17 May 2012 Thu
Didn’t book a cab. Just walked out of Senoko to see if there are cabs. No such luck, couldn’t get a cab until I reach Admiralty Road.
Didn’t book a cab. Just walked out of Senoko to see if there are cabs. No such luck, couldn’t get a cab until I reach Admiralty Road.
Cab driver told me tips on the road, DVR camera and the unfortunate driver got killed the other day.
I was very surprised by the nice Jetstar flight. It came from Melbourne, mostly Aussies, almost thought I took the wrong flight. Bigger in-flight screen than SQ and have many programs to choose from, only pity was that I don’t have my earpiece with me. What a pity! The screen even offered seat-to-seat chat.
Nobody sat next to me, so ask travel partner came to the front.
Reached 1230am. Taxiing to the gate took some time as it is a big airport.
I didn’t have the Chinese street name of where the hotel was, kept pronouncing it in angmo way, to the frustration of the cab driver. Driver couldn’t really figure out where the hotel actually was. It was just 100m from where we finally stopped and called the receptionist. SC’s sim card bot from Fujian two months ago still work apparently and save us the mid-night search in a dimly-lit street.
Checked in at 2am, bathed and slept. Hard bed as warned. Travel partner bot a cup noodle from them and filled his stomach.
18 May 2012 Fri
Gugong this morning! Walked the wrong direction so have to turn back to go to the entrance. Had brekkie on the way. Didn’t quite appreciate their food. Walked in and saw people selling maps at RMB5. Almost tempted to buy but restrained. Queue for the ticket and then realize the maps are available for free. Used the audio guide and found that the explanation was quite ok. Sometimes u may walked too fast ahead and skip some places. No worry, just walk back and the narration will begin. Local tourists only charge ahead and do not visit the palaces on the sides. That gave me some solitude at the side exhibition halls and cool off a bit.
Finished the palace touring at 3pm. Went up to Jingshan to see the whole palace from high ground. Can see Beihai Lake park from this high point. Went down to have our late lunch. I used the phone to sms the train seller and arrange for a place to meet up and collect the model train I ordered. It turned out to be quite far out in the north. We exchanged the merchandise near the control room and took the train set back to the hotel. Silly me took a longer way by transferring to bus, in the end still end up at Tiananmen Square and have to walk back to hotel from there.
Freshen up a lil and we went to Tiananmen to see the flag lowering ceremony in the evening. Initially travel partner wanted to watch shows at night, but after I asked for the price of tix, felt it was not worth it. So didn’t go. Gugong was already closed for the day by then. Tiananmen Square was bustling with people, all eager to wait for the flag lowering ceremony.
At 715pm, they closed the whole Chang An Street. This was really amazing. The busy Chang An Street was closed! Then the military police marched over from Gugong to the Tiananmen Square and the proper flag lowering start. As if the activities are not bustling enough, suddenly a lady broke through the chain barricade and ran forward, shouting “corrupt government and business gang up!!!” in mandarin. The military police quickly mobilized and dragged her back outside the barricade area. Many cameras started to snap away. One brave soul even shouted “take picture take picture”. The commotion died down, and the lady was brought into the police car, not so sure what will happen to her after that. The ceremony ended and we went and walked around.
Took a bus back to Wangfujing. Travel partner and I settled dinner at MacDonald’s. Little did I know this will become the norm for many days to come. Goodness. Night market in Wangfujing was bustling. So many people. And so many things to see. We walked back while passing through a fruit shop. I stocked up water and some fruits.
Went back to the hotel lobby to use free wifi, then listened to the background music, was a song that I wanted to find out the name all along, and never had a chance! Quickly asked the counter reception, and knew the title of the piano piece: Ballade Pour Adeline by Richard Clayderman. A piece that I listened to since I was staying in Desa Jaya and never knew the name! It must be destined that I will only find out the title of the song in Beijing. That was simply unbelievable!
19 May 2012 Sat
Went to Yiheyuan. Long journey. And the old people gang tried their might today to push the through the crowd into the carriages, caused quite a commotion. Laser show by the train outside the carriages, using tunnel as screen, creative.
KFC brekkie. Foggy otherwise nice walk and nice view. Particularly like the bund. Not so much the boat ride. The Chinese folklore stories carved on the wooden beam were amazing. 14000 beams they have.
