Thursday, January 18, 2007

Part 3--NANJING

This is COLDEST area! The temperature can drop as long as negative 15 degreesC during winter. MY GOODNESS!
But lucky, the weather was considered as good when we reached there with the nice warm sun hanging in the sky.
And also, among the trips, Nanjing was where we had to wake up the EARLIEST! 7.30am we had to set off. We can only have our breakfast at 7am. So, I was like some mad people, swallowing my food. And faster rush back to hotel room to shit. This is not a good way to start a day!! I hadn't even absorbed my nutrients and I had to pass them out as shit. Haiz.

We woke up early, just to get to this place.
Nanjing Bridge.


It was bulit during Mao ZeDong times. And it was this bridge that brought glory to China. Because in olden times, it's hard to bulid a bridge and plus the water depth of the sea below the bridge is deep and China was not that developed. But during that time, China worked with one of the western country which I forgotten the name. Unfortunately due to some conflict, the western country stopeed working with China and the bridge was incomplete. Hence, China's supplies and equipments were being cut off. In order not to let others look down, the local people put their effort to donate what steel or metal they had in their home, be it pot, bowl, spoons. And they helped to bulid the bridge.
IT was real long bridge.

See! Even the model is long as well. See the tower at the most left? I was on it and that's where the photos were taken. And it's only one end. I can't even see the other end. Haha.

It was lucky that the weather was considerably ok. But still there were some fog. Otherwise the view would have be better. But still, there were times where there were some much fog that visitors couldn't even see anything. So, we are the heng ones. Haha
More pictures of the bridge





In that bridge, there's sort of an area where there's this master who did some painting, inside a crystal globe. It is not easy. There's one small opening in the globe where the master will place his painting brush, with a super THIN hook-like tip and paint images.

So, his brush will be inside the globe and paint from the inside. It's difficult as a slight mistake can't be done, as they will be magnifiy. I was seriously shocked and admire him for his art pieces. Those minor minor details are so perfectly done.


Beautiful work pieces.

Next is..

Old one of course. That's where Chiang kaishek's (Jiang Jie Shi) office was located. It was also the place where important government office took place. But that was old of course. But the settings in the room, reminded unchange. Don't know why, but I found it creepy somehow. Haha


The building. Hm...i know the trees are blocking. But that the only I can find in my cousin's folder.
Erm, I don't feel like posting pictures of the office. It's creepy to me ....


Lastly, we went to a place where they sold JADE.

I bought one pendant too. But not the one in the photo though..


TO BE CONTINUE again HAHA

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

After 408 hours, 24480 minutes and 1468800 seconds, there's a new post finally. So sorry, because recently I'm very hardworking, searching the internet on moving images regarding a girl in a boys' school. Too hardworking that I almost neglected my blog. I'm sincerely apologise for the delay. LOL!


Hence, I shall began the Part 2 of my Shanghai trip. Hopefully, my long-term memory is still in a proper condition. Otherwise, hm. I shall think of a way to add caption to my pictures. =D
A request from Neenee, she wants to see my faces on my blog. So, please pardon if you see any monsters.. Without further delay, I shall begin the show...

Ta-ta-da
SuZhou

In China, most of the tourists/historic sites are almost the same. Old houses and stuff that were posted in the previous post. But, no harm posting I think.
Well, the first stop at Suzhou, was a temple.


Those were taken outside the temple. Since it's a temple, I don't usually take pictures of Buddlha statue. It's a kind of disrespect. And initally, I don't intend to put my family photo, but~~ I'm lack of pictures! So I just put it. Hopefully none of them saw and start to nag at me. hehe.


I have to announcement that my long-term memory can't indicate the places I was. I only know it's some old mansion own by some rich people in the past.



Ah.. I remembered their garden had this mini mountain. In the olden days, in order to know whether you are rich, just see these rocks in the garden. The more the merrier. And those are NATURE rocks. Not man-made. Cool


And of course, I won't miss a chance to take photos with these rocks~


That's my cousin by the way. Those two heads hiding among the rocks.
-End of mansion trip-


That's the tower's name. If I'm not wrong, one ancient lady was being locked here. The tower is slanted because it was remained as it was serveral hundreds or thousands ago. In order to view the tower upclose, I put in all my effort to climb the hundreds stairs. Wearing all those thick clothes, I just feel that my weight became 60kg over. MY GOODNESS! I was gasping for air most of the time as I climbed up. MY stamina is real lousy.




There was a horse carriage. Luckily it didn't kick me. Seriously I didn't dare to go near. I just take from a distance and zoom in. HAha

I found some pictures of a night city in my cousin's picture folder. But I don't know was it at Suzhou or Nanjing our next stop. Because their shopping area at night, are always BUSTING with bright neon lighted signboards!! I just post it anyway..I never take any. Because I don't feel like taking, I feel so cold to move my hand. The tour guide keep reminding us to take good care of our belongings to remove theft or pickpocket, till I'm so worried that I always look out for any suspicion characters beside me. Hehe.




