It’s been days since I last updated my blog. Work has been not so hectic lately. But it’s end of month and I have to start working like a cow for the next few days.
Anyways, I am here to post a picture of chocolates with cute packaging. You may not think that it’s cute, but I do. I have yet tasted it. Don’t think I am am gonna taste it coz chocolate is not my thing anymore. 🙂
SHANGHAI, CHINA (Part 2)
Finally, this is the last part of travelogue that I will be covering. Just finished Christmas Eve dinner at workplace and I am so full right now. We had Fried Drumstick, Assam Prawn, Mixed Vegetables, Satay and Menudo. Menudo is some kind of Filipino pork dish which I did not try. It looked a bit gross to me.
Okay … Let’s start with the famous attraction of Shanghai – The Bund. It’s one of the most hottest days and I am having one of the bad hair days. *argh* Traffic system in China is super horrible.
The Bund
I am not gonna upload the pictures of us taken at The Bund coz I looked damn fugly in there. It was hot and my hair was all over the place. One of the bad hair days! We went to look for late lunch after we finished taking pictures at The Bund.
Kiwi Chocolate Cream crepe from a Japanese franchise dessert food stall.
Peach Chocolate Cream crepe!
We went back to the hotel pretty early that night as we were exhausted and my feet were all weak after having a horrible diarrhea. Going to washrooms in China is a pain in the ass. I usually avoid going to toilets in China except in cases of emergency. It was Chinese Valentine on the weekend we were in Shanghai. The Sales Assistant at Giordano gave us two mini boxes with Ferrero Rocher inside the boxes.
We went shopping the next day after having buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant. To be honest, the food was just average. Nothing to rave about. The receptionist at the Business Centre advised us to stay indoor as it was forecast that a heavy typhoon is expected to hit Shanghai in the late afternoon. We took the Metro to the City Centre and went to Super Brand Mall. Lots of international brands like MNG, Next, H&M and so on in there. Shopping paradise~~~ I started my shopping spree after lunch at Ajisen Ramen. Most of the restaurants were crowded and we managed to find a table at Ajisen Ramen. We had set lunches. The food was just average. Nothing special or fancy about it.
We went back to the hotel at around 4 plus in the afternoon since we were being told that they will be strong winds in the late afternoon. Took a cab from Super Brand Mall to the hotel where we were staying. Spent about few hundred of Brunei dollars in just a few hours time. *sweat*
My shopping hauls from Super Brand Mall. Bought two bags from MNG, blazer from H&M, shorts & pants from Next and T-shirts from Giordano.
😉
We went out to look for dinner after having our traditional Chinese massage at the massage parlor inside the hotel where we were staying. Went to this place somewhere near to Yu Yuan Garden where there are a few restaurants that you could choose from. They even have Haagen Dazs in such as small area. We had our dinner at KFC and then bought some Chinese dumplings as supper. Hahahaha …
¥20 for 16 pieces of the dumplings which is about B$4.00. We expected it to be very good as there were lots of people queuing. I was pretty dissapointed coz it was not as good as what I expected.
We headed to Pudong International Airport after we had our breakfast at around 10 in the morning of the day when I am due to fly back to Brunei. Checked in early and then we went to look for lunch. Had lunch at one of the restaurants in the airport. Food was just average but expensive! But their dumplings were good. At least, I think it’s better than the ones we had the night before.
Caramel Latte without the caramel. *duh* The waitress must have gotten the wrong order.
One last picture of me … 🙂
I almost forgot that it’s Patrick birthday today until Andrea sent a birthday greeting to Patrick in our group conversation. Hahaha … Anyways, happy birthday to you and hope you enjoy your big day. Your present shall wait till the next time we meet. 😉
Here’s a birthday cake for you. Hahaha … This is a real cake but taken few years ago, I think. Found it stashed somewhere inside my pictures folder from few years back.
