古典玫瑰園

記得剛搬來上海的第一個月
跑到正大廣場亂逛
發現古典玫瑰園時的驚喜


古典玫瑰園未正式發跡成品牌尚在東海大學附近時期
我就造訪過而已成愛慕者
全拜手帕交Karen and Alice的帶領
在我心中
東海時代古典玫瑰園散發的氛圍至今仍是無可取代
我想除了其自身清新浪漫舒服乾淨的氣質
我們那股初生之犢不畏虎的青春氣息也多少有些推波助瀾


正大廣場內的古典玫瑰園是上海的旗艦店
內部華麗的裝潢風格與昔日已不可同日而語
餐點與茶選種類亦已翻新
一切似乎講求完全皇家式的精緻華麗
然而懷念其昔日鄉村淨白的可親浪漫
帶來心中一絲惆悵惋惜

不過不要誤會
古典玫瑰園仍是個很棒的地方
尤其當有好友來訪需要Girl's talk時
昔日事務所同志Monica來滬玩幾天
那日下午綴著舒服的茶飲細品可口的茶點
Girl's talk就如此展開

古典玫瑰園的茶選種類有許多無咖啡因花草茶的組合
對於不喝刺激性飲料的我
這裡是個友善的地方
其茶點甜鹹交織
精緻可口
自製的玫瑰果醬讓人一嚐上癮
玫瑰果凍以及芥末烤雞腿的簡餐也是贏得我心的項目

最貼心動人的部分應該是其服務
展現該有的水準
讓人忘了身在上海

加油
古典玫瑰園!

加油
古典玫瑰園的台灣!

古典玫瑰園旗艦店位在正大廣場一樓
正大廣場是泰國卜蜂集團投資的shopping mall
還蠻好逛的
位在浦東陸家嘴精華區
緊鄰東方明珠塔與濱江大道河濱公園
濱江大道河濱公園是欣賞外灘風光最聰明的首選地歐
步行十分鐘可抵金茂大廈及環球金融中心
交通: 地鐵2號線, 陸家嘴站, 1號東方明珠塔出口. 想順便欣賞黃浦江風光者, 可由浦西外灘的金陵東路渡口搭渡輪到東昌路碼頭, 出了碼頭站左轉, 沿著富城路步行約五至十分鐘.
上海的公共交通儲值卡(通稱公交卡)是出租車(就是計程車, taxi), 公交車, 渡輪通用的, 一卡在手很方便, 在地鐵站內的小店都可購買到.

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LDS Shanghai International District 20th Anniversary Celebration LDS 上海國際區會二十周年慶祝紀念活動

This past weekend was the 20th anniversary celebration of Shanghai International District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The theme is "With Faith in Every Footstep" inspired from 1 Nephi 7:12: "... the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him. Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.".

A special fireside and commemorative reception was held on Friday night. The fireside provided many informative archives of the history about how everything started which can be dated back to as early as 18th century. There were talks which brought inspirational messages and testimonies. The most valuable message I've received in this fireside is that it is not by coincidence or accident that we come to China at this special moment in history. Neither our chance to come here nor the very timing for us to be on this great ancient land can be taken lightly in any extent. China hasn't opened to the true gospel, yet, this is not the thing they need the most at this moment. Our mission here is to help lay down the cornerstones for the future change. The change has been prophesied and promised and it will be fulfilled only by the Lord's time, will and way, and also our righteous desires and efforts. Hence, living by good examples among the local people in our daily life is the most important task we each who are here to take and nothing else should be placed on top of that. Through living by examples, we bring the light of Christ to whereever we go and leave a good memory in the hearts of people in China even long after we are gone. This message really help clarify my mind. The mission is not easy though and often is full of many new challenges on this far, strange land. However, it is as plain and simple as it could be and it is possible. My heart was full when we went home.

I was asked to translate for the entire fireside. I was so exausted after and ate a lot at the following reception to make up the dead brain cells which were killed during the translation process. It is not easy. I definitely pay more respect to translators in the future.

