'stead of stickin around the tv tonite, i shall embark on posting here, some of the hi-lites to my Shanghai trip (and of coz, Hangzhou and Suzhou too)... somehow, Shanghai sounds and in fact, is more captivating than the other 2 chinese cities...
1
as mesmerized as i was with these relic-ish cities, with their marvellous 'before-time' water villages, rock forts, and quaint stone bridges over slow running canals, there was really one point where i told myself, that i would never return to China again... =P
Gasp! Gasp! why so? why so you may ask?
1
well, the cities were quaint and slow alrite... in fact, Suzhou is famed for it's slow paced lifestyle, very minimal divorce rate, and the best place to retire to a lifestyle waking up everyday to fresh air and clear lakes.. almost like what you'll see from an old chinese painting.
1
but still, along our visits to the many scenic spots around Hangzhou's West Lake, there were also, many.. Many.. Chinese nationals visiting the same spots.
some things never change, people and their culture, and it all gets WORSE when they turn up in Huge numbers.
1
debunking China #1:
the toilets are really Not that bad... i mean, somewhat different from what we have locally, but still, they are way more acceptable than what i've heard from horror stories of how travellers to China are advised to bring along large brollies, to shield your modesty when relieving yourselves at the public toilets. Yes. they used to have No Doors!.. Serious!!
well, of course, now that Hangzhou has been touted as the most scenic of China and the most visited place of all China, they have to of course, maintain that their now spanking toilets are the pride of their city.
BUT STILL, when they turn up in full force, hell hath no fury like the chinese do. they are famed for their large numbers. and you could just imagine what it's like inside a Public Toilet. 'nuff said i think.
1
now let's just (like what i tried to do in the first place), enjoy some of the highlights of the trip. things i find a little ironic, some scenic, some awe-inspiring... and some, sheer de-stressing. here goes:
some pre-China pics first (still energetic & full of zest~!!)
waiting for our flight... (@ Mary Brown, LCCT)
Left: Boarding the AirBus... Right: Lunch at Hangzhou Airport..
road-trips. loads and loads of road trips. seen here, we were heading from Hangzhou towards Shanghai.. 
the setting sun ~ @ Hangzhou Bay Bridge..
Shanghai's morning sun ~ view from our room @ Hua Yi Hotel
~behold: Shanghai's super highways...
~ view of the Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower, from across the Bund (Waitan) ~
arriving at Nanjing Rd. ~Shanghai's premier shopping street...
debunking China #2:
we were told by our tour guide Xiao Sao, the chinese govt. does not encourage trades of international brands. hence, all 'branded' brands are of course, way much more expensive here in China, when everything Else screams cheap!!
Shanghai's famed Yu Gardens (Yu Yuan).. before you get to step into the ancient gardens, you'll be greeted with a very lively bazaar, selling all kinds of local foodies, from pingtang-wulou, to skewered soft shell crabs, Stinky Tofu (i grew to love 'em here!!~) and of course, Xiao Long Pao~!!
this is the garden.. just like what we see from all those wuxia pictures and movies...
this is Xiao Sao, our lanky Hangzhou-based tour guide... Nice chap that fella~!
@ somewhere off the beaten track.. Truth is, halfway through the tour, I just couldn’t be bothered where we were at all!
But this, this I could never forget. This is WuZhen… the water village of yesteryears…
Words cannot describe the mood here in this old town. Yes, it’s still inhabited but onli by old villagers and of course, throngs of tourists!
The most memorable of all nights, this one where we had our own sweet time delighting in some skewered bbq meat and veges by the roadside near our hotel in Hangzhou, the Jiangfeng Hotel… simply yummylicious…!~
so, would i still go visit China again? hmmm.... only Time will tell...
No comments:
Post a Comment
scribble, dribble, drool... it's free!