After Yiheyuan, we had lunch. Partner as usual went to Mac, I had mine at a local shop. Ordered the pear drink again, delicious. Took the metro to yuanmingyuan to see ruins. The maze inside the ruins was interesting.
After Yuanmingyuan, we went to Tsing Hua University. The tuition centre operators waiting outside the Tsing Hua high school passed me a very handy yellow carrier bag, which I used as my carrier bag from now on. But from now on, every time I go through the metro security clearance, I have to let the screen the bag. It does come handy tho. Had yonghe soybean and youtiao. Took bus 86 to the bird nest and water cube. Drizzling. Bought an umbrella for 15 yuan. There was a recreational swim meet going on in the pool. 30 yuan just to see the swimming pool, what a trap. Bird nest was closed. Walked the wrong way to the metro, in the end walked a whole length of station, in drizzle. Two transfers and long walk, finally back to the hotel. Then realize actually there was a direct bus from Bird Nest to the hotel, clearly written on the hotel tourist guide board. Haiz.
Went to Quanjude to have a roast duck dinner at Wangfujing, turned out to be not bad, we love it.
20 May 2012 Sun
A very shy and quiet driver came and pick us up at 7am. We went to first pick up our brekkie at MacDonald’s at Wangfujing. The expressway linking Beijing and Chengde was very straight and green. Along the way you can see many different sections of the Great Wall. We have been through some long tunnels as well. The driver couldn’t quite figure out how to use the cash card for deduction so we ended up have to get delayed at each toll point.
Finally reached Chengde, there were some constructions on-going and we have to detour to go to the main entrance of the Chengde Summer Palace. Walked in and spent sometime in the palace before going to the garden. Separated with my travel partner. Wonder if I should continue or. So went out to get a tour guide and she started walking me around and explained the garden in great rush to me. Mid way through, reunited with my travel partner. We followed her till the mini-bus pick up point for the hill garden tour. The minibus started moving once it has enough passengers. Very hilly terrain. The drizzly weather adds 2 points to the scenery. The bus will stops at strategic viewing locations to let us get down and take some photos on our own. Along the way, you will also see some people walked up the hill without taking the bus. The bus stopped at a high point for us to see the Mini Potala Palace and the surrounding of Chengde. It was at this time that my pants button gave way and came off. From now till I got a new pair of pants in the evening, I am forever in fear that my pants zip will come down and I will strip in front of everyone haha.
The minibus concluded the trip and we went out to find the driver. The driver drove us to see the Potala Palace and we packed our fried rice there, to eat on the way back, hungry. We managed to return to town at around 6pm.
After we freshened up at the hotel, we went out to the street again. I went to the Giordano at Wangfujing to get myself a pair of pants. Not forgetting some shirts of course.
From there, we took a metro to the sanlitun area to have dinner. Long walk from when transferring trains and long walk from the metro station to Sanlitun. Nice place. Lotsa people approached you to ask if you would like to patronize their bars and drinking places. Some ladies were doing bar-top dancing, dressed scantily. We went to have dinner at a Hong Kong restaurant. Nice dishes and the price were reasonable. We went around having a walk around area. The most western part of the whole Beijing I guess.
21 May 2012 Monday
Today was Great Wall day! We woke up early for the trip. It was a Monday so the traffic was understandably not as smooth as yesterday. We couldn’t stop in the middle of the road and buy MacDonald’s brekkie. The driver still stopped at a side road so that we can buy our brekkie. Bynow I can more or less make out the roads to the outskirt side. It always involves a right turn at the Chaoyang overhead pass roundabout. We turned into some country road after some expressway drive and the trees lining up the road made it very scenic. Finally reached the Mutianyu Greatwall section. We went up by ski lift and I must say my heart was hanging in the midair when the chairlift went up. Unlike cable car, it was wind blowing on your face type.
After we reached the top, we started to trek on the great wall itself. From where we alighted, we trekked to Tower 1. Then we trek back to Tower 14. Some were double storey towers, some were one storey towers. The trek took us some good hours. I wore my favorite Columbia shirt to the wall and an angmo lady actually read out what was printed on my shirt while catching her breath. I greeted her in English and she was quite surprised. Another Philipine family wanted me to help them take photo and I obliged. There was a detour to the tower at the site, and no tourist bother to went in. I took the trouble to go there and have some quiet time by myself. And then back to where the toboggan was. The guy behind me in the toboggan was really unlucky. I was controlling the speed all the way while he wanted it fast.