The next day (Saturday), the district held a park/ BBQ activity at Shanghai Sculpture Park. This place is not strang to us because we have just been there a week ago. The district had a caterer to fix some real American food - hamburger and hotdog - for us to enjoy. We took Squarky with us. He behaved well. However, he unusually hide under the picnic bench during the lunch hour and did nothing except for exceedingly panting due to the hot humid temperature. Actually, we were relieved as we have worried that he might "attack" the grill to steal food. Later on, Squarky went crazy swimming and playing by the man-made beach and finally got a good cool-off.

We appreciated those brothers and sisters who sacraficed a lot to make this celebration event so meaningful and fun to enjoy. We really had good time! The weather was hot and humid (to me) though. It made me start to think my survival strategy for the following summer months. I heard that it can hit 39C, 40C (over 100F) plus the humidity. Oh, dear.....

週五週六有兩場活動是慶祝紀念耶穌基督後期聖徒教會上海國際區會二十周年, 活動主題是"每一腳步都充滿信心"(With Faith In Every Footstep), 在尼(月非)一書七章12節: ".... the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him. Wherefore, let us be faithful to him." 首先是周五晚上的爐邊聚會與紀念招待會, 爐邊聚會的內容十分豐富與靈性, 讓大家學習到先驅者的犧牲與榜樣, 與神的事工的明確性與其富涵的智慧. 對我個人而言, 了解到在此時此刻來到中國並非意外或偶然, 而是來為未來的轉變鋪設準備的房角石, 日常生活於普羅眾生裡立好榜樣, 讓基督的光經由我們的榜樣照耀他人, 是我們的首要與唯一的責任義務, 這項訊息如醍醐灌頂, 加強換新了我的想法與願景. 當晚我擔任即席口譯, 說實在, 真的這份工作答應的容易, 做起來讓人全身虛脫, 尤其我只是業餘的, 讓我對專業口譯者又多了一份尊敬. 由於腦汁絞盡造成的全身虛脫, 我在紀念招待會上拼命地吃東西來補元氣, 嘿嘿~ 當晚的點心真的好可口, 燈光氛圍與音樂更是迷人!

第二項活動則是隔天周六, 在佘山的月湖雕塑公園的戶外烤肉, 這地方我們去過並不陌生, 區會請來Johnny Moo的外燴, 讓我們享用美式漢堡與熱狗, 午餐後有團體活動. 我們狗兒子也參與盛會, 還好因為悶熱, 讓這小子在午餐時只躲在椅子下喘氣, 沒有直搗BBQ爐區, 後來, 來到人工海灘, 他不等我們就自己跳下去了, 他爹當天準備了換洗衣褲來撩下水, 帶他游個盡興. 今天的活動很棒, 不過也讓我初嚐了上海的濕熱, 對即來的盛夏開始戒慎恐懼.

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生命如鞋 Life is like shoes

My life is like my shoes
- to be worn out in service.

~ President Spencer W. Kimball 1895~1985]

我的生命 就像我的鞋一樣,要在服務中磨損.
~甘賓賽 會長 [1895~1985]

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Picnic with Squarky - Shanghai Sculpture Park

We went picnic last Saturday with Squarky.

Dogs are not allowed in most of parks in Shanghai. Sounds disappointed.
Well, this is China! When I found out this Shanghai Sculpture Park is one of the nicest park in the city, and is also one of the very few that allows dogs, I decided that we have to come to check out.

Later on, I figured out that this park was created and invested by a Taiwanese business. I just feel so proud (again). Through private trading and investment, Taiwan has silently contributed significantly to China's modernization. The impact can be observed everywhere in the city. This contribution is still continuing and it deserves to be acknoweledged.

