Police Station

Sunday was a sunny but very windy day. Our prime objective of venturing out was to register our residency at our local police station, a requirement for all foreigners staying more than 1 week, but we need those reports to support switching of tourist visas for Kristine and Kimberley to permanent resident visas. We arrived at the police station at 1140am, believing the police officers would have their lunch break from 12noon. Not to be the case, their lunch break was from 1130am to 12 noon.... So we wandered through a vegie market, found a tailor to repair pockets of my winter pants (RMB12), and bought Kristine and Kimberley steamed red bean buns (RMB0.60 each) which they enjoyed.

On way there, we were stopped by a DVD vendor. 2 Spongebob and 1 Chinese movie were exchanged for our RMB15. Photos show Grace Kristine Kimberley next to DVD vendor, and Kimberley next to a donkey fruit cart.

Had lunch at a Shangxi restaurant. We told waitress not to add any MSG （不加味精), and to reduce salt by half. A kitchen helper came to ask a few minutes later if we wish to add '鸡精' (Chicken flaoured MSG --- there are also MSG with mushroom, abalone, beef flavours). Our answer was obvious but we were very happy they took our request seriously. MSG into food to enahnce 'taste'; melamine into milk to enhance protein count.

Talking about milk, Grace and I decided to switch from the more convenient tetrapacked UHT to fresh milk. Just one brand available nearby but it is the only brand untainted by the recent milk scandal.