MOZIMOGO

Streets of Shanghai

Team — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:14:57 +0000

A group of Flickr members in Shanghai participated in a project to photograph the streets of Shanghai. From organizer Julien Ballet-Baz: “Streets of Shanghai is a photography project where people will share their vision of what Shanghai streets really are. Different photographers means different tastes, styles, colors, points of view, and this is what I want to discover and share with you through this project.” On with the show:

“If you take the risk to have a look behind this wall, it will lead you into a large void of grass and concrete blocks with only a handful of buildings left. The complete area seems somehow been stuck in time since it hasn’t changed a lot since my last visit in April 2010. The existing buildings are partly demolished – but still exist. The ones on my picture are even still populated! The people living here are known as “nail people” – not satified with the compensation offered by the government, so they are in a kind of power struggle with the authorities, which will step by step cut gas, water and electricity, but also is loosing time since it can not use this area as originally planned.”
Frank Fellenberg
» flickr

“Close to Nanjing West Road metro station. I was walking towards Nanjing West Road metro station from Shaanxi North Road and decided to take one of the smaller backstreets. One of the rare rains this winter and a lot of colorful umbrellas and ponchos. To me Shanghai streets are rainy streets. My first time here was in June/July and there was a lot of rain and scorching heat. People complain a lot about Shanghai winter. Even other people from Sweden. I can only say, if you do, you probably have stayed here too long.”
Daniel Hjort
» flickr

“Walking around at night. These buildings caught my eye. These small scale dwellings that seem to have grown organically against the back drop of well planed apartment high rises. I think it capture the breakneck speed which China is developing. Not everyone is moving in the same pace. With 600,000 new inhabitants each year the last 5 years Shanghai, along with other Chinese cities, face unprecedented challenges.”
Daniel Hjort
» flickr

“An old man is falling asleep while enjoying the warm February weather and something that’s even rarer: a silent moment on a Shanghai street. This photo was shot with my EOS 450d in one of the alleys around Zhongshan lu, near Bund.”
Mikolaj Rogowski
» flickr

“Tian zi fang is a good place to get different feeling in the sunny day. The old shanghainee live here generation by generation .Did the character there when it builded ?or it showed up with more and more vistor coming to visit here ,the resident feel that their life was bothered ? the local small citizen ‘s life get the attention from the visitors like always . I even want to know what they are talking about.some gossip ? it must be ..hehe ..”
Solei Lee
» flickr

“Shanghai is known for being Chinese economy spearhead. But behind the skyscrapers, some older and more authentic neighborhoods still exist and this is where I like to hang around. This photo has been taken with a chinese Seagull twin lens reflex film camera.”
Damien Polegato
» flickr

“Shanghai seldom snows and when it does, it always have rain in it. Thus the weather just becomes wet and cold. The Umbrella in the street just forms an interesting composition. This photo was taken under overhead. To fulfil the fast-vehicle traffic demand, the urban space for the people, are actually not so comfortable.”
Jingfeng Wu
» flickr

“We were waiting for someone I think or just walking around to kill time. I just love Shanghai – Stop, raise your camera, wait for the moment and push the button. There are always people, always characters, always something happening..”
Rasmus Jurkatam
» flickr

“It’s a shame, I forgot the name of this street… It was south of Huangpu district. I was walking around with a friend photographer, taking pictures under my 5 layers of clothes, my winter cap and gloves… Maybe around 3pm, we were looking for the great lights of the ending afternoon and some old areas where we could find Shikumen architecture. As I was walking, I saw these guys crossing the street, with these weird yellowish/green buildings in background and just shot. What I like on this picture is this ending street, with a feeling that these buildings are just here to stop you and look at them a bit.”
Julien Ballet-Baz
» flickr

“And yeah, what is a Shanghai’s street photo project without THE pedestrian street of the city? So here is Nanjing road, crowded 365/365 days per year, with its tourists shops, dvd vendors, etc etc. Taken at the end of the afternoon, with a nice lighting, just after (or maybe before) a good milk chocolate + blueberry muffin at Starbucks…”
Julien Ballet-Baz
» flickr

For more, visit the Streets of Shanghai group on Flickr. ✖

Farewell “Party Whore”

Team — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:36:07 +0000

Photographers: Daniel Kwan and those who took his camera
Venue: Privé Shanghai
Event: Karl’s Farewell Party

Day in the Life of Grace Ji

Team — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 06:19:38 +0000

MOZIMOGO photographer Angelo Abary followed office worker Grace Ji around for a day (with her permission!). Click on a photo below to browse through her day and read her thoughts.

Chinese New Year 2011 @ Karl’s

Team — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:14:29 +0000

(To download a photo, right-click on its thumbnail or expanded photo and select “Save Linked File”.)