Hope you liked your birthday cake. Muahahahz … 🙂
SHANGHAI, CHINA (Part 1)
Blogging about holiday trips are the most exhausting thing to do as you have to resize all your pictures, then you have to edit here and there. That reminds me why I never wanted to learn designs. Second, I suck in drawings. Anyways, back to where we originally started. Went to Shanghai for the weekend before I was due to fly back to Brunei. And the most unfortunate thing happened – Typhoon Muifa hits Shanghai. Well, not that serious compared how it hits Okinawa, Japan. It was predicted that Typhoon Muifa will hit Shanghai on the day when I am due to fly back to Brunei. Lucky for me that my flight wasn’t delayed longer compared to other domestic flights. Some of the passengers were stranded at the airport for more than 12 hours and they were yet allowed to be flown out. My flight was delayed for about 2 hours before it took off. Thank God that the flight wasn’t one bumpy ride.
Introducing Mr. Lucky! Cute or not? Hahaha … 😉
Free bottle of mineral water for all bullet trains passengers.
This is the next generation hobbit. Muahahahaz … 👿
Sister and I at Nanjing South Station.
We had Haagen Dazs ice-cream while waiting for our train heading towards Shanghai HongQiao Station to arrive. We ordered for Chocolate Cookies and Strawberry Cheesecake flavors. I liked the Strawberry Cheesecake flavor. The Chocolate Cookies flavor was just average. Honestly speaking, Haagen Dazs ice-cream in China ain’t cheap at all but they were good. A big cup with any two flavors of your choice is about B$10. But of course, it’s not something that you eat as your staple food.
Let me share one piece of advice to anyone of you out there who has an interest of going China on a free and easy tour. DO NOT EVER BOOK FOR ECONOMY SEATS IF YOU WERE TO TRAVEL BY BULLET TRAIN. Economy fare is about half price cheaper compared to First Class fare. But of course, for the amount of money that you paid, you will be able to enjoy a comfortable ride with minimal noise surrounding you. The seat space in Economy cabin is pretty limited and it’s hard for you to move around. And you might not even have a space to store your luggage on stop or the side of your seat.
Complimentary snacks if you were in First Class cabin.
This is how First Class cabin looked on the inside.
The speed of the bullet train that we were travelling in.
Us inside the bullet train.
China is SO overpopulated. Wherever you go, it’s always crowded everywhere especially train station. It’s a major nightmare if you happened to be travelling at peak hour. Piece of advice, always avoid peak hours if you do not wish to be squashed or pass out due to body odor. Hahaha … 😉 I happened to find out that perfumes are not so hot in China. People in China don’t use perfumes! Only minority use perfumes and I am one of the minority. Hahaha …
Look at the amount of people bustling towards the exit. This was taken during off peak hour.
Inside the Metro heading towards the City Centre where our hotel is located.
We booked for two nights stay at Oriental Bund Hotel. Forgotten how much it costs per night. After we have checked in, we were being told to wait at the lobby of the hotel for half an hour before we were allowed to go to our room. They said that the housekeepers were still doing housekeeping job in our room. Therefore, we were being given two vouchers for two complimentary fizzy drinks at the cafe in their hotel lobby.
Our room.
The scenery that we had from our veranda.
I shall continue the second part of my Shanghai trip some other time. Hope you enjoyed reading. Till then. Ciao~~~~
To be continued ….
NANJING, CHINA
Believe it or not, I was hesitating to continue Part 2 of my travelogue in 2011. Why? I was viewing back the pictures I took in both Nanjing and Shanghai and they were so fugly. 😦 But I shall continue with what I had promised in the first place. Anyways, I went to visit my sister in China for two weeks after I had left my previous job. Considered it as a reward for myself after all the endurance I had for the past two and a half years.
There are not much food pictures on this holiday trip as we seldom eat outside. We usually eat home cooked food whenever we are staying indoor. Outside food doesn’t seem to be very appetizing and hygienic at all. You can even see some people having their food at the food stalls inside the Metro Station. 😮 So damn unhygienic. But of course, the price of the food is so much more cheaper compared to the food at a normal and decent restaurant.
