2007 : Remembrance of China (Part 3) ..

In the mood of writing again. Maybe just a little bit more, before I take a 3 day break from the writing scene. :)

Taxi (and Taxi Drivers)..

Taxi is a very common means of transport in the cities. In fact, the way I see it, some locals may not even advise you effectively on their local bus services. But they can give a pretty good estimation of taxi fare (and duration of the journey) from one place to another. I mean they seldom say “ 你可以在那里乘搭 123 号的大巴到 XX 。” They often say, “从这里 da3 di1 (means to take a taxi) 过去，十分钟就到了。很方便。”

We met a good range of taxi drivers.

Unfortunately, our very first encounter was a scary one. I remember we were near the infamous Guangzhou train station. We approached two taxi drivers waiting nearby (with our backpacks) and told them our intended destination. Both gave us that kind of can’t-be-bothered-with-you kind of face, and merely looked away. Mm..

When we flagged down the next taxi, I remember the driver looked frustrated. I said our intended destination. There wasn’t any visible respond from him and so I repeated myself. Surprisingly, he agitatedly uttered, “Ji1 dou2 la.. (means I know in Cantonese)” and was slowly driving away. We opened the door and hopped in anyway, for we didn’t feel particularly good near that station. Argg.. That fellow over-charged us somemore.

Another strange thing was…
All taxi in the cities has an iron grill separating the front row seat and the back row seats. There is instruction saying only children and ladies can be seated in front, next to the driver. No adult male is allowed to take that seat. Wa.. There must be some kind of event leading to such a measure. But if all drivers behave like what I described just now, erm .. kena hamtam is just a matter of time.

In Guangzhou, we were advised to take the yellow cabs. The yellow cabs are the most reputable ones. We tried. Indeed they are, for I remember on our last trip from Guangzhou 中央大酒店 to our accommodation, that yellow cab driver shared merrily with us and gave us some good tips along the way as to where to shop / makan / etc..

To be on the fairer note, we met many more good drivers. I like to mention 2 more.

(1) The driver (马东) that brought us from Songpan to Huanglong and then to Jiuzhaigou.

Upon seeing that we were under-dressed, he kindly advised us to get socks for our feet. Huanglong was really cool. We really under-estimated the coldness. I thought it was summer. But… Altitude made a difference.

Also, when we told him that we had not booked the accommodation at Jiuzhaigou, he voluntarily activated his lobangs and suggested/hunted down a pretty decent place well within our budget.

(2) The driver that brought us from 川主寺 to 九黄机场.

That guy was super friendly and knowledgeable. He knows the dates when the airport was first built and when the extension building was completed and started operation.

He advised the best dates (after the 15th of October) to visit 九寨沟. For that is when the leaves will well be red enough. Haha..

Besides, he knows our country leaders pretty well and the year of their visit to China, particularly to 松潘.

Plus, the meter showed the fare of RMB34, but he insisted in collecting only RMB30. Wa..

- - - - - - - - - -

What if you are the photographer of this photo?

2007 : Remembrance of China (Part 2) ..

Just feel like writing a few more points.


Security Concerns..

Just before I set off, I was taught :
后面是大众的 ；旁边是别人的；前面是自己的。

Haha.. That should be the mentality we should adopt about how to safe keep our valuables.

Okay, it seems that pick-pocket (or even robbery) is rampant at some parts of China. A particularly hot spot that we set particularly close to was the train station at Guangzhou.

Along our journey near there (but not there), I was talking to a local. Upon knowing that I was travelling near that train station, he said : 你要小心哦。就是钱财不要露眼。那个地方上比较复杂一点。

Mm.. I tell you, even the taxi drivers we met near that hot spot behave differently. Got attitude man! I shall talk about this in other section.

Oh, I must add on, in case you get the wrong picture. Besides that hot spot, we feel safe / comfortable / good everywhere else. In fact, once while I was waiting and holding a map, a middle-aged local at Chengdu even approached voluntarily and asked where I was going and seemingly he wanted to help. Cool!


Quality of Air..

