everyone here is surprised i can speak mandarin. quite a change from america where everyone thinks it's great that i can speak english! where DOES that leave us Singaporeans. we're unique i guess, though i must confess i am really struggling with my mandarin in some situations, as i have not used it for 6 years (that's when higher chinese really pulled through for me ironically, so i didn't have to take chinese in JC, not that it would be any better if i did!)
we arrived at around 720am this morning, after a rather sleepless flight. i was really really tired and desperately needed a nap. immigration queues were really long and we only got out of the airport at 8++!
dad and mum both work with this agent to bring in staff from china, so in return, their contact in china offered to bring us around. the 2 lovely ladies really outdid themselves. they were so accomodating and really so nice. and they had a tour all planned out as well.
now i'm not usually one for planned tours, but this time i was really grateful that it WAS planned, as i've been quite tired out and i've not quite recovered from my US trip. plus the plan was the rough plan that i drew up on the plane on the way here (hence the lack of sleep)
since there wasn't enough time to do much and i really wanted some time to take a nap, we met up in the afternoon to eat zha jia mian: it's like plain thick white noodles (kinda like udon), with veges like cucumber, etc and tau jiu (beancurd paste), served seperately, then you mix it up yourself. lucky didn't put so much tau jiu, so salty man haha. but that's the way it is i guess. (sing it celine!)
after that we headed to the world park, which basically hosts miniture versions of all the great structures of the world. from the great wall to the leaning tower of pisa to the red square in moscow!
by the end of it all we were really tired and hot, so we headed back to the hotel and took another break, and then booked my ssm (got paeds infecteous diseases and immunology) before heading out to meet the 2 ladies and uncle august (visiting beijing for business) for dumplings! today is the 1st day of autumn, and it's traditional to eat dumplings.
went to this place that uncle august recommended. we ordered 7 types of dumplings (10 each of pork, prawn, duck, beef, fish, 2 vege), one vege and one soup. guess the total for this throughly enjoyable meal? 251 RMB, which is like SGD 50 lah! for 7 people! how worthwhile is that!
am now thoroughly tired out. have to wake up at like 5+ to go great wall tmr.
nightie night!
Inscribed @ 2:50 pm
-raison d'être-
Crimson Bisque
Seconded by her friends
Hooked after a few blogs
Doomed to express herself
every now and then
Crimson: red
Bisque: White unglazed porcelein
Crimson bisque:
A little rough around the edges,
rather fragile and stained red by the
change Jesus death and his blood
has brought about in my life
