Xmas Getaway Day 1

This post had been delayed and delayed, so I decided that I should finished it once and for all. That's the trouble with not having a laptop or mobile device to document the events on the spot...

Anyway, it as 23 Dec 2010. Xmas Eve. We choose Xmas Eve because that's Silent Night after all. There was a small hiccups because I made a mistake when I booked the tickets regarding the time in AM and PM. The original ticket was for the night bus. Fortunately, it was found out early and we managed to fix it with a little additional money. But the boarding location had been changed and so we had to really rush. We were right on time and managed to clear everything night and easy. Ok, except the overhead bridge. Damn it is really challenging to carry the luggage over one.

The bus trip was straight forward and we had the usual lousy TV with the pirated movie. It was showing Apocalytica I think. In any case, it would had been a bad movie even if it was on Bluray. We stopped at the usual bus rest place and we tried to cut down buying anything there because we know how much cheaper it will be when we go to ChinaTown later. But I also remember the lesson that we didn't have food and were damn hungry last year, so I bought something to munch on just in case. Fortunately this year, we did not have to go through that.

After we changed our tickets, we should be stopping at the Palace of the Golden Horses. However, the bus actually went all the way in to KL and made a stop nearby our hotel. I thought that was the perfect time to get off. It saved us some time and money to get back into the city from the Palace. But once again I had missed the chance to go to the Palace because I had always wanted to. Since the days of its glory, until its decadents today.

We arrived at our Hotel and were told that our room will not be read yet, so we had to drop our luggage and grab some food instead. We went to a vegetarian store across the road last year and it was good. I wondered if it will still be there. Surely, when we approached it, we notice the same old stores and owners. I am almost happy in a way. Miss the cheap and good food. We ordered something simple and good. Fried Rice and Ice Milo.

It was really cheap and I can't help myself telling the shop owner that we actually came back from Singapore all the way just to taste his food. He told us he also serve night dishes for dinner. I thought I might drop by one night to try it out, but alas, I did not manage to find a dinner slot this trip.

After lunch, we passed by the 7-11 like store which was there last year too. I bought some basic stuff such as the shaver (which was a mistake since I actually brought my electric shaver and I forgot) and herbal tea. The herbal tea was something rather unique which we dun see around much. The herbal tea are actually small packets of actual herbs which you can put with hot water and drink. No fake stuff. All real ingredients. Here is a photo of it:

Because of this, we had a great time eating all the hot stuff and did not suffer any heatiness this trip. 

We went back to the hotel and we were still unable to check in. Well, I am really going to give a Negative for Swiss Garden this time. They offered us a welcome drink, which was essentially a small glass of orange juice. We finished it and start looking around in the lobby. I noticed that the cake shop was still around. We did not managed to buy any cake last time, maybe we would this time. But unfortunately, we missed all the timing for the discount cakes for the next 3 days. But here is one which I thought looked a little bit like Angry Bird, the Red color one anyway...

Anyway, our room eventually was ready and we went up for a rest, unpack and plan. Of course, before we forgotten, we booked the free shuttle to China town for the night as well. 

Now, that was Silent Night. And of course, who would miss a Xmas Party / Dinner. Strangely when I arrived, I found that there were already reservation for the both of us. I thought that was rather strange. And it turns out that it was actually a mistake which the staff made. It was made by someone else, but its not like its free either. We were one of the first to reach (because we wanted to go to ChinaTown) and we were surprised by the stuff on the table.

There were party hats and other fun stuff in the boxes. We were almost glad we "made" the reservation (which of course we din't). Anyway, we started to dig in. Now Swiss Garden is really famous for their pasties. There were so many of them at the buffet. Here are some of them:

And of course, how can we miss out the Turkey!

We had a fun and full meal and we proceed to ChinaTown to basically buy some cheap stuff, enjoy the view and made a short trip to the book store (and bought nothing). We were dead tired by the time all that is over because we had a long day getting there... So it was a good and sound sleep on the first night.

(To be Continued...)

Alisan Express is finally fucked!

Its not that I have no faith in the old man up there, but divine retribution is simply taking far too long...
If you recalled, Alisan had really pissed me off in a previous holiday when I blogged in:

http://nemesisv.blogspot.com/2010/02/xmas-getaway-09-epilode-really.html

Now it is about fucking time they close shop, but not in a good way. Apparently, the boss had ran back to Malaysia with all the customer's money leaving them with no coach, no money and a wreaked holiday. Totall sucks, man.

Details:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1074007/1/.html

I hope they get the bastard for it. See, thats why I do not believe in divine retribution.

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.