Myanmar （Yangon） Trip

Long time did not update my blog, several "fans" complained to me already...paisei ya!

I went to Myanmar for a project pursue presentation on 23rd Oct 08. Myanmar, being a military governed country, has NO roaming services, my mobile phone become 'cacat'! Hence, lose touch with people who wants to call/sms me. Besides, its has very poor internet connection too, line is slow and chat messenger like MSN,Yahoo are mostly not usable (however, Mr HT tried the web-based and they worked!hehe). Luckily got internet...still can get connected to love ones and friends...not totally handicapped!

On 24th Oct 08, after my work...I took evening flight back to Singapore and spend the day time to visit the ever famous Swedegon Pagoda which has >2500 years of history. The golden pagado is simply superb...the top portion of it are all made of gold! real gold...no joke! At its tip, there are precious stones and diamonds! Unbelieveable! (Dont ever think of korek ya, 会遭天谴的！ - what I am told）

Prosperity buddha

Myanmar buddhist believe in praying for the birthday buddha. Ever wondering on which day in the week you are born? "Ｗｈａｔ？You dont know which day you're born!!?? " Neither do I....so at there I quickly checked my PDA and apparently I'm born on Wednesday, so...here is the Wednesday Buddha.

福娃的名字

北京奥运以来，一直不记得全部福娃的名字。只记得有只叫晶晶，还有一只叫欢欢什么的。。。

直到前几天夜晚零睡前在房间里无意中留意一下我去北京出差时北京同事送我的“晶晶”福娃盒子的背面。。。

仔细一看才发现原来福娃的名字就是：

“ 北京欢迎你 ”

好个后知后觉。。。哈哈！

自拍了一张made in Beijing的晶晶福娃盒子! 得来非常有价值，因为是当我身在北京时候正当北京奥运期间道地北京人送给我的北京奥运官方纪念品！ （晕吗？哈哈！）

看了我的博客才知道福娃名字由来的人请在COMMENT一环留下姓名吧。。。方便我日后组织一个“后知后觉”团！ 哇哈哈!

Singapore Driving Law Test: PASS

On 16 July 08 morning... I took a deep breath and attend the Singapore Driving Law exam!

I was a bit nervous as I did not prepare well. I was busy working and travelling...have taken the test for granted!

The exam was a fully computer automated where one just needs to click on the multiple choice answers on the screen and the system will calculate whether one pass or fail.

The first 3-5 questions were very tough!! I did not recognized I ever seen them from the Law Book , that time, I was thinking "wah lao eh... Singapore standard so high, this time fail sure lose face!!"

But luckily my common sense still works well and when I click on the final screen to evaluate my exam, I PASSSSSSSSSS!!! Yahoo!

Below are some photo I "curi curi" took....hehe

Beijing Trip (24-26 May 08)

BEIJING, capital of China, a city that I always wanted to visit. Somehow it is in my blood...that being a Chinese native, 1 day I must visit where my native blossom! (hehe, old fashion man ya!)

Again, thanks to Emerson, though it is for business, I manage to step on the soil of this ancient and yet modern city; and explore it for 3 days!

Day1

After landed on Beijing, I went to meet my customer for dinner. First place that I visited is Xiu Shui Street (秀水街). It is a street famous for shopping, especially the main 秀水 mall, are full of China made immitated goods! A bargain paradise that attracts lots of visitors, especially foreigners!

Here are some pictures along the street and the outlook of 秀水 mall!

I was attracted by the big restaurant plate and went in with my customer to try the beef noode...guess what "Taste read bad!!!! :P ... dont ever try!!"

This the outlook of 秀水 mall. Inside are full of immitated goods! Foreginer (especially ang moh) might feel great about it, but to all Malaysian and Singaporean, it's nothing more than Petaling Street, KL and China Town, Singapore. So....come and see see look look okla! Nothing much to buy!

This is the twin tower of Beijing, just opposite 秀水 mall.

The 2nd place I went in Beijing is Wang Fu Jing Street (王俯井街). It is similar to Nanjing Street of Shanghai. 2 rows of nice and high-class shops/malls at the left right of the street.

Then, at the beanch of the street, there is a food town...but the food there are a little bit "unique" to me. So I just see but dont have guts to try...haha.

My customer, Ngieng and me!

"Mr or Miss Gut...plese try me"

At the end of the street, there is a row of food stall. This is much normal food like Lok Lok and Yong Tau Fu, but still...I dont feel like eating by the street.