There was always a mystery layer of mist around Chengdu city. Aiya.. I mean we didn’t see clear blue sky or white clouds. We saw greyish cloud hovering not too far above us almost all the time, unless just after a rain. It could be really uncomfortable coupling with the near 30 degrees temperature.

A simple swap with a white tissue paper within our nostrils at the end of the day… erm… you see that the white tissue paper turns dark grey or black. Eee…

The air at Guangzhou city was only slightly better.

Maybe it was just the summer season.

Anyway, the air from Songpan and further north was great great great.


Toilets..

Those public toilets along our journey can be quite a culture-shock. You may have heard about it. Sometimes, we didn’t see cubicles. Maybe it’s more right to call it partition, because the walls between each user are only slightly above waist-high. Sometimes, we didn’t see toilet bowls (not even those squatting type), we saw a not-too-wide long (usually slightly sloping) drain, partitioned (by those waist-high walls) accordingly. So theoretically speaking, if you are doing business at the lower end, you may see the product constantly flowing pass down you. Sometimes, we didn’t even see doors. Power right? Haha.. Oh, it is a better idea not to expect the provision of toilet paper also.

I must add on, some of those public toilets didn’t even look clean (you may see feces not flushed away almost at every partition). And of course, the stench was there. Still, they charge a fee of RMB 50 cents (equivalent to our 10 cents) for using such toilets. Wa..

Maybe they just interpret public toilet differently. So the private features (we dearly hope to have) are removed. Haha..

Okay, not to scare you further. We don’t use public toilets that often right?

In general, we wouldn’t be able to see much difference (in the quality of the toilet compared to ours at home) if we were to just stay at the hotel room (with toilet and bathroom facilities). They are pretty good and … very private. :P

There are plenty of toilets made available at tourist attractions. They are usually quite standard and acceptable. Just that some may not have a simple washing point to wash our hands. Those portable toilets within Jiuzhaigou are clean and pretty high-tech actually.

Maybe it’s a good practice to do big business early in the morning at the comfort of the toilet within our hotel room before we set off to look-look-see-see for the day.

Okay, enough toilet-talk.

- - - - - - - - -

Would you like to wear this pair of shoe?

2007 : Remembrance of China (Part 1) ..

I think I shall pen down some random thoughts in parts. Photos later (for I need a little bit more time to post-process them).

The Nature of Tour..

We did not follow any tour group / package. It was entirely free and easy. It was really quite an experience to travel on the buses the locals are travelling in, to shop in the places where the locals shop in, to eat at where the locals frequent, to…

In other words, we simply blend in (most of the time).

Because we speak Mandarin, some even thought we were locals (from other parts of China).

I will always remember in Chengdu, the bus fare within the city can be either RMB1 or RMB2 to travel from one base station to the other end of the base station. (By the way, the currency conversion ratio is about S$1 : RMB5)

I like the experience.


Getting Maps..

To facilitate our moving-around the cities, a decent map will be important. Unfortunately, maps are not that readily made available to tourists (much unlike New Zealand and Australia). Even the maps provided at tourist-attractions can be rather sketchy and of not-that-good quality.

Many times when we asked, we were told, “You can buy it over at that shop nearby.”
Mm..
But but but..
- Sometimes, (we saw at Guangzhou) many companies may come together to print maps as a means of advertisement. That is to say, the map will come together with many advertisements in print and even in CD.
- Many hotels and restaurants may give simple locality-map around their vicinity, printed at the back of their business card. Those weren’t very useful most of the time.
- Sim’s Cozy Guesthouse (at Chengdu) is by far the most generous. It provides the entire detailed city map of Chengdu with many highlights and bus-route information.

So, just asked for it, although the reply might be disappointing. We might be directed to some good sources if we ask the right person nicely.

