Travel Report: Shanghai Haigang Hotel

(Note from Author: I am still blogging on a super weird internet connection, photos aren't showing up on my side but I hope it does on yours!  If not, please bear with me, I'll fix it once I get back!)
Happy Wednesday!  As promised, I will be posting about the Hotel where I am staying!  The hotel name is Shanghai Haigang Hotel (Shanghai Harbour Hotel).

The hotel is actually a 2-star hotel but 2-star hotels in China are almost equivalent to 3-4 star ratings in Manila!  The bed looks great BUT, I had a hard time sleeping on my first night as it's hard and my back was hurting so much!  You know what I did?  I created "quilted" sheets with my blanket and I thought of that idea around 2:00am!  *laughs* So I was able to go to La-La-Land around 2:30am!  Too late, but I blend well with my "Panda" nails the day after! :P

There's a mini-fridge, a flat screen TV and the best of all?  Free LAN internet.  The internet connection gets wonky around 7:00-10:00pm though and I can't seem to chat with my family via Yahoo Messenger as I was disconnected nth time during chat!  It's frustrating but come to think of it, it's free!  No point in complaining.

There's a dresser and a SAFE!  But I didn't get to use it as I'm scared of even opening this cabinet!  Had this feeling that "Sadako" will come out anytime soon?  *laughs*  You can't blame me, I'm alone in a foreign land!

Bathroom looks like any other hostel/hotel bathrooms, they got basic necessities like toothbrush and toothpaste, shower cap, shampoo and conditioner and towels good for one. They can even lend you a travel hair dryer if you asked for it (in Chinese)!  Thank goodness I brought my own toiletries!  

There's a funny story about their service though, for a 2-star hotel, do not expect 3 star hotel service, actually I don't see much service at all!  I was there, tired from flight and was wondering why the bathtub gets flooded, I was calling their room service for help and 2x, I was given instructions in Chinese on how to deal with it!  *laughs* I was thinking: "If I can't do it, I won't ask for help right?"  Oh well, thank God for my IQ, I was able to figure it out on my own, no thanks to the service rep!

There are better hotels out there for sure but NOTHING beats the location! It's only a couple of minutes walk to the subway station and I am surrounded with restaurants after restaurants and a lot of shops!  Oooohhh, Lucky me!  Sale Season for stores like H&M, GAP, Uniqlo, Marks & Spencer, etc...!

I haven't taken much pictures inside the stores as I can be shoo-ed away for that!  (according to my brother).  Oh well, I was a diligent reporter, I was able to take a bit of shots still and I'll report back to you! :)

How are things there? 
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Travel Report: Arrival!

Ni Hao Ma? (How are you?)
I'm safe and sound, currently in my  hotel room and will be off to the office soon!  The weather here is quite humid (so goodluck underarms! LOL).

Internet connection in my hotel room is bad and I can't even read some sites!  No to Twitter and no to FB by the way! :) I'm sure a lot of you already knew that I'm not aware of the outside world! :)

The flight went well, I flew via Philippine Airlines and the flight went on smoothly!  What I love about PAL is their food!  I was given a choice between chicken or pork, I opted for the latter and guess what dessert was?  Chocolate Ice Cream!  I gave it a skip and asked for my trustee coffee as I watched THOR inside the plane!  Thank goodness I finally watched it!

Thanks to my dear brother who is so sweet to call in a private cab, to make sure I'm safe!  Sweet guy helped me with my luggage and all I did was relax for an hour drive from Pudong Airport to my Hotel.

Ahhh, Hotel, I am staying at Shanghai Haigang Hotel, that's another story worth posting!  Will tell you more about it soon!  Hope things are doing well for you guys!  I hope my pictures show up as it's not showing up here! LOL

Keep smilin' 

Stay happy!

Nail Art Tutorial: "I'm In China, I See Pandas!"

Happy Nail Art Tutorial Day!  I actually did this nail art last week before I left for Shanghai.  As I always get inspired with the things I see or do, I've decided to create a nail art that has something to do with China!  

RED!  Is definitely on my mind as red is known to be a lucky color.  Then, I had a flashback on my Chinese history, though Dragon has always been a National Emblem, Panda is recently used to serve as an emblem to represent the modern times.  A lot of panda stuff toys, images and mascots are seen when you visit the country!

Red and Panda it is!  Here's my nail art tutorial created specially for my Shanghai Trip! 

Step 1:

Do not forget to apply a base coat to protect your nails from further yellowing.  I used a coat of ZOYA Basecoat.  Once dry, apply 2 coats of the brightest red polish I own at present.  That's Paul & Joe Nail Lacquer in 012.

This nail art tutorial is really easy, I promise you!  You only need dotting tools or random pens or any items that has a circle end.  For the polish, you only need 2 shades to create a Panda.  Black and White.  Both polish I used are from The Face Shop.  The one on the right is their new polish bottle.

Step 2:

It is VERY important that the base polish is COMPLETELY dry before you proceed with this step.  If you did not wait long enough, everything will be ruined.  

Again, once the red base is completely dry, create a half circle on nail with the nail polish brush.  No need for any special tool.  At this stage, do not worry on creating perfect half circles, keep in mind that pandas are furry by nature so it's ok if they're not perfectly drawn.

Step 3:

As the half white circle is completely dry, use a medium sized dotting tool or use a medium ballpoint pen to apply dots.  With The Face Shop's Black Polish on paper, gently dot to create ears and eyes.