Photographer: Kost Karpych and Daniel Kwan (mainly Kost)
Venue: Karl Pereira‘s apartment
Event: Shanghai Stuff CNY Party

Attack of the “One Sip” Guy

Team — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:36:55 +0000

I was really excited when I met this handsome yet single guy here at a local bar — a very rare sighting at that. We were chitchatting and everything seemed to be going fine. He was enjoying an ice-cold draft, and I was beginning to think, “Okay, any minute now he’ll offer me a drink.” I was even about to throw in the fake cue of “Oh, I’m gonna go and buy a drink,” to test his manners.

However, the apocalyptic event that took place next left me speechless, and after a few seconds looking and feeling like Medusa reincarnated! This guy had the audacity to lean his beer mug towards me and very confidently say, “Do you want a sip?”

I nearly died. How is it possible? I mean really, it’s already bad enough that most men here don’t offer drinks at the bar anymore but to seriously offer me a sip. What do I look like a charity case?

My face quickly distorted its features to resemble The Exorcist as I killed him with my death stare and left him to snort my hair strands as I turned away. Has the bar really dropped this low in the bar scenes? Pun intended.

This guy had the audacity to lean his beer mug towards me and very confidently say, “Do you want a sip?”

Back in my hometown my friends and I use to jokingly say, “Can I have a sippy sip please?” when someone ordered a drink and one of us wanted a taste. It was cute back then, but how is it possible that here in Shanghai, so far away from my friends, I’m being offered a sip from some strange man’s drink?

Expat men out there — you know who you are — I hope this statement reaches your ears. Obviously you think that because you live in China, you can acclimate by taking on alien traits and behaviors as your own. This is not okay. So please, cheapskates out there, hear my cries and avoid the death stare that the girl you’re hitting on will most certainly deliver. And don’t be shocked if that beer mug, martini, or shot is thrown in your face. You’re most certainly begging for it! ✖

(By Fanny Salstein. Illustration by Chelsea Godier.)

Coffee or Save?

Team — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:47:03 +0000

A brand new year is around the corner and New Year’s Resolutions are brewing in many people’s minds. Could saving be one of them for 2011?

Saving. Many look at this word and think negative thoughts or about what they failed to do. When speaking about personal finances, many people shut down or say I’ll start putting some money aside next week, next month or next year. Like love, money is an emotional topic, and for some, talking about finances can feel like having to go to the dentist.

Saving… Could it be as simple as turning on your coffeemaker? Did you ever hear “a coffee a day makes retirement farther away”?

If you are hitting the coffee shop every day, you are spending roughly 1,050 RMB per month.

Let’s talk coffee. For many of us it is a way of life, something we feel we cannot live without, but making small intelligent choices can really reap some big rewards. A latte, Frappuccino or other coffee shop purchase can easily cost 35 RMB. What could happen if you cut down on this simple daily spend? If you are hitting the coffee shop every day, you are spending roughly 1,050 RMB per month. That is 12,600 RMB a year and over 210,000 RMB over ten years!

Are these numbers starting to hit home? We didn’t even factor in the effects of inflation. Now consider that you actually invested this money and used the power of compound interest to your benefit. Let’s say you invest 1,050 RMB a month and you get a savvy return of 10% annually. You would return these type numbers:

After 5 years, you would have accumulated 81,095 RMB
After 10 years, you would have accumulated 213,017 RMB
After 25 years, you would have accumulated 827,106 RMB
After 40 years, you would have accumulated 5,924,779 RMB

Those are some pretty large numbers, all for what? No daily coffee? Some would say “I’ll be a grump” or that it is something they enjoy indulging in. You have to decide what it is worth to you. There are other ways, way beyond coffee. In my opinion, individuals are so concerned with big purchases that they don’t see how the small ones bite away at their savings — and their futures. So, go craft your plan and figure out what in your life can simply be minimized. And remember the money you spend on that cup of coffee could be going into your investment accounts. ✖

(By Andrew Garland. Andrew has spent the last 10 years studying and working in the financial services industry, spending the majority of his time traveling to speak about economics and focusing on sales of financial solutions at an institutional level. Photo by Evan Swigart.)

Survival Kit: December

Team — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 04:28:20 +0000

The staff of MOZIMOGO hunt for items and ideas to help you survive another month in Shanghai. Here is your Survival Kit for the month of December.

Have a tip for January?

If you have a tip for surviving through next month, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us using our online form or email us at mailbox@mozimogo.com.

Beanie

Amy: Look cool and keep your head warm with a stylish beanie during the cold winter months. Pick one up at the shops under People’s Square or Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.

Gucci Guilty

Amy: Treat yourself with this new sheer, floral-oriental fragrance for women from Gucci, or gift it to that special someone this holiday season. Guilty imbues a feeling of power, a sense that you can attain whatever you want — even the thrill of the forbidden.

