Thank you series: Fruit, Fruit, Fruit Juice

My hubby and I went to the market last Saturday to buy fruits for our planned diet. This is part of our "serious" desire to lose our winter weight/bulge. Not only are we now getting regular exercise daily we also drink more fruit juice.

Anyway here's what we bought for this week: 20 apples, 10 large carrots, 15 oranges, 20 bananas, 7 corns, 20 large tomatoes, 1 full bowl of cherry tomatoes, 7 stalks of celery, and 1 small bowl of wild berries.

All this for 100RMB (that's 700Pesos or 15USD).

Fruits are just so much cheaper here in Zhongshan, and that's one thing I enjoy! I've been a fan of fresh fruit juice even when I was in Manila. I love drinking them shaked with lots of ice cubes or just juiced/concentrated, but I always have it without sugar. Well, except in Jamba Juice! :)

My fave fruit juice places are:

Jamba Juice (US)
Juice Avenue and Fruit Magic (Philippines)

and

of course our house for my own blends. :)

Thank you series: Macau becomes our second home

As Filipinos, my husband and I grew up with a strong inclination to the western ways - specially for (fast)food and entertainment. Although I have adapted more to the food and culture here in Zhongshan, my husband has more difficulty. He still craves for the food and environment he has grown into and although we pledged on eating healthy, a once in a while a fastfood meal is always a treat.

There are several McDonalds and KFC branches here but it doesn't taste the same. As expected the food they served has been slightly modified to appeal to the Asian/Chinese taste. For example:

• KFC's chicken is still good but is served without the gravy. (Again what is KFC without gravy?)
  
• KFC's gogo sandwich sauce has been updated to take on the chinese taste.

Also I have still yet to find a Starbucks store here in our area. Although there are a lot in Shanghai or Beijing, I have not found one here in Zhongshan. The nearest branches are in Macau or Guangzhou.

Thankfully we are blessed with the visa and capacity to travel to Macau regularly. Most of the things we crave for is just 2 hours away from us. Everytime we visit Macau we feel better and less homesick. We get to have the once in a while treat of eating fastfood we crave for. Just this week I got to eat Mcdonalds breakfast meal and my husband also discovered donuts that tasted the way he wanted. We have yet to find a nearby Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme but the patisserie in Macau Tower is good enough. The bread and food they serve is really superb!

Thank you series: Australian style Burger and Pizza

My hubby told me that he just had his best burger here in China. It's a burger made by an Australian resto based here. Unlike most burgers we've tried this one had was a little more healthier and big. It wasn't oily and meat seems fresh. This burger does remind me a little of the one I had in IN and OUT, another burger joint in the US , but I think I like this one better.

The owner of the restaurant seems to also highlight this as one of his strengths. I think they own a farm in Australia so they have full control of the process and quality of the meat.

It was a good meal, especially if you are dying for western food here in China.

Note: The cola float was not as good though. I think the ice cream they used was not creamy enough for us.

Thank you series: A day at the park

The day after Christmas, December 26, my hubby and I decided to visit another park here in Zhongshan. We visited Zimaling park, an 88-plus hectare park located at Zhongshan, China. It was a fun day and we were pleasantly surprised to find rides and fair activities – target shooting, cable ride, boat ride, mini roller coasters and cart ride – at the park. It was familiar and reminded us of provincial fairs in the Philippines.

It was a good day of exercise. For more photos of the park please visit my photo blog.

Thank you series: Christmas day trip

December 25. My hubby came home from half a days work. Yahoo, he is now officially on vacation! :) I had so much fun! We discovered a great new restaurant that helped relieve our slight homesickness. The place was cool - free movies, awesome restrooms, great ambiance and authentic Chinese tea. The name was a bit weird, but who cares?

'The place - Jack and the Magic Pea'


'Blueberry cheesecake, Chocolate mousse and Mint tea'

'Electronic waste bin, Toilet cover plus . . . free movie!'

