China Pavilion, Expo 2010

China Pavilion

the main structure has a distinctive roof, made of traditional dougong or brackets, which dates back more than 2,000 years.

The dougong style features wooden brackets fixed layer upon layer between the top column and a crossbeam. This unique structural component of interlocking wooden brackets is one of the most important elements in traditional Chinese architecture. Dougong was widely used in the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 467 BC).

In general, the pavilion highlights China's urban development process

self improvements, social commitment ....

drawing inspiration from nature and diversity in harmony and more importantly

their implication for more sustainable cities of tomorrow ....

Entrance with thousands of people queing systematically ....

this in not a usual everyday thing here ....

pre-show hall, with clips of moments from the 70's till present

the expo trail guides visitors from ancient till present moments

in retrospect of its rich 5,000 year history and its

60 years of quest for prosperity and an unparalleled pace of growth

over the past three decades ........

a digital scroll of the ancient times

The last Pavilion standing, all others have been dismantled .....

The China Pavilion operates daily from 09:00 - 17:00

till 31 May 2011

If you're ever in town .... consider paying a visit, RMB 20/per person

How to get there?

Metro Line 8 - Yao Hua Road Station

bund tunnel & 1er snow experience

the bund tunnel under the Huangpu River

separates the prime piece of Shanghai land and its sky scraper infested Pudong

similar to how HK Island and TST is separated

this ride is accessible just by the tourist spot
where all flock to see the beautiful view of wai tan (the bund)

for a short barely 5 minute ride, it sure costs way too much .....

*****

15 December 2010

My first snow experience ......

Historically, Shanghai is not a location that one expects snow ...

in 2009, it snowed for two hours

this year, it snowed for seven hours ......

some say this is perhaps the longest snowfall in a long time ...

and there might be another forthcoming on 26 Dec ....

what's my personal thought of the snow experience like?

when it first started, it was really awesome ....

i was confused ....

raindrops or perhaps ... another new experience for me ...

after 30 minutes .... viola, confirm ..... snow!!!!

when the fall was mild, its pretty cool ....

u see tiny flecks of it .... dropping .....

no, i did not stick my tongue out ......

but as it was heavier, its pretty much like rain ...

you gotta get covered up and all

and i had to buy an umbrella to stay dry.........

it was freezing cold .....

check out this drop of water that didn't quite make it out in time ....

Napa Wine Bar and Kitchen - Shanghai

The legendary Chateau Latour

1500ml & 3000ml


Dining room - capacity 60

Wine Bar

capacity - 40

Wine cellar - 1,500 square feet

used as a bomb shelter by first owner of the building,

a German family in 1906

Current owners are an American Chinese couple,

bought and refurbished the building six years ago .....

steps leading to the wine cellar ....

artistically decorated with the

original case boards of the great wines

new sanctuary, Napa Wine Bar and Kitchen - Shanghai

arrived shanghai on 24 Nov 2010, started work on 25 Nov 2010.

this is my new sanctuary, Napa Wine Bar and Kitchen - Shanghai.

interesting concept with contemporary European cuisine and

over 800 selection of wines available.

awarded Best of Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine

for two consecutive years, 2009 & 2010

practically most wines from the world are available except Lebanon and Isreal .......

restaurant is located within the city centre, old building built in 1906 ......

used to belong to a German family

they built the house along with a bomb shelter

which we now use as a wine cellar

seats 40 at the wine bar and 60 in the dining room ......

the building is shared with a wine distributor - ASC Wines,

a company with the largest selection of wine portfolio in China.

ocean front on the malecon, puerto vallarta, mexico - feb 2010

The Malecon - paved walkway along the seashore in Col. Centro

it features a collection of contemporary art by

Sergio Bustamante, Alejandro Colunga, Ramiz Barquet and others.

puerto vallarta (vai-yar-ta) is the the centre of a sweeping

25 mile wide Banderas Bay, among the world's coastal gulfs.