Latest Comments

• • February 7, 2011
  • Free public buses and bikes plus more transportation news
    

    @Tiger John: omg, you don't even know what you're talking about at all. saving face? do you even know what that means? subway is the right direction? subways are expensive to build, maintain, and operate, and there are only a small handful in the world that are able to run at a profit (since you mention "hurting city revenue"). on top of that, it's already one of the top contributors to suburban sprawl in chengdu, making it that much harder for bike and bus commuters to get where they need to go.

• • December 11, 2010
  • Chengdu's 12 Most Expensive Restaurants
    

    NOT EVEN ONE! so sad.

Latest Forum Posts

• • April 4, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Do you also willfully ignore expats you cross in the street?
    

    i'm with brajilianzitsu. i'm pretty shy so i don't go out of my way to wave and greet, but if we make eye contact i do a smile and nod (although my attempts at a smile probably looks like a frown to most people anyway, i.e.,

    http://blog.krisatomic.com/?p=1617 so maybe it's pointless).

• • April 4, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Squat Toilets
    

    >> "(does your hand go around your legs or between them when you try to make sure not to get urine everywhere"

    um, what?

    i am fine with them. in public toilets i guess i prefer them to pedestal toilets, but i wish they weren't usually accompanied by pee-covered floors. so that either means frequent cleaning or a better design (in taiwan i saw that most of the squat toilets had a little ledge that prevented a lot of the splatter that leads to the wet floors.

    i think the yuck factor in visiting a lot of public toilets in china is the aforementioned grimey floors, dirty stall walls and doors, not knowing whether to press the flusher with your hand or your shoe, the stench, and most of all the lack of toilet paper, soap (and hot water would be nice too if we're going all out). not so much the squat toilets themselves. i quite like the squat toilets in most of the airports i've been to which are usually kept very clean and have the aforementioned facilities.

    that said my anatomy is such that i am able to squat all the way down without fear of falling over. i know some people aren't, so that might be a big reason for the dislike. personally i feel pooping is much more comfortable and sanitary in that position than on a pedestal toilet. public toilet splashback = GROSS. but i am very paranoid about dropping things in a squatter so i am always careful to hold up my clothes, tie up my scarf, and clear out my pockets before squatting down.

• • October 13, 2011
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Fun Things to do in Chengdu
    

    you could try rule no. 2:
    http://www.gochengdoo.com/[...]

• • October 5, 2011
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Don't buy fake Ugg boots...it is shocking!
    

    so you believe everything you read in tabloid papers like the sun? post a link from a more credible source and i might be less skeptical...

• • June 9, 2011
    
  • Forums > Living in Chengdu > Djs in Chengdu
    

    nope.

Latest Reviews

• • magentalisted
    November 1, 2010
    
  • Chengdu > Leanna's Bakery
    莲娜西点坊

    I have mixed feelings about this place. On the one hand, they offer some of the best baked goods in Chengdu at extremely low prices (RMB8 for brownies, slice of chocolate cake, and I think even less for donuts and cookies). So for a quick dessert that'll definitely leave you feeling that you got good value, both taste-wise and size-wise, for your money, I think it's a great place.

    Their selection of drink mixes, baking mixes and ingredients, and ready-to-eat stuff like granola and bagels is both quite extensive and very reasonably priced.

    I haven't tried any of their breakfast or lunch offerings, and part of that is probably due to the fact that despite its large space, it's not a very cozy hangout. During mealtimes it's chaotic with what seems like lots and lots of small children running around and screaming, and other times, something about the layout or furniture arrangement or decor makes it seem kind of cold.

    Service is not the speediest, and the hot drinks are a little disappointing -- watery and served lukewarm -- but, hey, they are indeed inexpensive and certainly not the worst in town.

• • magentalisted
    May 28, 2010
    
  • Chengdu > Peter's Tex-Mex
    彼德西餐

    The last time I went here I ordered the two tacos that used to be 18kuai and then were 26kuai and now might be even more expensive I heard. Anyway I asked them to substitute refried beans for the chicken or steak. When it arrived not only was the whole thing cold but also in my first bite there were a few shreds of chicken. I thought they had messed up my order so I dug further. I didn't find any more chicken but I found stray clumps of mashed potato! As if somebody had dropped the beans somewhere they shouldn't have been ... I didn't want to know what was going on in that kitchen. Anyway, not impressed.

• • magentalisted
    May 28, 2010
    
  • Chengdu > Sabrina's Country Store

    Normally I would prefer to support the independent store over the chain stores but Sabrina's has failed me enough times that now I'd rather go to Metro or Auchan or even--horror of horrors--Carrefour to buy my imported goods. Selling expired cheese and tinned foods, mozzarella that's being sold as emmentaller, higher prices, mislabeled stuff ... and the cashiers act like they're doing you all kinds of favors by ringing up your stuff. And you have to pay for boxes if you buy a slice of their cake or pie.

• • magentalisted
    May 28, 2010
    
  • Chengdu > Tianyuan Vegetarian
    田园素食

    I used to go here regularly but the last two or three times I've been I was really disappointed in the quality of the food. It just seems the chef is not taking care and some of the dishes were so sloppily put together I didn't really want to eat them even. It's too bad because of all the vegetarian restaurants in Chengdu this one has by far the best location for me.

• • magentalisted
    September 18, 2009
    
  • Chengdu > Thailand Shark Fin Restaurant
    泰国鱼翅馆

    Over-priced. Waitstaff not very attentive.

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