再见 Kunming, China - 28/12/2006

Wow...don't you think it's fast...it's our last day in Yunnan....the end of our holiday!!!

We started off our day by visiting the silk factory. We were shown the process for making a silk cloth...after that it's free and easy shopping at their shop...they sell very nice silk bedsheet set, blanket, pillow and some silk bags and clothes...there was also a fashion show specially shown for tourists at the shop.This shop tailormade clothing wore by the leaders of other countries during ASEAN Submit meeting in Yunnan, can't remember which year liao...

After shopping for silk, now shop for flowers....our tour guide took us to the Flower Trade Market where there's a lot of fresh and dried flowers being sold....I bought quite a lot of potpourries as gifts to my friends back in Singapore...

That's our last stop in Kunming, Yunnan...we rushed to the airport to catched our flight back to Singapore....took a quick lunch at the airport and straight board the plane....Bye Bye Yunnan....It's nice to spend our holiday in Yunnan, we had lots of fun and good time...once again a big thank you to our boss...cos without him I don't think I'll go Yunnan for holiday...hope to visit Yunnan again one day....Singapore, We are coming back!!!!!

Kunming, China - 27/12/2006

NATURE'S DAY/FARMER'S DAY

27/12, our Nature's Day or should I say Farmer's Day cos we will be going to strawberry farm and nursery....we went to a "Forget Me Not" nursery........WOW... so many nice flowers, each of us can cut 5 stalks of "Forget Me Not" from the nursery...will take back to Sg to make dry flowers....

We took a short drive to Strawberry farm to pluck strawberries and each of us are given a bucket to fill in....YUMMY...fresh, juicy and delicous strawberries....we were told not to pluck those too ripe cos by the time we bring back to Sg, it may turn to be strawberry jam liao...haha....

After a good "work out" on gardening...heehee...we went for good lunch and after that we went SHOPPING...did I say "SHOPPING"...YIPEE!!!!. Was told by Vivian, our tour guide that, most of the major shopping complexes in Kunming is located at this street. They have Carrefour, a large bookstore, 1 big local shopping complex (can't remember the name liao), electronics shops and many local shops...it's the place where you can find almost everything there....too bad it's winter time, so all the clothing sold are winter clothing...We spend our whole afternoon there...as usual JW will go to bookshop cos that his favourite hangout place...anyway all the books are in Chinese so he didn't stay too long there...most of us went to Carrefour to shop....not bad, certain things are quite cheap and good...heehee...you won't want to know what I bought in Carrefour....it's ladies' things...was told by friends that it's cheap and good there...so I bought a lot lor...

We then walk to a restaurant to meet my boss for dinner...this will be the last dinner in Kunming...at the restaurant we saw two newly-wed couple having their banquet there....poor bride have to wear thick jacket on her gown cos she has to stand out side to welcome her guests....it's freezing cold in the evening and at night...by the time we finished our dinner, they are still standing there...so poor thing...better dun get married in China during winter time...

After dinner, we went back to the hotel where we 1st stayed in Kunming...YEAH... there's Wal-Mart next to this hotel...which means I can shop again...I did quite a lot of last minute shopping at Wal-Mart. I bought a pair of jeans, bought some clothes and toys for my dear son RJ, bought quite a few reusable heat pad and some local products as gift....after shopping JW and I went to KFC for supper before going back to hotel...since I buy so many things liao I have quite a lot of repacking to do...Once all done, Fanny, Yvonne and myself gathered at Yan Yi's room to chat for awhile then back to room cos it's bedtime liao....Goodnite Kunming!!!!

Shangrila-Kunming-Jiuxiang, China, 26/12/2006

RING.....Phone ring again....Wake up call...it's time to wake up and go to the airport again...aiyoh we didn't even get to see daylight in Shangrila....by the time we reach Shangrila it's already dark then before sunrise, we have to go to airport liao....we will be flying to Kunming from Shangrila....

Oh...come to think of it, we did see daylight in Shangrila...ya from the airport...cos we were stuck there for 2 hours.....our flight delayed for 2 hrs due to bad weather in Kunming...again bad weather in Kunming....sianz ah....we were stuck in the airport, so cold, so bored...how we wish that we can go out and kai kai....end up we did our shopping at the airport lor...I bought 2 earrings at good reasonable price, all thanks to Alice (Francis's wife)...she is GOOD in bargaining price...

