"Legend of Korra" OST Contest

OMG I won the MTV Geek Legend of Korra Signed Soundtrack Giveaway!! 8D

I can’t believe how lucky I am to win a copy of The Legend of Korra: Original Music from Book One signed by The Track Team, composer Jeremy Zuckerman and sound designer Benjamin Wynn, and co-creators and executive producers Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino! I love the show, and I love the gorgeous music! T_T

Huge THANKS to MTV Geek and everyone listed above! 8D

What if Red X was Babs?

Think about it. She has red hair, the Red X helmet kind of resembles her Oracle mask symbol (they could be incorporated), she knows her way around high (experimental) tech, and a “red x” in computer usage is an image that cannot be seen/accessed, which totally fits her hacker persona. XD

When I learned Babs was returning as Batgirl in New52, I was upset. I love her as Oracle, where she was a one-of-a-kind, near-omniscient, computer genius and information broker for the Cape Community. To me, Batgirl was a demotion, back under Batman’s symbol and shadow instead of her own awesome identity. I don’t think they need to keep her in her chair (because, yeah, comics science should be able to heal her), I just didn’t want her to go backwards.

So what if Babs had the surgery, but it wasn’t completely successful. As Barbara Gordon, she’s still in a wheelchair (which helps hide her secret identity), but at night, through her connections to Wayne Tech and S.T.A.R. Labs, she’s created a cybernetic suit that allows her mind to control her leg muscles again and adds strength.

The catch is that, like in Teen Titans, the suit is powered by a dangerous isotope, so Babs can only wear it for short periods of time, and to further the drama, it could even be harmful to her body, but her longing for not just her mobility but crime-fighting out in the field is too strong, which upsets the rest of the Bat-Family and Birds of Prey when they find out one by one.

Man of Steel - A [Spoilers!]

Summary: A smart blockbuster with an emotional core. Equal parts character study and sci-fi action, classic themes and refreshing twists. Cool but over-used CGI doesn't add much, but it doesn't detract from the quality storytelling either. Impressive new start for the First and Greatest Superhero and hopefully just scratching the surface of an epic but meaningful DC Comics Movie Universe! Entertainment and Inspiration are the keys. Grade 9/10 A

What I Loved (almost everything):

• The movie as a whole. Story, direction, tone, production, score. It's not perfect, but the good outweighs the bad by a ton. (I'm really surprised it's getting such negative reviews from some people. At the very least it's a huge improvement over Superman Returns!)
• Director Snyder, writer Goyer, and producer Nolan manage to combine heart, spectacle, and thought-provoking ideas (just like Goyer/Nolan did with the Dark Knight Trilogy). Makes you wonder how you would feel if you found out you were an alien and destined to be a savior, and how the world would react if they discovered an alien lived among us.
• THE CAST. Amazing and so perfect for each character. Cavill embodies Clark/Superman's strength, humility, determination, and genuine goodness. Adams' Lois is smart, sharp, warm, bold, and beautiful. Crowe is quietly powerful and fleshes out the sometimes-ethereal Jor-El very well (surprisingly one of my fav characters in the movie). Shannon is crazy intense crazy (XD) but still adds realness to over-the-top villainy. Costner and Lane are just pure heartland of America, the warmest parts of the story. Also enjoyed supporting cast Fishburne as Perry, Schiff (The West Wing's Toby!) as Dr. Hamilton, Meloni as Col. Hardy, Traue as Faora, and others like Battlestar Galactica vets Penikett and Juliani (Smallville's Hamilton!).
• Super-suit looks great. Alien but familiar (no underwear on the outside!). Lois' outfits look professional and (mostly) practical, not frumpy at all (stupid fanboys XP).
• Lois is proactive, figures out Clark's identity almost right away, and is part of the solution, not just a distress-y, albeit plucky, damsel who gets in the way.
• Krypton, an extremely cool, fully-realized alien world with a fascinating new history and beautiful cultural design. And the Kryptonian atmospheric conditions being a replacement for Kryptonite was clever.
• Mind-blowing action on such a massive scale. Pretty flawless, showing the real impact of super-strength, thrill of flight, and believable super-speed. Those really gave me hope that other JLAers could be done well on the big screen without looking fake or cheesy (Smallville and even Green Lantern).
• The origin of Daily Planet Clark Kent. The last scene. <3
• Lexcorp and Wayne Enterprises logo Easter eggs! They do exist!
• MoS is a really good jumping-off point in creating a shared universe in which the other DC characters can also appear!

