First day of school

Omg! It's first day of school today. And the weather wasn't so welcoming. Rose to an early morning of chilly weather, dipping below 10 degrees celsius compared to over 20 degrees celsius yesterday.

Learned about Chinese history and culture. Initially it was okay. Subsequently it put me on "zZZ" mode. When I turned around, wl had already fallen asleep so I had to wake her up haha.

Went guan qian street for dinner. Had mei cai kou rou rice.

School again tomorrow.

Spring time

Since sunday night I have been wearing only a long trousers to sleep. And it was the first time I got to wear slipper to a nearby mall. No longer need to waste time wearing my forever tight thermal wear.

Weather now is slightly colder than Genting Highlands? Woke up this morning to find myself shrouded in fog.

18 d.c.? This is so pleasant

Bus stop at my apartment

On my way to work

Work is so stressful that I don't know where to start from.

In the end I trim my finger and toe nails

Boss gave me a new assignment, which is to publish a catalogue book that will include all our product and destination information from Asia all the way to America. I can die a slow death alone now!

Going for dinner and movie later.

Japan in February 2010

Nagoya's famous kishimen, or handmade flat noodle

Nagoya's ferris wheel; I want to take all the wheels possible in Japan~ taken Tokyo's Odaiba, Yokohama, now Nagoya and where's next?

Nagoya TV Tower

Me in Yukata

Nijo Castle in Kyoto
Sakura in bloom

Kyoto Tower

Kiyomizu Temple

Hakone

View of owakudani valley from the ropeway

Hotel Green Plaza hotspring in Hakone

Tokyo Tower

Night view from Tokyo Metropolitan Building

Tokyoites also study in cafes just like in Singapore, but the differences are that they need blanket to cover up their legs and they can smoke cigarettes and study at the same time.

Back home

Back home and felt super tired!

I miss the hotspring in Hakone Hotel Green Plaza. Was soaking in the outdoor while it started to snow.

Went Ueno's Ameyoko or flea market yesterday, had strawberry and vanilla ice cream in Tully's Coffee in Hamamatsucho before going to see Tokyo Tower. Dinner (チヤーハン or fried rice, vegetables with pig's liver, beansprouts and 锅贴. Had grapefruit juice in a bar before returning to hotel at about 10pm plus.

Woke up this morning at 4.45am; checked out of hotel at 5.30; Narita Express to Narita Terminal 1 was at 6am. Had a weak stomach this morning but got in time to the toilet upon reaching the airport.

Reached Shanghai at 11am plus. Took long distance bus back to suzhou at 1210. Reached home only at about 3pm. While in Singapore I just need 15 mins to get home.

Went to collect my laundry and had early dinner of kimchi fried rice which tasted like #$%!.

Back to work tomorrow!

Kyoto now

Reached tokyo 2 days ago and was glad to have warmer weather compared to suzhou. Went akihabara, shibuya and back to Ikebukuro. While walking along the shopping street in Ikebukuro, rain turned into snow flakes and I was kinda reluctant to return back to Sakura Hotel for the night.

Went Nagoya by shinkansen the next day; took the ferris wheel at Nagoya port this time round. Still I felt Yokohama Port was more spectacular. Nagoya is like a dead town. Had dinner at Sakae district, which later turned out to be a red-light district to my dismay. Ate kishimen (hand-made flat noodles) in which Nagoya is famous for.

Took shinkansen this morning to Kyoto, checked-into Matsubaya Inn which is Japanese-style room. Went to Kiyomizu Temple by bus 206. It was full of people, unlike the last time I visited in 2008 April, which was as though I chartered the whole area for private function.

Was lucky enough this time round to see sakura tree blossoming while in Nijo Castle. As well as plum trees which was in full season just about a week ago.

Had dinner at Gion Oishinbo in Hanami-koji. Toufu nabe (hotpot), some french loaves where you dip in a sauce, sushi, sashimi, salad maki etc... Hanami-koji is a district famous for geisha. Was lucky enough to spot 3 geishas walking past, although I wasnt quick enough to snap a close-up view of the geishas.

