Soupy dumplings
(View from night bazaar: Shanghai, China)
From cocktails in the handsome Jinmao tower, or rather a cocktail each, we caught a taxi across the river to forage for food. I’ve heard about these magnificent dumplings, native to Shanghai that are filled with pork or fish and they also contain a tasty soup. My Taiwanese friend, Chi, made something like this once and ever since, I have been searching for something similar. With this in mind, we discovered the night bazaar. It has clearly been developed and cleaned up in recent years, but would have been much more exciting years ago with myriad smells, streets dirty with all manner of backhand dealings and bizarre foods. Now it feels very much like a row of shops at the exit of every tourist attraction I’ve seen in China, though of course I’m being a cynic here.
The bazaar was beautiful nonetheless and with the pineapple-topped tower in the background, it made for a diverting photo opportunity. One of the most striking things about China is the light. I have said it before, but it can be seen most effectively here – someone has had to thread the chaser lights all along the roof contours and around every sign. Around here there was a pool of water with, well, more lights in the depths changing colour over a bubbling spring. There were more lights
We wandered the lanes, searching for dumplings and found them! The restaurant is the short building (with scaffolding) in the foreground, but it was being refurbished – takeaway service only. I queued up whilst Ying checked we were in the correct line – there were a lot of dining choices and lots of people milling about. The man in front of me turned around and told me, “No more, I am last” which was a very kind way of telling me there were no dumplings left. We had to make do with a nearby vendor with no queue, an ominous sign. Luckily the dumplings were still pretty tasty so we didn’t miss out too much.
Ha, it was kind of surprised to see my name!!
By the way, I don’t think the dumplings you tasted were made by me. Yuchung and I took you to a small Shanghainese restaurant when you were once in Cologne. I still have some pictures in another pc. 
No! remember, we had them at your place and we watched ‘Kung Fu Hustle’. You made a feast of Asian delights and I might have made a comment about wanting to marry you! That evening remains one of my favourite Koln memories…
Really?? I just had the impression that I made spring rolls that evening. Anyway, it’s nice to hear you like it.