Step 4:

For the nose, I used a smaller dotting tool or if you don't have one, I suggest you can use toothpick and dot multiple times until you create a dot big enough but not bigger than the ears and eyes.

Step 5:

By the time you went through all your fingers for the black dots, it's time to move on to create the eyes.  With the same white polish used for the head, apply a dot smaller than the black eyes as shown on photo below.

Step 6:

For the eye balls, I don't have a super small dotting tool so I'm using a mechanical pencil OR you can use a needle at this point.

Optional:

I like random arts so I've created male and female Pandas.  Yay for equality!  *laughs*  With a dotting tool, or if you're comfortable, use an art brush.  I used Orly's Cotton Candy Polish Shade.

Another Optional Step:

Poor Pandas if their bodies are not shown!  Since my thumb nails have bigger space, I've decided to draw the full bodies of the panda.  Create 2 huge circles.  Bottom circle bigger than the one above.

Create the face the same way as above, add the hands and feet.

I wanted them to have their favorite snack!  Bamboo!  I opted for green colored bamboos as the regular flesh tone will be washed out in this nail art design.

Step 7:

Making sure the Pandas are COMPLETELY dry, protect them with your choice of top coat.  I used OPI's Start to Finish.

I'm ready to strut the streets of China and probably be attacked by a real Panda

*knocks on wood* LOL

Hope you like it and please tell me you'll give it a try?

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Shanghai! I'm back!!!

Happy Monday everyone!  By the time you're reading this, I'm probably off to the airport (or probably oversleeping) as I'm off to Shanghai today!  Before you get too excited, it's not all about fun!  I'm off to Shanghai for work...... THEN play! :P 

I will update you as much as I can!  I can't wait to see what Shanghai has to offer after almost 3 years?  The last time I was there was around 2008!  Can't wait to see my brother too!

There's nothing much to shop in Shanghai especially on international brands as I believe they are more expensive there!  It wouldn't hurt to check out Sephora Stores in China though!  I've researched and found a couple of branches --- that, if I don't get lost!

I am not even sure if I'll be doing the usual tourist-y stuff as I've done that before.  My favorite place aside from The Bund and the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower is the YuYuan Garden.  I wouldn't mind going back just to chill!

I will definitely try more food!!!  The area I will be staying is near a road that sells delicious and inexpensive local food!

Stinky Tofu is surprisingly good yet...ahmm..stinky!  Not craving for it but who knows?  Maybe, I can give it another chance!

I don't mind lining up again for....

THIS! :)

I know we have Lord's Stow down here which is as good, but this one has a more "egg taste"

I love curry!  I've eaten at a restaurant chain called CoCo and I was told by my brother that they branched out to malls!  I wish there's a branch near the hotel I will be staying!

Thank goodness the hotel is near a subway station!  

Easy for me to walk around the city on my own!

It's also a pro that I can speak the language, BUT, need to brush up my Mandarin skills!  

Not looking forward to the "blank faces" from locals who goes... : "EH?"
when they don't get what I'm saying! 

Oh, one thing more, the Subway in Shanghai is a bit confusing!  Too many people, most stops are in Chinese, or ALL stops are in Chinese?  ( I can't seem to remember.).

It'll be an adventure I will report once I get the chance!
Pray that I don't get lost ok?  Thank you!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy

Weekend Food Tripping at: Simply Thai

Happy Sunday AMW Readers! :)  Yesterday, I was at the "Lights, Camera, Airbrush Workshop" for GlamBox Cosmetics and had loads of fun sharing my thoughts together with Sophie about airbrush and staying beautiful in general!  I will share more about the event soon!  Thanks to Valerie and Andrea for inviting Sophie and myself as their instructor for such lovely event!

After the event, the girls (Phoebe, Jheng, Shen, Jamie and Sophie) have decided to head on to Greenbelt 5 to have dinner at their most recently raved restaurant --- Simply Thai.

Choo Chee Kung + Roti

Php195.00 (approx $4.40)

Phuket Kung Sarong

Php375.00 (approx $8.70)

Noodles wrapped in a good-sized shrimps! 

Tom Yum Talay

Php160.00 (approx $3.70)

Mildly spicy! Has good amount of seafood.

Nam Prik Catfish

Php320.00 (approx $7.45)

Chopped Catfish mixed with chili, garlic and onions and a whole lot more!

Love the crunchy texture at the same time the flavorful taste of catfish!

Moo Ping
Php240.00 (approx $5.60)

Thai BBQ Pork Loins marinated in simply Thai Special sauce 

served with Thai BBQ sauce.

My favorite!!!

Cha Plu Panang Beef

Php380.00 (approx $8.80)

Thick sauce, mildly spiced and the beef cutlet is easy to chew!

Pork Confit with Chili Caramel

Php310.00 (approx $7.21)

 Tendor pork served sweet and mildly spiced, best eaten with Thai Jasmine Rice!

 

Lamb Shank Musssaman

Php565.00 (approx $13.14)

The texture is flakey, reminded me of the local dish Adobo Flakes.

 

Restaurant is used to be Terrace At  The 5th!  The restaurant accepts cash and credit card payments plus 10% service charge.  Servers were very attentive and the restroom, if I may have to add, is clean!

Simply Thai

G/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center

Makati City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(632) 729-0860

I'm off for a short trip tomorow :) Hope you enjoy your Sunday and rest well to jumpstart yourself for a fun-filled week!

Keep smilin'
Stay Happy!