Tomorrow going Hakone for outdoor hotspring bath, overlooking Mount Fuji. Getting bare in winter is a challenge, but after soaking for 10 mins should daijyo-bu!

Cant post my pic now because I am using a pc station from the inn. Shall post when I get home.

Solo CNY

Spent the CNY alone in Nanjing on sat 13 feb 2010 for a night.

CNY in China is a big affair. Firecrackers were let off round-the-clock (yes I mean nonstop!) on the night of the eve of CNY. Even in my sleep I could hear it. Initially I found it exciting, but after a while, I am glad that Singapore has banned firecrackers. Why do I say so? Because while walking on the street, firecrackers were let off it all direction, and if you aren't careful, it's gonna be like the "Bali bomb" incident. I mean no joke! I have to be on high alert everywhere I go, and it was super tiring can!

The first time when I heard the sound of firecrackers 2 weeks ago, I thought it was some sort of gun fire. My colleagues had a good laugh when I spoke about it.

Anyway I went to the Sun Yat Sen's Mausoleum (中山陵) had a good climb of 300 over steps to the top which commanded a good view of the city of Nanjing.

Then I went to the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall (南京抗日军同胞大屠杀纪念馆), with lots of pics displaying the brutal act of the Japanese soldiers during the Japanese Occupation. Nanjing fell under the hands of the Japanese on 13 November 1937, the day after Shanghai was occupied. The Japanese soldiers went on to raping young girls and even old women were not let off (I agree that some people have a fetish for old women?) Haha! This incident became what is now known as the Rape of Nanjing. I have read a novel written by Iris Chang titled the Rape of Nanjing. Very heart-breaking. Over 300,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed.

Is there still a very strong anti-Japanese sentiment in China? A fellow hostelite who shared the same dorm as me told me he was very anti-Japanese, such that he did not take up Japanese language during university. But he confessed that he was contradictory, in the sense that he only buy Japanese-brand camera.

One colleague of mine dislike the Japanese people, but told me he has completed Japanese language (elementary level) during university days and requested me to help him buy a Citizens' watch.

Another colleague of mine is Korean-Japanese crazed! Because she's after Japanese cosmetics and sundries' products.

What about my own observation over the years? I still remember there aren't any Japanese outlets in Shanghai about 10 years ago, let alone Suzhou. Now, you can even find Muji and Uniqlo in Suzhou.

What about my own views? Forgive but not forget. We shall never forget about history, and to treat history as learning lessons. The past, if not remembered at present, will repeat in the future. Nevertheless we have to forgive because:-

1) I enjoy learning Japanese language (OMG! HAHA!! It's so much fun compared to learning Chinese language)
2) Of the need to facilitate international trade

But then again, I was told by a Chinese that every where there are good and bad people. Same for Japan and same for China.

Mentality of the Chinese nationals is gradually changing as China becomes one of the fastest growing countries in the world. Thus, my next stop was the Yangtze River Bridge, which is testimony to China's engineering marvel. Had a torturous climb up to the top of the bridge, with steep stairs that left my legs wobbling. I was the only one there, during that eerie night! Kept worrying what will happen if I see ghost. Kula even told me the night before I came to Nanjing that I have to be very careful because of the victimisation of countless number of civilians during the gangrape by the Japanese soldiers!

Reached back to my hostel (Jasmine Youth Hostel) at about 10 plus. McDonald's saved my life during that night because most of the food outlets were closed on the eve of CNY.

Woke up the next day to see that the whole of Jiangsu Province (Suzhou included) was snowing... I had a more "Christmas-sy" mood rather than a CNY mood! I was even humming Christmas songs LOL! On the first day of Christmas my mother gave to me... lalalalahhhhh

McDonald's saved my life the second time as I had the most important meal of the day - breakfast! Of hotcakes and sausage.

Returned to Suzhou thereafter. And saw my apartment was blanketed with snow. Elated!

