Shanghai trip Day 1

So I went to Shanghai at the very last minute. I never planned to go, and in fact, I didn't exactly like Shanghai very much. Plus it was summer time which I detest. But it was just so tempting with the free accomodation and the much needed break that on Thur night I decided to go. On Fri, I got the tickets, told the shocking news to the bosses, rushed through all the tasks to delegate and on Sunday, I was on the plane. Very rushed eh? I think so too. Rather amused at my efficiency for once. That, 'Hey, I'm actually on the plane!'
It was a boring flight as there was no inflight entertainment system. I slept every now and then, but was often disturbed by my fat neighbour. This guy beside me kept invading my space, such as opening his legs so wide that it eats into my space, putting his fat arms on the hand rest and sometimes his head nods into my direction while sleeping. Anyhow, I beared through all of that 5 hours! The meal was very delicious. It has been quite a while that I really ate properly, as in tasted the food with careful bites. Normally it's a rush through the meal whereby I don't even register the taste of the food.
Then was a long ride to the hotel despite it being in Pudong. It cost RMB120! Not exactly expensive for us, but imagine a typical Chinese pay that out of their salary. It's a killer. It was sleep in the next morning (finally!). Then was flipping through all those tourist guides gotten last minute.

Monday:
Went to 十六铺to tailor make shirts. That's the first thing to do, my manager had told me. So i did, with the help of the namecard he gave me. But somehow, I didn't exactly like the shop he recommended. The whole building was filled with tailors and so I walked around, and found one shop at the corner where the lady looked quite demure and nice. In those 15 minutes or so, I made 4 shirts! A lot? Kind of, but it was so cheap! RMB90 for each shirt. That's like S$18 for a tailor made shirt! CHEAP!
Then was walking around with no destination in mind. But hey, I must have those gift of finding places, because I ended up at 1 tourist attraction, the Old Shanghai Street. Basically, this is a long street filled with many shops and lots of cheap buys! A bag can cost you like RMB20 only. Utensils like stainless steel chopsticks cost only RMB2. Why utensils? Basically bought some because there was none in the hotel, and as they told me, we will start eating maggie mee in the 2nd week.Didn't exactly buy much because wasn't too sure where are the cheap buys. So walked along just looking and ended up at another tourist attraction - Yu Garden. There was the Cheng Huang Miao which is supposedly the temple to visit in Shanghai (SH) if you want to get lots of fortune. Thought it was quite big and spent RMB10 to get in, only to find it was so small and nothing much. Then was the famous Yu Garden which looked really pretty in the guide. It's alike the Yu Hua in Chinatown where they have much chinese stuff and arts. Didn't stay there long cuz felt will get ripped off. Getting kind of hungry and looked around for some proper shop. They were here on Sat and had took a card of a vege restaurant. But somehow I didn't find it. Hungrier. Finally saw a familiar red and yellow M. Yeap. Underground Mac I went. The sundae was really nice! With a large fries and sundae thing, it cost me RMB18. Like I said, cheap for us, but really expensive for a typical Chinese. Ploughed through the guide while eating. Doesn't seem exactly much other than the tourist trap Yu Garden. Finished the meal and walked around more. Into the back lanes of the neighbourhood I went. There you see the real life of the people living there. It's quite a sad scene. Rundown quarters with cemented floor. Looks alike those pictures in my social studies text books back in primary school. No offence to the Chinese but that was Sg 30 years ago. But of course, they have condominiums like ours too. But that's where the more well-to-do live.
Then it was time to head back so that my fren could get into the room by 6pm. That's the time I must get back to hotel each day. And as I'm still not familiar with the place, it was the cab again. Thankfully I had the map of the hotel printed out, else I'm sure I couldn't get back, or will do so only after many turns and turns.
Afterthoughts: It's actually quite easy to go around, so long as you can speak Mandarin and have a map. So far, I haven't asked any passers-by for directions and it was quite safe. Things aren't exactly that cheap, though not as ex as in HK. But food isn't too good, unless you make do with the roadside stalls.

HK Day 3

We visited Chi Lin Nunnery which is located at Diamond Hill 志蓮淨苑. The present-day buildings have been rebuilt and their style is of Tang architecture. The beautiful garden in front of the nunnery is open to the public free of charge. Its buildings are the only ones to be built with wooden rooftops in modern Hong Kong, without the use of a single nail in its construction. This is based on a unique architectural style from the Tang Dynasty which uses special interlocking systems cut into the wood for construction.

The place was serene and gave an immediate sense of peace.

I was really impressed with the lotus ponds. There were different species and looked really pretty. I think workers go in everyday to pull the weeds and all. High maintenance work but wonderful results which would clear all troubles.

Another tranquil place?








Nope. It is a nursing home. I don't think I would mind living in one like such.

We then visited the Nan Lian Garden across the road. The Garden is a designated public park, with an area of 35,000 sqare metres. It was designed and built by the Chi Lin Nunnery, entrusted by the Government, and is opened to the public in November 2006. It is currently managed by the Chi Lin Nunnery, also entrusted by the Government.

The Garden is built in the classical style of the Tang Dynasty (618 AD to 907 AD), on the blue print of Jiangshouju, the only Tang landscape garden the original layout of which can still be placed and traced today, and the shape of which bears a significant resemblance to the Garden site. Hills and rocks, waters, plants and timber structures are built and arranged according to classical Tang style and rules, accommodating the local environ, and the best view of the sprawling mountain range to the north is taken as the seamless backdrop.
The Garden is a Tang garden built in modern times, its architecture and landscaping reminiscent of nature and conducive towards a sense of serenity and tranquility, an ambience in which visitors may enjoy a moment of leisure and peace of mind, whilst reflecting on the profound richness of classical Chinese culture, right in the midst of the urban city hustle and bustle. It is hoped this will help promote the knowledge of and interest in classical Chinese culture.
There were lots of security guards in the garden, who make sure you do not step on the grass, or break a branch, or litter, or do anything that will break the tranquility. A bit too harsh maybe but perhaps necessary to maintain the environment.

