I think this challenge would be over before it even started; commuting would have taken up half of my allowance. Anyways, sweet, money saved there.

Breakfast today consisted of what is called a "Meat Moon Cake" (trust me, it tastes a lot better than it sounds). It's basically like a sausage roll, with flaky pastry on the outside, and a meat filling. This particular one comes from a famous bakery in Shanghai that is well known for these. The soy bean milk is compliments of our pantry at work.

Total for breakfast: 2.5RMB (US$0.37)

Ok, that was a good start. I'm on track.

Lunch time. I went to this noodle stand across the street from my office. You have to sit at tables outside on the sidewalk, and it's slightly dirty, but I just tried to think of it as "al fresco" dining. The noodles are freshly made and they actually taste good! I got the cheapest bowl of noodles on the menu - basically it came with pickled vegetables on top. I have to admit, I was a little envious when I saw other people's bowls topped with meat and eggs, but still, my humble little bowl of noodles did the trick.

Total for lunch: 4.5RMB (US$0.66)

On the way home from work, I stopped by my local outdoor market to pick up a couple things. I got a half dozen eggs for 3.2RMB (US$0.47)

..some vegetables for 1.1RMB (US$0.16)

..and I also bought a jug of water for 3.8RMB (US$0.56). And here's dinner:

I did use a bit of left over chillies, garlic, and parsley, but again, the amount I used compared to the cost is so negligible, you can't really count that.

Total for dinner: 8.1RMB (US$1.19)

Total spent today: 15.1RMB (US$2.21)

Money remaining for the week: 84.9RMB (US$12.40)

Yes, I went over my per diem, BUT, I didn't use up all the eggs, veggies, and water, did I? So that will be money saved in the coming days.

I think that was a pretty good first day. Let's see what day 2 has in store..