Tuseday 24th April

Another bad nights sleep - due to snoring mostly. Lights being switched on after midnight another reason.

Pot noodles for breakfast. We were thinking we could keep the empty bowls for cereal, although having consumed our hot breakfast the pots didnt seem upto it when emptied. Today's activity was to be the Jade Temple. Off we trotted on the metro, scouting out places for a spot of coffee later. The Jade Temple seemed a sureal place, calm and relatively quiet given its location in the centre of a big busy city. There were several highly decorated buildings, the central one being the tallest with very elaborate wood carvings inside. We found the Jade budas: one green and one white along with a reclining buda offering peace and relaxation. After a pleasant hour or two we looked for our coffee stop. Had coffee in ice cream shop - got directions (from a security guy - who called over an older bloke - who called over a young woman) for the British and Irish consulates. More to see about why we were having a tough time with communication. Having found them, it seemed more of a mobile provider issue. So, we just explored our new surroundings, around  the designer district, exchanged some cash, drew out some more from hsbc and found a supermarket - where we got bowls, cereal, milk bread and biscuits. A long walk along West Nanjing Road that lead on to East Nanjing Road. Getting peckish. We had a crispy (I don't think it was meant to be) flat bread with vegetables in, it's like a nan bread. Then, on the road our hostel was on we found the steamed bun shop. Oh. My. God. A member of 'Blue Mountain' staff was there buying some. So he  offered to help us purchase some. A range of stuffings, spicy, not spicy, sausage meat, vegetarian and sweet. I have no words - this is my favourite chinese food. Now and forever.

Then we got a little chill out time back at the hostel.

It being a clear night and dryer than yesterday it was an ideal time to see The Bund at night and eat somewhere different on the way back.

Just to add here, there were police and police cars everywhere, lots of police (traffic police too) in East Nanjing Road. On the busy traffic laden roads. Parked wherever they find a space - like, who's going to tell THEM to move eh? Nothing big was happening it seemed, just the usual business of the evening. Venturing into a high rise shopping centre, then descending to the food court we found some cheap hot served food. Two types of chicken curry - Frank had breaded chicken, I just had regular chicken curry. Eaten with chop sticks - obviously. Two things; my curry seem to have bits of chicken in it and more of those bits were bones - worried I would lose a tooth I picked out the veg instead. Second thing, chop sticks, curry, a white t-shirt and new beige shorts do not mix well with Frank. Or may be they do, as Franks chicken did a Darcey Bussell-esque pirouette of his sticks, down his front and plopped into his lap! Turemric dyed and all! Oh dear, cheap though the dinner was it wasn't worth that palaver. A swift march to 'Blue Mountain' was had, bundling the clothes (and any other washing we had) into the washing machine and we kept our fingers crossed for 45 minutes...

No joy. Franks shoulders sank. He was very keen on those shorts too. Hmm, maybe the boiling water (for your noodles) would work? So we soak the shorts in more detergent and in boiling water and gave it half an hour. To add more misery his plectrum had seemingly been swallowed by the washing machine too. We hung up our other clothes, saving the other washer token - just incase.

[During this mild drama we were watching another. The film on this evening was a spanish thriller, 'Contratiempo', with spanish and chinese subtitles?!? At least this gave Frank a chance to take his mind off of his shorts and practise his spanish. Looked a good film though.]

Then, a thought came to me like the tooth fairy - quietly and to do with teeth - steradent had gotten a stubborn stain out of a tooth denture plate of mine years ago. I wonder... Worth a try right? In we dropped a steradent tablet, more hot water and waited 'til morning.