Some furniture in the garden?









Nope. Even recycling bins have an asthetic touch.

I realised the HK government tries hard to incorporate natural surroundings in the high-rise environment. Despite many skyscrapers, you can always find some park or nature nearby. That's one thing which I think they have done really well.

The koi pond







We then had lunch at Long Men Lou. Long Men Lou serves the cuisine of Chi Lin Vegetarian. It is managed by the Chi Lin Nunnery.The restaurant is located just behind the waterfall. We were early and had a table just beside the waterfall. Feels like some tai tai who has more than enough free time, lunching by the waterfall and letting time go by.

After 2 hours or so in Nan Lian Garden, we went to Mongkok for some shopping. We happened to see a protest in the streets. Fa Lun Gong protesting against CCP. The police stopped all traffic. No one could cross the roads. Everyone just had to stay still while the hundreds of protesters walk along. This is a scene you never can find in Singapore. True democracy I call it. My mum was so shocked that the police were helping to clear the way for the protesters!

HK Day 2.5

Welcome to Snoopy's World.

In case you are wondering, it's simply a playground for parents to deposit their kids while shopping in the giganti mall beside. And admission is free!

The Peanuts








Need a psychiatrist?








Charlie Brown!












Do we look alike?

HK Day 2

We took the KCR (which is in fact the railway train) to Sha Tin on Day 2 to visit 10,000 Buddhas Monastery. While the Big Buddha at Lantau Island is impressive for its scale, the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery is impressive for the dedication that has made it one of Hong Kong’s icons. There are over 12,800 pieces of exquisite Buddha statues each with different posture were placed on the walls. Even for the non-buddhists, it's a sight to be awed at. To get to the monastery, we climbed up more than 400 steps through an old Chinese settlements (we happened to follow some people who lived there, thinking they were visiting the monastery). When you reached the lower portion, Arhats lied on both side of the steps greet you. The rows go on until you finally reached the front gate itself. This is supposedly the 50o Arhats. We had to take a few rests along the way and were perspiring all over when we finally reached the gate.

The many statues in the main hall













We met some monkeys along the way back

Therafter, we visited Snoopy's World. But due to some technical faults, pls see post on HK Day 2.5.
In the evening, we were at the Avenue of Stars. Supposedly many famous HK stars had placed their handprints along the whole pathway beside the harbour. I was really exhausted and didn't really want to give up my seat, so I did not walk too much along the pathway.

The night scene of Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui

Bruce Lee

HK Day 1

Not exactly the first day that I was in HK but it was the first day that I started my vacation. Previous 2 days were spent working. So since it was a clear and sunny day, decided to go Lantau Island.

Harbour view
The view from my hotel room.




















Bus terminal just at my hotel's doorsteps.

Hello Kitty


The famous cat wearing the different uniforms of the staff at the MTR stations.










Travellator at Hong Kong

To get to Lantau Island, the fool-proof way was to take the MTR. I had to change train at Central station and walk to Hong Kong station. Thankfully there was the super-long travellator.

Po Lin Monastery








Lunch at Po Lin Monastery

When you visit the Tian Tan Buddha, always buy the food voucher which allows you access into the exhibition halls in the statue itself, and also a 4-dish lunch. It's rather tasty, and complete with Chinese tea! A good meal after the long walk.

Tian Tan Buddha 天壇大佛
A large bronze statue of the Buddha, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. Also known as the Big Buddha, as it is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. The statue is located near Po Lin Monastery and symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. Its base is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is one of the five large Buddha statues in China. The Buddha statue sits peacefully on a lotus throne on top of a three-platform altar. It is surrounded by eight smaller bronze statues representing gods or immortals. The Buddha is 34 meters high, weighs 250 tonnes, and is the world's tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha. It can even be seen as far away as Macau on a clear day. Visitors have to climb 268 steps in order to reach the Buddha, though the site also features a small winding road to the Buddha for vehicles to accommodate the physically challenged.

The Wisdom Path.

In June 2002, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region received the donation of an original calligraphy featuring the "Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra" (Heart Sutra) from Professor Jao Tsung-I, an internationally renowned master with outstanding achievements in both academic research and art, who wished to have the calligraphy transformed into an outdoor large-scale carving. The masterpiece is reproduced in the form of a large-scale outdoor wood inscription on a natural slope at the foot of Lantau Peak near Ngong Ping of Lantau Island. The tranquillity of the natural environment of the site would enable visitors to appreciate the masterpiece which combines art and philosophy.

A shot taken when within the Wisdom Path.

This is the view while we were climbing down Lantau Peak. Supposedly, it's a view of the airport.





It was quite a bad day after we visited the Wisdom Path. We climbed down the mountain (?). I read the tourist guides saying we will walk past vegetable farm. After some time, true enough, we did and saw another monastery. Things turned bad then when we proceeded as it started to rain. I didn't have a map of the mountain and so we were quite lost as to how long more we will need to trek. Think my shoes were worn out by end of the trekking. In total, I think we walked more than 5 hours after lunch. My mum and I were both exhausted. Finally when we got to the MTR station, after lots of walking, there was this gigantic mall and so we shopped. Rather, I wanted to have a look and poor mum had to follow me. By the time we got back to hotel, it was already 9 (after dinner of course) and our feet were sore. A bad start to the 5 days.