Today (15 Feb 2010) I moved to Shanghai for a night. Almost missed my train because there wasn't any taxi in sight. Rained in Shanghai, so I just went for dinner at a cantonese restaurant and bought some snacks back.

Stoned

Today was feeling extremely stoned. Did not sleep well the last night again due to the cold weather and because my stomach was feeling uncomfortable. Woke up at 7 plus, did laundry and surfed the net before napping at 10 plus till noon.

I am getting very fed up with the washing machine because no matter how I wash, the shirts are always sticked with bits and pieces of tissue-like substance.

Went to the laundry shop to get my bedsheet washed, before heading for guan qian street with ken and wl.

Went to a bookshop and I was amused at the thought of looking for japanese language book instead of learning how to speak and write better Chinese language when I am in China!

Wl, on the other hand, was so engrossed in finding her French book. She wanted to go France for exchange, while I badly wanted to go Tokyo, but the high expenses put me off.

Bought this for only 36 rmb

Yesterday before knocking off, there came 2 boxes of lanterns with LED light from taiwan tourism board. Very cute tiger, so I took 10 packets home. In each packet there is a guide sheet to enable us to assemble it ourselves...

Year of Tiger

Oh! Sis told me the coming Tiger year is WHITE tiger, which is bad because it is "beh hor!" So must wear black underwear~~

Boss' 500 rmb ang bao allowed me to buy a new pair of shoes to replace my worn out Zara white shoes which I have worn for 2 years? This new pair of Kappa costs me 438 rmb and I hope it will last me for another 2 year; bought a black one this time because China road is really dirty

Steamboat dinner with my colleagues 小杨 and 小张, which was very nice but left my stomach feelin uncomfortable due to the mutton, which I seldom eat, and which now explain why I had a bad sleep last night

Shall sleep soon.

Persistently cold

At 3pm, 1 degree celsius... on the heater in the room also don't feel any warmer.

Headache. All colleagues slacking at work. In the mood for CNY already. Going guan qian street for shopping and dinner with my two colleagues after work. Hurray ~

Bad weather is killing me

2 days back it was 20 degrees celsius such that I don't need to wear any coat on the street.

Yesterday it began to turn slightly colder again, at 10 degrees celsius.

This morning when I woke up, weather dipped to zero and it was raining with snow and ice.

Today is thursday and weekend is coming soon!

Going to have a one-week off during the Chinese New Year.

Finally I can sleep in and recover the many nights of lost sleep due to cold weather. If this weather persists, I will fall sick soon.

Hangover

Yesterday had reunion dinner (年夜饭) with colleagues at a restaurant known as 明星粗菜馆 in 绿宝广场 which was an hour's bus ride from my apartment.

On bus 307

This shopping mall looks like Amsterdam to me, except for the "La Piazza" signboard which is Italian? And also the Chinese signboard which is obviously China

Ma colleagues, both of whom were drunk towards the end of the dinner

This coconut milk and a big bottle of orange kept me from being drunk, even though I've never drank so much red wine in the whole of my life before

When 小龚said that I could hold my liqour well, I could only say that for every glass of red wine I gulped down, I will take a glass of orange juice to hydrate myself... And of course, back in sg dr gave me quite a number of red wine training sessions?

This dinner has exposed me to the Chinese (in China) culture. Everyone will take turn to toast to each other. It's either 随意, which means you can just take a sip of the wine; but most of the time, they prefer to 干掉, which means you must drink all! I then recall an article that I read which said that once you take the first glass, there'll always be second and more to come. Thus, in order to not get drunk, the guest must not touch the glass wine at all from the start, & to firmly give a reason such as "I have sore throat."

This is the Sg curry crab; boss asked me to taste first if this is similar to Sg's recipe... I could only say this taste even better than the chilli crab I had back home.

Went KTV and I sang 2 songs (yang cong by yang zhong wei, & another oldie song requested by a colleague called "Nothing's gonna change my love for you") before I left home.

