Yibin (Sichuan Province), CHINA – What a night! We slept on the worst sleeper train in China complete with sights of mostly men in the cabin, odors of smoke and the bathroom, and the constant sound of brakes screeching.
In the middle of the night, the train stopped at a station and I heard [...]
Continue Reading →Beijing to Chengdu, CHINA – Last night Mianzhu in Sichuan province shook from an earthquake of 5.2 on the Richter scale. Because of the earthquake, our train stops often and we are told the railroads are damaged. Thirty minutes outside of Mianyang we stall for over an hour and some passengers complain we should at [...]
Continue Reading →Train No. K117 Beijing to Chengdu, CHINA – My search for tasty family recipes is indeed a journey and any meal I have along the way is part of the process. I’ve just twisted several plastic forks of instant noodles for lunch while watching sunflower patches and boxy brick homes whiz by [...]
Continue Reading →Like shopping in the dessert aisle while hungry, I browse my way through cyberspace to my friend’s site, Funfeasts. Lately, my thoughts have been all about the savory, but I landed on a post to give my taste buds some balance. I think it’s time I treat [...]
Continue Reading →
Walking east along Guanghua Lu, I spot a shop with people seated at five small tables outside, slurping soup. I look inside the shop and see a poster featuring the same dish everyone is eating. My nephew, friend, and I sit at a table and order three of whatever they’re having.
First, the server brings [...]
Continue Reading →Here in Beijing, I believe everything is fast! The cars, the bicyclists, the language, production, and food. A popular fast food chain with the young locals is Xiabu Xiabu, appropriated from the Japanese term Shabu Shabu, Japanese hotpot. Don’t expect great service from the Xiabu Xiabu fuwuyuans (waitresses), but count on [...]
Continue Reading →
From 11am to 4am, I have a spot where I can comfort myself with popular Taiwanese food. I’ve lived in China for two and half years now, and Bellagio 鹿港小镇 continues to satiate my daily and nightly cravings with guilty pleasures like their Taiwan Stewed Fatty Pork (Taishikongrou) and Dry [...]
With every vice comes the promise of something good. Every morning after the gym, I have a hot cup of inspiration with a solitude muffin.
There were the mornings in San Francisco when my dad would wake me up at 5 am and ask me if I’d [...]
Continue Reading →
Beijing, China — When friends from out of town visit me in Beijing, the host in me lights up during mealtimes. My husband and I send our friends off for long hikes on the Great Wall and walks within the walls of the Forbidden [...]
Continue Reading →Get your ShowShanti apron!
Three vibrant, colorful aprons to inspire you while creating! Designed by myself to give as gifts of appreciation to participating families. Available for purchase!
Buy the apron →
Recent Comments