Best Restaurant to Celebrate a Birthday, Shanghai, China, New Year

A birthday to remember, that’s for sure!  I wanted to get the whole kitchen team together for a big celebration for my 33^rd… How often do you get to spend your birthday in China with a bunch of locals, and of course a few X-Pats.

Our birthday traditions are quite different to the Chinese.  Celebrating here in China was more like a brutal night at a frat house with new found friends drowning you with beer and great food!  Not that I have any complaints with either of those two topics!

One of the traditions that was most memorable that evening (and the following morning….) was that anytime someone toasts you (as the birthday boy) you need to finish all the beer in your glass!  That sounds easy enough…but when you celebrate any event in China, plan on a large group… we had 18 people (and somehow everyone “forgot to say something” during their toasts…so had to raise their glass again…and again…and again…)

The girls in the kitchen asked me what I wanted to eat on my birthday- hmmm, tough decision.. I choose roasted duck.  So they quickly worked their magic, booked us a private room and preordered 3 roasted Beijing style roasted duck.  The Chinese say the best duck is prepared in Beijing (the capital city)-so that was the highlight of the dinner.

I had the girls order a whole bunch of other items, because this guy can only do the “point and order”, so why not leave it to the pros!

Sobering Good-byes

Time being as tight as it was, I was peppered with calls, “let’s get together before you leave”… it always sounds great in theory, so to avoid making time for one friend and not another I worked my magic and just called a “meeting of the minds”.  Otherwise known as Happy Hour!

Not being much for drinks, especially late afternoon- I managed to muscle up the courage and head to one of my old watering holes from the younger years (an establishment that was accepting of my pathetic fake ID).  The Flying Saucer- this local joint boasts over 100 beers on tap and some 200+ in the bottle, if you’re a cocktail drinker, sorry out of luck Charley, they only carry beer and wine.

I would say late afternoon alcohol consumption mixed with friends from all walks of lives and professions makes for a great time!  There the term “See you in Shanghai” became coined…. Now let’s see who will pull through… and take my suitcase back!

For all of those great friends from home that could not make it, understandable, feelings not hurt…. You just owe me beers when I come back!

Ko Tao, Thailand. Travel Review on Food, Beaches, SCUBA Diving and Nightlife.

Here I find myself checking out of Ban’s Dive Resort- debating where to head out to next.  This trip has been a very stress free experience with no set agenda.  As I drop this post in, I am flipping a coin to stay one more evening or pack it up and move on…

A quick snap shot about BAN’s –It appeared to be a laid back small dive resort on Ko Tao (online), not so much the case. The resort is clean and simple but felt more like a Motel 6.  If you plan on diving on the island my suggestion is hook up with another dive company and spend the extra few dollars.  I was not impressed with the large boats full of divers, and 15 foot stride from the bow into the water. (Dangerous!)

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