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The Final Stretch of an Emotional Tour: "Can I Have Some Mohanik?!?" 2012-01-18 11:49

Last Sunday night, 150 rock fans shook off their umbrellas and entered the smoky, dark and cavernous Yuyintang with a look of anticipation in their eyes. Purple and red lighting exposed the porthole windows and the splattered paint along the walls. Framed black and white photographs of musicians and two large colorful paintings resembling a god chicken adorned the venue. The dungy, hip atmosphere of Yuyintang gives one the impression of a basement meets submarine, serving as the perfect setting for the final show in the "Can I have Some Mohanik" 2012 tour.

Shanghai's legendary DJ B.O. arranged the Trash A-Go-Go tour that began on January 12th and that spanned four cities in China. Three acts from Shanghai, 'The Horde', 'The Moon Tyrant' and 'Banana Monkey' opened the stage for Mohanik, a garage rock band hailing from Ulaanbataar, Mongolia. The three opening bands greatly differed in sound and style, creating a diverse, euphonically pleasing show. The beat-folk duo, The Horde consisted of a mandolin and guitar player who serenaded the audience with soothing, whimsical sounds. Moon Tyrant took the stage with a shirtless singer and barefoot bassist. Each of their songs varied in style, ranging from screamo to eerie vocals, consistent in its command over the audience.
ZhaoJiaLou Ancient Town 2012-02-05 17:25

Perhaps its name has never appeared in the popular travel guides. Perhaps its presentation is more or less similar to other popular ancient towns in Shanghai. Perhaps even local Shanghainese have never heard of this place. Yet, ZhaoJiaLou (召稼楼) is undoubtedly an ideal destination for those who are looking for a tranquil, traditional Chinese atmosphere and, of course, good food. Check out our suggestions below for the must-try items in this ancient town.
SHEX Reviews: New Age Veggie 2012-02-04 16:21

I must confess that I am not a vegetarian and much less a vegan, although I've dabbled with the thought. As a vegan proprietor, New Age Veggie does not use any animal products: No eggs in the cakes. No meat in the salmon sashimi. No preservatives as far as the eye can see. No pungent plants. No smoking. No alcohol. My gentle coaxing and promise to pay a corking fee were no match for this dedicated vegan establishment.

This is going to be a trip. Like many, I didn't think a vegetarian option was even a possibility in China. Avoiding pork in its various forms would be exhausting. New Age Veggie is the vegan's dream restaurant, but it's good for the rest of us too!

Initial entry to the restaurant leaves a bit to be desired. First you take a rather cramped, cold metallic elevator to the 5th floor. The restaurant itself: large round tables in the center, and a row along the wall overlooking Huaihai, conjures the feeling of so many local hotspots.
SHEX Reviews: Chuan Spa at the Langham, Yangtze Boutique 2012-01-16 15:25

A Little History
When you first walk into the lobby of the Langham, Yangtze Boutique Hotel the word opulence springs to mind. Tony Wang, the Director of Communications dispenses Yangtze Boutique trivia on a short tour before the spa treatment begins. First opened in 1934, you are immediately transported back to the highfalutin-era of Shanghai's golden age. Restored Art Deco furniture and architecture as far as the eye can see draw you to the main stair well. Above a predominantly yellow stained glass ceiling enhanced with pinks, blues and greens the feeling is epic to say the least.
SHEX Reviews: Elements Spa Review 2011-12-29 01:50

Last Friday after catching a taxi that started to overheat, and presented with the mission to find another one in the middle of a busy intersection, I was ready to escape the hustle and bustle of Shanghai. Conveniently, I was heading to Elements Spa, located in Nanchang Lu, Fuxing (FX). Elements Spa, owned by a Hong Kong group, has two branches (the other one is located inside the Shanghai Racquet Club (SRC). The bright green signage is hard to miss amongst several boutique shops, despite having only a small shop window space. The service received upon arrival was consistent throughout the spa with guidance to the right rooms and assistance up the steep stairs.
A Smoker's Paradise Lost 2011-12-19 12:47

A Western smoker stepping onto Chinese soil becomes immediately aware of two things: freedom and lack of judgment. Lighted cigarette in hand you can step into a taxi or crowded elevator blissfully puffing away. No longer are you banished to the dumpsters by those judgmental eyes at home screaming, “How dare you jeopardize my health?” In short, when you entered China, you entered a smoker’s paradise. Is that an asthmatic, pregnant woman beside you? Worry not. She’ll casually excuse herself in good time.
Muay Thai...Fighting Weight Gain 2011-11-28 16:12

There are over 1 billion overweight adults walking the earth today. More than 300 million of them are considered clinically obese. This means that instead of an improved quality of life due to progress, more and more people are actually ending up with reduced life expectancy and increasing health problems. Luckily for the human race, for every new calorie laden treat that comes out of the production line, people also come out with a new method to ward off the corresponding gain weight.
Getting Under the Skin of Shanghai’s Cosmetic Surgery Scene 2011-11-29 13:47

More often than not, the loud music you’re hearing each evening on Shanghai’s streets comes form a hair salon. Beyond the music fashionable bouffant-ed staff, style, manicure and trim local and expatriate alike. Of course, this flurry of hair, shampoo, peroxide and moisturizer is not the only source of beautification. Expat magazines, subway car walls, ShanghaiExpat itself, are littered with advertisements for the latest non-surgical and surgical cosmetic surgeries offered by a variety of clinics and hospitals throughout the city. Despite personal judgments or opinions this is a very real way an increasing number of men and women seek to maintain or enhance their perceived beauty. So what does the world of cosmetic surgery in Shanghai look like?
Striking a Chord with GCISD Soccer Coach Doug Parra 2011-11-09 10:06

A single violin opens a symphony with one long, uninterrupted note on an open string. Before the violinist can finish her inaugural sound, all of the stringed instruments rally behind the first chair and strike an identical chord. After the stringed instruments open the concert in unison, the focus transitions to a group of clarinets and trumpets, all are prepared and eager to take the ball. As the stringed and wind instruments become in rhythm, one final teammate joins the play: “Bum, Bum, Bum,” which is the powerful, deep sounds of a Bass drum. As the first movement gets underway, the entire team is now in harmony, and just a few notes away from a climax that will bring the crowd to their feet.
Flu Season Vaccinations, Get em Now 2011-09-29 10:49

Every year, 30-50,000 people die of the flu in the U.S., and the numbers in China (while not being totally reliable) are expected to be proportionally the same. One misconception about the flu season is that it is short, maybe lasting two or three months. In fact, the flu season is much longer than that, sometimes last from September to March (7-8 months)! Peak of cases happens in February.