What I Disliked (and how it can be fixed):

• Relentless fight scenes. Stunning, but too long. I sometimes got "battle fatigue," and when the action kind of turned into generic all-CGI shots, my eyes started to glaze over (partially due to lack of sleep). After Superman Returns, people clamored for more action, but I do wish they had been edited a bit shorter to make room for more character moments.
• I enjoyed the characterizations and interactions, but there could have been more, especially for young Clark and for Clark and Lois' budding relationship, which didn't quite reach KISS ME level yet, though it was a good kiss scene that could have just come from the release of tension from the averted apocalypse, not just attraction and intimacy.
• Why is Pa Kent so cynical about mankind? The Kents are the ideal parents who instill in Clark love, respect, compassion, and essentially his humanity. Costner does a great job of providing warm guidance, but his insistence that humans can't be trusted to trust in Clark was kind of sad (but pretty true). (It's a weird reversal. You'd think Jor-El would be the father who didn't trust Earthlings and Jonathan the dad who encouraged it, but for once, Jor-El sounds more like the source of hope than Pa Kent?) But at the end, Ma said Pa always saw that greatness in Clark (or something), so I guess Jonathan meant the world wasn't ready yet, but would be someday, and Clark had to be responsible and careful about what he did and when he could reveal himself. Also, his cause of death was a bit "Uncle Ben," adding unnecessary guilt and angst on young Clark.

What Some Viewers Disliked (and my defense):

• People are complaining that Superman caused just as much collateral damage as the Kryptonians, without stopping to save all the innocents. I hope this post is a valid defense of that. I assumed most of the people had already evacuated, but even so, it's a fault of the film that there isn't a shot of Superman X-ray scanning the surroundings and pulling Zod away from a populated building into an evacuated one. That would have showed Clark's priority of protecting people, not just stopping the Kryptonians (and it would have been a tiny breather in the midst of the non-stop fighting).
• The big controversy is Superman killing Zod. I was shocked, but not exactly dismayed. It feels wrong because Superman would never kill, but that's in the comics where there's always another way, while in the "real" world, sometimes there's no other choice. (I think of it like, sometimes, policemen have to take down the crazy gunman to save the hostages.) It mirrors Clark's decision to let Krypton die to preserve Earth rather than sacrifice Earth to resurrect Krypton. He has to kill Zod or essentially "kill" innocents and let more and more innocents die after that because Zod will never stop, as he said, because he has no other purpose in life now. I like the interpretation that Zod was effectively forcing Kal to kill him because as a warrior, that was the only way to get the "reward of a good death" in combat (a kind of noble suicide). And just in terms of good drama, Clark's cry of despair at what he had done was heartbreaking.
• The writer said they made this tough decision because it felt more appropriate in their "real" world than sending Zod to the Phantom Zone again, which would be kind of anti-climactic, and it gives young Superman a reason for his No-Kill Vow (um, his ethical upbringing isn't enough reason?). It's not to make Superman "edgier" but more human. Seems to me the problem is the public thinks perfect, over-powered, boy scout Superman is boring so they want him more relatable, while the fans want to keep him as the paragon for us to aspire to, not bring him down to our level. I think the point of MoS is that he can be both, human and the ideal of humanity; he just has to learn and grow, like everyone else (and in turn, we can all be Super, too, if we grow as people). MoS is "Superman Begins." Not everyone can agree with it, but I like it and what it's trying to achieve. (As a huge Bat-fan, I found the changes in Batman Begins more offensive, so I understand where Super-fans are coming from. ^^;)

What I Want to See in the Sequel(s) (to redeem flaws and continue themes, narrative, and awesome):

