Monday, August 25, 2008
Hangzhou Tour
Last weekend, 7 of us went Hangzhou. We have Wing Hong, Zhan Wei, Mei Sin, Sze Sheng, Tee Wee fr eee and Pei Zhi fr mae, and of course me! It was dreadful to wake up at 5am to catch the train. It was so tiring! But at least we enjoyed the cooling weather in the morning in Shanghai after weeks of HEAT.
We booked a one day tour. We were brought to places like 西湖, 岳坟, 宋城, 飞来峰. It was tiring to follow tour as we could not walk slowly. But at least it is cheaper than we tour ourselves. Hangzhou is more beautiful than Suzhou, it is a place that I might visit again!
Taking a boat at West Lake. It was raining, and the wind was very strong.The following pictures were taken at 宋城
Group photo
Hum sup lo... haha
2 gays at Locks of Love
eh... got one panda among the bamboos
2 crazy guys! 
Final group photo with the tour guide
Rainy Monday
I was dreaming that I am going to sleep. The next second, my alarm rang. OMG! I'm super damn tired lah. Then I looked at the sky, it was very dark and it had already started to rain. What a nice day to sleep!
Out of the house and down at the pavement, I almost wanted to faint. The water level was around ankle length high. Okay, nvm, carry on walking. The water level was much higher at some areas. HAIZ. My whole skirt was wet! I really feel so 狼狈.
Usually my shuttle bus will leave the carpark at 8.20am. Looking at my watch telling 8.30am, I decided to take cab. While waiting, my hp rang. I was so happy! Cos the driver called me. haha. He called me as he thought I couldn't find his bus, as he did not park at the usual place due to high water level in the carpark. I sprinted to the designated area not caring much about my 形象. I really hope nobody I knew saw me. haha
The traffic was very bad, as the water level is a little high and everybody was going slowly. I reached the office at 9.15am. I should reach at 8.40am usually. I thought I was very late, but my colleague was worse. Her shuttle bus reached at 10.30am. Wah! Shanghai should improve their drainage ASAP. Buay ta han! haha
Just an hour of rain, the water level rises to this height!
Water splashing while the bus was travelling
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
One Month in Shanghai
Woah! Time really flies. I'm in Shanghai for 4 weeks already. It is so fun! Cooking, going out during weekends, playing mahjong, gossiping, blah blah... I'm not missing home yet. haha
I think I'm quite fortunate to work in Givaudan. I'm always the last to leave home, but the first to reach home. Lunch is free there and the food is great (although I had food poisoning after my first lunch there). There's shuttle bus to the company and back, and the bus journey is only 10 minutes. Colleagues there are very nice and friendly, but you must initiate conversation with them; it's their culture for them to talk to you after you talk to them. But once you talk to them, they will chat a lot with you. One very difficult thing is that some of them have Shanghainese accent, so I can't understand them. haha. I usually just guess (wrongly) what they said and just reply (wrongly). ahaha. This Friday I will have lunch alone. Sad. My boss went back to France for 3 months, another intern went back to France also due to visa problems, the Chinese colleague will be having some test. Whole lab to myself, I shall just close the door and listen to music and read storybook bah. lol.
My roommates are great! They care for me, they are cooperative, they always make me laugh... they are so fun! Sometimes we will quarrel, but it will be fine after a few hours. This weekend, we will be going Hangzhou. Sooo looking forward to it! hee. I just love scenic places! Alrighty, it is 10 plus now and it is time to have my beauty sleep. =)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Suzhou Day 2
It's now Saturday morning, and the others are still sleeping soundly. Thats when I have smooth access to the Internet. haha. I shall continue to blog on the Suzhou trip.
On the second day in Suzhou, we went to 盘门. It is a beautiful place with greeneries, ponds, old building structure with regards to war time. It was relaxing to walk there with no tour guide restricting your time, walking aimlessly, exploring new areas.
After touring 盘门, we had our lunch at a pasta restaurant. The food there was cheap and the taste was good considering the cheap price.
Seafood pasta which cost 24rmb. Pa mal!
After that, we didn't know where to go, so we went to the train station and rot there.
