cheng du and jiu zhai gou china trip (24th sept - 1st oct)
I seems to be fatter *pouting lips* I could feel that uncomfortable extra ring of fats around my waist and my wrist is thicker. I keep gorging myself until I have this feeling of being bloated every meal except for two in which one seems unhygienic (the environment is already such a turn off plus I spotted black spots in most dishes) and another one seems unappetizing. Who could resist a wide spread of food in front of you? In addition they dish out a lot of vegetable, simply irresistible.
Standard of living seems to be higher compare to last year when I visited shanghai. The toilet are much cleaner, in relative comparison. Although the pungent stench still exist in certain restroom and most don't provide toilet paper but at least it is dry. The items are more costly, one have to think twice before making a purchase this time. The sales person are relatively courteous.
Day 1: Was at the airport waiting for the gate to open when I saw this lady behind me bending down filling up some departure form. She look like one of my lecturer in school, her distinct size and slightly bald head. When she raise up her head, that it, is her, HBD teacher which taught me cardio. Luckily, she wasn't in my tour group, but I still do see her in main tourist attraction places. I am quite lousy as this is the first time I learned how to adjust the air-corn on the flight and it was also the first time I did noticed that there were marking on the plane indicating the angle in which the wings had bend. Arrived in Cheng Du, Si Chuan at late noon. Met the tour guide (unfortunately, he is those stereo type Chinese, only look at money, I seriously dread it. Some of the sales person I came across was also like this, following you around assissting you but was actually eyeing on the commission. I dread this feeling as deep inside I knew they are not genuine, trying to serve you from the bottom of the heart. Of course, I do meet up with some really nice ladies in this journey) and hang around a street that sell mainly souvenirs. Things there was a little steep, after all is a tourist attraction place where Caucasian frequent. We had our dinner before heading to watch a show called "Jing Sha". It was so crowded as it was the last performances before their ten day national holiday break and their China was also present to preview the show hogging the best seat in the house that we had to take the second level and it was such an uncomfortable view.
Day 2: The day was tough. It was a ten hour journey ride to Jiu Zhai Gou. Towards the journey, the tour guide tell us more about the different tribal group existed on the mountain. There was this particular journey where the bus have to cross this temporarily metal one lane structure hanging across this river called the Ming Jiang (the head of Chang Jiang) as a portion of our route was blocked by landslide and we have to take the other path across the river. It was scary as the lane was just fitting for the bus. The bus driver accidentally scratch the vehicle against the metal handle while he did the turning. Nevertheless, he was consider skillful as it was narrow. He still claim that our journey was a smooth ride which I do not understand why until I made the return trip on day 4. Our hotel is at the middle of the mountain and it was beautiful. The exterior was build like ancient Tibet brick house and the interior was warm and cosy. I was later told that no nails was use to do up the ceiling. Iron board and hair drier was provided and the outside view was beautiful. The bell boys and house keepers dress in Tibet uniform and they were courteous. I like one of the waitress as she was polite and speedy. I was really satisfied and was surprise it was only given a four star rating. I would gladly dish out five if i were to rate it.
The view from my dad place
The view from my place
Day 3:It was the main attraction for the whole trip and the most tiring one. Our group have to join with another group so that we could book a pollution free bus at a cheaper rate if not we have to walk a longer distance and have to squeeze in the public bus which I am quite reluctant to do so. Our group arrived first and we had to wait for the other group (quite indecisive, one minute the want to book the bus and another minute drop out, in the end, all decided to book the bus) our group member keep grumbling that my tour guide could not take it that he scolded the other tour guide for being late. I was quite cross having to wait but the other tour guide was so nice and sincere in apologising that I could not bring myself to be angry with them. The group had the worst combination. There was this particular group of 6 (3 couple, one of which have pretty face, another of my parent age and another average couple) whom were always the last to on board the bus when others have to wait for them(3 times according to my dad calculation). They were also late on this particular occasion when a time was set. Although they apologize while boarding the bus (in which the tour leader have to naturally say "bu yong jing", never mind in Chinese) their tour group member sitting right behind me could not tolerate them. They were pin-pointing them saying that they are very proud, always the first to leave but last to board. Then say that tour guides of course have to say never mind as they could not say "bu ke yi", can not in Chinese. The next round the group sitting behind me arrive later than expected time when the group of 3 couples whom was always late, arrived on time. My tour leader claimed that my group had all arrive to the other tour leader. The oldest male of the 3 couples began saying that it is their group that who have irresponsible members and they should set the time earlier the next round. Upon hearing this I began saying, " the pot calling the kettle black, the greatest ironic of life" to my mother. She just sniggered. What I claim wasn't wrong as they too were irresponsible. Later, I was told that usually their group had to depart half an hour after predicted time every morning. My sympathy to the tour leader, it was unfair to her, she was really a darling. You could literally see the word "stress" written on her face as she always have to return back chasing her members. She was really cute to dare gossip about her members to my mother. I expected Jiu Zhai Gou's toilet to be extremely dirty, wet and stink due to the crowd but I was totally wrong. It was so clean, to much of my surprise. It was acutally a water-less chemical toilet, Jiu Zhai Gou does not have water, it was way cool. It is made out of bowl wrapped with plastic around it. After you are done with it, the automated machine would pull the plastic down changing a new plastic for the next user. So the bowl was clean. It does not emit pungent smell as there will be this bus driving around which collect all this used plastic bag. Of course, Jiu Zhai Gou was known for its scenery. I am lucky to have such a fine weather.