Anyone idolise F.I.R?

Other places we went but no photos taken were the Silk factory. Seeing the worms make my hair stand~ EEyerr..


TO BE CONTINUED

Monday, January 01, 2007

Ok. Now my NINE day trip to CHINA
The first thing when I reached Shanghai- Pu Dong International airport, the only thing I remembered, we needed to take a bus in the airport, from the plane to the airportr itself. At that time of around 6am+ in the morning, the temperature was only 2 degrees C. I was only wearing ONE warmer and ONE thin jacket.
That time point of time, I felt like singing 5566 "Leng Feng Guo Jing" and JJ "Dong Jie" [these two songs are the most dedicated songs in my mind during the China trip, otherwise, it's Ma Pi by Jones]

We then took this transport to somewhere where our tour bus was waiting. MY first attempt on the bullet train. Initially, I thought it was some normal MRT train we got, but I only realised when its speed zoomed to 200km/h, it's not a normal MRT train. It's A BULLET TRAIN.
This is the proof

SEE! It's so shaky even my picture went blurred. HAHA
The train even went slanted . My brother, cousin and me were like three mountain tortises that went "IT IS SLANTING!! OMG!!". I think the local people there thinks we are 3 crazy kids.
The trip is cool. But the price of the ticket of this train, is uncool. =.-

We went to different areas of China [in order]; Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi and lastly of course Shanghai
Going with tour groups, we went to those old sites like old houses/villages in the past few hundred years. Those we also saw on ancient TV dramas. The wooden furnitures are in perfect condition after 600 years. Strong wood man!
The first one we went was


One thing I love such places was the scenery. OMG. It was spectacular! It was something we can't see in Singapore. SO loving. I could immediately get my director chair, and sit at there and start some filming. Something like Winter Sonata. [It's fits! Since it was winter at there!]


That was part of the TREES scenery in Wu Zhen. Very 'Winter Sonata' hor?

The other part of the scenery in Wu Zhen was the houses. It was like some ancient wuxia drama that had happened in there. Quite cool.




Imagine I jump from roof to roof WUHA!


I was here!


Next stop... HangZhou
As the tour guide said, Xi Hu is a lake wheere many love stories from the past had taken place. Bai SuZhen and many, which I forget. There is also the pagoda that captured Bai SuZhen. Hm... And of course, the scenery was BEAUTIFUL. We toured around the lake in an enclosed boat.

I never failed to miss a photoshoot. HAHA [inside the boat]

A roughly tour of the lake. Don't ask me about the history and stuff. Seriously, I forget everything. I only remember that one of the island on the lake, QianLong if I'm not wrong, always visit there to drink tea. Ai ya, people enjoying the scenery what. Haha




The hills around the lake make the whole atmosphere at the lake beautiful. Like what the tour guide said, the peak of the hills look gentle, because they aren't too high up or low. Just perfect.


Now the garden near the lake. As it was winter, most of the trees and flowers had wither. OH WELL.
Not much flowers except for the strong ones that survived in winter =D




Yue Fei Temple--where Yue Fei was being buried
I didn't take much, only the entrance, since it's his grave. I feel that we should respect. Don't take better. But my cousin got and take. =.- So when I was browsing his photos, 3 droplets fall from my head.


[Above picture: credits goes to my cousin]


Mei Tea Plantation
It is actually a so-called village where most of the Mei people lived in here. Their lving are to grow and cultivate tea.
Due to time constraint, I only took one photo of one part of the scenery.

And there, we are introduced the different types of tea leaves, plucked from different season and time. The best will be 'Gu Liang Cha'. Next shall be 'Xi Fur Char'. Lastly, 'Po Po Cha'. And they don't say 'drink tea', instead it is 'eat' tea (Chi Cha). Because based on what the staff says, eating the tea leaves after you drink the tea, you will absorb more nutrition in your body. So, as the person explain, I just take the tea leaves from my cup and place it in my mouth. Haha

[Above picture: Credit goes to my cousin]


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WARNING: YOU MIGHT FEEL UNEASY. HENCE AVOID EATING BEFORE YOU SCOLL DOWN.
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Ah. Hangzhou has this well-known dish called 'Dong Bo Rou' [Dong Bo Meat]. It's a dish to remember this person called Su Dong Bo.

Eat the skin first. Then the fat. And lastly, the meat. Everyone has their individual portion. And when I got mine, I nearly faint and yell for help! LOOK AT THE GRAVY! IT HAS ONE LAYER OF OIL! Oh my gosh!
But to respect their traditions, I forced myself to eat but separating the fat, and placed it in my mouth with some rice. And I bite once and swallow the whole thing down my throat, then eat the meat. After that, I immediately drink half a cup of tea. SINFUL!



To be continued...