cannot log on to blogspot

Does not know why, I am not able to log on to blogspot from my home… maybe china is blocking it … 

back from singapore

This 7 days trip back to Singapore had prompted some random thoughts.  After almost 2 full years of staying in Suzhou, China, we are in the process of packing and reading to head home, Singapore.  Be it good or bad, it will come to an end where we have to say good bye to our colleagues, friends, neighbour, etc.  I do hope I would be coming once a while to visit the place, the great people here.

 

1. I know Singapore was a hot and humid country and I had stay in Singapore for 40 years. When I left Suzhou on the end of April, Suzhou was still cooling during the night and even day time.  The 2^nd days when I was in Singapore, I went cycling with friends and you know what, I was tanned… and perspiring even when riding on flat road.  One of the days, I was just doing nothing but watching TV shows, I was perspiring.  How hot and humid would that be, let me know please.  In contrast with Suzhou, it was like heaven and earth.  When there were no comparisons, we would mention that it was hot and humid, live with it.  Well, think I will have to tolerate the temperature when I get back to Singapore this June.
2. Staying in Suzhou for almost 2 years.  I lived in a rather remote area.  Singapore everywhere is city.  When I was out of the flat where my parents lived, immediately I can feel the congestion.  Car park packed with cars, road packed with cars, bus-stop packed with people waiting, library pack with people, shopping mall packed, pulau ubin packed with bikes and people, food court packed, basically everywhere is packed.  I could not understand why the government wanted to increase the population to 6 millions when it is already so pack.  Can’t we stay with whatever now, be it 5m or 4.5m?  Please, this is enough.  Suzhou is only packed in the city.  SIP (this year is 15 years anniversary of SIP), SND and other districts are not packed at all.
3. Housing in Singapore is still VERY expensive.  I wonder if I will be able to get a condominium.  Even a 2+1 unit.  I had checked through the price, the price range from $650psf to $750psf for a Pasir Ris or Bedok area.  While for the current HDB that I have, it is $260psf.  Will I be able to buy a unit that cost at least 2 to 3 times my current unit?  Is this expensive?  I wonder those how other are able to purchase these units at that cost?  Some can even purchase unit at well over $1000psf.
4. Time flies, my contract is coming to an end.  It was really nice to be staying here in China.  My wife insistent of staying in this villa was right.  We had good time here.  I do not foresee myself staying in a villas back in Singapore, maybe when I strike the big sweep and what… is it 2 millions Singapore dollars now?  We had experience all the 4 seasons in Suzhou with temperature as hot as 40°C but not announce since it may create panic in the country and temperature as cold as -10°C.  With trees growing very green and flowers blossom, or just tree with leaves.  With sky so grey and visibility as low as 10m or sky as clear as crystal.
5. The tree in front of the house was full of leave, dropped off during autumn, started to grow again during spring and dropped again during winter.  I have seen the cycle twice.  It bring back memories.  When we were here, we were so excited to be in China.  All places, attractions are new to us.  My driver told me that on the 3^rd in Suzhou, he mentioned to me about the CCTV studio at Wuxi and I was telling him that I still have plenty of time to visit that place since it was only an hour drive away.  Do you know what? I only visited that place after 1.5 here.
6. One of my colleagues, David was a crazy fan of bicycle.  Once, he had a total of 8 bikes for his family.  I started riding with his enthusiasm.  He would be telling us all his adventures with his bike.  First I bought an Oyama folding bike, started riding home from work.  The best part I was telling them that it was so far from work, 14km journey.  I was wondering if I can do it.  In May 2008, I bought a mountain.  On the 2^nd day of the purchase, I was rather brave (actually I would say stupid) to ride with the Suzhou Riders to Dong Shan, that trip was the longest ride I rode so far.  Although after that ride, I was still riding 100km ride once a while but mainly are mountain and leisure rides including a few races (Shanghai Philip Race, Nanjing Race) last year.  Recently, in order to be able to ride a similar bike as my wife (the Oyama now belong to my wife), I bought myself another bike. A Dahon SP16 that cost at 60% the price if I get it in Singapore.

 

school search

this morning, walked for one school to another and apply for P1 admission for my son. went to a total of 3 school nearby where we will be staying when we return home. basically, rivervale area. none of the school has vacancy for my son. has to put him in waiting list and the list is at least 15 application before him. aiya... damn bloody tough, are there really so many children staying nearby these school? or are they from other area and trying to getting into these school... when i called up MOE 2 weeks back, the officer ask if i were a helper to the school, do i have other kids studying in that school or am i a alumni to the school. well, these schools are only max 10 years old, would i be a alumni? no way right?

anyway, i have another school that i will be heading to and i understand the school do have vacancy but it is far from my place... do not really like my son to travel that far...

enough of garbage...