The water was so crystal clear
mirror lake
Day 4: Journey back to the middle of cheng du and jiu zhai gou. Since the previous day was a tiring one, today was a light day. This is the day where we saw beautiful autumn scenery. The hill was filled greenery with a slightly red and yellow hue, a scenery unluckily to be spotted here. I finally understood why the driver say we were lucky the other day. On our return we saw those heading Jiu Zhai Gou having to stop and wait (it was quite a long queue) for big vehicle on the other lane to pass first on narrow and rocky road. We were lucky this time too. We were intercepted by army tracks and we followed closely behind. Since it was an army track, other vehicle had to give way to them ( just like we had to give way to police and ambulance car) and we also earned that advantage. As my tour guide had put it, "gen ta men the pi gu zhou, zhou ta men de guang". Towards the journey we also passed by the red army statue which reminds us that CCP had once passed by this tedious and tough road. Went for massage with my parents at the hotel for a price of 12 bucks for 45 minute. The lady at the parlour keep telling me how fortunate I am. They had to work everyday (yes, including Sunday) from 7pm-12pm. If you have the same mind set as me thinking that they are lucky to have such a short working hour, you are totally wrong. My dad was alert enough to continue asking them on their transportation. They say they had to walk home in which by the time it will be 7am. They also say that when they were studying they usually have this lunch box in which they had to last for a week. Imagine eating the same food for a week, I would never done that, I would rather throw it.
Day 5: Went to jade and silk factory today. Mummy bought me a silk pillow as she claimed it was comfortable.
Day 6: Went to see panda today. My impression of it was a rather fat and sluggish animal with two black eye but damn I was totally wrong. This trip had changed my opinion on them. They were just so adorable. How I just wish I could hug this big furry bear. My first visit was this three year old panda. At first it keep facing it butt towards us but it finally stood up turn around and sit facing towards us eating its bamboo like nobody business. How cute! Next we visit baby panda in which we were not allowed to take any photograph. They were sleeping peacefully in the cot. Next we visit those active one year old panda. In one of the video that I shoot, the baby panda try to balance on its hind leg but failed to do so and depart from the scene like it was embarrass. The next video shows this panda trying to climb down and in a particular moment it appear like a child hanging on a monkey bar. How adorable. Next we visit the red panda. They were so shy, it was such a rare shot to see its head up.
This was also the day when I met with a bad service. We were bought to this massage parlour which sold all those Chinese medication. Since most of my tour group visited their shop before in other area we decline having the free massage service as we knew that they would hold on to the leg until you purchase some item. On poor response, the sales person face turn black. My father does not like it and left the place. When she was doing her speech, another couple in my group was talking. She rudely say a Chinese word equivalent to keep quiet. I could not take it till I stormed out of the room and slammed the door with full force. Those boys outside waiting to give customer massage was also shocked. Part of this action was done out of sub-conscious, including the standing up part. I knew once I stood up I could not sit back so I continue walking towards the door. Soon another old couple also left the place. I am too hot tempered, I should learn from the doctors in my group!
We then headed towards the dead sea resort. Unfortunately I wasn't able to dip inside the pool so I rented the computer. The lady which assist me was really cute and nice. As I do not bring along any small change, I gave her ten yuen(it only cost five yuen for an hour) and ask her to keep the change. When I packed up, she head towards to the reception and got me my change. How nice of her.
Day 7: Went to Hakka village when the tour guide behave oddly, we were given 4 hour to shop, he hardly spoken. I think it was due to poor response from our purchase. In that village, we grabbed some tid-bits. The lays sold there was limited and was slightly expensive so I was reluctant to made purchases. He bring us to another commerical shop which nobody fork out any money before heading towards bu xing jie, my fave part of the tour. Unfortuntely for me the time wasn't sufficient for me to shop all but my family head back again.
Day 8: It was national day and everywhere around my hotel was having all sort of promotion. It was really crowded and the atmosphere was light and joyful. I head back towards the shopping district when I chance upon coat, dress and pants. Since it was a public holiday, they dish out 80 -70% discount. All those sales person there was what I called typical money grabber chinese. They were impressed with my English and kept comenting,praising on it. They tried to communciate to me in English too for fear I do not understand mandrine. Alas I headed back where I slept soundly on the plane. The plane have some incident with those chinese too, ask me for more detail, hard to explain here. They would keep pressing for assistance if they wasn't serve with things which was also served for other people. The boy do not behave either, climbing up and down.
*star__mission 7:31 PM
Jocelyn 23rd June 1989
Objective:
To be someone who know what she wants, preferbly with status, and work hard to attain sense of achievement