Finally our flight took off...Kunming... we are back....remember the first day I reach Kunming, I lost my luggage....yeah my luggage finally arrived at Kunming airport....JW will be getting his clothes liao....

Due to the delay, we have to rush all our itinerary....we had lunch and somehow the lunch was fantastically delicious...probably after eating lousy food in Shangrila...I think I ate about 1.5 bowls of rice....

After lunch we took quite a long drive to Stone Forest. Stone Forest is a massive collection of gray limestone pillars, spilt by rainwater and eroded to their present fanciful forms. We took many beautiful photos there...

We then proceed to Jiuxiang caves...wow...amazing cave...our "Ah Shi Ma" told us that Jackie Chan filmed the movie " The Myth" in this cave...too bad we can't take too many pictures there cos it's very dark, even with lighting doesn't help much....we took a long walk to finished all 3 caves.

We still have to take quite a long drive to the hotel and have our dinner there....we had the famous Kunming Cross-bridge noodle, Yiliang Roast Duck...The hotel is located at quite an "ulu" place, no shopping at night....sianz...some of them went for hairwash, some called for massage...i called for massage but they were late, so I decided not to take up the massage and go to bed and sleep....better catch my beauty sleep cos I'm lacking of it during this trip...

Lijiang - Shangrila, China 25/12/2006

We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!! Jesus is born on Christmas day!!!

Today another tiring day cos we will be on the road most of the time...the whole journey from Lijiang to Shangrila is about 6 hours....aiyoh, sit till buttock pain leh!!!

Our 1st stop is at the 1st Bend of Yangtze River...nothing much to see lah...just a BEND lor...but it seems that according to history, this is a very important "bend"....we then drove another 1.5hours to Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is located between the famous Ha-Ba snowy mountain & Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and see the surging rapidly striking the riverbank. It's indeed a long walk...there's sedan there to take people up but most of us choose to take a walk...

We then pick up our "Zou Ma", our tour guide from Shangrila and proceed for lunch...lunch was no good...the place was so dirty, the food not too our taste, anyway we just grab a bit cos we will have a long journey on the bus....

OH>>>NO>>>>there was an accident, a van overturned...from the picture you can see our young reporter reporting the accident (hehee...that's Fanny's daughter, Michelle)...Our bus is too big to pass through...HAIZ....so we were stucked there till the local police come and settle this situation....many of us went down to see the accident but when the local almost fight, we quickly went back to the bus....we wasted almost 1.5-2 hrs there....

Because of this delay, we end up reaching Shangrila late....once we cleared through the jam, we told our "Zuo Ma" that we need to "sing song" (pass urine lah)....so they stop us somewhere by the road, quite "ulu" toilet...or should I say "local" toilet....NO DOORS...just a drain...a few of us quite uneasy using this toilet

On the way to Shangrila, the scenery was so nice, it's indeed "THE LOST HORIZON"....superb scenery....by the time we reach Shangrila, it was very dark liao and we went for dinner....since it's Christmas day, Chua Pin is so generous to sponsor us with a camp fire dinner at a tibetian family's home with roast lamb, roast suckling pig and roast chicken...due to some miscommunication, the first home was quite unpleasant...we left quite fast. "Zuo Ma" felt real bad and faster arrange another home for us to visit...the second one was good....the roast meat was so so but the performance was good....we had an enjoyable time there....we also join in and dance with the tibetian...

When we reach hotel, "Zuo Ma" advise us not to bath cos we won't want to catch a cold from Shangrila...me being very kiasi and obedient, followed the instruction....the heater in the room turned off around 2am....so I covered myself with blanket as many layer as I can....

Actually JW and I planned to meet Pastor Daniel's family n Sammy's family but too bad, we didn't manage to contact them...probably it's God's will....will have to visit Pastor Daniel some other time, if we have the opportunity to visit Shangrila again!!!

Once again MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you!!!! God bless you!!!

Lijiang, China 24/12/2006 -Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

SNOW MOUNTAIN here I come....wow...I'm real excited cos I'll be going to snow mountain where I get to see snow and play snow or make snowman....Woke up in the morning, get ready by wearing thick clothes, wear my new boots, bring extra jacket cos the weather outside is cold and it will be extremely cold in the snow mountain...

We first visited the Baisha Murals, where they also have a small village selling a lot of things...quite a nice place to shop, a lot of handmade accessories sold at very reasonable price...I bought a necklace there...