• More Pa Kent flashbacks, more heartwarming dispensing of everyman wisdom, mainly to show he wasn't always such a downer but a believer in the good in man and the one who teaches Clark that.
• Empire Magazine Podcast's Man of Steel Spoiler Special has lots of great observations, interesting analysis, and insightful interviews with the director and writer. One cool theory I heard was that the wanton destruction of property was on purpose and that it'll become a plot point in the sequel. Lex Luthor will blame everything on Superman, adding to people's distrust of an alien, while casting himself in a good light as he rebuilds Metropolis (and possibly picks up some Kryptonian goodies?).
• I like the idea that Superman will have to deal with the consequences of his actions in MoS: the revelation of his public appearance as an alien, the damage he caused, and the understandable fear of the public/government after seeing him use his immense power and killing someone (like when Wonder Woman became a pariah after breaking the neck of Maxwell Lord to save Superman, Batman, and many others).
• I heard the writers are planning for Superman to "go global" and deal with international politics and big issues like world hunger. That sounds interesting. Will Superman renounce his US citizenship?
• More humor and light please! MoS is grim because Clark is a lost soul and then Zod threatens Earth. Not much room for jokes. But now that Clark feels comfortable in his own skin, the bumbling, charming Daily Planet Clark Kent we love can come out. Clark dating Lois and Superman maybe facing the smart-ass megalomaniac Lex Luthor can definitely lighten the tone!
• I want the sequel title to be Man of Krypton so that the threequel can be Man of Tomorrow. ;)
• GOD I WANT A WORLDS FINEST MOVIE! So much. After Superman, there must be Worlds Finest(!), followed by Batman, maybe Superman, TRINITY(!!), Wonder Woman(!), maybe more Batman and Superman, then JUSTICE LEAGUE(!!!) MOVIE, plus spin-offs for Flash, (new) Green Lantern, Aquaman(?), Martian Manhunter(?), Cyborg(?)! 8D Make it happen, DC/WB!!

Edit (7/21): Superman/Batman movie announced at San Diego Comic-Con!! THANK YOU, DC/WB!! My reaction.

Canada/China Trip - Day 22

• up at 4:30 AM! rush to take a bath, final packing.
• breakfast: sticky rice.
• say bye to Gr.
• Geo drove us to airport at 5:10.
• check-in. bag check-in. security. customs. at gate 5:45. boarding at 6:30.
• Vancouver to Denver - not full, like half. 2 hours + 18 minutes. movie, water, sleep, read magazine.
• arrive at 10:35 instead of 10:50. but gate occupied by previous flight. stuck til 11am.
• out at 11:08. found new gate nearby. wait.
• lunch: packed sandwiches + snacks.
• saw in airport: tiny birds flying + hopping around. police riding bicycle through airport. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (3 pieces for $7.40!).
• Denver to Orlando - boarding at 12:30. departure 1pm. 3 hours + 36 minutes. watched Safe Haven (another Nicholas Sparks romantic drama; not bad), Big Bang Theory (heard the show is "fake geek" funny, but ep where geeks' girlfriends try to read comics & end up getting into nerdy discussions was pretty funny), Go On, Inside the Actors Studio (Hugh Jackman). cran-apple juice + water. computer billing system was down, so offered free lunch. XD nice.
• lunch: chicken caesar salad.
• arrival 6:35. baggage claim. waiting at 6:55.
• Peg picked us up.
• finally back home after 8 PM.
• end of epic vacation. ^_^

Canada/China Trip - Day 21

• up before 7 AM.
• United letter revision.
• breakfast: wife cake, hummus, halo-halo. before 8am.
• 9am visit from Aunt A + Uncle C. helped Uncle C w/ paper work.
• watched Food, Inc. documentary about corporate farming & food industry. fascinating, eye-opening, disturbing, but ultimately not lifestyle-changing (we love food & low prices too much >_>;).
• lunch: matsang (sticky rice dumpling). 11:45.
• 3pm pay respects to & pray for cousin Ga & Grandpa. ;_;
• 4:15 acupuncture for R.
• 5:45 dinner w/ Aunt N + Uncle R, Aunt C, Aunt A + Uncle C, cousins Jon, Ger, Gr, Cher + baby.
• dinner: Ken's Restaurant - soup, orange chicken, curry beef, tofu, pork chop, beef satay + noodle, peas + veggie, hot almond milk soup, red bean soup.
• back home. help Cher pack. say bye to Cher + baby. =( miss them already.
• pack for tomorrow.
• nap. turned into all-night sleep. -_-;

Canada/China Trip - Day 20

• up at 4:30 AM. :P surfed the net.
• 7am, baby woke up, play, nap, play.
• lunch at Golden Harvest w/ Uncle W + Aunt A, Cher + baby, + Geo at 11:15. dim sum! - radish cake, beef ball, beef wide noodles, duck noodle soup, pork liver(?) long noodle roll. chat.
• walk to Oakridge (Gap, Banana Republic).

