May 14, 2009 Summer Vacation Day 4

Thursday, we checked out of the hotel we were putting up at HK at 10am.

Apparently coach tickets to Shenzhen can be bought at convenient stores. ZY bought the tics for us and informed us that the coach will arrive at about 12pm.

We had to carry our luggage with us, trying to look for a place to have brunch. HK is of course famous for it's 茶餐厅. So we went into a wanton noodle store and had wanton noodles! Very HK drama style! Haha...

Menu are hand written on paper and paste it on the wall.

Check out all the types of noodles in the background!

After hanging around at the shop, we had nothing else better to do than to wait for the coach to arrive so we could continue to catch some winks. We were supposed to fill in those visa cards thing, similar to when we want to go JB. Shenzhen is part of PRC... using RMB... Actually, HK also part of China isn't it? But HK still uses HKD hor?

After an hour coach ride, we checked in into the hotel at Shenzhen which ZY booked. It seems like a new hotel cos the furnish looked new and there were still some on-going constructions happening. We were greeted by a very cheerful, smiley bellboy. He was polite & courteous. He helped us all with the luggage up to our floors and told us all the facilities etc.

We settle down in our respective rooms a bit before meeting downstairs at the lobby to decide where to go. ZY approached the bellboy and asked if there were any nearby malls or shopping area to visit? I really like the bellboy's attitude, very earnest & sincere. He doesn't look like someone who grew up in the city... seems like a boy from small town or something and working here in Shenzhen.

We mainly followed ZY around. So we walked around the hotel's vicinity and came by this place called Dong Men Ding. 
I was -_-" cos clearly they modeled after Taiwan's Ximen Ding lor.

It's probably like Shenzhen's Orchard Rd.

So we went inside to try to find something to eat again before gathering energy for a long walk till nightfall. We chanced by this Good Noodle House. Food display looks good but it was empty inside. It was quite a huge place but only a couple inside. Our mentality is, if not a lot of customers means food serving time is quite fast right?

Later on we figured why it was quite empty. The food really CMI. Presentation not nice, food taste weird. We wondered if it was expired ingredient? We left without finish the food. I didn't take pictures also la... so kns anyway.

And then we parted ways again, arranging to meet at this building's entrance at 7pm. Dearie & I walked around looking at the shops which resemble those in Far East Plaza & Bugis Junction... Though the clothes are affordable but the style... erm... weren't really in style. I'd say some were quite old fashion. Or at least the fashion seemed like it was a few years back and more catered for cheena target audience. =X

After walking for almost 2hrs, Dearie & I didn't really fancy anything. The ppl there weren't even lookers, a bit sian also. As we didn't eat a lot at the crappy noodle house, we decided to have something at a fast food outlet.

The amusing thing about this fast food is that, they are selling Bruce Lee's trademark? 
I dunno how to explain but in Chinese it's called 真功夫. Yes it's a franchise.


You see what I mean? Even got mascot logo.

ZGF They sell Chinese-style fast food! Like Porridge + dimsum, noodles + small dish, chinese desserts, beverage those kind. Haha, you can check out their official website ! Not sure if it's only in Guangzhou or whole of China? Cos I didn't see it when I was in Suzhou or Shanghai.

And then, just when we thought we have nothing to shop...
UNIQLO SPOTTED!!!

Haha! We spent a good old 2 hours inside shopping! Dearie bought 4 tops or something cos it was totally his style. I only bought shorts, socks, leggings etc. LOL! Not like it's not available in SG but I think different countries may have different collections?

So it was time to meet up with the whole family for dinner... 
just snapping random pics while waiting...



I think I kinda understand it might be emulating Korea's DongDaeMun also. East Gate! LOL!

We had dinner at a typical Chinese restaurant. Those kinda zi cha style but with better presentation.
I like their milktea! It's so cool that they put the ice outside to make it cold 
instead of adding ice together with the drink itself! Why like that ah? So that the drink doesn't get diluted?

