The China Diaries

I took AirAsia to China. It was 6 hours duration night flight. Thanks to the awful manner of the China people, I didn't sleep much. Becoming zombie after landing.

My first time using hometown travel tours who don't have advertising activities. But their good services spread through the mouths among the hometown folks. 

Since the good reviews, we determine to use them. The travel tours woman take us to the wholesale market to get some winter coats. She tagging along to every outlet to avoid us being overcharged and get the fake winter coats. 

Some more, she is reluctant with the 2 perfectionist sisters in looking for their dream winter coats by going floors to floors.  Moreover, while she has knowledge all the tour members dislike the dishes chosen by the Beijing tour guide, she takes over the task. I must also say, the dishes she picks are yummy, tasty and delicious. I lick the bowl. She understands our tastes very well. 

I think she put hearts and souls take care the tour members.If that's not the hearts and souls, I don't know what is. 

It's freezing, chilly and cold in the early morning. A little upset because I still could not seeing my breath in the air as fog. 

The sun begins to sink down the horizon at Wulanbutong grassland. It is love at first sight. I takes 7 hours from Beijing to Wulanbutong grassland. It takes my heart a lifetimes to leave. 

Will be draft another blog entry regarding all the attractions of Wulanbutong grassland. 

 Emperor summer palace Chengde, 避暑山庄. This is the only complete photo of 5 of us in emperor summer palace. The most youngest sister, Mickey suddenly throw tantrums in the next minutes. So, she chooses to stay alone and no one dare to disturb her.  

We're warmly welcomed by the yellow colors of the leaves along the way to the lakes 

Mini potala palace (小布达拉宫) , Chengde. Every bricks and structures tell the story how it is built and the reasons behind. 

 The golds at roof's second layer in Mini potala palace (小布达拉宫) has stolen by Japanese.  The roof's top layer gold is still there, possible the Japanese can't reach over there. 

We walked too slow. The staircases are too narrow and fucking steeps. The Chengde tour guide comments us walk very slow. 

The Chengde tour guide can't judge us without understand the Malaysians. For the reason as the tour guide, he eager to walk fast in all the sightseeing points. He don't want to waste the times. 

If in Malaysia, I walk fast everyday, I will sweat like mad dog. The weather in Malaysia is too hot, not appropriate for fast walking. In addition, Malaysia has good transportation systems. Most Malaysians travel by car and parked in front of the destinations. Malaysians seldom walk a lot and results walk slowly. As one of the tour member said "they're rural chickens,while we're urban chickens".

These 2 little sisters really know how to "action" in Great Wall China. 3 of us as her elder sisters treat both of them like princess-not lifting the heavy suitcases, not look after the ageing parents, priorities in taking the foods during meal times.  

My favorite liang Pi/cold skin,tastes exactly like kueh teow but it serves in cold.But it still chewy and spicy. So addictive to it.  

Bing Tang Hu Lu, 15 RMB

Nuo Mi Gao, 5 RMB

Yi He Yuan. Never thought 柳树 can be the perfect pictures backdrop together with the lakes and bridges. 

So next few pictures will be no captions. Pictures say everything. I in awe with the fall colors

"You all can show this picture to your boyfriend or husband"

"It shows that women can own authorities and powers to climb to the higher position as Empress Ci Xi doing"

Beijing Wangfujing street.

This is the street with many western brands such as Zara, H & M, Miniso, KFC and Starbucks. So, western brand shoppers, welcome to come here. What I loved to see is these western brands employ traditional Chinese styles buildings. #ancientfeeling

Artworks are everywhere as well. 

Wangfujing snack streets

Scorpions on sticks. None of us dare to try, knowing they are disgusting. 10 RMB not go down to the drain.

My first taste of grilled lamb skewers, it tastes unpleasant. Sate ayam Malaysia are even more fragrance and tasty than them. Besides that, fried soup buns have no fillings and only drenched in vinegar and chilies.

I’ve concluded nothing special about the Wangfujing street foods. Possibility it is a street of scams. TOURISTS BEWARE!!!

Both of them are too excited in seeing the chicken soups. 

Beijing Silk Street.

I’ve misconception about Beijing silk street where I though it is a shopping street. Instead, it is a building. The salesman and salesgirls can greet the customers in English and some of them talk English fluently.  

Feeling not in China as China people are poor at speaking English. The goods are overprices. For example, I noted a wind bell with 30 RMB in Chengde but the same wind bell is 300 RMB in Beijing Silk Street. Haggling and price negotiation are quite important. The tour guide teaches us the best strategy by negotiating start from the half prices. 

The vendors of Beijing silk street are aggressive, but the customers even smart than them.

That's not the interesting photo to some of you, but for me it's. I'm sure. This is the full family attendance picture hardly I can take in the normal days. You know why? 

The times all of us in home is very short. This was the first times for the past five years we can travel together. It really feel nice and special. 

This 2 pets of Mickey confront the same fate like us by separating with their master

My great souvenir from China. My legs and hands experiences flaky and itchy at some points when the winter weathers China get chilly. 

I traveled with a group of rural folks. The feelings are wonderful and nice. We help and take care each other. The younger tour members gives seat to my ageing Papa. Older tour members reminds us to be extra careful when climbing the steep staircases of Great Wall China. Older tour members make the first move in talking with us and guide us how to make the good postures in the photos. That kind of atmosphere and climate hard to describe beyond words. 

The biggest reason is we have the similar background and thus we understand each other situations. One thing I sure we won't say "this is the rural folks mentality, us as urban folks are not going to do that". This is the statement I used to hear while I work in city or study in Peninsular Malaysia. Rural folks tend to be friendly and helpful. Right now, the advice of other rural folks in the hometown-terrace house purchasing in the urban area must same rows with other rural folks; oversea travelling must choose the rural folks lingered in my ear. Undoubtedly, rural folks will help each other if anything happens. I understood finally and will bear in minds.