Archive for the ‘Museum’ Category
Nearly getting scammed in Shanghai
While watching a random travel video about China, the narrator discussed a common scam where supposed locals approach tourists to visit a local tea house. The “host” takes their guest to a nearby tea house where they, literally, have tea. However, in the end, they are left with an exorbitant bill to take care of. Additionally, Sergi Mateo wrote a piece for Medium.com in 2018 where he discussed getting scammed—even allegedly drugged—when he was roped into one of these tea houses and ended up paying around $160.
His experience sounded eerily similar to a situation I nearly found myself in when visiting Shanghai in 2015.
A friend, who was on business in Shanghai, invited me to join her. We had gotten the opportunity to meet-up in Hong Kong on a previous trip, which was so much fun. During the day, she had work while I roamed the city. During one of our dinners, she suggested visiting the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, a huge structure that showcases Shanghai’s development and their plans for the future.
Dropped by the following day only to find out they were closed.
With a backpack and large camera in tow, I couldn’t look more touristy unless I was wearing an “I-heart-Shanghai” t-shirt. At one point, I was approached by this couple, they spoke English and introduced themselves as cousins who were visiting from Beijing. We got into a conversation and they invited me to “a show.”
Immediately, I had my reservations but also had that “when am I going to do this again” hankering.
In his piece, Mateo wrote, “While walking, the guys bombed me with questions.” Yes, same here.
In order to get to the venue, we had to walk through a subway underpass and down a couple streets, and it was nonstop questions. Five years later, I still remember them telling me about running difficulties communicating in the city because they don’t speak Shanghainese; the girl said I have “a very Chinese face” but my physique was not because, as she put it, “Chinese boys are like spaghetti;” and the guy asked me if I spoke Mandarin and, after spitting out a few words and phrases, he asked, “How are you going to get a Chinese wife?”
We were literally a block from the place—I could see it from the corner—and my curiosity came to a halt and I stopped right there. My intuition was probably kicking in at the last minute and I told them I had to be somewhere and left. They both gave questioning looks but they let me leave and I walked away without looking back.
Based on what others have disclosed about their “tea ceremony” experiences, I dodged a bullet.
I did end up going back to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center the following day, which was open and is a very cool spot to hit up when in Shanghai. I especially liked the massive scale-model city where visitors can walk over the entirety of Shanghai—it’s like taking an aerial tour of the city. The facility even cuts the lights every 15 minutes in order for visitors to watch the city illuminate.
On that day, I nearly ran into the pair again! I know I saw the girl duck behind somebody as they noticed me approaching. Looking at pictures from that initial visit, I also happened to get them on camera.
Incidentally, during one of my friend’s free days, we were walking to lunch when we were approached by a different couple—another pair of “cousins.” We made sure to walk away as quickly as possible.
“We Never Fell”
On display in front of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) for the Singapore Biennale 2013, the collection of sculptures was created by Nguyen Tran Nam of Vietnam. The figures are meant to represent different sectors of Vietnamese society.
Given the rounded bottoms of the structures, if interacting with the sculptures, they do swing but remain standing. The overall theme of the sculptures represent human adaptability and resilience, in particular, looking at Vietnam’s history and the demonstrated ability for people to change.
According to the Singapore Biennale 2013 Program: “The harder one beats down on these sculptures, the stronger they bounce back in recovery and retaliation.”
From Sea to Table
The August 2012 dinner theme in the Trustees Room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art highlighted fresh fish and shellfish from local New York waters.
The first course was the Long Island Fluke Crudo; served with watermelon, radish, kalamata olive, and basil.
Sallet (Italy, approx. 1460)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City, is such a HUGE place, no matter how many times one visits, there always seems to be something new to discover.
While aimlessly wandering around, this Sallet was on display in the Arms and Armor wing.
According to the description:
“The helmet represents the head of the Nemean Lion, whose pelt was worn as a headdress and cloak by the mythological hero Hercules.”
Lion
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