Saturday, March 6, 2010

Highlights on my ChengDu trip during CNY 2010

Haven't been blogging for quite awhile. Let me release a bit of stress blogging... a bit on my recent ChengDu trip during Chinese New Year 2010. (13th till 18th Feb 2010)

A brief summary about ChengDu: capital of Sichuan Province, and also home ground to the GIANT PANDAs. It is also famous for its picturesque landscape.

1) 1st time experienced SNOW in real life but not enough to make a SNOWMAN. The weather was real good throughout the trip.

2) FREEEZING to death without proper attire but family members all wrapped up like dumplings. Anyway, I survived the cold weather. Didn’t really like wearing the long johns and the woolly material clothings. We all end up buying a pair of BOOTS for the snow mountain hike. Each pair cost about RM25.


* One of my nephew almost fainted due to latitude sickness while at the top of the Glacier
Falls. We even have to buy a small tube of Oxygen for him.

3) Met the famous GIANT PANDAs but not willing to part with RM250-RM500 just to have a picture together. The prices depends on the size of the panda. Taking picture with an adult panda requires 500 Renminbi while with the baby panda, you got to pay 1K Renminbi.
We end up taking picture with the fake panda instead. Hahaha. * My tour guide mentioned that taking pictures with the pandas is Japanese tourists’ favourite.


4) Visited the famous “Jinli Old Street”, which is one of the oldest shopping street in Sichuan.
5) Visited the “Dujiangyan”, famous for its irrigation system and also visited the famous “WuHou Temple”. You would appreciate it even more if you study China History.

6) Watched the famous show of “Magical Face Change” or more known as "Bian Lian" in Chinese. There are also some other mini shows included to complement it. i.e. traditional dances, traditional musical instruments playing.

7) Tried a variety of their famous local food there. Even tried the “Ma La” steamboat or more known as “Hot Pot” over there. Ate till my tongue went numb.


8) Watched and played firecrackers and fireworks legally there. The way they sell and play the firecrackers like nobody's business over there.


9) Cannot stand the “OPEN” and “SIMPLICITY” concept of the toilets there. i.e. no door, no water and super dirty....
So, depends on where you are heading too... do old on to hydration else you just have to do it in the open. hahaha...
* Sorry for displaying this disgusting picture. Trust me... there are worse toilets out there... just didn't take the pictures. =p


10) Will not be able to survive long with the food there. Food there mostly are hot and spicy, plus swimming in OIL. Our tour guide was a pretty nice lady to actually alter all our dishes to less oil and not spicy to cater for my 2 nephews.

LIFE is "GREAT"


Thanks to this "CLEVER" fella at my office who do not organise things well, I had to wake up early this morning to go all the way to East Coast Park to get a bicycle last minute. I hope no more nightmares and surprises this time. Keep my fingers crossed.

I was initially so happy, excited and so looking forward to my 1st ever 40km Cycling Challenge on the road this Sunday (7th March 2010), though I have to wake up at 3-4am to be there by 5am. After collecting my race pack last night, my excitement sort of say buh-bye to me. = (

Went to collect the pack straight after work and was there till 9 something and Piggy would have eat me up if there's no 'Old Chang Kee' stall there. Hahaha.. Piggy and her colleague were so nice to stay back and wait with me. Thanks ya. = )

This cycling event "OCBC Cycling" was suppose to be a fully sponsored one by the company BUT the organiser at my company kinda screwed up a bit. The bike rental was not properly managed so me and my colleagues ended with no bike coupons tagged to our bib numbers. Arrghhh... so we all got the cycling jerseys and bib numbers but "NOBIKE" on that day!!!

Tomorrow is d-day but no more mood dy... * sigh... going off to rent my bike now...

Thursday, March 4, 2010

JLPT3 ごうかくしました! ^=^

Just got my results couple of days ago. So happy to have passed the exam, better than expected. Next would be JLPT2 but decided not to take any exam this year coz gotta spend more time on it. Next level is more difficult and Piggy will be taking it this year. Ganbatte!! =>

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Everyday is a Monday

Latest favourite song by Laura Pausini...

Everyday is a Monday
================

Feels like I've been frozen in time
And I'm looking for an easy way
To get on with my life
But I know, you're the one to tell
I´ve been putting on a masquerade
I ain't doing that well

Everything has crashed
And I'm losing this game
Can't help myself but wonder
Do you feel the same?

How could I ever say goodbye
Everyday is a monday
Without you by my side
I must have been a fool to try
Everyday is a monday
Without you in my life

Tell me, it's a big mistake
'Cause I kinda learned my lesson
More than I can take
Freedom, had a price to pay
I don't want to be the one
To throw it all away

Everything has crashed
And I'm losing this game
Can't help myself but wonder
Do you feel the same?

Repeat Chorus

We were the weekend, always living to be free
Now I'm stuck here on monday, when I need you
Everyday of the week

Everything has crashed
And I'm losing this game
Can't help myself but wonder
Do you feel the same?

Repeat Chorus

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Simply Ballroom

Had a great time watching the "Simply Ballroom" with Piggy today. The dancers were all very wonderful especially my lengchai dancer. Hahaha...

They dance all the Latin as well as the Standard Ballroom dances... from Rumba, Cha Cha, Tango, Mambo, Salsa to Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot and Paso Doble... After watching them, felt so motivated to dance along. Kinda miss my dancing class... = )

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Safari Zoo Run 2010

Just had my 1st run of the year at the Singapore Zoo today (6th Feb 2010). It was just a FUN Run of 6.2km, running the route in both Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.



It was pretty fun running while taking pictures of the animals. Didn't really feel the 6km distance. Guess coz busy chit chatting and taking pictures while enjoying the view. There were even a lot of people running with their prams with the babies/kids.


There's only 1 thing that I didn't really like about the run. They release the people in batches at the starting point as the trail is very narrow.


Anyway, it was a fun experience but don't think I will join again next year. = )


* Here's some pix taken during the run...

At the Starting Point...waiting for the releases in batches...

Running past the elephants at the Night Safari...
Zebra crossing....
Running with the kids...





Running with prams....

Friday, January 1, 2010

2010 New Year Resolutions

Boy... what a way to start year 2010... eat till burst, walk till 'kaki-patah' and shop till drop...
Brought my parents around Lion City shop shop... so damn tired especially after last night's countdown at Asian Civilisation Museum... not as great as expected but did get some glimpse of fireworks but big crowds of people.

Anyway, I hope everyone have a nice countdown whether cozily at home or squashed like sardine with the pack of people out there....Happy New Year 2010 to All!!!

Here's my NEW resolutions for year 2010... :)

1. 65kg by June 2010 and 60kg by Dec 2010.
2. Continue to nurture my soul with more spiritual food.
3. Climb Mt KK (if my friend's friend plan is still on...)
4. Start training in order to run my 1st 21km.
5. Cut down my tea/caffeine intake by at least max 5 cups a week. *sigh, drank 3 cups 2day.. = (
6. Work on the iron level to be able to donate in year 2010.
7. Plan a backpacking trip to Europe.
8. To be able to swim 200 metres. (one of the pre-requisite for taking up diving)
9. Get a diving license in basic 'PADI OPEN WATER DIVING'.
10. Take up a new sport/activity for a challenge.

May this 2010 Tiger year be a good year for me and everyone! =>