Ok, back to the picnic. It takes about a little less than an hour to get to the park from where we live (Pu Dong Lujiazui area). This is a huge park where there are seem-to-be-endless greens for men and dogs to tumble. This is also a very clean park which makes you forget that you are in Shanghai. The best part of it is that dogs can enjoy the park with the owners together which, believe me, is a absoute priveledge to dogs owners in Shanghai. So, here we came with three backpacks of gear - one for each and yes, Squarky's gears are enough to fill one bag.

This is Squarky's first official outdoor activity since his surgery ordeal. This is also his first ever picnic with us. He behaved really well both in the car and in the park. Squarky went crazy swimming, running, and chasing birds. His tail was eternally wagging and he was non-stop panting because of the excitement. The most enjoyable part was to watch the everlasting sparkles in his eyes. That moment, all the troubles and works in order to get there were rewarded.

The admissions is 80 RMB per adult and 30 RMB per dog. The dog ticket comes with a pooh bag. Also, they need to check the dog's license.

Shanghai Sculpture Park website

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跟果果野餐去 - 上海月湖雕雕塑公園

上週六全家去月湖雕塑公園野餐踏青

上海這麼大, 但是准許狗狗去的戶外場所卻是可悲地寥寥無幾, 經一番研究後, 得到可靠消息說, 上海月湖雕塑公園是個在上海地區大家都給予高評價的少數可帶狗狗去的地方.

原來這個乾淨優美的公園是台灣金寶山集團老闆曹日章先生開的, 光衝著可讓寵物入園這點, 我內心莫名的驕傲感又再度升起, 感謝又一台商的投資貢獻, 再次示範一下何謂真正的文明與人性, 嘿嘿!

這個公園位在上海佘山國家旅遊區內, 我們由浦東陸家嘴殺過去約一小時不到的車埕, 一路路況不錯, 園址也很好找, 也可乘地鐵九號線到佘山站下車, 園區於週末假日提供接駁車.

園區目前占地約1300畝, 感覺好像還在拓建中, 內依四季時節環繞月湖分春夏秋冬四岸不同的景觀設計, 有關其餘資訊細節可詳其網站 http://www.yueyuanyuan.com/ .

雖然整體而言, 這是個十分人工化的公園, 與我們原先預期是自然生態公園的想法有蠻大的出入, 但是因其乾淨整潔的環境, 大片綠茵開放空間, 稀少的人煙, 加上寵物可同行...等等, 這些條件水準在上海是非常難得的, 於是我們還是樂於把這裡列入還會再帶果果來的好地方!

那天我們二大一犬, 帶了吃喝拉撒睡的一堆行頭來到公園報到, 先是在人工海灘讓果果玩水, 然後一家信步認識一下環境, 最後是找了一塊草地布置野餐基地, 一家三口吃喝打盹看書追鳥賞雲放空, 好不快活地過了一清爽無壓的下午! 我想我們這天只逛了園區的一半罷.

這裡門票不便宜, 成人：80元/人1.2米以下儿童：50元/人宠物：30元/只, 並附一個便便垃圾袋,
園內有美術館, 餐廳及咖啡廳...等設施, 不過我們興趣只在踏青, 所以並沒利用這些設施. 個人建議前往遊玩時可考慮攜帶一些毛巾及可替換的衣物, 以備不時之需 (例如: 狗狗或小朋友跑去玩水的話), 也要記得帶狗證. 還有, 雖然這裡是人與寵物同樂之地, 我個人認為作為有擔當的飼主還是需要控管自己的狗狗, 不要讓狗狗就此失控撒野或是到處找人麻煩, 要尊重他人的空間與感受. 另外, 也不要因為門票貴就亂丟垃圾及隨地吐痰, 文明人做文明事, 更有責任調教照顧出文明狗, 嘿嘿~ 果果和我們都很棒歐!

這是果果長這麼大第一次和我們去野餐, 也是他自手術癒後第一次完全盡興的戶外活動, 他不管在車上或是在公園裡都表現的很棒, 做娘的給他打9.8分, 看著他活蹦亂跳眼睛閃閃發亮, 樂到不能自己的瘋樣傻勁, 一切的麻煩都值得了!

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