 

• Tim Hortons (Canada's Starbucks) - maple danish.
• watching League of Legends tournament w/ Geo.
• dinner w/ family at Hunan Palace(?) - xiao long bao, potstickers, lemon chicken, lamb, pork + scallion wrap (Peking duck-style), egg drop + goji berry + tapioca soup dessert.
• Dairy Queen - chocolate ice cream cake.
• letter to United.
• bed at 10:30 PM.

Canada/China Trip - Day 19

• up at 6 AM.
• breakfast: cream puffs + cereal (+ snacks Otap + Pik-Nik). 7:30.
• R's acupuncture at 9am.
• leave for lunch w/ Cher + baby, Geo, Mom, Aunt C, Aunt N + Uncle R at 10:30.
• lunch: dim sum! chicken rice, beef ball, beef long noodle, conjee w/ lechon, + fish. til 12:10.
• Cher taking me to her hairdresser.
• Sky Train to City Centre.
• Chura Hair Salon - Japanese hair stylists. 1 PM appointment w/ Minya, sweet guy from Chiba. shampoo, hair cut, + styling. short, layered hair w/ side-swept bangs. love it.
• Sephora - Cher gave me a make-over! light eye shadow + liner, 3 shades (dark honey to pink) lipsticks, BB cream foundation, + free sample of hair wax to style bangs.
• train ride to Aberdeen Centre Asian mall. met up w/ R + Geo at 3pm. they like my new hair + make-up! ^_^
• Estea Express -  mango bubble tea w/ black boba pearls. mmm...

 

• browsed Asian specialty stores. like Gacha Hobbies & Toys + Candyland shop.
• back home at 5pm. Skype w/ Aunt C + Uncle G. play w/ baby. (crying whole time in car seat ;_; even though loves sleeping in ergo carrier?)
• Mom + Gr back w/ take-out.
• dinner: Ken's Chinese Restaurant - pork lechon, beef w/ bitter squash, sweet + sour pork chop. leftover falafel veggies, chopped duck, tapioca pie.
• shower. bed at 10 PM.

Canada/China Trip - Day 18

• up at 7:40 AM. cousins left, house to ourselves.
• plans w/ Uncle W maybe? bath + dress.
• no call.
• worked on United complaint report.
• lunch: leftover Vietnamese sub + Peking duck lettuce wrap.
• Geo back w/ a Toyota Matrix rental while SUV being repaired.
• R settled claim w/ rehab bill reimbursement.
• quick visit from Cher.
• Uncle W called. dim sum on Wed. at 11:30.
• walk to Oakridge. walk, browse, returned Grandma's clothes.
• dinner: take-out from food court. Pita Works Cafe - 3 lamb + 1 steak + 1 chicken pita. 2 hummus + pita plates. 1 falafel veggie platter.
  
• walk home. met a black cat. >^_^<

 

• Cher & baby here! play, hold, + cuddle baby.
• ate dinner. lamb wrap is good. + afternoon milk tea.
• chat. hair play. baby play. cat sighting. mango! =)
• bed past 11 PM.

Canada/China Trip - Day 17

• up at 5 AM. say bye to M, flying back home first, 5:30. Mom & Geo come back 6am. back to bed
• can't sleep. stay up watching Rurouni Kenshin: Shin Kyoto Hen OVA (remake of anime Kyoto Arc but meh, not as good). watched You're Beautiful. ^^
• breakfast: Puffin crunch cereal.
• lunch: Calgary's best Vietnamese sub - sauteed seasoned beef, cheese, pickled onion + carrot + cucumber + chili pepper, cilantro, on buttered(?) toasted sub bread. yum!
• working on United Airlines complaint report. ugh. -_-;
• visit from Aunt A + Uncle C
• nap 5-6pm. chat. video games.
• dinner: leftovers from Peking duck dinner & Filipino dinner.
• uh oh. last chance to go to Night Market, but can't reach cousin Ger. oh, well. =/
• fresh mango + papaya from Aunt A.
• can't eat. stomach hurts. indigestion. XP
• M back home.
• visit from Aunt G.
• still no Ger. :P
• sleepy from cold meds. in bed by 10:15 PM.