Night scene at 长安街, it is just at the other end of 王俯井街.

Day2

Day 2 is a more exciting day as I visited some landmarks of Beijing, namely Olympics Stadium, The Nest (鸟巢), Tian An Men (天安门) and Gu Gong (故宫)!!

First I went the The Nest. As the stadium is still in construction and renocation, no public visitor entry is allowed. Hence I got no choice but to take the scene from roadside. Nothing much, just take picture...then I took MRT to the historical landmark of Beijing city: Tian An Men Square!



Well, out of my expectation, Beijing's MRT fare, irregardless of distance, is RMB2 or SGD0.40!! Super cheap! Then I heard bus fare is only RMB0.40 or SGD0.08...can you imagine? My friend told me that this is how the China government encourage its people to use public transport by heavily subsidizing the public transport fare.

Tian An Men square is actually the outer part of Gu Gong. Hence by just walking through it, one will reach Gu Gong.

Gu Gong, the palace of many Emperor of China, was a huge palace! Many segments and branch. Someone says, by visiting it, one can really tell how luxurious was the live of an China Emperor!

Day 3

I went to Beijing office on Day 3, was working for the wholeday. Hence no chance to go any other places of interest except, new Biejing Airport (Terminal 3), haha!

As I only have a short time here in Beijing, still, there are lots of places I miss. My next agenda will definitely be the Great Wall if I can come again! Tata~~

Taipei, Taiwan Tour (28Mac - 1 April 08)

Taipei 4 days 'free-&-easy' trip

Taiwan, especially Taipei city, has always been a place my darLING wanted to visit since we were together. Well...result of watching too much of Taiwanese entertainment TV show which successfully promoted Taipei as a heaven for food and shopping lover! So...here comes my darLING and there goes my money...wahaha!!

Day 1, we went to mount Yang Ming (阳明山). Just nice that it is 海芋 season so mountain are full of 海芋 ! Very nice!

Then we went to DanShui Street (淡水老街) for food and walkaround...very crowded but we gonna taste what Taipei social life is about.

Then, out of sudden, we were attracted by the 'fast-draw' artist. We saw the sample painting and they really look real. The best part is...the painter promised to deliver the drawing in 15minutes! So, we give it a try and spent SGD30 for 1 painting...worth? I dont know, but certainly memorable as this is the 1st oversea trip after our marriage and the painting symbolized that :)

Near evening time we visited Fisherman Harbour (渔人码头). This is 1 attraction of 淡水area. Behind us is the famous Lovers Bridge (情人桥).

Beautiful sunset...and this picture is taken on the Lovers Bridge.

Night time we went back 西门町 (Xi Men Ding) where our hotel is located.

Day 2, we went to City Hall area. Not to miss...is of course the grand Taipei 101 building. We walked around that area, which is actualy a shopping area. Then shopped around. Well...things are nice but its price is 'throat-cutting', imagine, 1 dress cost SGD500...

the shopping area around City Hall is called 新光三月. Lots of branded goods and fine restaurant, one can spent 1 day there if he/she is an active shopper!




Evening time we went ShiLin (士林夜市) night market for food...this is a well-known night market not to be missed! 1 of the tourist spot famous for variety of nice food. Ling is a food lover and here she found her heaven :P



Again...after 1 whole day of tour, we went back to Xin Men Ding.

Day3, even worse, right from the morning, Taipei was raining heavily. But no choice, we still need to visit places and not wasting time.

The 1st station we went was Long Shan Temple(龙山寺). The architecture of temple is great and we see lots worshipping here you cant see in the picture as they all stay behind the camera man, haha.

Next we visited 忠正纪念堂, where it is built to give memory to developer or discoverer of Taiwan, the great Chiang Kai Shek (蒋介士). At the time we visit this place, the sky was raining damn heavily...wind was blowing strong, believe it or not, we cant even hold our umbrella straigh at 1 point of time.

We took the outer and inner view of the place, together with the statue of the great Chiang Kai Shek .

Next, we took long MRT and shuttle bus to visit the famous 故宫博物院 (Muzium).

Night time we visited 师大夜市. Tasted 2 great food there as show in the pictures.




Day4, the last place we visited in Taipei before we end our memorable trip is 国父纪念馆. It is built to give credict and memory to the great Sun Yat Sen (孙中山).