YunNan, Lijiang, Day 5

after the shangri-la 2 days trip, we were rather tired. on day 5, i woke up at 7am, washed up and head out to take picture of morning lijiang. at the same time, checked out day tour to the nearby location. found out that the agency is able to provide us with a day tour to 拉市海 for a horse riding and boat rowing and ShuHe (束河古镇)old town

the local start work early. many make use of their strength to work, such as this man. transporting of a table from one point to another. also, with the slack flooring as well as undulating of the area, the only option for transportation of good is through human.

the quietness of 四方街 in the morning, it was so much contrast to the night when it was very crowded.

another quiet street in the morning

kids going to school in the morning, in china, the kids do not need to wear school uniform, this is great, life will be colorful

from lijiang old town, once could see the dragon jade mountain (玉龙雪山). some of the inn could see the mountain as well. of course, those room will command slightly higher price.

玉龙雪山 from the inn where we stayed

by 9am, the activities at lijiang get into start... the local dance in synchronization

the following section is for the La Shi Hai horse riding and boating. we took about 2.5hrs to complete the Yi Xian Tian (一线天) route. the distance probablem about 3km including uphill and downhill. the scenery was beautiful as the sky was clear and we could see the lake when we were at the top of the hill. my family love this horse riding but our buttock were painful after the ride (haha)

we reached the rest point, the horseman help to take this picture.

selina and keith feeding the horse with dried corn grain.

lijiang is for lovers, not for family... haha

going through some rough terrain. this horse that i rode, was rather intelligent. as it went downhill pretty fast, he would wait at the top of the slope, making sure the front was clear before he moved down the slope. while heading down slope, i would have to lean back to keep myself balance.

after the rough terrain, we reached the hill top. soon, the gorgeouslake would appear right in front of us

gorgeous scenes, i love it very much with the sunny sky. too bad that some pictures, the horizon were tilted because i was snapping away while riding... fortunately, never fell...

boat rowing was part of the package, it was not that easy as there were current and wind that day. nonetheless, we did it with a smile...

after a hardday riding through the up and down, rowing in the scorching sun, it was time for a rest and lunch. this hot pot had green vegetable with potato and some local small fishes below it. good lunch especially when we were hungry

the next activity was Shu He old town (束河古镇), the town was about 20mins away from lijiang and a taxi ride cost 15rmb. the issue was that if we went with taxi, you will need to pay 50rmb/head for an entrance fee. we took the "black" taxi by paying only additional 20rmb from the horse riding place. the driver took us to the back entrance where no entrance fee is required. again, this old town is very much less commercial comparing to lijiang. it has more of those sit and relax type coffee/bar when lovers, friends would just sit and enjoy the lazy afternoon without worrying, thinking of anything think. you could go there to day dream, play cards, chitchat, or do nothing... the bar/coffee place owners were very friendly, we sat and took pictures without any purchase but the owners did not make any noise. with the pictures taken and posted here, it would be free advertisement for them. haha... pictures time...

on a lazy afternoon, the place was quiet, a great constrast to lijiang that was always busy and noisy starting 9am


more scence of shuhe old town.

various posh of dear, but look rather similar leh!!! haha...

keith, i love this picture of him

can't leave shuhe old town without a picture of this...

that was it for the Yunnan, Lijiang trip. frankly speaking, I would love to go back to this slow, and leisure attraction. if time permint, i would love to go back for a month stay and just doing nothing much... a highly recommend place for lovers, newly weds, 10 years anniversary without the kids. haha...

YunNan, Lijiang, Day 4

continue shangri-la trip day 3...

after a good night rest at the shangri-la old town, we woke up fresh. assemble at 7:30 and headed for breakfast. the usual chinese breakfast, hardboil egg, rice porrige, bun and pickle. got quite bored with such breakfast for the past 4 days but... we had to ensure we filled our stomach for the day especially today when we are heading to the snow mountain.

at the base, we rented the coat at 28rmb each and bought 0xygen tank at 45rmb. it is easier to rent than bring our own thick coat that occupied the luggage.

cable car was the only way to get to the top of the snow mountain. this cable car is known to tbe asia longest and it has 2 separated session. first session brought us from 1000+m to 3000m and the second session brought us from 3000+m to 4500m. as we go higher, we can fell that the oxygen is thinner. started to feel giddy/headache.

after 20mins at the top, my son was feeling very lethargic. felt very sleepy but we ensure that he do not sleep.

took a picture at the top of the mountain. the weather was not good, slight rain and very foggy. could not see far enough to view the other 8 mountains (suppose to be able to view them during a good day).

this was the oxygen that we bought. it was really helpful.

a group picture when the weather started to turn better but there is still no blue sky

by evening we reached back lijiang. decided to follow the rest + guide for a local dinner. Lijiang hot pot with chickend and spicy pork rib (then, i was not aware of swine flu yet... haha).


turn out for the dinner was pretty good. this was not part of the package, we have to pay for our own meal but each of us paid 25rmb but we did have a very good dinner. pork, chicken, rice noodle, mushroom, green vegetable, etc and a bottle of beer.

that was it for day 4.