I will remember an isolated experience at Jiuzhaigou. Due to some events, the English version map of Jiuzhaigou (which is of much better quality and very detailed) actually ran out of print. On my first attempt on the first day, I was told there wasn't any left and the stock will not arrive any so0ner. On my second attempt on the next day (entrance fees paid for Jiuzhaigou can actually permit entry for two consecutive days), I tried again. I was just trying my luck. That time, I was more relaxed and engaged in simple conversation with the lady attending to me. She admitted the map ran out of print, but she was willing to give the last copy (staff copy) to me. Hehe.. I didn't want to get her into trouble, for we know she might need the last staff copy to give simple directions to foreigners. But she politely assured me it was okay to let me have it. :P

Erps.. I got to go. More to write, probably later, probably tomorrow. :o)

- - - - - - - -

Can we actually play a neat soccer game on this soccer field? Haha..

Feeling Good..

It's really good to be back.

Don't get the "wrong" idea, I'm not "complaining", for it was just as great (if not better) to be out there, seeing, feeling and experiencing a little part of China.

The collective encounters and experiences made this trip rather memorable.

I shall need a little bit more time to try to put things together. Getting lazier, I supposed. :p

Right now, I think I need a little rest. :o)

潇洒的走 ..

All’s ready!
Get Set!
Go..!

The anticipation within is bursting.
I only hope my not-so-top-form-body-condition wouldn’t be a “burden” to the trip.

The feeling is amazing, due to too many amazing factors.

When I talked about this trip to some pals that I’d met, among many comments, one stood out distinctively : “有 W 这样的朋友真好”.
I can’t agree more. Haha..

- - - - - -

I'm not a fan for American Idol. But I must admit I am pretty impressed by the following clip :
American Idol Contestant's Pigeon Magic

我会乖乖吃药的..

Doc : How can I help you?

Me : … blah blah blah..

After examination..

Me : Just give me anything potent. I want to recover before this weekend. Just tell me what to do to get well soonest, I will obey your instructions.

Haha.. The doctor obliged somewhat. So beside Paracetamol (Panadol lah), I was also given Brufen (Nurofen) meant for high fever, along with …

过去小病都懒的去给医生看看。
就算看了医生也往往忘记吃药。
这一回我一定会乖乖地吃药的。
只因为我心中充满好多的期待。

期待游览九寨、期待步踏黄龙、期待参观乐山、期待…

- - - - - - - -



有一位圣者这么说：

吾心信其可行，则移山填海之难，终有成功之日；
吾心信其不可行，则反掌折枝之易，亦无可成之期。

心愿是成就事功的原动力。
小自个人的改脾气，去毛病，变化气质；
大至净化人心，普度众生，扭转乾坤，
都从一个愿心充扩而成。。只要人人有愿有爱，人间终究成天堂。

“I’d failed leh”..

Sy approached and she said..

Sy : I really got study. But I’d failed leh. In fact, I’m failing all subjects. How?

Me : You said you had studied, so if your tutor were to give you a new question now, do you have the confidence to get it right?

Sy : Er.. No.

Me : Then what are you studying?

She went silence for quite a while.

- - - - -

I wasn’t cornering her. In fact, my tone was empathetical throughout. If not our conversation wouldn’t be able to continue for another 10 minutes or so. But there was another part of our conversation which led me to think further.

Me : So when your tutor went through the solutions with you all, have you finally understood the concepts?

Sy : My tutor hasn’t discussed the paper yet. My tutor just scold and scold.

- - - - -

I am thinking..

She must have felt so cold during the scolding.

She joined us late, she needs help and she lacks confidence.

She tried (and she is still trying.. ) but what she had gotten so far were poor results and scolding. Mm..

Actually our conversation was joined in by Et slightly later, Et also explained how badly he had done for all his subjects. One of the reasons being his father was being diagnosed with liver cancer (at the very advanced stage) recently. His calm way when he related the details worried me a little. How is he (really) coping right now?

Sy and Et .. erm..

I think every *little pal wants to perform.

There are always some reasons for them not to have done as well.

So what was my first reaction when I see *little pals’ poor result?

Drill them?
Scold them?

Heh..

I think I need to learn to listen first.

But again, listening is such an art, which is not easy to master at all.

《聆听》本来就是一个高深的艺术。

I wonder when I could have another chance to talk to Sy and Et again for they are not in any of my classes.

But what am I going to say?

I am quite good at making things worse, sometime. Mm..

