As mentioned in the last post, I had been to Shanghai on last weekend and returned from it on Monday. So before setting off to Shanghai on last Saturday, my partner and I went to a nearby travel agency to collect our pre-ordered train ticket, which costs around RMB35. Then, we checked in and boarded into the designated train. Slightly over an hour, we reached Shanghai. For convenience’s sake, we purchased the return train ticket at Shanghai train ticket office. For your information, the crowd around Shanghai train station is really overwhelming. This is a clear evidence of many people from other provinces come to Shanghai, seeking for better life. Wow.




Anyway, we and Ivan, who had kindly entertained us for the three days in Shanghai, still managed to find each other at one of the metro exits. Shortly then, we took a ride by metro to People’s Square (a.k.a. Renmin Guangchang), which is most convenient to go to the Bund, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Urban Museum and Peace Hotel (a.k.a Heping Fandian). Then after that, we have taken a cab to Shanghai’s Old Town, where Shanghai Old Street (a.k.a. Shanghai Lao Jie) and the Taoist of the Town God (Chenghuang Miao) are situated. And this is where I can see the mysterious and foreboding alleys, which are selling a wide variety of souvenir, antiques and local delights like Xiao Long Bao.





Before evening of the first day, we returned back to People’s Square to have dinner and view the night scenery of the Bund. However, there was light drizzle while we were taking photos at the Bund. Haha…that’s also when Ivan displayed his best gentleman manner by helping me to hold the umbrella while I was taking the photos. And the first day ended with us going to Songjiang, where Ivan and his partner are having their industrial attachment.




On the second day, we explored around Songjiang like its town district, the Fangta Garden (a.k.a. Fangta Yuan), and a factory outlet, which sells a number of branded goods, like Nike and Geox, at discounted prices. And at night, we had local delicacy for dinner. And that’s when I felt so great to be in China, as I can afford to dine, play and shop. Everyone will love that. Right?




And as for the third day, as Ivan and his partner have to work, we set off early to travel back to Shanghai’s downtown to visit the Bund again, have lunch and go around nearby shopping malls. At around 4pm, we went off from Shanghai back to Wuxi. Haha…and for the return trip, we got to be in the new bullet train-like train. It looks so much better than the older trains. By the way, these new trains are still under testing, as reported on the local television programme.






So the Shanghai trip is considered great as I got to see my friends, and the lifestyle of China’s most prosperous major city. I’ll go back to Shanghai again to shop and explore. Shanghai is certainly a city nobody should miss when one comes to China. Cheers, Shanghai!

I just got back not too long ago from the residence of my colleague, Daisy. And I had dinner with her earlier on at the restaurant near Baoli shopping mall, and even accompanied her to buy some necessities. Haha...I must say that going with her tonight is a real surprise to me. I guess I have known another colleague better today.

Anyway, while chatting with her, I found some sad but real facts of local Chinese. Most people in China, especially the coastal areas, are simply average in terms of their wealth. And when it comes to buying apartment, cars, imported goods, and even raising a child, it's like making yourself a starving slave for the local banks like Bank of China. Just imagine that a normal clerk's pay is around RMB 2500 and an apartment outside the town district is around RMB 250,000. Without any consideration, one can say that this clerk will likely work for more than 10 years to pay off this housing loan, which includes interest. Goodness. I can understand why Daisy said that many local Chinese will feel stressed nowadays. Money is making and causing things.

Okay, I'll have to rest now as it's getting real late. And I won't be working tomorrow and the coming Monday, as the company's management decides to shut down it while many staffs have left for the company's annual trip, which is a 7 days Thailand trip for this time. However, the two off-days will be made up on April 28 and 29. But I'm still happy about it as I'll have more time for this weekend to go to Shanghai with my partner to take a look and visit Ivan and Li Yin. Wow, more happy things can expect very soon.

I just had dinner with Technical Support in a restaurant or Fan Dian, which is a 5 minutes’ walk away from my place. And I guess this is indeed a good session to see local delicacies and the local Chinese’s behaviour in such happy occasion. Oh, I have surprisingly drunk 5 cups or more of beer, which my partner told me it contains more than 30% of alcohol content. So it seems like my drinking capability isn’t that bad as I thought, despite I only drink red wine for rare occasions.

Seriously, the rest of the colleagues have impressed me by drinking bottles of beer, and Chinese hard liquor, which has an alcohol content of 52%. This is not something common to be seen in my country, especially my fellow countrymen are more aware to their health nowadays. Haha…though drinking so much alcohol is not good for health, doing it once in a blue moon is still acceptable. All one needs to do then after that is to have a balanced diet for at least a week, to recover to the tip-top health condition.

Anyway, while I’m typing this post, I’m actually listening to David Huang’s latest album, Passion. I must say it’s an album you shouldn’t miss as David has delivered catchy yet heart-touching music, such as “Passion”, “After The Rain”, and my favourite “I Love You I Love You” in it. I guess many will be able to feel his passion in music and life, after listening to the 12 tracks, like I do. Hmm…it seems that David Huang has found the way he sings to the best to express his thoughts and emotions.

Hmm…it’s getting late now. I guess my body needs to rest after a long day’s activity. May every tomorrow be so interesting and beautiful in my eyes.