When the temperatures reach low 90s before nine o'clock in the morning, there's nothing better to do than to grab some quick breakfast and head out to the pool. 

Quite a while ago, David found a good place near our house for "ji dan bing" (corn flour tortilla with fried eggs, cilantro, chives and some hot sauce). Kids already know how to order their own (No hot sauce for Kai and two eggs with a little bit of hot sauce for Raili) as well as drop the coins in an open container for payment; it's $0.20 for one, $0.40 if with two eggs.

The "pancake" is split in half and placed into a plastic bag for easy "carry out".

David is fond of the vegetable dumplings and gets a dozen for $0.80.

Eating Jidanbing at the park.

Since Shanghai isn't by the ocean or even by a lake, most compounds have outside pools or man made beaches. Ours enforces quite a bit local rules such as no entry without swimming caps (only for women though), and absolutely no leaning against the sides of the pool. 

 

This time around we were visiting friends' pool, which has more of a foreigner presence and consequently, less whistle blowing. We thoroughly enjoyed the white sand, pool bar and western music on the loud speakers. Thank goodness it was a cloudy day or we would have turned into lobster lookalikes by the time we finally got the kids lured out of the pool.

Raili was a pro with and without her googles.

Kai taking a break from sandcastles.