After dinner, just a little bit more walking...
TOILET THEMED restaurant, imagine your food served in a toilet bowl. :D

As the crowd get bigger, it was getting a little scarier cos... I had witness several scary things:

  • We walked passed a girl crying to a police officer that her things were stolen. There was a big slice/cut on her bag.
  • A group of authorities was to approach a nearby shop asking them to shutdown as they gave customers back counterfeit notes. Everyone were watching the shop owners keeping their racks of clothes back into their shop.
  • Out in the open, we saw a boy, about 12 years old? Skinny, walking a cute little dog. He approached a group of teenage girls who went oooh & awww at the cute little dog and there he were striking one of their bags and snatched a purse away and ran away quickly, leaving the poor victim crying.
  • Further down the street, that boy with the dog strike again as he cut off the strap of a guy's sling back from behind and ran away!!!!

WTF!!!! We were walking really close with one another and looking around. We saw a lot of suspicious looking ppl and were holding onto our belongings for dear life.

Suay suay the further we walk, the further away we were from our hotel and we got lost. Sibei jia lat, ZY braved up and approached a few officers asking for directions but even then, also cannot believe if the officers are corrupted or not and will ask for money etc. Luckily didn't.

We walked through the main road trying to get back to the hotel asap. There were a lot of beggars on the walkway, begging for money. We saw a child beggar hogging the leg of a guy who were with his friends. SHIT MAN! I did not like what I was seeing at all.

While walking halfway, Dearie covered my eyes and said, "Baby, don't look there." 

I was very scared. He held me close and after walking for about a minute, he let go of his hand and I asked him what was it? 

He said, "Got very er xin looking beggar without eyes and some 断手断脚 ones." 

I was like, "Huh? What you mean without eyes?" He said, "His eyes were gorged out already. No eyeballs." I squirm & winced....

Aiyo... it was a terrible 15-20min walk back out of the crowd. It was clearly too complicated to walk there at night. Definitely not safe to go out alone. Even with a friend or with bf/gf also not safe. Must big group then probably more safe.

We finally made way to our hotel. Seeing the hotel entrance made me felt so relief. Washed up and prepared to sleep for a long day ahead.....

May 15, 2009 Summer Vacation Day 5

Friday, got up early in the morning and waited for the rest of his family. 
Camwhored a bit at the comfy lounge. Sorry it's a bit blur.
It was quite cosy inside!

I was glad they had internet access! 
I could check my email and see who's online on gmail to chat a little as well!

We went to a nearby dim sum restaurant for breakfast! 
A little lovey dovey pics...


Food taste marvellous!


After a filling breakfast, there was a sport shop right outside the dim sum restaurant! 
Haha! Got Dearie to pose...

We then took the subway/train over to the tourist spot. It was a hot hot day! 
This was the Cultural Village place we were visiting!



Nice periwinkles! Hehe I still remember what it's called!

Got other tourist to take group photos of us!


We purchased tickets to go inside and was welcomed by one of their sales personnel or something cos she asked if we needed guide who will explain the places for us. She said this is huge place and if we walked alone we might get lost and not familiar... with a guide and transport, we don't need to walk so long & so far...

Sounds like a good offer during a hot day like that. 
So we were told that our carriage is a little donkey! Or mule?

It's so pretty!

The whole cultural place is basically miniature landmarks from all over the world 
but I guess there are most focus of those in China itself... like these...



It's the Forbidden City behind Dearie.

I think this is E Mei Shan or something?

Oh ya, this is Le Shan, the famous Buddha Statue 
which appeared in Feng Yun or probably other sword fighting movies & dramas before!



And then this is Yunnan's Stone Forest (Shi Lin). 
I'd personally been there before 9 years ago!


Every since ZY had his own wedding photos taken, he keep telling us to pose like that... 
very cheesy but we still follow! Haha!

Ok next we came by this thousand-hand Guanyin temple. 
Being an absolute devotee, Xiang's parents needed to get down to make some offerings.
Everything went downhill after this pic was taken.

I actually wasn't interested in all these and wanted to wait outside. But Xiang told me not to be rude and just follow the elders so I followed them reluctantly. So we were all handed 3 joss sticks to kneel and pray and placed it inside the urn containing ashes & joss stick. 

RED FLAG #1
I thought after doing that yi si yi si can leave but no, we were all individually brought in front to those monks/shifu.