We then proceed to Jade Water Village, so SCENIC....I loves this place. After touring the whole place, we proceed for lunch...before that I had the best BBQ salmon fish head in my life...Boss as usual being generous ordered additional dishes for lunch....we had 1 whole steam salmon that cost even more than the lunch...GOOD LUNCH....

We are getting nearer and nearer to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain...before we go up, we will watch a live performance called "Impression Lijiang" directed by the famous director Zhang Yi Mou....WOW...is the word...it's indeed a very impressive performance...good, grand and sincere performance by the local tribes...the whole show was rather touching too....

After the show we proceed to a place where we will take cable car to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain...ehhhh....why cable car turn to be chair-lift one??? Anyway, am still excited of finishing the trail to see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain....Hey..wait a minute...why not the same as the one I saw on internet...not much snow one....Aiyah...kena cheated liao....I thought we are going to YunSanPing but we are not....was told that due to the weather condition, the cable car stop operation on that day....boohooo.....I don't get to step on thick snow...so dissapointed....WHY>>>WHY>>>WHY???????

On the way down, we stop at Baishuihe where there's yak ride. Fanny's children and Yvonne's children went for the ride....weather getting colder and colder, I just took 1 photo shot and went back to the bus....

That was our last itinerary of the day...suppose to be a night tour but all of us was too tired, so we cancelled it and have a good rest in the hotel....went for good and special meal cos it's Christmas Eve...all of us are in the mood of celebrating Christmas....we drank quite a lot and gave a toast to our dear boss Mr. Tan as a token of appreciation for his generousity!!!! CHEERS to Mr.Tan!

Went back hotel, I took a shower and immediately called for whole body massage...wow this lady is good...as usual after the massage, straight away ZZzzzzzzzz....

Lijiang, China 23/12/2006

Weather getting colder and colder...today we will be going to explore Sifangjie Market Square, which is also Lijiang's Ancient Town...Jessie, our "pan jing mei" show us around the place. We went to "jiu pa jie", a street with many pubs and bars in Ancient Town, classy and unique place, the reach a square whereby a lot of people gather to sing and dance...heard that this is the place where you can make a pass to the guy or gal you like.....

After that we proceed to the "木" (Mu)'s family residence. "Mu" is the so called "Chief" of Lijiang, some sort like local king....big compound and big rooms...then we climb all the way to the top where there is a Pagoda up in the hill....very nice scenery there, you can see the whole Lijiang Ancient Town and also can see Jade Dragon Mountain from afar. The climbing up was tough...really no stamina and we blamed it on the altitude..haha....however....we made!!! Yipee!!!!

When we came down, it was free and easy time for us liao...which means shopping time....we also "cari cari makan"....we tried the local roti prata with ham and another time with banana...not bad...we like it....as for shopping...wanted to buy shawls but end up didn't buy cos as we walked out the price getting higher and we don't have time to walk back in to buy...so we end up didn't buy much lor....was rather dissapointed but we decided that we will come back at night to shop....

After lunch, we went to the Jade Spring Park...beautiful park!!! In the park itself there's a Dong Ba "lesson"..."Dong Ba" is a type of written of the tribe in Yunnan...the writing looks cute, very animated...

The night performance was good, a very impressive performance by the tribes, we get to know the culture of each tribe through their dance and singing...

We proceed back to the hotel for dinner and after dinner, JW, Yvonne, Fanny and I went out for shopping....we took a walk to the "Seven Star Street", which is suppose to be famous for shopping....I bought a long sleeve sweater blouse there and JW, Fanny and Yvonne got something too from there...we then proceed walking to Ancient Town for shopping....we bought a lot of shawls and it's really inexpensive, or should I say "CHEAP"....we only pay SGD2 for a nice colourful shawl. We bought in total 40 pieces of shawl...now come to think of it, should have got more...I also bought a big Winnie The Pool plactic back to put in all my shopping barang barang....

Before going back to the hotel, we drop by at KFC to drink soup and buy delicious eat tarts...after we reach hotel, both JW and I called for foot reflexology and WOW...it's cheap and good....it's good especially after a tiring day of walking....

After I finish the foot reflexology, I was dead tired and of course very relax too...went straight to bed and ZZzzzzz into my dreamland!!!!