After the trekking, we went to get some souvenirs. Then lunch at a local restaurant. Local authentic fare, not bad in taste tho. I wanted to treat the driver to some beer, he declined, cos need to drive. How silly of me. We carry on to the Ming Tomb nearby. Chengguan people around so we couldn’t stop too near. Lotsa fruit plucking plantations around, cheery, strawberry etc. It was the harvesting season for fruits.
Went to get a tour guide, after we paid the money, turned out that the cute lady that collected my tour guide fee was the one that will lead us around in tour. So hilarious, hands collected our money and next thing she came down from her chair, grab her umbrella and came out of the office. Beautiful tour guide tend to attract admirers. Two guys were following us throughout the whole trip. We had quite an enjoyable tour and the trip back to the hotel was so surprisingly smooth. No jam whatsoever.
We went to Xidan to have dinner at KFC and have a look at the streets of Xidan, nothing much. Went to a salon next door to have a haircut and food massage. The hairdresser and masseur all in one is a young chap from Hebei and very curious of where I came from and everything. He stays in the shop and help out as an assistant while learning.
22 May 2012 Tue
Went to the post office to deliver my tracks to Singapore for fear that it might exceed the hand carry luggage limit. Went to Gongwangfu. A tourist trap. Hard to get a cab at the area.
Finally found a cab. My travel partner wanted to meet a friend working in Beijing. She treated us to lunch. She worked in a vacation rental company, which is a starting trend in China. Her coy has Ctrip as shareholder.
Then we took a cab to Tiantan. After the visit to Tiantan, we took a cab back to Wangfujing. Went o check out of the hotel and deposit out luggage with the concierge. Walked back to Wangfujing to get some earpiece and memory card for the camera. From Wangfujing we took a bus to Sanlitun for dinner. A transfer at Hujialou was all it takes to get to Sanlitun. The food was fabulous. We took a cab back to the hotel and ready to go the airport.
Turned out that the Jetstar staff didn’t really check the baggage we carry on board. Went to the lounge to have some food and nap. The Outdoor magazine they have there was very interesting. Like the lounge chair that allow you to sleep almost flat. Too bad no towel couldn’t use the bathing facility, would be nice if could. I was woken up by travel partner and w went to the gate, the plane was already there waiting for us. This time no entertainment wasted my bought ear piece. Changed my seat to the end of plane to have some good rest.
In the middle of the night, suddenly a woman cried and created a minor commotion on the plane. Apparently she seemed to be upset for not given any in-flight meals. The husband kept consoling her. All the stewards and stewardess came and attend to her, for fear of any larger outbreak. She calmed down in the end and all the passengers woken up by her felt relieved.
18 May 2012 Fri
Gugong this morning! Walked the wrong direction so have to turn back to go to the entrance. Had brekkie on the way. Didn’t quite appreciate their food. Walked in and saw people selling maps at RMB5. Almost tempted to buy but restrained. Queue for the ticket and then realize the maps are available for free. Used the audio guide and found that the explanation was quite ok. Sometimes u may walked too fast ahead and skip some places. No worry, just walk back and the narration will begin. Local tourists only charge ahead and do not visit the palaces on the sides. That gave me some solitude at the side exhibition halls and cool off a bit.
Finished the palace touring at 3pm. Went up to Jingshan to see the whole palace from high ground. Can see Beihai Lake park from this high point. Went down to have our late lunch. I used the phone to sms the train seller and arrange for a place to meet up and collect the model train I ordered. It turned out to be quite far out in the north. We exchanged the merchandise near the control room and took the train set back to the hotel. Silly me took a longer way by transferring to bus, in the end still end up at Tiananmen Square and have to walk back to hotel from there.
Freshen up a lil and we went to Tiananmen to see the flag lowering ceremony in the evening. Initially travel partner wanted to watch shows at night, but after I asked for the price of tix, felt it was not worth it. So didn’t go. Gugong was already closed for the day by then. Tiananmen Square was bustling with people, all eager to wait for the flag lowering ceremony.