Santa Hats

Daniel: Celebrate Christmas with a Santa hat for each and every one of your party guests! Get them in bulk in the wholesale market adjacent to Yuyuan Garden for just a couple kuais each.

Champagne

Amy: And finally, a little bubbly to help ring in the New Year on December 31!

(Christmas photo by Daniel Kwan. Champaign photo by Anders Adermark.)

December 4 @ Shine

Team — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 02:16:09 +0000

(To download a photo, right-click on its thumbnail photo and select “Save Linked File”.)

Photographer: Angelo Abary
Venue: Shine, 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu (5/F), near Julu Lu
Event: WELDERS

Survival Kit: November

Team — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:00:29 +0000

The staff of MOZIMOGO hunt for items and ideas to help you survive another month in Shanghai. Here is your Survival Kit for the month of November.

Have a tip for December?

If you have a tip for surviving through December, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us using our online form or email us at mailbox@mozimogo.com.

Rain Boots

Anna: ‘Tis the season for gumboots, also known as Wellingtons or rain boots. Go to the market below the Shanghai Science and Technology museum and pick out your favorite colors.

Hoodie

Daniel: Ears cold? Get a hoodie. Miss your college days? Get a hoodie. Feeling gangsta? Get a hoodie. Like aviator sunglasses and dental hygiene, hoodies never go out of style.

Hot Pot

Amy: When the weather gets cold and damp in Shanghai, a nice hot pot meal will warm you right up! My favorite is the Dolar Shop. It’s a big chain, so you can easily find one near you. The restaurant is clean, the staff is friendly, the menu items are diverse and the price is very reasonable.

Turkey Dinner

Amy: I know this is an American thing, but November is just not complete without a big turkey dinner complete with all the fixings such as stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes with gravy and pumpkin pie!

(Rain boots photo by Charlotte Morrall.)

Stores for Eating Green

Team — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 05:00:39 +0000

People everywhere are going green by doing whatever they can to protect the environment. Some have even decided that eating green, by using fresh, organic fruit and vegetables is the next logical step. By avoiding the use of chemicals and pesticides, organic farming is kind to the environment and organic produce is great for the body too.

The 2010 Roots & Shoots Festival in Shanghai brought together many student leaders from Shanghai, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangsu. Through program displays, workshops, arts and other forms, the festival showed the young people’s efforts to raise public awareness of the benefits of going organic. Most importantly, the guest speaker was Jane Goodall, the global founder of Roots & Shoots and world-renowned anthropologist who lived with Chimpanzees for 10 years.

Inspired by the festival and really wanting to know where to buy organic food in Shanghai, I did some exploring and here is what I found out about eating green in the city.

1. City Shop (cityshop.com.cn)
They have a small selection of organic products here and I often buy eggs and dairy products from this supermarket. You can order your products online or go direct to their retail stores. Orders over 200 RMB get delivered for free.

2. Tony’s Farm (tonysfarm.com)
The co-founder, Mr. Zhang, had a dream that he wanted his family and friends to enjoy healthy and organic foods. Now, we can all share his dream and order the freshest and safest vegetables from Tony’s Farm website. The membership has an ordering weight limit, and they will deliver your order to your door. With a 6-months membership, you can order 1.5 kg of produce twice a week. Membership costs 2440 RMB per person. This is approximately 400 RMB for 12 kg of produce every month.

3. Topmanor (topmanor.com.cn)
You can choose from the wide selection of vegetables, produce, meats, and fruits and get free delivery if your order is over 100 RMB. They deliver all year round including public holidays. You can either order online or call their toll-free number. Delivery time is usually from 15:00 to 18:00 and you can ask them to deliver to your home or even to your office if you wish.

4. Haikele (haikele.com)
Haikele is a retail branch that offers a variety of organic products. They currently have 15 retail shops in Shanghai and are still expanding. If you live near the city center, you can usually get your order within 3 hours. Delivery is free with orders over 200 RMB within city limits. Since they have so many stores, you can easily pick up your order at a location nearest to you.

5. Vegetable Housekeeper (962360.com)
This is the most popular organic website for local Shanghainese people. By cooperating with nearly 200 partner farms, Vegetable Housekeeper is able to provide a large selection of organic products at a reasonable price. You can either order online or call their toll-free number and theres free delivery for orders over 300 RMB. They even have organic microwave foods. How convenient is that?!

Organic produce comes at a premium price, so going green does have a price tag attached, but think of the benefits to your own health and the environment around you, and you may well decide that perhaps paying that little bit more is worth it in the long run.

So if you are you ready to eat green now, let’s go shopping!

(By K. Lo. Photo by Jessica Spengler.)