Dali, China - 22/12/2006

YAWNning......wow have to wake up early in the morning again....today we will take a domestic flight from Kunming to Dali....and guess what??? we got stuck in the airplane for 1hrs because of the bad weather in Kunming, I think the wings of the airplane got frost....they need to clean up all the frost before we can take off....SIANZZZZZ....

Once we reached Dali, our local guide "jin hua" greeted us and took us to a restaurant for buffet breakfast. We drove pass clear-waved Erhai River, very beautiful, feel so peaceful there. We saw the Mingzhu Square and view Changshan Mountain from far.

Shopping time....we went to Foreigners Street and Ancient town of Dali...a lot of nice things and souvenirs sold in ancient town...from there we proceed to Three Pagoda. We took a tramp up to visit Chongsheng Temple...very big temple, one of the biggest temple I ever seen....and at the back of the temple, lies the beautiful Changshan Mountain.

We then proceed to Xizhou town tasted famous tea of Dali and being entertained by Bai tribe...nice performance. We visited Butterfly Spring after that...took a tramp in but no butterflies to see...bluff people one...hehee..no lah now not butterfly season.

Wow, by the time we finish everything, quite late liao...we then travel about 4 hrs drive to Lijiang...all so tired liao, mostly slept in the bus...once reach Lijiang, we all very hungry and tired....everyone very tired but a few of us still go for hair wash...hair wash in Lijian is cheap only RMB5 ~ SGD1...cheap, rite??? Even cutting hair also RMB5....after finish washing my hair nice nice liao, i straight away have my meeting with "Mr. Zhou"....

Finish another tiring day!!!Yipee..what a great and exciting day!!!

MY CHINA TRIP - 21/12 SG-KUNMING

21st Dec 2006
RINGGGGGGG....5.00am...there goes my alarm clock...it's time to wake up, we are going to CHINA....5.45am, we left our house to Changi Airport Terminal 2...all ready to fly to Kunming...everyone is very excited about this trip.

Indeed it's God's divine appointment for us with Sammy's family, 1st we are on the same flight MI912 then we were seated next to each other...all my colleague under group check in was seated behind and there are still empty spaces behind...don't you think it's God's plan...both JW n I had a good time of sharing and talking to Sammy, Shareen n Jed on the flight to Kunming...

Kunming International Airport - RED ALERT!!!
A memorable place, our luggage with JW's clothes in it did not arrive...all the luggages arrived except ours....poor JW with no change of clothes, looks like we have to buy new clothes for him liao!

Well since there's nothing we can do about the lost luggage, we might as well forget about it and enjoy our trip...we went straight for lunch...1st lunch was "so so", a bit oily and salty (according to the guide, chef was told not to put oil...but still quite oily)...

Our guide told us that people in China don't like us to call them "小姐" in Kunming we call the ladies "Ah Shi Ma" and man "Ah Hei"....must remember that, if not kena sepak n scolding from the local if called wrongly....

We went to a park where there is a lot of sea gulls...nice lake, a lot of old ppl spending time here playing musical instruments, dancing, playing mahjong and chess. Then we proceed to DongXi Pagoda, took some pictures there and to Daguan Park. Daguan Park has a longest couplet in China that consist of 180 words, written by a scholar in the Qing Dynasty. Our "Ah Shi Ma", Vivien can recite all these 180 words without looking at it....a loud applause for Vivien!!!! After that we proceed to a tea house where there teach us about tea ceremony, and tea drinking culture!!!

Grrrooorrr...our stomach making noise liao...it's late and it's dinner time....we drove to a very posh restaurant for "Mushroom Steamboat Feast", yummy...our boss, Mr. Lewis Tan is there waiting for us...the dinner was good, everyone enjoys it, after we finish our dinner the "Ah Shi Mas", the waitress did a performance before we leave...after dinner, Mr. Tan was very nice to offer to send me and JW to Wal-Mart to buy his clothes and necessities....Wow...everything in Walmarts looks so cheap and good...but due to time constraint, we just grab and go...once reach hotel, I'm dead tired...after my bath, went straight to bed and sleep cos tomorrow will hav to wake up early...another busy day!!!

My 34th Birthday

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me,

Happy birthday to me...

Happy birthday to me!!!!

Birthday celebration in my office...A big thank you to Helen, Eric, Yvonne, Fanny and Madam Chia for the birthday cake and the nice bouquet of flower!