YunNan, Lijiang, Day 3

paiseh, paiseh... you guys must be trying to check what happen to my Shangrila trip. i was not able to keep up with the live posting as i was traveling to Shangrila for the last 2 days. the hotel did not have internet access so...

quick summary of the tour. a little dispointed not because of the group or guide but due to the weather. it was foggy when we went up to the 石卡雪山 (ShiKa Snow Mountain), therefore the best was not accomplished. further more, due to the altitude of the 4500m, i was getting light headache and my son was feeling very lethargic (sleepy because of lack of oxygen). my wife get pretty serious headache the first night at Shangrila at 3300m. The guide 阿洛 Ah Lou was very professional and helpful. Accomodating all requests if he could.

Update for 22nd Apr
anyway, we left 8:30am from lijiang with Alladin tour, our first destination for the 2 days tour was 长江第一弯 (Yangtze River First Turn), then to 虎跳峡 (Tiger Leaping Gorges), 3rd destination was temple (forgotten what the name) and finally Na Pa Hai. On the way, the guide introduced himself and also let each and individual to introduced ourselves because we were all from different area. through, introduction, i noticed that there are two main groups of people come to yunnan for tour. the first were mainly southen china, those from dong guan, shen zhen, guangzhou areas and the other groups are mainly from sichuan.

enough of saying... time for pictures.
this was the first stop, nothing much so Ah Luo told us that 10mins including a toilet break will be good enough, and it was true. I only took this picture of the "first turn". What a great turn of the Yangtze river?

at the stop, there are many stores selling stone/rock. not too sure what these stone for or from...

there are 3 sessions of the tiger leaping gorge. the lowest, the middle as well as the upper. the best view would be the middle session that i understood from many tour agents. this is the upper session and i do not find it great. the reason for it to be not that great was because it best view in July/August time frame when the water is higher and faster.

i am going to stop here for the day. a bonus picture for those who visited my site... haha... let me know if you like this picture so that i would post more of this. haha...


to be continue...

continue update on 27th Apr... for 22nd Apr

after visiting the tiger leaping gorge, we visited the "月光城"

a picture of the city taken from the temple.

as "松赞林寺" was not part of our agenda, we did not manage to visit the place but the Ah Luo was helpful enough to get the coach stop for 5 mins allowing to take picture of this beautiful budda temple. this temple is like the "布达拉宫" in Lhasa but a smaller version of it.

next destination before we headed to the shangri-la old town for a night stay was the Na Pa Hai "依拉草原、纳帕海". it is the greatest and gorgous grassland of shangri-la.

the strong sun was penetrating through the cloud with it ray...

a young loving couple from chengdu taking pictures, this yunnan area is very suitable for newly wed couple.

group photo, actually only half the group. the rest are somewhere around the area taking more pictures with the great scenary.

that's it for Day 3 of the trip. have fun reading and i will be back.

YunNan, Lijiang, Day 2

21st April, 8:30am.

woke up fresh, the tireness from the long journey was totally forgotten... got out the room and took a few photos. Lijiang is further west so by 6am, it was still dark comparing to suzhou where 5am it is already bright and sunny in this month.

a morning view from the hotel. i can hear bird chirpping away while bloging my way. 非常写意...

selina enjoying the great morning scenary

me blogging before wash up... i am a little stink now by the way... whhile blogging, there are many tourists particular japaneses passing by and enjoy the scene... WOH was what i keep hearing...

we are going to enjoy this trip. slow pace and the best is at our own pace. no one to hurry us except ourselves. hate those tour that keep asking you to go

21st April, 11:10pm.

visit the lijiang old town today. nothing much work around, had lunch, dinner, book a 2 days package tour to shangrila.

pictures...
sunset view of the old town.

the inn that we were staying for tonight, 70rmb, no aircon. Room ok... better than the one that we stayed during the wuyuan trip (for those who knew about the trip)...


酒吧街。"Bar Street". Their bars are actually open air. difference from what we see in suzhou. also, i noticed that their music are more trendy or have those "bom bom bom" beat. even the waitress outside the bar danced to the beat to attract customer.

end for day 2...

YunNan, Lijiang, Day 1

today was a tough day for us. we travelled early in the morning from 5.30am starting from our place and reach the motel/inn at 11:30pm. we travelled 1hr in our van to hongqiao airport, 3hrs on china eastern airline to kunming, 10hrs in a 45 seaters coach to lijiang. the journey was mainly travelling. we had no lunch and a rush 30mins dinner.

keep you guys updated live again. need to rest...

8am on the 21st Apr
After a good night sleep, decided to add some pictures to the entry.


while travelling from kunming to zhuxiong, saw these houses with painted dinasour as well as some type of symbols. recap that kunming is a place that china dug out dinasour.