Month: July 2007

TSD Day003 – Dinner with Consul!

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Today is pretty tiring! But I am sooo glad to be meeting up
HAojie and checking out the places and learning street knowledge
from him! hehe…

Starting off in the morning, both of us had breakfast at 奶茶新语！Actually,
I love having breakfast there! The burgers and the sandwiches! Theres Prata
There too! hehe… can add egg and/or ham! good stuf! haha!

Next up, we checked out 美罗城！ It’s like the SIM LIM square of Singapore! I was actually looking for a cheap handphone for my new line here in Shanghai,
but god! I saw an amazing MP4 player with 4GB and one year warranty at only S$120
How to beat that price? ahaha… I am begining to fall for China Price! I think getting a
China Brand is ok coz if I were to spend more on a "branded" player, I have no
guarantee that I am not getting a fake. On the other hand, if I were to get a China
Brand, the price itself deters people from faking these stuff with much lower profit margin
(Hehe… me and Renzhi’s law of $$ Making)

In between the shopping, my stomachace allowed me to have a glimpse of the toilets in the shopping mall. GOD! Its ehh… not very good. But being tolerant of the condition of the
toilet and intolerant of my stomach, I simply couldn’t careless and did my business there.
2nd visit to the toilet already! (I had one round at home) I feel dehydrated… haha…
Finally, with a lighter body, I shopped with ease and bought this China phone "Amoi", one
of the brands under the famous Guomei, a super big name for electronics in China. Following
that, we (Me, Damon, Michelle, HAojie and Bingxiong) went on to another place (I forgot the name)
to check out a place thats famous for selling cameras! Really tired by time we get back home

Finally came the TIME of the day! Dinner at Choo Pin’s place! He’s working at the consulate and
his place is great! hehe! The food is really fantastic with a seeming endless amount of booze!
I had prawn noodles and nasi lemak (Super full), 2 cans of Heineken, and some vodlka. Of course,
had a lot of junk food along the way. I think I got really full and puke after some time… Maybe
its a combination of being too full and too much booze (guess I need to train to hold my alcohol!)
After dinner, we had some games and lotsa chit chatting!! hehe! His place is just soo cosy!

After that, I went home half drunk with Alex (who is even more drunk than I am and about to puke
any time!) in a Taxi! hehe… Really glad that we were home early (the rest went KTV till 5am!) and had time
to wash up before I sleep. Chat with dore for a while and went to bed. Getting to miss Dore and Family and Friends…

 

 

TSD Day002

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Ok! Finally Catching up with my blog!
 
Today, we had breakfast at a restaurant outside our condo. Not bad.
Had a chicken drumstick burger and a lemon honey drink for less than
S$3. We also went to bank in more $ into ICBC. hehe.
 
After that, went back home to settle administrative stuff on the house like
what’s wrong with the house where, and who is responsible, what no. to
call for the repairman, the list goes on…
 
Then came the trip for the day! the trip to Fudan university led by Xiaoyun,
our NCSH7 batch people, me and Damon. Have to acknowledge her for bringing the extra
iron for us. hehe. At the Station to take bus to Fudan. There, we met Serene,
Xiaoyun’s colleague, a fellow intern from IESingapore. Damon bught some
egg tart there and its REAL good! hehe… we had them on the bus when it
started to drizzle.
 
When we reach Fudan, its still drizzling and we shared umbrellas into Fudan and
bought more umbrellas at the shops there. Also had our lunch there as well.
Had Gong Bao Ji Ding on Sticky Rice, not bad.
 
After that, we went to the Mao Ze Dong Statue in Fudan: Magnificent! The place
is pretty green and tranquil. Very nice except for the mosquitoes! After that, we had
a trip to Wal-Mart in the Pentagon Shopping mall! There I bought something for Dore.
I thing she’ll like it. I hope.
 
After a tedious journey walking within and to Wal-Mart, we gave up and took the
cab towards the Bund for some evening scenary and dinner. But in the end, we
ended up in Serene’s service apartment to nua… its somewhere near the Bund.
We ordered pizza there and just talk cock there. haha. Also got to know more
about how to maintain long distance relationships. haha. After Dinner, me, damon
and Xiaoyun were on our way back home.
 
The trip back was pretty fast. We walked towards Ren Ming Guang Chang and took
a few good pictures of Tomorrow Square: The place I’ll be working in and also the
neon lights of Shanghai. hehe. Almost lost my China EZ-Link there while I was
busy taking pictures. Thanks Xiaoyun for finding it. hehe. had 70+ rmb stored value
in it! A penny saved is a penny earned!
 
When we reached our station, I bought a mystery item again! hehe. After we departed
with Xiaoyun at our condo, we went up and michelle is bunking in with us tonite! hehe!
 
Called my parents and Dore… I think tomorrow will be a hetic day as I would be going to
shop for a handphone and also dinner with the consulate with NCSH7 and 8. hehe…
 
But we are moving nearer to familiarising with the place and gearing ourselves for the
job! hehe.
 

TSD Day001

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First Real Day in Shanghai! hehe…
 
Thanks to Shengye from NCSH6, Damon Weileen and I went to explore
Qi Pu Lu, the Far East Equivalent of Shanghai. We took a cab there and
it costs about 30rmb. Shengye gave us a free ride (maybe since its his
last day in Shanghai).
 
