ShanghaiExpatLife's BlogRoll

otherwise known as a Blog List, or Links List.

A few months ago I started to link to other blogs for the first time. I resisted doing this for a long time but then I thought, "Why not?"

They are all blogs I have found myself and would read myself and if the quality of them goes down (or it isn't relevant to Shanghai/expat living) then I am likely to take it down.

So, if you see your blog in my blog roll I would LOVE a reciprocal link back to mine (http://shanghaiexpatlife.blogspot.com) but it isn't absolutely necessary.

I am always adding new ones and if you want to be added, just add a comment to any of my posts, or contact me! It's that simple.

There are actually two lists. The first is just a list of links, the second is live updates (but for some reason it doesn't accept all URLs so that's why only some people's blogs are listed in the second list).

Happy reading, everyone!

World's biggest Flagship Barbie store in Shanghai

(Pictobank)


(Pictobank)


(Flickr/Tomo.moko)


(Flickr/Rintak)


(Travelpod/NinaVersteeg)


(Getty images)


(Newsobserver)


(Guardian)


(ShoppingBlog)


(TheSpec)


(Guardian)


(AP photo)

Just read over at Bibiliew about the world's largest Barbie store right here in our very own Shanghai, on Huaihai Road. Check it out! (the article and the store).

You know China is doing well when Mattel decide to open their flagship store in Shanghai and not New York!

The design of the store is genius and reminds me of the Apple Stores... a lot. All that glass and modern architectural styles.. love it.

However, I do have a love/hate relationship with Barbie. I loved playing with her as a young girl but I did resent the fact there was no Asian/Chinese Barbie, and the fact that all dolls were blonde and blue-eyed back then in the 80s. And let's not get started with her incredibly unrealistic body proportions! She makes Dolly Parton and Pamela Anderson look normal. I was watching some news report about her 50th anniversary and Mattel was saying they are empowering women, not de-powering them as everyone thinks and that's one of the reasons why Ken and Barbie broke up. 'Cause you know, Barbie doesn't need Ken, right? Who needs Ken when you have millions of friends and clothes, and fancy cars, houses, horses.. and money coming at you every day Paris Hilton style? (that is tongue in cheek of course). Whatever. If I had a daughter I wouldn't persuade or dissuade her from owning a Barbie though. She'll probably grow out of it eventually, like I did. I try not to take these things too seriously like all the feminists out there ;)


Official Barbie Shanghai Flagship store website

Address: 550 Central HuaiHai Road

More articles:

International Herald Tribune
The Wall Street Journal
All Roads lead to China blog
GMA News
Gold Sea
UK Telegraph blog

Legend of the Grass Mud Horse 草泥马

So, the latest craze sweeping the internet is the legend of the 草泥马 / cao ni ma ('grass mud horse'), an alpaca like creature, fighting censorship in China. I have been keeping myself amused reading all about Male and Gebi...

Growing up, I didn't hear my parents swear a great deal but even when they did I didn't know they were. I mean, I didn't know the literal meaning of the words they were saying and it wasn't till much much later that I did! so when I read this (Modern Chinese profanity) I was very shocked and surprised... (warning: not for the easily offended or prudish). It also explains why there is a Canon G7 and G9 (and now G10) camera but no G8.

Anyway back to the 草泥马 / cao ni ma (which sounds like another phrase I heard my father say when he was driving (but that's another story)) I think the plushies are adorable... pity it's not a real animal, but that's not the point, is it? Of course the YouTube videos/songs are much funnier if you understand Mandarin and the double meanings of the words but the China Digital Times site explains it well. I have re-posted the lyrics and video (second video here) from their site.

There is a herd of Grass Mud Horses
In the wild and beautiful Ma Le Desert
They are lively and intelligent
they are fun-loving and nimble
They live freely in the Ma Le Desert
They are courageous, tenacious, and overcome the difficult environment

Oh lying down Grass Mud Horse
Oh running wild Grass Mud Horse
They defeated river crabs in order to protect their grass land
River crabs forever disappeared from Ma Le Desert

在那荒茫美丽马勒戈壁
有一群草泥马，
他们活泼又聪明，
他们调皮又灵敏，
他们自由自在生活在那草泥马戈壁，
他们顽强勇敢克服艰苦环境。

噢，卧槽的草泥马！
噢，狂槽的草泥马！
他们为了卧草不被吃掉 打败了河蟹，
河蟹从此消失草泥马戈壁

Read more about it here:

New York Times

International Herald Tribune

China Digital Times

Male and Gebi who happen to come from the desert called Malegebi 马勒和歌碧

Shanghaiist

DanWei

Dan Wei 2

Wikipedia entry about the 10 Mythical Chinese creatures, including the Fa Ke You, a squid.

Chinese Description of the cao ni ma