Canada/China Trip - Day 16

• up at 10 AM. leave by 11.
• visited Grandma in nursing home at 11:30. she was frail, sleepy, not very aware. spent time w/ her in cafeteria & up to her room. but M & I still sick, so couldn't go near or stay very long. =/
• lunch at Kyo Korean BBQ & Sushi House. :D All-You-Can-Eat menu, til 2pm. cold noodle sour soup, pickled radish, kimchi. sushi/sashimi. teriyaki chicken + beef + fish. yakisoba, gyoza, yam tempura. BBQ chicken + spicy pork + beef. delicious! T_T
• home. rest. M acupuncture session at 4 PM.
• RuroKen again. nap. get ready.
• dinner at Little Ongpin Filipino restaurant. w/ cousin Gr + Geo + Nat. garlic rice. grill/fry fish. veggie. pork lechon. BBQ chicken skewers. beef in blood sauce. egg rolls. diced lechon. halo-halo! w/ crushed ice, cream, vanilla + ube(!) ice cream, flan!, jack fruit, banana, fruit jelly, + beans. yum!
• home. play w/ iPad. RK still.
• reminder: check out K-drama Dating Agency: Cyrano & science documentary series Through the Wormhole.
• Beard Papa Cream Puffs!! yesss! 8D vanilla, green tea, + mango! <3

Canada/China Trip - Day 15

Hong Kong

• overnight in airport. nap 3-5 AM. check-in 5:30.

 

• HK to Shanghai. boarding 7:00. take-off before 8:00.
• breakfast: dim sum w/ siopao pork bun, beef ball, + shumai w/ shrimp. fruit mix w/ papaya, pineapple, + dragonfruit(?). apricot yogurt, apple tart pastry. (or curry option?)
  
• sleep.

Shanghai

• layover 10:30-1:00. no wifi. :P
• Shanghai to Vancouver. "only" 10-hour flight. ;)

 

• lunch: tuna sandwich
• breakfast: sausage + egg. pork + beans, potatoes, fatty pork, + shrimp. croissant w/ honey. cantaloupe, mango pudding, + cake. :)
  
• (or fish + noodles option)
  
