2012 May China Trip ( ShangHai, SuZhou & HangZhou) Part 1

Day 1
A blur blur me will kill me soon... On the early morning to airport, I forgot to bring my handset. My travel mates cant contact me and yet we try to find each other at airport departure hall. Somehow, we just across by each other. The most ridiculous thing is one of my travel mate, Mr S obtain my uncle contact details  via his boss and phoned my family. At the time, Mr S also emailed our colleagues whether am i in d office or not... My family so worry and nobody aware which I located. Indeed, I also very panic when d embark time is approaching, even I requested the airport operation team to make public announcement so that my travel mate can hear and come to me at airport counter. At the end, I checked-in alone. Then, I tried my last luck ... cruise in airplane. The moment I saw Mr S, he was speechless, his finger keep pointing at me.... I guess he must be very angry... Immediate I apologies to him and back to my seat. Haahaha... Gentle reminder: handphone is not more luxury item but necessity. A great lesson 4 me!!!
Once we landed at HangZhou Airport, our local driver, Xiao Lee, a very calm n soft spoken young lad  brought us to a very famous tourist spot. (Lion Mountain Rocky Park, 狮子林下) at SuZhou. It takes 3-4 hours driving distance to this place. We only have 45 minutes to visit this park before the closing time. A local tour guide, Xiao, a fashionable young guy explain to us the building structure, historical background and famous rocks. Apparently, all these rocks were drilled n dig from a big lake. The ancient Kings such as KangXi love to come n visit this park which is initial as residential area of a big merchant. Luv the lion shape bike alook rock... I guess so many ppl sit on it... the seat was so smooth n cool when u butt touch base on it .. haha
Ancient Chinese  were very smart n intelligent in designing building. Separate n dedicated certain living room based on ur status, gender and power. For instance, woman room design is  in triangle or square shape design to remind them : 三从四德. Obey 3 rules +  4 values; man room design is octagon shape to prove that he can covered all the angles 八面玲珑, great interpersonal skills。For those who is poor , he only entitle to sit on a small cold bench, 冷板凳。That's Y ... Chinese very luv his face aka dignity... it was being train and impart from generation to next generation.

After an hour quick tour, we left this rocky park and heading to a popular street for local. This main street name is 观前街 which mean "a monastery stood beginning of the street".  Another small lane name is more funny "太监弄" , an eunuch's lane. Guess many Gong Gong stayed in this lane.  Well, many traditional foods can found along the main street. We have try local "smelly bean-curd" and Mongolia style grilled  beef + mutton.

When I bite the satay, wonder what meat was using as main ingredient ... hahah... Smelly bean-curd really strong aroma, it was different with Taiwan or Malaysia style. 

After quick shopping, Tour guide brought us for buffet dinner. Since we pay a peanut, the food shall be same quality too. Nothing special bout this restaurant except the minestrone soup. It was damn watery... tasteless like plain water. I guess only coloring in so called soup...

After dinner, tour guide lead us to Suzhou BirdNest art center. U can find IMAX cinema, art exhibition and performance in this building. Every year, the China version Oscar " 金鸡奖" will be held at this venue.  Guess, China LED cost shld be very affordable.... See the way they apply all the LED in their daily life n building...so unbelievable.We suppose have a riverside walk, the tour guide simply ignore us then send us back to hotel hahaha... Shall we complain? NOPE, coz we pay a peanut...

The first hotel we stay... the name was unique. The English name for this hotel group is New Century, it was totally different with Mandarin version: 开元。曼居  Really really WRONG ....The hotel i stayed is mainly for business traveler. However, we saw so many foreign tourists in this hotel haha...

Day 2

A lovely morning after quick breakfast n check out , we on queue to this SuZHou Museum. It was designed by same designer for Louvre Palace, Mr Leoh Ming Pei. In fact, the "lion mountain park" was belonged to his family before it was took over by government. Luv this building dimension and its symmetric designed. It looks very oriental and elegant. At the exit of this museum, an old building which owned by a prince who was proclaimed himself as Christian during old days. He self-admit he is No. 2 Son of God. Tht's Y, he called  its place as Peacefully Heaven .     ( sound very awkward from direct translate) haha

Nightmare started, local tour guide brought us to silk factory. Indirectly, local guys tend to force u to purchase... hahaa... Luckily a team member grabbed something from this factory.

Lunch time: we are lucky to enjoy a table of meals which suppose serve 10 headcounts. Perhaps, local seldom eat fruit, this restaurant only serve one piece of pear!!! The sweet sour fish was super duber deep fried till makes me feel like i was chewing tree skins. Indeed they serve a big bowl of plain boodles as well. The pork leg is nice n yummy.

Nothing special on this Lake : Li Hu....

Movie/ drama shooting Park, mainly for "3 kingdoms" epic, nice to walk around for pic shooting. Our ticket is including a horse riding show. It was damn crowded and no enough seat for viewers. In fact, we got a free lake cruise too in ancient decor war-ship. Again, it was so crowded... Ppl Mountain ppl Sea

3 Musketeers

This is my favorite meal through out the whole journey. The appetizer as shown below was damn attractive n well-dressing. We were arranged to sit in a dedicated room and the service is good. Luv the shredded dried bean curd. The only comment is it only provides one orange for all of us!!!

After check-in into this hotel, we heading to nearby shopping mall for supper + souvenir.. A bunch of stupid  us back n fro twice, from hotel to tht shopping mall after grocerry shop... End up, we are in local Karaoke room... touch screen monitor for song selection without remove control. Not cheap compare with Malaysia rate ...