26 August 2008; 2332hrs Singapore
I’m back! And slept the whole day through. Jet lag.
The flight was uneventful save for the rude flight attendants. Not to me, but to the Chinese workers who were headed to the Dot to work. it made me realise how lucky we are to be able to receive such high quality education and for the opportunities available to us because of that, and the high standard of living. The opportunities we have are boundless. We are so lucky that at most times, we do not even realise it. Now, I do. The Little Red Dot is not that bad a place afterall. It’s not perfect, but compared to what I’d seen and experienced, it’s certainly one of the better places to live in.
The conversation I had with a Chinese worker sitting next to me was a hoot and a barrel of laughs. They were trying to fill up the disembarkation card (which an air stewardess kept asking me to take from her, and I kept refusing) with great difficulty. They simply didn’t understand how to fill that in, and even had a book of instructions for that! One senior stewardess prepared a sample for them and rudely told them to pass it along and copy what she wrote, except for the names and addresses. In that case, wouldn’t that be totally different? Wouldn’t it be better to write the explanation in the boxes in Chinese so that they can understand what to do?
Ah well... So I was helping the guy sitting next to me, and we struck up a conversation after that. He’s really really young – not even 20 – and has left home in search for work in a foreign country! I’m amazed, and impressed. But at the same time, a tad sad that he had no opportunities to advance back in his home. We talked about life in the Dot and how much he would have to spend a day. The kinds of things he could do for leisure.
Then he asked about... the red light district. Whether the Dot had one... Ah... Of course. He wanted details! What type of girls can he find there? Which type is better? Like I would know... I’ve only walked down the streets to see the place, not to give them business. In any case, this type of issue is subject to the individual’s preference... My meat, your poison.
Ah well... I wish him all the best no matter what. And hope he doesn’t get any diseases during his stint here.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Final Stop: Ningbo
24 August 2008; 2213hrs Beilun, Ningbo (China)
After a 13 hour and 15 minute flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai, and subsequently a 3 hour ride from the airport to Beilun, I finally arrived at JL’s place.
Oh my goodness... this town stinks (literally). The sanitary facilities are lacking. I smell urine along the narrow streets, and even the public toilets in downtown Ningbo reek so badly that I retched the moment I stepped into it. It’s that bad!
JL’s family is really hospitable though. They treated me very well, and for that I’m really grateful.
This morning was spent at a supermarket getting some local foodstuff and the afternoon at downtown Ningbo shopping for some souvenirs. I bought a strand of copper coins unique only to China.
Things in China are generally cheap, but since I didn’t have anything in mind to get (and for fear of getting counterfeit items) I didn’t spend.
Dinner was at a seafood restaurant where they reserved a VIP room! It’s so Chinese! And it was my first time in such a room! It was equally amazing and annoying that the Chinese smoke while eating. The moment the elevator doors opened to the dining area, I was greeted by a cloud of impenetrable smoke. Man... no wonder I’ve been getting chest pains all afternoon. I’ve been breathing in too much second hand smoke.
Today is also the last day of the Olympic Games. It seems that everyone (Mainland Chinese) is preoccupied with dissecting the various aspects of the Games. They even have an Olympics Channel that seems to run 24 hours a day during this period!
Well, no offense to anyone, but I’m really glad to be leaving for home tomorrow evening. Nothing beats being back home, not even the cheap stuff in China is a big enough draw to attract me to stay. I still like the Dot best, and that’s a realisation after having had travelled and spent some time in so many places in my adult years.
Here’s to a quick end to my current travels and to be home as soon as possible!
Oh! I also managed to get to a Catholic Church today in Ningbo. After more than three weeks of not even stepping into a church, let alone attend Mass, it was great. The only problem... the Chinese Catholic Church is not in communion with the Catholic Church... Ah well... I didn’t receive communion from there anyway.
After a 13 hour and 15 minute flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai, and subsequently a 3 hour ride from the airport to Beilun, I finally arrived at JL’s place.
Oh my goodness... this town stinks (literally). The sanitary facilities are lacking. I smell urine along the narrow streets, and even the public toilets in downtown Ningbo reek so badly that I retched the moment I stepped into it. It’s that bad!
JL’s family is really hospitable though. They treated me very well, and for that I’m really grateful.
This morning was spent at a supermarket getting some local foodstuff and the afternoon at downtown Ningbo shopping for some souvenirs. I bought a strand of copper coins unique only to China.
Things in China are generally cheap, but since I didn’t have anything in mind to get (and for fear of getting counterfeit items) I didn’t spend.