At 715pm, they closed the whole Chang An Street. This was really amazing. The busy Chang An Street was closed! Then the military police marched over from Gugong to the Tiananmen Square and the proper flag lowering start. As if the activities are not bustling enough, suddenly a lady broke through the chain barricade and ran forward, shouting “corrupt government and business gang up!!!” in mandarin. The military police quickly mobilized and dragged her back outside the barricade area. Many cameras started to snap away. One brave soul even shouted “take picture take picture”. The commotion died down, and the lady was brought into the police car, not so sure what will happen to her after that. The ceremony ended and we went and walked around.
Took a bus back to Wangfujing. Travel partner and I settled dinner at MacDonald’s. Little did I know this will become the norm for many days to come. Goodness. Night market in Wangfujing was bustling. So many people. And so many things to see. We walked back while passing through a fruit shop. I stocked up water and some fruits.
Went back to the hotel lobby to use free wifi, then listened to the background music, was a song that I wanted to find out the name all along, and never had a chance! Quickly asked the counter reception, and knew the title of the piano piece: Ballade Pour Adeline by Richard Clayderman. A piece that I listened to since I was staying in Desa Jaya and never knew the name! It must be destined that I will only find out the title of the song in Beijing. That was simply unbelievable!
19 May 2012 Sat
Went to Yiheyuan. Long journey. And the old people gang tried their might today to push the through the crowd into the carriages, caused quite a commotion. Laser show by the train outside the carriages, using tunnel as screen, creative.
KFC brekkie. Foggy otherwise nice walk and nice view. Particularly like the bund. Not so much the boat ride. The Chinese folklore stories carved on the wooden beam were amazing. 14000 beams they have.
After Yiheyuan, we had lunch. Partner as usual went to Mac, I had mine at a local shop. Ordered the pear drink again, delicious. Took the metro to yuanmingyuan to see ruins. The maze inside the ruins was interesting.
After Yuanmingyuan, we went to Tsing Hua University. The tuition centre operators waiting outside the Tsing Hua high school passed me a very handy yellow carrier bag, which I used as my carrier bag from now on. But from now on, every time I go through the metro security clearance, I have to let the screen the bag. It does come handy tho. Had yonghe soybean and youtiao. Took bus 86 to the bird nest and water cube. Drizzling. Bought an umbrella for 15 yuan. There was a recreational swim meet going on in the pool. 30 yuan just to see the swimming pool, what a trap. Bird nest was closed. Walked the wrong way to the metro, in the end walked a whole length of station, in drizzle. Two transfers and long walk, finally back to the hotel. Then realize actually there was a direct bus from Bird Nest to the hotel, clearly written on the hotel tourist guide board. Haiz.
Went to Quanjude to have a roast duck dinner at Wangfujing, turned out to be not bad, we love it.
20 May 2012 Sun
A very shy and quiet driver came and pick us up at 7am. We went to first pick up our brekkie at MacDonald’s at Wangfujing. The expressway linking Beijing and Chengde was very straight and green. Along the way you can see many different sections of the Great Wall. We have been through some long tunnels as well. The driver couldn’t quite figure out how to use the cash card for deduction so we ended up have to get delayed at each toll point.
Finally reached Chengde, there were some constructions on-going and we have to detour to go to the main entrance of the Chengde Summer Palace. Walked in and spent sometime in the palace before going to the garden. Separated with my travel partner. Wonder if I should continue or. So went out to get a tour guide and she started walking me around and explained the garden in great rush to me. Mid way through, reunited with my travel partner. We followed her till the mini-bus pick up point for the hill garden tour. The minibus started moving once it has enough passengers. Very hilly terrain. The drizzly weather adds 2 points to the scenery. The bus will stops at strategic viewing locations to let us get down and take some photos on our own. Along the way, you will also see some people walked up the hill without taking the bus. The bus stopped at a high point for us to see the Mini Potala Palace and the surrounding of Chengde. It was at this time that my pants button gave way and came off. From now till I got a new pair of pants in the evening, I am forever in fear that my pants zip will come down and I will strip in front of everyone haha.
The minibus concluded the trip and we went out to find the driver. The driver drove us to see the Potala Palace and we packed our fried rice there, to eat on the way back, hungry. We managed to return to town at around 6pm.
After we freshened up at the hotel, we went out to the street again. I went to the Giordano at Wangfujing to get myself a pair of pants. Not forgetting some shirts of course.
