Eating with Shaggy

I returned from China/HK/Taiwan on Wednesday and immediately got back into my rhythm. What did the trip mainly consist of? Food of course (as well as sending dodgy cards to Doris, Tarquin, Cakehole/Barbie, Shaggy, Tom Jones Look-a-Likey, etc, etc). Here's the brief rundown:

• Crystal Jade, followed by TMSK, Shanghai (noisy, tasty, everyday Xintiandi)
• The Chinoise Story, Shanghai (stunning food, surroundings and service. My gratitude to Deputy Manager Evan Xu)
• Uighur restaurant, Shanghai (tender, tasty lamb in all forms; basic decor, straight service. Do your vocal exercises as you will be asked to sing during dinner)
• Yong Foo Elite, Shanghai (very chic, clubby, selective; a bit too much up its own ass)
• Mu Dan Ting, Kowloon (a powerful wave of huge portions that overwhelmed us. Well, almost)
• Grand Hotel, Taipei (fantastic HK cuisine)
• Aqua Spirit, Kowloon (a never-ending trail of food with an unparalleled view of the harbour)
• Aqua Hutong, Kowloon (fantastic North Chinese cuisine - the lamb was to die for. Sadly, we never made it to the pigeon, as Shaggy had trouble with his crabs).

I even got to chill in Kowloon Park, watching the flamingoes, ducks and overhearing the conversations in the aviary, while Shaggy fondled and ogled the sculptures.

What else? Spent ages in Fuzhou Road, Shanghai, ogling the calligraphy shops while encouraging Shaggy to play chicken with the traffic. I narrowly missed being rendered null and void by a flying sack of cement that whistled past my head; balanced out by being promoted, so all in all, not a bad trip.

Childishly awestruck by: the Science Museum in London. I hadn't been there in years (the last time, I was married and had my wife and two very young nephews in tow) and was glad to see that it was a much better experience. It rivalled the Natural History Museum - also visited yesterday - in my affections. By why doesn't the science museum have an example of the Gutenburg Press?

Tip top film recommendation: 'The Lives of Others'. It's fantastic.

Send 'Gimp Bags' to: Puddy