Yan Dao 002
26 August 2005 — With the weekend, and being out all day, I’m now a bit behind in my blogs, yup, got a bit of catching up to do. So you know why if they’re a bit sketchy.
So Friday, Friday. We were off to IKEA to pick up a few things.
And as typical of Tommy or when you’re around him, drama unfolds. Even as we were about to step into the building, we eyed a potential target for Lynn, good bod, good looks, a bit like Jude Law that kind. And cos he kept turning back to look at us, we thought: oh good, he’s reciprocating the attention, got chance, got chance. We kept nudging Lynn to go ask him for his number, but she very bo-ji, so in the end, as good friends should, Tommy and I decided to nab him for her. But before going in for the kill, we first hovered around our prey just to monitor the situation. He seemed to be waiting for someone… is it that angmor girl? No leh, she got another angmor guy with her. Who leh?… the only other angmor around is that guy… can’t be right… no… Ah Shit! It is. Buying bed linen somemore. So salah. Aiyah wrong orientation then don’t anyhow send signals lah! It’s so true lor, good-looking guys with good bods — assume gay until proven otherwise.
Utterly crushed and disappointed, we resumed our original purpose for coming to IKEA, to pick up, not men, but vases and cushion-covers.
Unlike some other international brands, the prices at IKEA have not been adjusted to match across the board. Some items are the same figures whether in yuan or dollars. E.g. I saw a clock that’s 25 RMB that is also A$25! The more I see the prices in Shanghai, the more I think next time when I have a house, instead of buying my furniture and furnishings from S’pore, I should just book a trip to Shanghai and shop from here. Even with the holiday thrown in and shipping everything back, it’ll still be cheaper! Either that, or I go Bangkok.
Even though I’m not local, I ended up making the biggest purchase for the evening — a black swivel office chair. Haha, all the better for me to sit on when I blog. Tommy thought I’m buying it for him, but actually it’s for me! That hard wooden dining chair was just killing my back!
For dinner, (dinners are always so exciting!) we met up with another colleague of Tommy’s, Leanne, to have Japanese food. The restaurant is actually located in the same building as their apartment.
While we were waiting for Leanne in the lobby area, I noticed a sign on the laundry window:
“We hope under your sustain and our efforts you can wear more clean and have more healthy life.” Perfect for Rove’s “What The?” segment I thought (talk show on Aussie telly, makes fun of funny nonsensical signs and ads, etc). Then again in China, if I was to send in every funny sign I see, I think my mail alone would choke up his letterbox, so Rove fame will just have to wait.
From the outside of the restaurant, you would never have guessed that the interior is actually so tastefully designed and decorated. You can see for yourself.
As for the food, it’s actually buffet style, for 108 RMB (A$17.60), you can order as much as you want, and the selection is enormous! From sashimi to sushi, to sukiyaki, shabu shabu, hand rolls, teriyaki, chawanmushi, grilled fish, agedashi tofu, karaage, gyoza, etc, etc, etc. The list is endless… and the buffet even includes drinks, we had sake and plum wine.
What you see here is only a tiny tiny portion of everything we ordered, and even then, Tommy says, we ordered less then one-third of the menu! And as you can see, they definitely do not stinge on the portions, the sashimi is so thick, and yes, very fresh, even more so than the ones on sushi trains in Sydney.
Hee hee, and after dinner, what better way to end the evening than with a nice relaxing massage. Again, the massage place is located in the same building.
Look look, no dirty dingey small little place ok. Not only is the massage centre spotlessly clean, but again so aesthetically pleasing right? We even had our own little private room. And the service was tip-top as usual, never hurts to have angmor-Lynn with us.
Here all the therapists wear a number badge so that if you like a particular one, you can request for him or her the next time. What ass-luck, of the 3 of us, Tommy got the cute one, who according to Tommy, has also got all the right mooves… so if you ever happen to be in town, remember, he’s 002, yes, yan dau 002. Here he is, looking rather angsty, very man.
and here, his side profile for all your viewing pleasure
Oh oh, almost forgot to tell you how much it was. For a one hour massage, only 40 RMB!