Dinner was at a seafood restaurant where they reserved a VIP room! It’s so Chinese! And it was my first time in such a room! It was equally amazing and annoying that the Chinese smoke while eating. The moment the elevator doors opened to the dining area, I was greeted by a cloud of impenetrable smoke. Man... no wonder I’ve been getting chest pains all afternoon. I’ve been breathing in too much second hand smoke.
Today is also the last day of the Olympic Games. It seems that everyone (Mainland Chinese) is preoccupied with dissecting the various aspects of the Games. They even have an Olympics Channel that seems to run 24 hours a day during this period!
Well, no offense to anyone, but I’m really glad to be leaving for home tomorrow evening. Nothing beats being back home, not even the cheap stuff in China is a big enough draw to attract me to stay. I still like the Dot best, and that’s a realisation after having had travelled and spent some time in so many places in my adult years.
Here’s to a quick end to my current travels and to be home as soon as possible!
Oh! I also managed to get to a Catholic Church today in Ningbo. After more than three weeks of not even stepping into a church, let alone attend Mass, it was great. The only problem... the Chinese Catholic Church is not in communion with the Catholic Church... Ah well... I didn’t receive communion from there anyway.
Goodbye America (for now)
22 August 2008; 1758hrs Los Angeles, California (USA)
Actually, I don’t know what the actual time is. I’m very sure that we are out of USA, especially since the flight took off at approximately 1400hrs. That means we’ve been flying for nearly 4 hours now. The time zone would have changed and we would be out of the US airspace.
Wait a minute… I’m out of the US airspace! I’m finally out of America! Goodbye America, I enjoyed my four weeks there. They were fun. I experienced many different things, saw many different sights, met many different people.
Among the most memorable were:
1) Meeting Lisa and Jarek at the workshop
2) Soaking in the thermal springs and Firehole river of Yellowstone National Park
3) Rock climbing at the cliff face behind Mount Rushmore
4) Seeing Mount Rushmore
5) The troubles with my flight with Delta
6) The amazing lack of public transportation in a lot of places in America
7) The expensive taxi rides
8) The discrimination I experienced in some places
9) Staying at hostels in dubious locales (New York, Washington)
10) Seeing Capitol and the ‘grandeur’ of the White House
11) The scary taxi ride in New York with a Muslim devotee
12) Cheated in a taxi ride with a Pakistani driver in New York
13) Being accosted by black teenagers in Hollywood
14) Seeing the Gay and Lesbians Club in Los Angeles across the hostel (It’s amazingly big!)
15) The number of homeless people in America
16) The friendly Auntie on the Greyhound
17) Disneyland and Universal Studios
18) Couch surfing
19) Taking 12 different plane flights in 4 weeks
20) The chance to experience America on my own and having survived
That concludes my trip to America. I’m now heading towards Shanghai, en route to Ningbo for two days before taking another flight back to the Little Red Dot. I’m finally going home! I can’t wait to meet Mummy and Andrew, can’t wait to get to Church (haven’t had the chance to attend any Mass throughout the four weeks, save one), and can’t wait to be back on my comfortable bed. My smell, my mess, My room.
Actually, I don’t know what the actual time is. I’m very sure that we are out of USA, especially since the flight took off at approximately 1400hrs. That means we’ve been flying for nearly 4 hours now. The time zone would have changed and we would be out of the US airspace.
Wait a minute… I’m out of the US airspace! I’m finally out of America! Goodbye America, I enjoyed my four weeks there. They were fun. I experienced many different things, saw many different sights, met many different people.
Among the most memorable were:
1) Meeting Lisa and Jarek at the workshop
2) Soaking in the thermal springs and Firehole river of Yellowstone National Park
3) Rock climbing at the cliff face behind Mount Rushmore
4) Seeing Mount Rushmore
5) The troubles with my flight with Delta
6) The amazing lack of public transportation in a lot of places in America
7) The expensive taxi rides
8) The discrimination I experienced in some places
9) Staying at hostels in dubious locales (New York, Washington)
10) Seeing Capitol and the ‘grandeur’ of the White House
11) The scary taxi ride in New York with a Muslim devotee
12) Cheated in a taxi ride with a Pakistani driver in New York
13) Being accosted by black teenagers in Hollywood
14) Seeing the Gay and Lesbians Club in Los Angeles across the hostel (It’s amazingly big!)
15) The number of homeless people in America
16) The friendly Auntie on the Greyhound
17) Disneyland and Universal Studios
18) Couch surfing
19) Taking 12 different plane flights in 4 weeks
20) The chance to experience America on my own and having survived
That concludes my trip to America. I’m now heading towards Shanghai, en route to Ningbo for two days before taking another flight back to the Little Red Dot. I’m finally going home! I can’t wait to meet Mummy and Andrew, can’t wait to get to Church (haven’t had the chance to attend any Mass throughout the four weeks, save one), and can’t wait to be back on my comfortable bed. My smell, my mess, My room.