• departed 1:30 PM on June 7th...

~~~Time Travel~~~

Vancouver

• ...arrived 9:10 AM on June 7th! whoa~ went back in time~
• picked up from airport by Uncle W. (aw, poor grandson is sick again.)
• brought to Aunt C's house.
• surprise! cousin Cher + her baby came from Calgary to see us! :D omg, he's so cute! <3
• R + Geo okay, just sore.
• played w/ baby & played Pocket Street Fighter w/ cousins all afternoon.
• reminder: check out K-drama The Moon that Embraces the Sun & more K-variety Running Man.
• nap. woken up to get ready.
• family dinner w/ cousin Jon, cousin Gil + GF (very nice, sweet, + smart).
• dinner: pork chop w/ glazed walnuts + cream sauce. fresh peas + veggies. Peking duck (1. skin + scallion wrap. 2. meat + veggie lettuce wrap). baked lotus paste + tapioca pudding pie (crust).
• home. bath. can't sleep.
• watched the live-action Rurouni Kenshin movie! (w/ cousins who introduced me to RK in late 90s & Mom who watched RK w/ me last year. ;) 11:00PM-1:00AM. RK is my favorite anime. seeing it in live-action was awesome. fantastic adaptation w/ good cast, writing, & fight choreography. didn't mind slight changes from manga/anime. can't wait for Kyoto Arc sequel.
• slept really late.

Canada/China Trip - Day 14

• breakfast: conjee w/ pork + century egg, ham + egg, eggroll, steam pork bun, orange juice.
• packing.
• lunch: Crystal Jade - famous xiao long bao!! 1 serving (4 dumplings) each, perfect! best beef soup w/ beef strips (tastes like roast pork), fresh-made noodles (you can watch them make it by hand), + green onions. gyoza. flaky pastry radish.
  
• packing. waiting. 5 PM.
• transport van (Mercedes) to airport. 6 PM.

 

 

 

• bye to Aunt C & Uncle G.
• overnight wait for flight, so walked around airport, browsed shops til 7:40.
• heavy security - police, SWAT w/ machine guns(!), K9-unit dogs.
• dinner: McDonalds - HK menu
• Black & White special
  
  
• Black Beef Burger w/ potato paste, bacon, truffle sauce, & black squid ink(!) bun.
  
• White Chicken Sandwich w/ potato paste, bacon, mushroom sauce, & white bun.
• Chicken Rice "Bowl" w/ broccoli + corn
  

Canada/China Trip - Day 13

• met up w/ cousin Rose. =) but raining, so no crossing to Kowloon. & boo, dim sum closed. ended up at McDonalds (how ironic). breakfast: grilled chicken soup w/ veggies + corkscrew pasta; sausage + egg plate; hot dog + egg plate.

 

 

 

• paper work.
• lunch/dinner(?) - matsang, white/soy chicken, fresh veggies, & Asian pear.

Canada/China Trip - Day 12

• breakfast: pork + veggie ramen soup. congee. toast.
• lunch: beef (jerky) noodles, HK xiao long bao!! (much better than Shanghai fast food place)
• shopping.

 

 

 

 

• bed rest.
• dinner: fresh veggies (steamed w/ kettle??). refreshing Asian pear.

Canada/China Trip - Day 11

• up at 11. free hotel breakfast: ham + egg sandwich, fruit, orange juice.
• rest day.
• Aunt C brought me a gift from the Philippines: You're Beautiful DVD! 8D my favorite Korean drama. <3 finally found it after 3.5 years! XD
• lunch: HK street food take-out - roast pigeon + duck. whole pigeons w/ lolling heads & talon feet! kinda disturbing, awkward to eat, but so yummy. ;P
• dinner: matsang w/ pork filling (sticky rice, filled w/ meat, wrapped in bamboo leaves, steamed, aka zongzi)

Canada/China Trip - Day 10

• up at 6:00-6:30 AM. breakfast at 7:30-8:30.
• bus 8:30-9:30. airport check-in.
• boarding at 12 noon. take-off at 12:30.
• lunch: pork + veggie + bow tie pasta. bread roll + ham + veggies. pickled radish. yogurt, fruit, peanuts. mango ice cream! & tea.
• land in Hong Kong.
• ugh, dropped passport on plane while getting ready to leave. -_-;; luckily, found & returned by staff. but now late. Mom mad. =/
• couldn't find exit to Bus C, as instructed. (there is no C bus.)
• finally found Aunt C + Uncle G.
• 1-hour bus ride to Causeway Bay, then short walk to Times Square.
• check-in at Holiday Inn Express. catching a cold?!
• walk to mall for restaurant floor.
• dinner: fried pork belly(?), roast goose, beef, sweet+sour pork, veggies, & mango + grapefruit soup dessert.
• shop around upstairs coat sale. feeling worse.
• back to hotel. ugh, definitely sick. XP in bed at 9 PM.

Canada/China Trip - Day 9

• 7:30 wake up. Benadryl hangover. still red + itchy.
• breakfast 8:00-9:15. leave hotel.

 

• Tong Ren Tang - largest producer of traditional Chinese medicine. presentation of history, quality. imperial herbal medicine. individual meeting w/ herbalist. palm reading diagnosis. (>_>;) recommended supplements for kidneys, heat, hormones. totaling $1000s! o_0 (older NZ man in tour group: "Everyone gets [diagnosed & prescribed]. Nobody's perfect. ^^") 10:00-11:30.
• lunch til 1:00.
• Shanghai skyline - CEOs compete for tallest building, so add "toppers" to increase height. eventually turned to threatening symbols and bad feng shui against competition: guns, cannons, even a coffin!

 

• Shanghai Museum - 1:30-2:30. only 1 hour to see 4 floors!! quickly saw bronze, painting, jade, minorities' art, & furniture exhibits. best part of tour (so much history ^^) & worst part of tour (so little time ><).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 2:45 drive. (under bridge, feng shui center of city, i think??)

 

• Tianmai Jade Jewelry Expo Center - met w/ jade carving master artist (kinda smug & smarmy w/ assistants/apprentice). long talk, so boring, sleepy, return to wait on bus.

 

 

• dinner at local fast food place. very crowded, long wait, shared table. supposedly the "best xiao long bao in Shanghai." tasty but skin too thick, not delicate enough. also ordered noodles + wonton soup.
• Shanghai Circus World -

 

• "ERA: Intersection of Time" show - set list. Shanghai acrobats, contortionists, large porcelain bowl tossing/balancing, cup + bowl toss/stack/balance, tricks on ferris wheel w/ giant hamster wheels, flying ribbon aerial acrobatic dance, trampoline tricks, seesaw tricks, motorcycle ball (now w/ 8 bikes!), finale.

 

 Mirror Mirage / Kicking Bowls

 

 Hoop Diving / Snake Girls

 

 Wheel of Life / Jar Juggling

 

 Fire Meteors / Sculpture

 

 Russian Swing & Teeter Board / Trampoline, Russian Bar & Bungee

 

Forever / Space Motorcycles

• hotel. midnight xiao long bao snack.