I was looking at Dearie & Aunty but they were all led to other monks/shifus. I'm like oh shit... don't come and preach to me please. 

So the shifu started with asking me about my birthday so I said. He asked, "Born in year of pig huh?" I nodded "Uh." Then he started to to crap about pigs are being blessed blablabla..... Say that I'm a good & kind person, 好人有好报，善有善报 etc.

RED FLAG #2
Then after he finished his crap, he asked me how much I am willing to contribute? I was a bit shocked. This kind of things is voluntary one right? I can choose not to give anything right? 

RED FLAG #3
He then showed me a book, inside stated a lot of visitor's name and the amount they contributed. I looked at Dearie & Aunty... but the monk was like, "You don't have to look at them. It's up to you individually, how much you feel you're willing to give." Then he began to crap about the more amount we give, the more blessed we'd receive blablabla.... tmd, mai lai la!

RED FLAG #4
Initially I wanted to give RMB10 but the smallest note I have in my wallet is 50, even then divide by 5 into SGD is $12, more than enough for mere joss stick lor! Then he flipped through the books and said ppl contributed 500, 400. He even said Aunty (who was in front of me earlier) contributed RMB200. 

RED FLAG #5
At first he asked me to also contribute 200 but I diao him and said "100 jiu hao ba" but he stopped me and said, "You listen to me (ni tong wo de), you will be blessed blablabla if you blablabla. You listen to me won't go wrong!"

Wah lau sibei sian, use this kinda tactic to beg for money. To shut him and zao, I unwillingly contributed RM200, which is about SGD$50+. After I'd given him, I feel extremely stupid. I don't even bear to spend on a shirt/top for $50 lor!! WAH LAU EH! I feel they're 诈骗集团 but cos Xiang's parents are very religious I don't want to say anything yet.

Since all of us contributed something, the younger monks quickly helped us burn more joss sticks and say prayers for us and told us to get some 佛珠 bracelets & necklaces etc. Alamak useless to me... sorry not trying to diss Buddhists but.... geez...

We even gotten a group picture up there...
Though I was smiling for the camera but I extremely sian to part with SG$50+ for NOTHING!!! 
These joss sticks made of gold is it!!!! Stupid ashes...

So everyone finished and we all asked how much each of us paid. GOODNESS GRACIOUS! The total amt which 6 of us paid is a grand total of RMB2000 which is close to SGD500+! SMLJ!!! 500 can do a lot of things lor.

The guide was urging us back to the carriage and continue the tour as we haven't seen the other parts yet. But all of didn't have the mood anymore...

I wasn't really paying attention anymore, just randomly clicking...



During the rest of the tour, we felt something wrong. Where got temple/monk FORCE you to give an amount one? And some more it's a ridiculous amount! I was very buay song and suggested to find the management to talk.

We asked the guide to call up her supervisor whom she calls 主任. We went back to the temple and waited for the guy to show up. He kept saying that the temple do not have income and their maintenance comes from tourist contributions but... wah kao! Voluntary one is it? Where got monk open mouth ask you to contribute SGD50! Not robber is what???

We demanded to be refunded cos it's too ridiculous. I threaten to say that this is a reputable tourist spot and we won't hesitate to spread this incident to caution tourist not to step into here with monks cheating & scamming them so much money. The 主任 then got the temple's in charge to talk privately. Although they were some distance away but I could still hear the in-charge was claiming it's we 自愿 give the money, they did not force us.

WAH WHAT CHEEK! Those buggers ming ming told us to "listen to them" lor... I sibei dulan & hot and said, even product company also allow refund no question asked. Now we on the spot change our mind cannot ah? What the fuck is this? Making our holiday miserable & fucked up got what benefit to you? I was clearly pissed.

I didn't care if I was showing disrespect in front of Xiang's parents. I bet the 主任 was telling the shifu to refund us and let the matter rest. OF COS LA! I'd seen the book where ignorant & blindly-spiritual ppl contributed RMB1000-2000 that kind lor, from one person. If 10 ppl or even 100 ppl also contribute that amount, how will they not get rich?