We also walked around to discover a few more places we've never seen before. It's our 4th month in Zhongshan and we are now seeing more of the place.

sunnysideup perspectives: Reform and Opening Up

I woke up this morning to a TV news on China's Anniversary Celebration - 30 years of successful Reform and Opening up. It just struck me that their opening up anniversary is almost the same age I have. So recent, so young yet so vibrant! I just find it amazing that in just a span of 3 decades, the changes in their country occurred and are so obvious. Just this year we've witnessed China host the Olympics and send men to outer space. They've also been more active in Global forums and meetings with country leaders.

Their current and resounding battle cry is Reform, Change and Open Up, something I am really witnessing firsthand. Their focus on education, labor and development is so apparent: Buildings are in construction here and there, roads and highways are well maintained, English schools and centers are thriving. In fact, I am meeting more and more Chinese people who are able/or learning to speak English. Times are hard now but I have no doubt that in a few more years, this country will grow further and attain more success. I congratulate them in advance for a job well done!

In all of this the main realization and learning that we can get is 'change'. That we all need to be open to change and adapt to our fast evolving world. It's a learn, adapt or be-left-behind world. Those who move, win!

Thank you series: Best Korean Restaurant for me

Thursday night, my husband's boss asked us to join him for dinner. He took us to a Korean Resto located in one of the malls here in Zhongshan, China. My verdict... it is the best Korean resto for me. I loved the veggies and the dressing. It was simply superb!I ate so much that I had to literally loosen up my pants. Uh-Oh need to get back to my diet this week. Tsk Tsk!

Note: I love it that most Korean restaurants offer the veggies for free but this one even offered free ice cream for dessert!

Don't know the name of the resto. This is my only clue.

'The Menu'

'Food feast'

Cooking Beef with onions and mushrooms.

Not sure what this is..but it was good.

'Greens'

'Our Apron or Bib?'

'Group pic'

Thank you series: Old Friends from Manila!

Welcome to China Jaime and Cindy!


(From left to right) Jaime, Cindy and me! :)


Jaime and his beautiful camera :)


A view of Zhongshan from Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park


Here's a prenuptial shoot in the park.


Cindy and I. Yep we do look like locals unfortunately we don't speak and understand the language. :)


Cute couple, Jaime and Cindy, with the "Hot pot"

November 30 - December 2. It's our first time, my hubby and I, to have guests here in China. It's been 3 months since we got here and I'm glad to have my friends come over. Of course I warned them in advance, yep they were my guinea pigs! I still have yet to get use to the place and language but we managed. Oh well, lucky are my next guests since by then I would be a better tourist guide hehe :)

I just hope they enjoyed their short stay and got a lot of insights during this "exploration" trip. Worthwhile enough to let them forget the camera we lost. :(

Thanks for the gifts and for being such great guests. See you in Manila soon!


Note... Here are some of my insights from this trip:

• Best to remind guests to bring RMB or HK dollars as pocket money especially if they plan to shop. US dollars are hard to exchange when containing stamp marks from banks.
  
• Dinner in the 'Zhongshan Revolving Restaurant' is always best done on the first day/evening.
  
• Socks and Winter clothes are advised (at least until March)
  
• Always double check restos and cabs before leaving, just to make sure we did not leave anything.
  
• Foot and Body Massage in country club is well appreciated. Also great way to end the day.
  

Thank you series: The Revolving Restaurant in Zhongshan, China

As I mentioned in my earlier blog, we went out last weekend and had dinner with friends. This time we tried 'The Revolving Restaurant'. It's located in the upper floor of the Fuhua Zhongshan hotel, also very near the Sun Wen Xi Road.

Food was good and the view was great. It took two hours to make a complete revolution and it was just enough time for us to enjoy the food and the company.

One small reminder: In case you will be eating here soon, don't leave your bag on the side. The glass walls are steady but your floor isn't :)

"My view from the restaurant."

"The walls."

"My favorite Pearl Milk Tea."


"Our salads, Caesars and Chef."

"Meat and rice galore."