Carrefour - the French Westfield

This morning we went to Carrefour where there are fashion shops and something akin to Kmart, then groceries. This was certainly an experience.

There is nothing too spectacular to tell you about the Kmart-like section, save that I got a generic windcheater for 79rmb and that you can buy little bottles that contain siamese fighting fish and turtles. I took a photo of the turtle, all the while pretending I was over-awed by cuteness but it didn't stop a shop attendant coming to glare at me. I don't know what the fish and turtles eat while they wait to be sold. It's all in line with the mass production.

I had to buy a new pen as the one I was given at a show recently has a dodgy ink problem. I found one where the box read: This is a pen.

Indeed.

The groceries were something of a wonder. There was an aisle of Chinese chocolates. Then in another aisle was imported chocolate. They had Lindt, VIlliars, Anton Berg, Ritter Sport. I found coffee flavoured chewing gum.  Right behind it was breakfast cereals - no Weetbix but there was VitaBrits and a few chinese derivatives. All the boxes are small. I guess most Chinese people don't eat 5 weet bix at a time.

I found some familiar brands - Tim Tams, Arnotts Shapes.

The fish and meat section were good - wide open areas with so much variety. It makes me wonder how Australia can be so surrounded by water, yet the Coles fish section is a mere booth and half the goods are frozen imports. The butcher chops cuts for you while you wait.

The fruit and vege section was amazing. Grandad pondered over mushrooms and I counted at least 8 kinds, all differing shapes. I saw tiny bananas that were slender and short, so cute. Huge apples. One apple was the size of a grapefruit. There was a kind of melon that was pale orange inside that I had never seen before, long shaped, pips like rockmelons.

With all the fresh produce, you bag it up then take it to a weighing station where they will tie it and slap a sticker on.

Cakes... such a good cake section. Local style, french style, hong kong style. A deli counter showed fresh noodles and buns (the sort you steam or grill).