Monday, August 2, 2010
这次到中国旅游,我学到很多"功课"。为了我的家人、朋友,我必须和大家分享一下:
买东西一定要讲价,只要给你觉得值得的价。(我建议还是省了,中国太多「翻版」东西,太多假货,连baby的奶粉都可以假。买了又不放心用,何必花你的一毛五分呢?)
如果跟团队,50%的时间是去"购物"。你会听到"我们是什么什么第一家。。。什么什么政府管治价格。。。或者一开口就减60%,还可以一减再减,减到你满意为止。。。"千万不要"上当"。 他们很利害的,他们会搞到你好像不买会错过机会的样子,根本没有时间冷静想到底你需不需要,值不值得。记住他们是冲着你的荷包而来。
不要以为不跟团就会避免这类"上当"的事不会发生。我是上网读了关于中国旅游的scam才知道原来中国的骗子无孔不入。总之不要和不认识的人打交道。记得自己做自己的事,不要轻以相信人,你就会没事。
中国旅游光观,的确不错,买东西还是要三思。我个人认为去中国旅游,就好像走入赌场。进赌场出来,如果能够不输钱,你就是大赢家!
吃完dinner, 在外面走走散散步就算了,连走去Falls都懒。
回到房间,重看School Of Rock, 还蛮好笑的。因为dinner时叫了一杯latte, 十二点还睡不着。

一早还没八点,被Ryan叫醒。最近他肚子不好,老泄肚子,所以一早吵肚子饿。也怪可怜的。前天晚上,睡觉前他对我说,他睡醒要吃东西,因为他肚子饿,不要再睡觉,要陪他去吃东西。听他这么说,既使再想睡,也不好意思不理他。
他自己下床去找东西吃,听见他开冰箱。我知道没有东西适合他吃。见他拿出blueberry说要吃,我不允许,他哭着说肚子饿。昨晚特别交待Tony去车里拿我从家里准备好的crackers. 我早预算到他一早起身要吃东西。
洗刷完,我带他到楼下Tim Hortons买muffin. 他说他很饿他要4个muffins. 后来又说他要十个。唉,可怜的孩子!结果,买了一个donut和一个muffin.
到家后,他们父子俩在外面洗车,我在厨房忙我的。回家的途中买了白萝卜和冬瓜。心血来潮想自己动手做冬瓜茶砖和萝卜干。
Sunday, August 1, 2010
离开Kuching 八年了,这次回乡是最开心,最舒服。开心是因为见到亲人和朋友,舒服是因为旅途蛮愉快的,宝宝蛮乖蛮听话的。
这次带着宝宝去中国,香港,新加坡,以及回国,足足玩了一个月。虽然有点辛苦,但很愉快。感谢Grace一家人,在中国对我们母子俩的照顾。还有一些团友,尤其是来自南京的司机大哥非常照顾Ryan,个个都说他很乖,不哭闹。
中国,很多古迹历史,差不多每一寸地土都有它的故事。踏入北京故宫博物院时,很难想像我所身在的地方就是当年的紫禁城。好大,非常大。它的位置就在北京的中心。当我们在里头穿越一栋栋不同的院子,有太和殿,养心殿,皇帝的卧房,御花园。。。
皇帝的后宫佳丽真的有三干这么多?皇帝贵为一国之尊,要得皇帝的宠爱,想而言之是不容易。
游完紫禁城后,原来真正的故宫是在南京,朱元璋的儿子把皇宫给搬去北京,据说儿子的「房子」怎么可以大过老子,所以南京的比北京的还大。后来南京的被人一把火给烧尽了。
我在想当年封建社会被推翻,最后一个皇帝被废掉之后,他的后代去哪了呢?
原来万里长城也不是秦始皇建的。早在秦始皇以前,长城已经有了一部份,是秦始皇下令将它完功。筑长城是为了不让蒙古族侵入。如果你仔细看长城是建在山的spine。想想当年人民如何搬运材料上去。中国没有什么多,就是人多。不论是以前也好,现在也好,做什么都是人力。皇帝下令筑长城,建水路,全都是人力,也不知多少千万的性命给赔上。
中国人有这么一句话,"不到长城非好汉"。后来人再加上一句,"走到长城满身汉"。
中国的历史太多太多了,看也看不完,讲也讲不完。
这次我走了北京、南京、上海、苏州、杭州和无锡。如果你问我喜欢哪?我会答:南京和杭州。原因是那里比较绿化。我最不喜欢北京了,江南一带真的很美,连皇帝们都爱下江南,难怪当地人有如此一句"上有天堂,下有苏杭"。
Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Left Toronto at 1am, transit in HKIA. It was 4am in the morning, many stores in the airport weren't open yet. We were seating at the eatery area, where the wifi signal is kinda strong, surf net to kill time, 4 more hours before our next flight to Beijing.
Check in to China Airline, as soon as we step out the door to the shuttle bus, our first welcome was the humid heat. It was 8 in the morning, the sun hasn't really out yet but the heat make me feel like it was noon time. Got on the plane, getting ready to buckle up, announcement from the crew, "due to the storm weather, the traffic control in Beijing not allow any planes land."
Delay!?!?!
Thunder storm??? It was clear outside the window.
I thought only half an hour delay, no big deal. First hour past, second hour past, third hour....
We were sitting in the plane total of 7 hours before we finally take off to Beijing. Yes, a total of a good 7 hours wasted on the plane. Ryan was slept thru the whole time until we arrived in Beijing. By the time we arrived in Beijing, it was night time. Our plan ruined. We were supposed going to 王府井 and taste the famous Beijing duck. Because of the delay we were sent back to the hotel and retired.
First time step foot in China, the impression wasn't very great! A lot of crazy drivers out there, they just like to honk and they don't follow the traffic rules. People aren't very friendly. They like to spit and smoke indoor. I need to mention about the public washroom, if not because of urgency, don't even go near to the public washroom. They don't provide soap let alone the toilet roll. I think the flushing system is not designed to flush the tissues, you have to throw the used tissues in the basket. Ooh, it was disgusting. I rather Ryan pees in the plastic bag or on the street than the public washroom.
Beside the public washroom, what killing me was China man likes to smoke in the restaurants, hotel lobby, non smoking hotel room, anywhere indoor.
We went to Silk Market (秀水街), it was an eyes opened experience.
You have to bargain, not 10, 20 percent but 70, 80 or even 90%. Tactic is you don't show interest and stand firm with your offer, don't give in and don't trust them when they say their quality better than others. There were 7 floor with every floor offers different goods. Every stalls selling pretty much the same thing. So, don't worry, if one stall doesn't want to sell you, try next door. Trust me, the moment you turn your back, they sure will call you back and put the goods in the bag. All the fakes stuff look so "real". I don't mean the designer purse, cos I will never buy fake designer purses.
We spent whole afternoon there, bargain until my voice turn hoarse and physically exhausted, but it was fun though. We were so tired, partly because of the jet lag. Poor Ryan, he was sleeping in the stroller the whole time. If our body allows us to continue, we'd probably continue bargain until the mall closed. Too bad, we'd to call it a day. I have to admit that was one of the highlight in my Beijing trip, beside the Olympic studium (bird nest), Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China.