Can't sleep well due to the alcohol effect, which left me feeling extremely stoned.

Woke up this morning and I thought I was in Genting Highlands

My target is to sleep at 2130 tonight in order to make up for my poor sleep last night. Hoo hoo~

Hangzhou

Omg today I woke up earlier than normal work day, at 0530. Went on a tour to Hangzhou, which is a 2-hr bus ride from Suzhou. Slept throughout the journey, reluctant to wake up even upon reaching West Lake (西湖).

There's a saying which goes like this: "上有天堂，下有苏杭," which means that "just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." Indeed both cities are very beautiful, but I still like Suzhou more... Although people say these two cities are where China's most beautiful women come from, I could say Singapore has more pretty women. One friend told me it was only a legend. Another friend told me over the years the pretty ones did not get married and only the ugly ones got married, thus giving birth to ugly babies. And yet another friend told me pretty ones went to big city Shanghai to look for job.

Anyway I've been to Hangzhou once in 2001 with mum, and I am back here for one purpose: to buy longjing tea. Haha. It is very tasty, in fact, we call it 吃茶(eat tea) instead of 喝茶 (drink tea) because the tea leaves are usually eaten instead of throwing away.

Bought only one small bottle, top grade longjing tea leaves, because it was very expensive at 75 rmb per bottle.

West Lake

Big tea pot

Ox is both my zodiac and horoscope; 牛上加牛

And oh, my shoes were wrapped with 鞋套 because it was raining lions and tigers, instead of cats and dogs this time round; nevertheless, rainwater still seeped into my shoes and I wondered why. Only when I reached home did I then realise that my shoes now have a MOUTH! There's a hole now! My shoes can now really talk =(


Fengshui Caves; which almost cheated us of paying for a boat ride at 25 yuan, to buy a torchlight for 10 yuan; fortunately this time round I am not to be swayed

Tram ride which was included in the admission fee

Took this photo and when I took a closer look, I realised my shoes were extremely "tak glam"

I was reminded of my trip to jiuzhaigou 九寨沟 in 2006, where I could see the bed of the lake, even though it was 9 metres deep; the water at jiuzhaigou was really crystal clear... It really lift up to its reputation of “黄山归来不看山，九寨归来不看水." I shall make a trip to Huangshan come May, maybe


Incessant rain, which is called 春雨, a rainy season as we enter the spring season; although for now, it is still 春如冬寒

Our dinner at home

Am now having stomachache because I drank 1 glass of fresh milk plus 1 cup of green tea with fresh lemon squeezed into it... must detoxify myself...

Sexual harrassment

Yesterday after work I went to a massage parlour, wanting to have a relaxing foot reflexology session.

I was brought to a room, which I didn't even realise that usually for clean massage parlours, they ought to be in full view of the public. So the masseur closed the door, and kept asking me why not have a full body massage. I thought it was only a recommendation. But as she massaged my neck, she brushed her "that one" on my holy shoulder! I felt very scared.

So I quickly sent an sms to woonling, who then called me to my rescue and talked to me on the phone.

Suddenly I asked myself why foot reflexology must close the door!

When I told the masseur I wanted to have merely foot massage and continued chatting on the phone with woonling, I tell you, her face totally turned very black, which I felt like giving one tight kick~

So scary to be harrassed! I really thank Goddess of Mercy that I could come out in one piece.

Mid-week

This week is so fast. Already wednesday. Yesterday my colleague gave me a big pack of water chestnut. I peel off one water chestnut to eat, but almost puked. Am not used to eating water chestnut, so I boiled them to drink instead. Cooling indeed.

Today's weather turned super cold. Initially wanted to go guan qian shopping street 观前街，but decided not to cos I did not wear thick enough. Reached home and my whole body felt numbed. So frightening.

Ate instant pack of 梅菜扣肉饭which was veri nice but expensive. About 1.70 sgd. China is getting really expensive these days. Did some laundry after that. So dreadful.

Going to sleep soon.