I was making quite a din and we eventually got back full refund. But being the soft-hearted Buddist, Xiang's mom will represent us to give them RMB200 again. SGD50+ for 6 ppl for some stupid joss sticks & oil is ok right? 

But Xiang's dad went to put back the RMB600 he contributed earlier claiming that he has already given that amount to god sincerely, how can he take it back?

Orgh! I wanna die! Spent so much time & effort to get back the RMB2000 only to have RMB800 being thrown in again. Aunty was pissed and kept quarreling with Uncle along the way....

Sigh... what trip is this? Make me sian also... 出来开开心心，却遇到这种事。

The guide had been a great help so we also tipped her more since she could have taken another group of tourist for the time she spent with us. 

Pics taken with guide before leaving the place...


The guide was nice enough to tell us to forget about the earlier and don't let it affect the next place we're visiting. She said go on vacation is try our best to enjoy and she wish we enjoy our stay in Shenzhen.

Sigh... what a kind & polite girl who was quite similar to our Shenzhen hotel bellboy. I guess at least there are kind souls like them who made the vacation trip worthwhile ba. Sometimes it's through bad things that you appreciate the good things. Right?

Anyway, we took the subway trains and went to visit the next tourist spot, Windows Of The World. They call it 世界之窗. The view was really good enough to let us forget the dulanness we experienced earlier.

ZY took this awesome shot that looked like a movie still!

Weather was still very hot that Dearie could barely open his eyes!

A little silhouetted but still nice!

KISS KISS!!!

See the Lourve Museum in the back?
That's supposed to be the shelter when you come out of the train's exit.

Upon entering we saw some wall carvings (fake of course)... Aunty must have love this a lot!


Dasao is really very small size... I looked like a freaking giant beside her. 
But ZY looked ok beside her leh... but cos he's also very slim too ba?

A nice traditional Chinese gate!

We decided to take the monorail that was over looking the whole premise.

The views were magnificent!


These are supposed to be the European, Dutch style buildings?


Not quite sure what these flowers are but they're beautiful!

The Lourve Museum again...

We were pretty tired of walking so we decided to ride in one of these.... SO FUN!






We came by Thailand & Cambodia

I believe this is Ang Kor Wat.

We stopped by and took pics at "India"... pic of Taj Mahal.



ZY was nice to take pretty photos of us, so I also wanted take pretty pics for them... But...

But er... Dasao wasn't tall enough so the waterfall covered her.

This is Sydney Oprah House!

Continuing our journey!! Dearie looks very funny! HAHAHA....
He really has so many expressions everytime!!! WHY SO CUTO!!!!



LABU LABU!!!


Tower of Pisa!

Is this some famous Famous Milan Gothic Church/Cathedral

Pretty Holland!

Then we came by the absolutely romantic France. 
It was sunset so the pics got silhouetted but still looked stunning!


I love Dearie forever!!! Just as Dearie will love me forever too!! Muahaha...

We were racing with time as there was a time limit to return the vehicle. I think they'd charge extra if we return it late... So we didn't have time to really check out other landmarks at the other parts.

Along the way maybe a little shots here & there...

We were at Egypt area! There was supposed to be some show 
or some kinda space open for visitors but it was closed when we got there...

No idea what the brothers were trying to do! LOL!!


Yi si yi si took some pics!

Finally returned the vehicles and took some parting shots of the place before it gets dark.

Every entry ticket entitled to a seat at the evening show. 
Was camwhoring and snacking while waiting for the show to start.

End up, it's some abstract dance performance on Trojan. Some ancient war performance. 
No dialogues, just dance movements... really not our type. We left without finishing the show...

The Eiffel Tower lit up with the name of the tourist attraction...

Ok, time to leave the place but we haven't got any night shots yet. 
Not very good but better than none...



With that, bye bye Shenzhen...

And I hope never to come back here.... Sorry, it's just my personal experience in Shenzhen wasn't good but that doesn't mean it will be terrible for the others who might want to visit Shenzhen in the future. Perhaps you just have to beware and be mindful of your belonging when you're touring out in Shenzhen. Be vigilant & careful of scammers if you're on free & easy.

I look forward being back to Macau!