My flight departed from Brunei at 10:25a.m. in the morning. Arrived Shanghai Pudong International Airport sometime before 3:00p.m. Sister was already there at the Arrival Hall when I came out. We then took the Metro from Airport to HongQiao Train Station. And then another one and a half hour train ride from HongQiao Train Station to Nanjing South Station. And then another twenty minutes ride before I reach my final destination. It was about eight thirty when we reached home. Took a shower and then had our dinner at home. We planned to eat outside at a hypermarket nearby the place that my Sister lives. But the hypermarket shuts down early on Sunday.
First home-cooked meal in China – instant noodles. 🙂
The first meal that I cooked in China. The Grilled Chicken was of course from Hot Deli of Suguo Supermarket. 😳 Hahaha …
I stayed at home most of the time while I was in Nanjing as my Sister’s apartment was too comfortable for me to go outside and sweat under the sun provided that I have to do some groceries shopping. Even if I were to do some groceries shopping, I would take the shuttle bus. The driver would drop me off outside the main entrance of the nearest Carrefour and then pick me up one and a half hour later. So nice! And you don’t even have to worry about being pushed whilst waiting for the Metro to arrive. 😎
We went window shopping at Nanjing AquaCity Mall on my first weekend in Nanjing. Took the shuttle bus to Deji Plaza and then the Metro to the nearest Metro Station leading to AquaCity. For your information, Deji Plaza is one of the high end shopping mall across Nanjing. Or perhaps, the only high end shopping mall in Nanjing? You can find most of the international designer brands at Deji Plaza.
Venue: Nanjing AquaCity & Confucius Temple
Sister and I outside Nanjing AquaCity
Hello Kitty store! Planned to buy a set of Hello Kitty drinking cups from the store but ended up not getting anything when I walked out from the store. 😦
Hiak hiak hiak …
We did not shop much at AquaCity. I only bought a few souvenirs to bring home from one of the Disney imitation store. Hahaha … We then went to Confucius Temple for lunch. Confucius Temple is the name of the place whereby there are lots of restaurants and some food stalls. They have one big Haagen Dazs ice-cream shop. *drools*
Don’t ask me who this is. I also don’t know. 😛
Wanna wish for a fortune? You should try it here but there is no guarantee that the “tree” would grant your wish.
One last picture of us at Confucius Temple.
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Venue: Nanjing HongShan Forest Zoo
One of the tourist attraction in Nanjing is it’s HongShan Forest Zoo. Sister and I took the opportunity to go there before we set out for Shanghai for our shopping marathon. At least, my shopping marathon. Hahaha … Spent a little in Nanjing and A LOT more in Shanghai *sweat*
We had our lunch in a restaurant nearby to HongShan Forest Zoo. Honestly speaking, I don’t really like much of China Chinese food besides their dumplings. They were fabulous. Especially the broth inside the dumplings. Kinda miss them a bit now. Hahaha … I even asked my Sister to bring back a packet of Frozen Da Niang dumplings which you can easily find at any local supermarket. But she declined. 😥
仔排面
今麦捞老鸭面
The portion was too generous and both of us couldn’t finish what we ordered. After lunch, we went to HongShan Forest Zoo as planned. The weather was hot and humid. That was one thing which I don’t like about summer in China. Too freaking hot!
Our entrance tickets to the zoo, which is about B$8.00 per person.
My friend!
They are partners in crime. Hahaha … 😛
For your information, there are real pandas in this zoo!
The entrance leading to the place where you can watch real life pandas. 😆
This is a real panda, not fake!
Panda on the move.
Claimed to have penguins inside the zoo but we did not go inside the exhibition area of penguins because we need to pay for another entrance fee just to see the penguins.
I am not gonna elaborate much on the following pictures as you can all identify what animals they are. 😉
Cute or not??!!!
She was trying to impersonate the bunny. 😆
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