The return train ticket cost 11rmb. It is really different from the train, which cost us 26rmb, we took to reach Suzhou. It was so squeezy and the seats were quite old. 所谓一分钱一分货。We didnt even take photos in the train, it is something that we want to erase from our memory. haha. Alrity, thats all for now!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Suzhou trip
Actually I had written this blog on Sunday but the stupid Internet connection here is ... haiz. Suzhou is a scenic kind of place, so for people who like to shop only, it's not recommended.
Off to Suzhou!
When we reached Suzhou train station, there were a few aunties who approach us and we took a one day tour. The tour package includes going to 狮子林，北寺塔，水上游 and 枫桥。
G
uess where am I?
These guys always wear white tops
These guys not in white are from other courses. haha
At one of the pavillions at 狮子林
After 狮子林, the tour guide brought us to 北寺塔. It was raining there so I didnt manage to take a lot of pictures. In 北寺塔, there are a lot of statues of buddhas, but we cannot take pictures of them. The guide there brought us to a room whereby a monk 念经 and we said our wishes, mainly is for the health of my family. haha
北寺塔
Next, off to 水上游. It was a 20min boat ride to 枫桥。Not much scenary to see, but it is the most expensive fee amongst the rest of the attractions area. Shrugs.
The guys were tired. lousy!
The show was boring!
Some famous poet. Dont ask me who. haha
At night we went to eat steamboat at 要德。A lof of beef in the menu. As I can't eat beef, the rest didn't get a chance to eat. hee. We ordered 40 馒头. It is quite small and fried and there's condensed milk to dip. Super nice!
Super full after the dinner
At 山塘街
I think I shall blog till here. Day 2 in Suzhou will be blogged in another day.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Weekend updates
Last Saturday, the 5 of us who are staying together went to Xu Jia Hui to shop around. We had lunch at a somewhat Macau style cafe. There are quite a few shopping centres. However, I feel that it is quite expensive to shop there, so we decided to go to Shanghai stadium to buy tickets to watch olympics football. It cost me 200rmb, a little expensive but I guess the experience will be wonderful!
Zhan Wei, me and Wing Hong
Mei Sin and Sze Sheng
Outside the Shanghai Stadium
Bought tickets!
On Sunday, the WH, ZW and I went 大拇指广场. We had lunch at Sakae Sushi. A little disappointed as the green tea is some cheapo tea bag. Sushi is of course not as great as in Singapore, but well, it is cheaper. We walked past an art museum which happened to have a talk by a 艺术家名叫朱朱。This art museum is about Nanjing bridge. I don't know the history behind it so I don't really catch what he was saying. haha. It seems that a lot of people in the past chose that place to commit suicide. shrugs.
Pictures taken in the art gallery
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Friday after Work
Yesterday after work, Wing Hong, Zhan Wei, Jason and I went to 正大广场at 陆家嘴 station. It was peak period when Wing Hong and I took the train. It was a horrible experience for me! The train was fully packed with people. At least in Singapore, when the train is full, people will wait for the next train, but in Shanghai, nobody cares if the train is already full, they will just pushed all the way in. The worst part is not the entering part, but leaving the train. When the train door opened at 陆家嘴 station, people from outside are squeezing their way into the train as if there's no next train. I had to fight my way out of the door and when I heard the signal that the train door is closing, I almost wanted to faint. I'm halfway out of the door only, but I was not able to move anymore. Luckily, I managed to get out of the train with my hands and arms turned red because of the pushing. I was so fed-up! But well, I need to know that this is China.
We had our dinner at 必胜客, are you able to guess which restaurant is it? Check it out from the pictures below. =)
Viola! It's Pizza Hut.
The total bill was only 146rmb, which I think it's quite cheap. Haha
After dinner, we went to a shop selling puzzles. I bought a round puzzle which is related to Jimmy's story. It costs 108rmb, a little expensive but I really love it!
Thats all for now! Friends and family, take care!
Taking a boat at West Lake. It was raining, and the wind was very strong.
At West Lake
Off to Suzhou!
These guys always wear white tops 
Mei Sin and Sze Sheng
Outside the Shanghai Stadium
Bought tickets!