I bought 2 Polo Tees, and a long sleeve shirts, all 3 are imtations of brands.
If I am not wrong with the brands, bought an Armani (one shirt and a polo tee)
and a Tommy Polo Tee. After that, we walked around the area and Shengye
demostrated how to bargain for the prices of shoes in the basement. Learnt
something…
 
After that, we Shengye was actually kind enough to bring us to the Pai Chu Suo
(Police Post) so that we know where to register our address to our name.
We then had lunch together somewhere near our house, went back and
rested for a while before we head out again to settle the address registration
and the bank account creation with ICBC… also had internet banking! hehe…
 
In the evening, we went to Bao Gong Gong… Hao jie’s recommendation!
Follwing that, we did some grocery and furniture shopping at Carrefour.
Bought slippers and adapters for ourselves and got some equipment for
the house. On our way back home, I saw something which I think Dore
will like. Keeping a lookout for this thing. hehe…
 
After we went back home, finalised the rent division and stuff. talk to dore,
bathed and then rested! It’s a good day! all of us are tired. Some with the
shopping, others with the house hunting! All for the new begining.
 

TSD Day000: The Great Arrival!

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Alrite! Finally in Shanghai!
Really Glad that Ryan and Haojie went to pick us up! hehe..
Michelle left with Bingxiong to Sheshan directly. one woman down..
This place is super duper hot!!! melting! 
 
We took carried our luggage all the way to the Maglev (Magnetic Levitation)
Train to take us to Long Yang Lu (Line2) that would connect us directly to
Zhong Shan Gong Yuan.
 
The Maglev is damn power! 431km/h!! And we couldn’t even feel the
speed. When we were at the station, we carried the luggage all the way
into the train. (Super pai seh… haha… luckily all of us pai seh together)
 
When we reach our stop, we dragged our luggage all the way from
the station to our condo! Woah! Our condo is terrific! MAgnificent! Actually
we were just looking at the aircon, cool…
 
After we put down our barang barang, the landlord came and we signed
the contract… all in chinese… wtf… alot also dun understand…
Only thing they made clear: pay RMB 12,800 + 5500 deposit… haha
 
After we settled the house administratives with Landlord Jessica, our seniors
brought us to Steak King, a restaurant near our place. There, we met Gabriel!
Had dinner and then head back house to rest.
 
After that, Haojie and gang jio-ed me to go Sha Xian, their usually supper
hangout! Had some fried dumplings and steamed ones together with beer.
The cost is amazing… I only spend like less than S$2…
 
What a day… I miss dore and my family!

The Journey to the East: Prologue

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Introduction
 
This blog is meant to be used as a journal to keep track of the struggles, obstacles
and the successes that we shall have during our one year stint in Shanghai as an
intern. With a more practical immediate use, this blog is also used for loved ones,
friends and family to have access to what is happening to my life in Shanghai.
 
The Night Before Departure: Equinox
 
Let me first thank Wenrong, my old time army buddy that made this meal on the
70th floor of Swissotel possible.
 
We had a main course, a drink and a dessert there. Let me tell you, the view is
superbly breadth taking! Double-decker buses are as big as the nail of my pinky.
 
After dinner, actually Dore and I wanted to get perfume (Addidas Sports Fever) for
my trip. But I guess we had too much fun we forgot the time and were too late to
get it from Metro since both Addidas stores in Raffles City and Citylink does not
sell that.
 
The Night Before Departure: Last packing of Luggage
 
Have to thank my parents and Dore for showing soo much concern prior to my trip
to Shanghai. Would like to take this opportunity to thank Dore for staying over the
night prior to leaving and finishing up the calendar that she made it herself. We slept
at 2+ (actually me, I think she started at about 1).
 
The extra time is for me to use it to keep the pictures that we took together and date
it, burn it into a CD, so that no matter what happens, she will still have the pictures. =)
 
At Changi Airport
 
Thanks Ade, KC, Murni, Zhigen, Dave, Kenny, Peter, Huiping and my best fren Pujue to
come and see me off. Also not forgetting, I have groups of friends from my JC (Thanks
Yuan Ern for the treat) and RSS friends meeting up for farewell meals, really
appreciate the effort and trouble you all took to organise all these.
 
Back to the topic at the airport, waving good bye to my friends, family and dore, this is the
first time I am leaving home for a year. For someone who didnt travel very far and stayed
elsewhere for very long (Army was max 2 weeks), its really a bold move that I am taking
for the sake of a brighter future.
 
Reality struck me hard as I was heading toward the departure gate and showing the officials
my passport and boarding pass: I am really on my own… Its the first time I see mum crying
as I head further and further into the departure hall…
 
One thing that I am telling myself as I walk away: I MUST make this one year worthwhile.
For this trip, I left behind my entire colourful life in Singapore and throw myself into an whole
new environment… All for the sake of a better future, to be a more holistic and gobal individual.
The feeling grew stronger with every stepI take. Every glance I looked back at my parents, at
my friends and at Dore, whom I cant leave behind (emotionally) most.
 
I finally went far enough to not look back, and mentally gear myself up for the challenge…
Shanghai! Bring it on!
 
At Thailand International Airport: Bangkok (For Transit)
Midway between Shanghai and Singapore. Feeling hanging in the middle. I am grateful that I have
a group of friends here who are as (if not more) progressive than I am. Who have a common goal
to be determined to succeed!
 
With that, this transit was not only a physical one, but also an emotional one that begin to open up
to this band of people who would be sticking through thick and thin for the next one year to come.
Really glad that I am not alone. Sad, but I am not alone.