The Same Road We Took, but..

Along that road..
That kind of timing..
I believe most drivers (and passengers alike) were going to work or going to meet friends, awaiting a wonderful time ahead..
Of course, for the night-shift workers, they might be on their way returning home..
但是，就是使用那一条路，让那两位人士走向了黄泉路。

It was reported a fatal accident occurred at around 0617h..
I noticed at 0655h, the jam was still very bad..
At 0720h, I passed the sad scene..
The motorcycle was slightly deformed..
The storage box installed behind the back seat of the motorcycle was crushed and strewed afar.
曾坐在那辆摩托车的两位人士竟然 ..
各卧一方
血迹斑斑
没有动弹
白布覆盖

A big lorry was there, just behind the crushed motorcycle..
I think that lorry suffered only some scratches..
Not that I was hoping it had more harm..
But to emphasis how vulnerable motorcycles (and their riders or passengers) are..
说我不够胆识吧。
我真的不敢骑摩托车。

话说回来，
此时那辆大卡车的司机的心情应该也不好受。

咳…

It was the same road we took, but..

人类的生命好象十分脆弱。

- - - - - - - - - -



小故事大启示

从前有兄弟二人，只赖耕田种植谷粮为生，生活清苦。
哥哥偏好拜神祈福，常把弟弟撇在田里耕作，
而独自到天神祠堂，日夜订礼膜拜，
祈求天神眷顾施恩赐福，帮助自己发大财。

有一次，天神化身成弟弟的模样，来到祠堂。
哥哥不知这位弟弟是天神的化身，很不高兴地责备说:
「你不在田里耕作，跑来这儿做什么？」

「弟弟」回答说：
「我也想来祈求天神慈悲降福，令我财富随身，
至于农作，我不必费心，有天神的护佑，自然会大丰收的！」

哥哥不悦地训示说：
「天下哪有这等便宜事，不经辛勤的耕耘，就要想天赐的丰收！」

「弟弟」微笑地反问说：
「哥哥，难道你也知道『不下种就得不到果实』的道理吗？」

Bubbles..

I was facing the sea but a little distance away from the shore-line. I was just walking slowing towards the shore-line feeling the gentle breeze massaging my face, my hands and my (tired) legs.

Some distance in front of me stood a little boy and he was playing. He took out a gadget, activated it and I was “targeted”, much to my delight.

That gadget he was playing made streams of bubbles. The sea breeze literally brought the streams of bubbles flying almost horizontally towards me. I was engulfed. Just imagine the scene of those shiny bubbles glittering due to the evening sun swamping towards you. And in the middle of that scene stood an innocent kid obviously enjoying himself. I think that scene was lovely.

I hope to capture that scene, but my camera was not with me. Mm..

Almost like that, but not exactly like that. What I saw was.. the background being the sea, there was much more bubbles and the bubbles were flying towards me. Nevertheless, this picture does help me to recall the sight of what I saw very well.

泡沫有一定的魅力。
但是它短暂也不实在。
提醒了我们在人世间美丽的东西是不会无限期地存在。

Just Like His Last Reply..

I think his name starts with Sh. I am not too sure now. I am not tutoring him. He is also not even in my lecture group. Yet we always exchange greetings when our path crossed quite frequently in the college compound.

That day, I was particularly early when I arrived. We met and I realised he appeared a little gloomy and I asked…

Me : Hope you are coping fine!
Sh : Very bad ah, sir.
Me : Why?
Sh : Just yesterday, I got scolded by my Chemistry teacher.
Me : Oh.. You must be naughty.
Sh : Err.. I fell asleep during her lesson.
Me : I guess you must be really tired.
Sh : The night before, I did homework till 2am. Last night, I also did my PW till quite late.
Me : Wa.. (pretending to be very serious now) I think your teacher should be praising you for your effort rather than scolding you.
Sh : Err.. (he was so hesitant) Sir, I think you are teaching me the wrong thing.
Me : Haha.. I am kidding, of course. Continue to work hard, young man.

He smiled. I left.

