Summary of my China Trip

It was cold. Very in Dalian (-4C) and quite in Shanghai (8C). What I had heard from other people about spitting, dirty toilets I did not see thankfully. Maybe its because these city are a lot better or simplify this is not the season. I do see gambling though.. at first, there were like 3 person playing cards (at the airport) and I went to grab a can of coffee. When I was back, there were like 8 playing and some 10 odd watching. The police are around though. Maybe its legal, I don't know. I would love to take a photo, but I did not to avoid getting myself in trouble. Well, that's in Dalian anyway.

Talking about the airport, I arrived late on Sat and ended up paying rmB45 to get to my hotel. On my return trip, I took public bus. why? Because I simply needed to experience how good/bad it is. Whats the point of being there and not doing it. The result is about 50 mins (as compared to 20 minutes) ride and only RMB1. Well, thats the way to go if you doing budget.

I had travelled to a University of sort in Dalian at the seaside. That one of the best view to get of the seaside I guess at this time. I did not have the time to travel to the other seaside parks, so this will have to do. The wind is pretty big and the sea is wide open. And its blue in case you wonder how it looks. True blue. Not many sea has this color around here. There was a small park there outside of the university and I see people bringing their dogs there. Unleashed. Ya, probably there is no need cos the dogs are pretty well trained and I think people has the right expectation here.







I travelled along the bus routes and visit some parks. The only thing I can say is that the traffic is horrible in Dalian. The traffic light is there, but nobody ever obeys it. Not the vehicles, not the pedestrians. Nobody does. You basically see no cars and make a dash for it. Thats the only thing I hated. I think if you expected any vehicles to slow down or stop for you, you will very likely end up in the morgue. BTW, Dalian has one of the highest moto vehicles fatality in the whole world.





Well, thats about all I can say about Dalian since I am really there for a gew days, but really only about 12 hours of time on my own...

Gearing up for the SubZero

Yes, another major thing about my trip to Dalian is that its subzero temp. Often as low as -5C. I simply would said thats its nothing I have not encountered. I remember it was hell of a -25C in the Canberra when I as there on the cold days in many years. But of course, that night I was dead a sleep in a few layers of blanket indoor.

This trip will be simple. I would be covered most of the time and as such I am not planning much for the sightseeing unless I can adapt to the weather and the coastal breezes. However, there are 2 (or more) trips I must make to get to the work place which is like 20 mins walk probably across a few roads. The weather however will not be on my side.

So, I had to get a couple of wool clothes, gloves (boy, I love those ski gloves, but I have absolutely no use for them) and scraf. I also recall you can probably get heatbags, but I did not see any of those here...

Well, from what I heard, the weather will not be the least of my problem. the traffic is a bloody riot my friend say. Dalian has one of the highest moto vechicles fatality rate in the world. Thats the strong statement. Anyway, I will have to pack mobile and light. I do hope my cranky laptop will survive the subzero temperature as well.

Going to Dalian Soon

Yes, its finally going to happen. After I had to passed my previous trips to Shanghai and Shenzhen, I am finally going to land on China and the first city is here. Well, technically, not really, I will be in Pudong for like 5 hours to wait for my transit... Thats probably a good time for me to think about my stuff and write my long awaiting money report.

But this is not goingto be a leisure trip the way I see it. I will need to be in on a Sunday for work and I will spend my X'mas on the redeye flight back. Thats not really sad consider I am not much of a X'mas guy.

Anyway, this trip will be significant not in term of where I am, but rather its my first oversea assignment and I will see to it that this wont be the last. Will try to blog when I get there.

M18 Pearl at OG

It was a sunny day and I just drop by OG to stock up on my regular supplements. OG offers a different variety of brands from Robinson and other places, so I can find more option for Bee Propolis etc. Anyway, there was always this Pearl shop at OG, well, at least in Bugis OG. With a purchase of $20, you can collect a voucher which you can collect a free pearl from them. Then after that they will try to sell you their silverware, necklaces at overprice rates.

I had always been very unhappy with this shop, and so happens that day it turns out the chinese girl and her chinese manager REALLY pissed me off. So, I had to pick a fight with them on this very day.

They used to give unlimited pearls as long as you have vouchers and receipts for $20 or more each. Then they limited it to 2 per person. That I can still understand, and in the past, I even totally give up on it due to the queue. However, today there were NOBODY at the queue.

First, there was a sign which I find damn offensive. Pearl ONLY for people 18 years old and above. WTF? Must show IC to collect now liao? I dont have the problem with this age limit, but really.. WTF? Imagine a rich 17 years bought some expensive clothes. Does that means she cannot collect? Does it? And why the hell 18? Does it contain some adult stuff? Drugs (like cigarettes)? To me, this is down right discrimination on age.

That aside, since it did not affect me, I was told I can only collect 1 pearl. Err... OK, I have kinda like 6 vouchers. I told her imagine I queue again la, just give me one more at least 1 pair or something... The uncle peeling the pearl is at least kind and he say 2 is ok la... Then guess what? That F*cking china bitch come in took all my vouchers away and stamp all my receipts!! What? Scare I give other people take or what? Then guess what? She still insist on giving 1 only because that is THEIR rule she say.

Under the situation where there is a big crowd, I will just cool off. But there is NOBODY there. So, I decide that this will be THE DAY. So I insist to complain. I want to talk to their manager. Ah, f*ck, I did not get her in the picture, but she is the one wearing white and she stood and say she is the manager and give me a damn sia lan face. I explain that I had purchase so much from OG, take one more is also ok la... Moreover, what will I do with 1 pearl, I dont want to have a one sided earring. then she explain and say this one not her problem, they are not from OG and whatever we bought is not her problem and blah blah...

I think that totally reflect very badly on the whole. OG must had selected a very bad company to work with. Don't want to give, dun pretend to be generous! What try to promote people to buy more? OG should just tell everybody to buy only $20 cos you can't get more than 1 pearl anyway. And even I reason that so if I queue again cannot meh? that bitchy manager say she will regconise me. So, now its personal ha? I totally blow my top. I decided that I need to reach higher authority to resolved this and she has picked a very bad day to have this fight with me!

So, I went calmly to the OG service center and ask for the OG manager in charge. So, a lady in black came. I tried to explained it as calmly as I can, but I seriously don't think I did a good one at that kind of blood pressure. Nevertheless, she offered to accompany me to the Pearl store again.

Things after that does not come with a twist anymore. As usual, she talked to the manager and the manager tried to argued with her etc... In the end the OG manager made her give all 6 pearl to me. I thank the manager at least at solving this. Seriously, if they had given me 2, I will not even have to come to this. I also understand the difficulties and that they problably think they lost money on this. I do hope OG stop partnering them in the future...

Things to take from here :

1. Can't stand the queue, don't bother. Its for 1 f*cking pearl only.

2. Somehow the pearl are for adult only. So, if you look under 18 and do not want to risk IC checks situation, don't bother.

3. Don't by any overprice stuff from them. Lets hope they fold soon with such bad ass sale bitches.