儿时的egg tart

baked by just a neighborhood small bakery.
Nothing fantastic, cost just 70c.
But eating it brings back fond childhood memory and the taste is irreplaceable.

a coincident lunch last week, brought me back to the market.
saw the familiar video shop, hair salon, coffee shop & of coz my fav bakery which is now fronted by the lady boss's son now.

i love how old estate has those market where u see people gather and chat.
The buzzing of life is something lacking in those new estate where foodcourts & supermarket replaced hawkers & wet market.

TVCs

i'm not sure if u have noticed this tvc but i personally find this very well done.

scripted based on the beauty of imperfections that makes a relationship perfect.
This is so much way better than some other tvc which has even managed to clinch the recent local commercial award.

My fav part when traveling

is being able to see this:

Don't u think being above those fluffy white clouds in blue sky is super fairytale like!
That's why i always requested for window seats if permitted.

上海之旅 part 4

China chef cook with salt, salt & more salt.
Ok, maybe other than salt is oil.

Tired lotsa local famous restaurants & some local food.
Some i like, some does not suit my tastebud.

Shanghainess eat lotsa cold dishes before the main dish.
Sichuan food are cook with chilli & more chilli.
China people love 饺子 & 饭 (free flow of it).
i suspect the heavy flavoring of their food causes them to have unlimited supply of 痰 to ka-pui everywhere.

上海之旅 part 3

三天两夜, 西安古城之游

21st Mar, we woke up at 5.30am to prepare for 7.40am domestic flight on MU to XiAn.
Virgin experience of walking up a plane at the take off area instead of walking the "bridge".
*strong cold wind*

Stayed at City Hotel conveniently located at 南大街.
Explored 书院街, 西安古城, 钟楼, 鼓楼 & Muslim street on our own at our own pace.
　All sites are lovely though Islamic food are not really to my liking.
Their traditional food 泡馍 (pau mo) is just bread crumbs soak in soup. *taste weird*
And prevented a silly incident from occurring.
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Day 2, we signed up for a 1 day tour to visit 华清 Hot spring, 兵马俑 Terracotta Warriors & Horses & The Mausoleum of 秦始皇 since they are all located at outskirt in Shannxi.

The story about 秦始皇 really overwhelmed me.
How he united China, built Great Wall, built his own underground palace tomb were so impressive.
兵马俑有多壮光真的要亲眼目睹才能体会.
Thank god we had an excellent tour guide 小李 whom enriched this trip.
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Day 3, before returning back to Shanghai we explored Shannxi Historical Museum

i like the rich historical feeling of 西安, like the sincere & friendly people that we met at 西安, like the arty works done by the artists in 西安 & the very updated 西安电视台 that we watched nightly.
i'm glad i go ahead with jt & miss reporter's insistence on visiting 西安 - a place i've seldom heard of before this trip.
If not i wouldn't even know what i've missed out.

上海之旅 part 2

三月二十四日， 苏州一日游

1 & a half hour self-drive up from Shanghai to Suzhou - 中国的Venice.
小桥流水处处见
寺庙古墙到处瞧

We had a tour guide costing 50rmb to bring us around and explained each attractions we went.
Though frankly speaking, most of the time when she explained about those historical characters & factual, i simply have no idea who they are. *my history sucks! esp Chinese history*
And so i just pretended that i know & keep my question-mark-expression to minimal.

Amidst the old architects in Suzhou, the lovely modern Suzhou Museum designed by I.M.Pei, the only world class Chinese architect; left the deepest impression.

The design is simple usage of symmetry element so that no matter which angle u look at it, it's pure lines, triangles & squares. Also love the neutral colour tones of grey, white & green.
i personally think the museum itself is already a piece of art though the exhibits inside are just so-so.

Within 7 hours, we seen 5 attractions.
Not too bad at all.

上海之旅 Part 1

21 Mar 09 to 28 Mar 09
with jt & miss reporter
4d in 上海, 1d in 苏州, 3d2n in 西安.
Special thanks to shoppyP & babeD for putting us up at their cozy home & making the whole trip as comfy as possible; despite the greyish weather.
Of cause not forgetting sincereMa for driving us around and providing some guides here & there.

i flew there with zero expectation of China but left somwhat impressed with what i've seen.
Though of cause much can still be improve. . .
the 根深地故 culture of ka-pui everywhere;
women in China still need training in proper toilet bowl usage;
allowance to smoke indoor affecting the non-smokers' lungs;
service level (which is very limited) of eateries;
pushing & shoving to board subway;
EQs of Shanghainees;
saltiness of food &
traffic jam (& u thought CTE is bad enuff, wait till u experience SH jam)!

Having say that, i grew to like
the old cultural buildings that should be preserved;
the arty looking 梧桐树 lining the streets;
understanding the rich Chinese history;
the very updated TV channels (saw 不能说的密迷，画皮，How to lose a guy in 10 days);
affordable food, shopping, dvds & skin care products.

On SQ, i managed to catch "Changeling', "Twilight" & "The Women".
Experienced the most serious turbulence i have ever had & discovered a strand of hair in my food.
And witness the difference between spore service & china service on the same flight.