- - - - - - - - - -

Quite a Different Get-Together

They were classmates since Secondary School. They went to the same Junior College. And they were all once tutored by me. They meet up very frequently just to chill out. Today, they ask me along.

I thought I will only be seeing them, but no. It was a pleasant surprise. They (most of them) brought their significant other along and a few more of their Secondary School mates also joined in. It was much like their Secondary School mates gathering, and I was invited. Haha..

I didn’t really feel that “left out” and they made an effort to keep me occupied too. A few reasons made it possible, I guess..
- the other Secondary School mates were either in the same JC and would have found me familiar although not being tutored by me
- the rest of their Secondary School mates if not in the same JC would have once gate-crashed that JC and had seen me before.

Sure, I was also being properly introduced to their “significant others”.

How they have all grown up.

Good time just flew by a little too fast. :o)

A Nice Deal...

I know I should be busy doing other things now. But.. erm.. I think I like to record this.

China has many beautiful sceneries. I hope to visit many parts of China sometime, somehow. But I can’t seem to get down to plan anything concrete. Just over a night (few days’ back), W made it all possible by clinching a promotional deal for us to be able to land in China (and back, of course) by SQ with a mere S$60 airfare (excluding airport tax). This is.. haha.. I’m speechless. Thanks!!

Just thinking of 九寨沟 and 黄龙, I can drool man.

Some professional links with nice pictures :
http://www.jiuzhai.com/
http://www.huanglong.com/

I will be back with my version, I guess. :o)

No Chinese Characters ??

S and L were talking along a walk-path and I happened to use that walk-path too. When I get passed them, S actually stopped his conversation with L and turned to me instead …

S : Nanzi ah, next time when you write email, please don’t use Chinese. Some people can get offended.
Me : Aiyo.. That silly mail, don’t bother lah.
I continued walking slowly, sensing no purpose in continuing….

S : It’s true, it’s true…
Me : Mm.. Ask him or her not to feel that way then.
I walked faster, not interested to listen to his elaboration. As a matter of factly, there were only a few lines of Chinese characters out of a write-out of about 650 words.

Surprisingly, after S finished his conversation with L, he actually made an effort to come to me. I think he was trying to make sure I got his point. I try to recall some parts of our conversation and I felt they can be quite funny. And you can know how naughty I can be at times.


S : Some people do feel unhappy, because there were some Chinese characters in your email.
Me : Why?
S : It should be official. And only English should be used.
Me : But it was a sharing of personal reflection. It was a personally sharing. Nothing official. Okay, talking about being official. How about those official messages written in 4 languages that we see everywhere locally? Do you mean that will make people unhappy too?

S : Mm.. So you translated everything you wrote in those Chinese characters?
Me : No. Why must I? I think certain things can be best expressed in a language that I am more comfortable with, which is Chinese. Besides, talking about translation. Is there such thing as perfect translation? We know the shade of meaning somehow changes along translation.
S : True..
Me : Take it as my limitation, I wish to translate everything, but I lack the ability to. Again, why they need to feel unhappy? Are they worrying that they might have missed something important? Then come to me.

S : How do you feel when someone who is an Indian, for example, feels strongly about something and he writes an email in English, but with some Indian characters?
Me : I feel nothing. If I get interested, based on what he had written in English and would like to know more in those coded message in Indian characters, then I will approach him to find out more. If not I would interpret that those messages along with the Indian characters are not for me and so I don’t bother.

Me : Seriously, if they continue to think in this way, I think they will be so sad most of the time. Ask him or her not to think in this way.

S was speechless.

Me : Furthermore , when P went “大学之道...” during assembly, those people must have gone crazy.

S was speechless, with a facial expression that I felt almost burst out laughing. He left..

Still, I have to thank S for his kind intention to alert me what he think is right. I might have appeared too naughty, too difficult to handle. Mm.. If you are sincere in sharing with me how you think, I believe I have to be equally sincere in telling you how I think or feel.

我又不是要取悦于任何人而写。

不过是抒发抒发而已嘛。

哈哈。。看开一点吧。。

话说回来，

还是我对少数民族的心思不够谅解？