mrsjono

Our air tickets to Chengdu were leftovers from the Natas Fair and it was a steal at S$530. However, the downside was it departed at an unearthly hour at 2.00am. I was sick prior to departure. Went in and out of the clinic in less than 3 mins and the amount came up to $60 bcos it was a public holiday! T_T

The Chinese version of Susan Boyle sat next to me on the plane. I dono if she sings well, but she sure reminds me of Susan Boyle, especially the hair. She was so restless throughout the flight. She took all the free newspapers and flipped every page so quickly I wonder if she's reading at all. After she finish a page, she'd stuffed it in the front seat pocket. At the end of 4 hrs, her seat had newspapers all over and on the floor. Then she kept fidgeting in her seat cos she didn't know how to buckle the seat belt and push back the seat. She kept looking at us, esp when we were eating. She pui something into the paperbag, put her uneaten food inside and stuffed everything in the front seat pocket along with all the newspapers. What a mess! 

Accommodation plays an important part in determining whether u would have a pleasant stay in a place. The purpose of having this section is to promote the good hostels and give the lousy hostels bad publicity. Sim's Cosy is run by a Singaporean (Sim) and his Japanese wife (Maki). Sim recognised us as Singaporeans right away when he saw us on the second day. Clean rooms, good service (all staff can speak at least two languages-Chinese, English or Japanese), friendly staff, very detailed and user-friendly map of Chengdu for free and the only hostel that has an elevator. It's a little pricey, free internet usage is limited to only 10mins, location is not very convenient to food and amenities but near the train station. Overall, one of the best hostels we've stayed in! 4/5 stars!

Outdoor terraced area


Japanese style double room 160 yuan/night
(with attached bathroom, fan, air-con, DVD player, TV)


I thought it was a nice gesture to welcome your guests with free fruits (that can help u shit)


After checking in at 7.30am, we slept for a few hours and woke up at noon. Decided to look for food near Tianfu Square (see food section below).


It was Mother's Day on our first day in Chengdu


Here I am again!!!


似摸似样


See I can pose just like a Chinese woman


Flowers


Chengdu was the capital of the Shu-Han Kingdom ruled by Liu Bei. Fans of Romance of Three Kingdoms will not want to miss Wuhouci. Entrance fee 60 yuan, student 30 yuan.


Wuhouci was built to commemorate Zhugeliang. He was given the title "武乡侯" when he was alive and "忠武侯" (meaning loyal marquis) after death. Thus, the name 武侯祠.


三义庙


Zhang Fei


Liu Bei is also known as 汉昭烈帝


Guan Yu


"Hoi! Go away!"


He didn't hear me and was in the picture


The location of Liu Bei's tomb (also referred to as 惠陵) was chosen by Zhugeliang. He was buried together with his two wives.


Bulging eyes


Very touristy Jinli Street


Ariel view


These toys remind me of the spiderman that you throw on the wall and it will climb down itself


好看多过好吃吧...


May your wish come true


你是张飞还是包青天呀?


Fried smelly beancurd sprinkled with Sichuan spicy powder is quite popular among locals


Travelling involves all 5 senses and we often forget about the sense of taste. I believe good food will leave u with a better impression of a place, vice versa.


Lunch was at 紫荆苑茶餐厅. We ate 酸辣粉、担担面、钟水饺、小笼包、汤包. Almost every dish in Sichuan has 麻辣 (numb+spicy) flavour that'll make normal people tear and sniff. If u can't take spicy, best to stick to international food.


Dao huay from Jinli (4 yuan). Dao huay was pathetic, syrup too much, at the bottom still got sugar. Too sweet. Not recommended.

For dinner, we had sweet and sour pork and fried rice at Sim's. Not too bad.

Some photos were lost or damaged during file transfer so these are the only food photos I have :(

Before we embarked on this trip, people would go "Huh??" when we said we're going to Sichuan & Yunnan. I don't think they have even heard of it, needless to say know where is it. Compared to people who're going to Europe, the response would be "Wah! So good! So envious!" I don't care what people say or think at all but I think rs is quite bothered by outside opinions. He said he's gonna laugh at those going to conventional places like Taiwan or Hong Kong bcos it'll just be like Little Singapore. Oops.

A graduation trip is a rite of passage that marks the transition from school to working life. I would say it was a fruitful trip simply bcos it was not an easy journey. Although we were unable to enjoy ourselves when mishaps or hiccups occur, the process of persevering and pulling through was considered a valuable experience to me. If everything was smooth sailing, I would not have learnt anything.

Going for a break after slogging for 4 years and before I begin the next phase of my life. After months of preparation, we're finally setting off on our own to see if those sceneries on the web are real or photoshopped. I feel kinda stressed when I'm supposed to be relaxed. Maybe bcos I'm having running nose and I'm scared I'll get quarantined.

This is my fourth time to China. Can't believe I'm going back to Chengdu again. Maybe this is my opportunity to right a wrong. I still remember last year I sat alone at Tianfu Square waiting for the fountain to start at 7.30pm but I never got to see it.

Watch this space for my graduation trip to Sichuan & Yunnan.

These are the sounds I hear in a day:

First, I would be woken up by thunderous drilling and knocking at about 9am. My block is finally selected for lift upgrading after 22 years. But I manage to continue sleeping, pressing my bolster on my ear.

At 12 noon, the drilling stops as the workers go for lunch. The neighbourhood enjoys some peace and quiet for a while and the chirping of birds becomes audible now.

The drilling resumes and the birds cannot be heard now.

The knocking stops again at 3pm as the workers go for 30 mins of tea break.

It continues again and the volume produced by electronic devices need to be increased in order to watch TV or listen to music.

At about 5.30pm, the workers call it a day. Rats take over and their squeaks reveberate in the whole neighbourhood as they scurry across the carpark.

Some sounds are produced due to our biological needs. After the rats screech, a long meow is heard around the corner as the cat is not looking to catch mice but longing to mate.

Late into the night when the rats and the cat are asleep, the night is filled with a chorus of sounds by earthworms, lizards and crickets. Night crawlers usually spend most of their time at night having sex. So I suppose these animals are having sex outside my house while I'm trying to sleep. That's not very nice.

Slowly, I can't hear anything as I fall asleep and the bulldozing interrupts my sleep again the next morning.

This post has no meaning. I just need to get away from studying for a while.

To reward myself after the submission of the last assignment in my life (most probably), I decided to watch Despereaux on Tudou. It's called 浪漫鼠德佩罗 by the way. I've been wanting to watch it ever since it was released last year but I haven't got the time.

It's a great show for kids as it teaches values such as courage, kindness and forgiveness through a fantasy story. I felt rather intrigued with some parts of the show. Looking at how the Mouse World functions makes me think of our own society. Every society has its own norms and culture. But who sets these rules? Who determines how we should behave? Society? People around us? Or ourselves? Why should a mouse cower, scurry and be afraid? Why should we conform?

In order for society to function, there are laws to govern how we should behave. When Despereaux's father said to his wife that they should let the Council deal with Despereaux's behaviour, he could not give a reason. "They're the Council...because they're the Council." Similarly, is the judge or court always right? Who gives them the authority? Who determines what's right and what's wrong?

When Despereaux was tied up and lowered into the dungeon, Hovis, the Threadmaster (the rat without pupils in his eyes) said "Wear it proudly...There's no shame." When I heard that, I kinda felt like he was trying to tell me "It's ok to be deviant, there is nothing to be ashamed of." So if people ever say you're weird (like what Despereaux's classmates said to him), you should laugh back at them, because they don't have the courage to deviate from the norm.