Final Day in America
21 August 2008; 2222hrs Los Angeles, California (USA)
It’s my very last night in America on my travels to this end of the world. The first two weeks were spent alone and meeting new people, the subsequent two weeks were spent with JL and HZ. I have to admit I had some fun with them but experienced some frustrations and irritations as well. I’m sure they did with me too. I guess this can’t be avoided, being in such close quarters and all.
The first half of my last day was spent travelling from Anaheim (Disneyland) to Downtown LA (Universal Studios). What a way to spend my last day in America, huh? No matter really. From noon onwards until 1900hrs, I was fully enjoying the sights, sounds and rides at Universal Studios. If we had more time, I’m pretty sure we could have experienced all the attractions but as it was we managed to do a lot – from the latest Simpsons’ ride to Universal Studios Tour, from Mummy Returns ride (best ride ever!) to Shrek 4D, special effects show, and Water World (the #1 show in LA). Really, the day was enjoyable and satisfying.
Dinner was some Lebanese chicken rice special, and now I’m back in USA Hostels Hollywood. I finished packing my luggage – 2 full bags!!! – and am just resting. My transportation from the hostel to the airport has been confirmed, so everything seems set and ready. I’ll leave the hostel at 0950hrs and America at 1330hrs. I don’t know when I’d be back. I had fun, but I really don’t want to be back here anytime too soon. My home is still the Little Red Dot, and I miss it. Travelling is fun, but being home is sweetest.
Farewell America. I traversed from the East to the West, West to East, and finally from East to West again. I had tonnes of fun and enjoyed myself tremendously. But I’m glad to be finally headed for home!
It’s my very last night in America on my travels to this end of the world. The first two weeks were spent alone and meeting new people, the subsequent two weeks were spent with JL and HZ. I have to admit I had some fun with them but experienced some frustrations and irritations as well. I’m sure they did with me too. I guess this can’t be avoided, being in such close quarters and all.
The first half of my last day was spent travelling from Anaheim (Disneyland) to Downtown LA (Universal Studios). What a way to spend my last day in America, huh? No matter really. From noon onwards until 1900hrs, I was fully enjoying the sights, sounds and rides at Universal Studios. If we had more time, I’m pretty sure we could have experienced all the attractions but as it was we managed to do a lot – from the latest Simpsons’ ride to Universal Studios Tour, from Mummy Returns ride (best ride ever!) to Shrek 4D, special effects show, and Water World (the #1 show in LA). Really, the day was enjoyable and satisfying.
Dinner was some Lebanese chicken rice special, and now I’m back in USA Hostels Hollywood. I finished packing my luggage – 2 full bags!!! – and am just resting. My transportation from the hostel to the airport has been confirmed, so everything seems set and ready. I’ll leave the hostel at 0950hrs and America at 1330hrs. I don’t know when I’d be back. I had fun, but I really don’t want to be back here anytime too soon. My home is still the Little Red Dot, and I miss it. Travelling is fun, but being home is sweetest.
Farewell America. I traversed from the East to the West, West to East, and finally from East to West again. I had tonnes of fun and enjoyed myself tremendously. But I’m glad to be finally headed for home!
I visited Disneyland!
21 August 2008; 0542hrs Los Angeles, California (USA)
Yesterday was one of the best days I had in America so far! We visited Disneyland! (But not the adventure theme park though... Sob...) Oh yes, like little children we were. Disneyland provided tonnes of entertainment and thrills. Of all the rides we had, Space Mountain was by far the best!
To top the day off, there was a wonderful show, Fantasmic, and a fireworks spectacle sponsored by Honda. With those as the climax, we definitely left Disneyland happy and contented.
Returning to a room of my own, on one of the two queen sized beds, in a clean, big and comfortable room was also heavenly. USA Hostels Hollywood tonight will seem so bad after this.
Next up... Universal Studios!
Yesterday was one of the best days I had in America so far! We visited Disneyland! (But not the adventure theme park though... Sob...) Oh yes, like little children we were. Disneyland provided tonnes of entertainment and thrills. Of all the rides we had, Space Mountain was by far the best!
To top the day off, there was a wonderful show, Fantasmic, and a fireworks spectacle sponsored by Honda. With those as the climax, we definitely left Disneyland happy and contented.
Returning to a room of my own, on one of the two queen sized beds, in a clean, big and comfortable room was also heavenly. USA Hostels Hollywood tonight will seem so bad after this.
Next up... Universal Studios!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