From there, we took a metro to the sanlitun area to have dinner. Long walk from when transferring trains and long walk from the metro station to Sanlitun. Nice place. Lotsa people approached you to ask if you would like to patronize their bars and drinking places. Some ladies were doing bar-top dancing, dressed scantily. We went to have dinner at a Hong Kong restaurant. Nice dishes and the price were reasonable. We went around having a walk around area. The most western part of the whole Beijing I guess.
21 May 2012 Monday
Today was Great Wall day! We woke up early for the trip. It was a Monday so the traffic was understandably not as smooth as yesterday. We couldn’t stop in the middle of the road and buy MacDonald’s brekkie. The driver still stopped at a side road so that we can buy our brekkie. Bynow I can more or less make out the roads to the outskirt side. It always involves a right turn at the Chaoyang overhead pass roundabout. We turned into some country road after some expressway drive and the trees lining up the road made it very scenic. Finally reached the Mutianyu Greatwall section. We went up by ski lift and I must say my heart was hanging in the midair when the chairlift went up. Unlike cable car, it was wind blowing on your face type.
After we reached the top, we started to trek on the great wall itself. From where we alighted, we trekked to Tower 1. Then we trek back to Tower 14. Some were double storey towers, some were one storey towers. The trek took us some good hours. I wore my favorite Columbia shirt to the wall and an angmo lady actually read out what was printed on my shirt while catching her breath. I greeted her in English and she was quite surprised. Another Philipine family wanted me to help them take photo and I obliged. There was a detour to the tower at the site, and no tourist bother to went in. I took the trouble to go there and have some quiet time by myself. And then back to where the toboggan was. The guy behind me in the toboggan was really unlucky. I was controlling the speed all the way while he wanted it fast.
After the trekking, we went to get some souvenirs. Then lunch at a local restaurant. Local authentic fare, not bad in taste tho. I wanted to treat the driver to some beer, he declined, cos need to drive. How silly of me. We carry on to the Ming Tomb nearby. Chengguan people around so we couldn’t stop too near. Lotsa fruit plucking plantations around, cheery, strawberry etc. It was the harvesting season for fruits.
Went to get a tour guide, after we paid the money, turned out that the cute lady that collected my tour guide fee was the one that will lead us around in tour. So hilarious, hands collected our money and next thing she came down from her chair, grab her umbrella and came out of the office. Beautiful tour guide tend to attract admirers. Two guys were following us throughout the whole trip. We had quite an enjoyable tour and the trip back to the hotel was so surprisingly smooth. No jam whatsoever.
We went to Xidan to have dinner at KFC and have a look at the streets of Xidan, nothing much. Went to a salon next door to have a haircut and food massage. The hairdresser and masseur all in one is a young chap from Hebei and very curious of where I came from and everything. He stays in the shop and help out as an assistant while learning.
22 May 2012 Tue
Went to the post office to deliver my tracks to Singapore for fear that it might exceed the hand carry luggage limit. Went to Gongwangfu. A tourist trap. Hard to get a cab at the area.
Finally found a cab. My travel partner wanted to meet a friend working in Beijing. She treated us to lunch. She worked in a vacation rental company, which is a starting trend in China. Her coy has Ctrip as shareholder.
Then we took a cab to Tiantan. After the visit to Tiantan, we took a cab back to Wangfujing. Went o check out of the hotel and deposit out luggage with the concierge. Walked back to Wangfujing to get some earpiece and memory card for the camera. From Wangfujing we took a bus to Sanlitun for dinner. A transfer at Hujialou was all it takes to get to Sanlitun. The food was fabulous. We took a cab back to the hotel and ready to go the airport.
Turned out that the Jetstar staff didn’t really check the baggage we carry on board. Went to the lounge to have some food and nap. The Outdoor magazine they have there was very interesting. Like the lounge chair that allow you to sleep almost flat. Too bad no towel couldn’t use the bathing facility, would be nice if could. I was woken up by travel partner and w went to the gate, the plane was already there waiting for us. This time no entertainment wasted my bought ear piece. Changed my seat to the end of plane to have some good rest.
In the middle of the night, suddenly a woman cried and created a minor commotion on the plane. Apparently she seemed to be upset for not given any in-flight meals. The husband kept consoling her. All the stewards and stewardess came and attend to her, for fear of any larger outbreak. She calmed down in the end and all the passengers woken up by her felt relieved.
