Hangzhou, Day 3 - Part 1 (Maglev train)

On the third day, the organizer decided to let us try the Shanghai Maglev train. Our train was scheduled at 10 am and expected to reach Hangzhou in an hour.

The Maglev train departs from Shanghai Hongqiao railway station, which is the hub for high speed rail line in Shanghai. The station is new, huge, bright and spacious, plus it is CLEAN too. Opened in year 2010, it is known as the largest railway station in Asia.

this place puts KL Sentral to shame.

The signboard with a clock. Dun play-play as the train departs sharply as scheduled. Be early or be sorry!

indeed the train left the station sharply on schedule. After awhile into the journey, I saw some countryside farm house and the vast plantation land outskirt of the city...

greeneries...and so eye-soothing.

the farmers' house...in huge bungalows on their own land.

the ride was picturesque, time flies and soon after we reached Hangzhou station.

Surprisingly Hangzhou station is just as huge and new as Shanghai station.

around the station vicinity, there are newly built apartments...

I felt like in Singapore than in China...coz the township is so well-structured!

We were brought to some sort of touristy place for shopping...

The below snack was sold at the entrance. Cheap and delicious...I keep on munching some to fill my hungry stomach since I didn't take much breakfast earlier.

the ancient-like shoplots...selling all sorts of souvenirs...such as scarfs, traditional Chinese clothes, tea leaves, watches, local biscuits...etc...Is like our Petaling street! Went in to browse some goods...The Chinese are  innovative-lot, plenty of improvised items and nice-looking souvenirs sold there...

Then I went further and reached some small alley with food stalls.

the prices were reasonable and cheap...but again, I doubt if it is safe for consumption (dun wan to end up hospitalized).

street snacks everywhere, very tempting too, what more when I was hungry then.

prices here in RMB, so if u convert them in MYR...well, I wouldn't get such price in KL!

meat dumplings! my fav...but why green? I hav no idea.

pork trotter...looks yummie too, it keeps u warm on a cold day.

alrite, too much temptation, beh tahan ady...gotta get out of sight before I buy any...

soon, I was back at the main street and saw this old pharmacy established back in 1649 (kidding or what?!)...u know that kinda wong-fei-hung pharmacy which also served as Chinese clinic too.

linger there for awhile enjoyin the surroundings but found nothing fancy except for modern packed Chinese herbs being sold...Since I m not there to buy any...I head back to the tour bus and wait for the rest of the members to finish their shopping ;-)

Shanghai, Day 2 - Part 4 (Dinner & Huangpu River Cruise)

From Lujiazui, the tour adjourned to this familiar place again (remember Yu Garden on my first day?)

nope, not for sight seeing but for a quick dinner....

weather was cooling (yea, mentioned this word numerous times), but I dun mind standing by the roadside for some cool nite breeze...

(*back then April was a hot & dry month in KL, having cool breeze is "something much treasured")

The organizer has earlier pre-booked and ordered our food from the restaurant. When we went in, we were escorted to a private room. The room could fit in four tables...more than enuff for 20++ person. Our food was served without waiting long.

somehow, despite the dinner time, the entire restaurant wasn't much occupied. Only a few corner tables were taken...

after the first few dishes, the rest followed suit...soon after it was piling again...with plates stacked onto one another coz there wasn't enuff space on the table. The below is Spicy Szechuan chicken.

this time, we have more chicken dishes...for those who can't take spicy, there are a few options.

I thought 'siu mai' was served, but I was tricked...this tray is actually glutinous rice shaped like 'siu mai'...Anyhow, food is so-so only...didn't take much picture of the foods coz we were rushing to catch the 'cruise'...

we arrived at the dock slightly before 8...by then the place was crowded, some lining up to purchase tickets...such a brisk business! Well, we dun have to queue up for tickets...all thanks to the organizer who has 'runner' doing these jobs while we were enjoying our dinner.

colourful lights everywhere...from the buildings, ships, streetlights etc.

and it gradually changes its colours...just too many lights to feast your eye.

even the dock is well-lit.

from atop of the cruise ship, the bund is clearly visible.

yeapz...this is the ship that we took.

The cruise starts from the Bund and goes upstream. Towards the south, it takes us to look at the Nanpu Bridge, and then turns round to the north to go to the Yangpu Bridge and finally reaches Wusong Mouth (Wusongkou), which is an inlet of the sea that the Huangpu River and the Yangtze River flow into. The whole journey took about almost an hour to complete.

and it passed-by the prominent landmark, of skyscraper with colourful lights display...it somehow reminds me of the Symphony of Lights in HK, but without the music played on the background.

The Bund, at another side of the river...such an ol' charm!

Some non-halal eatery @ the Gardens mall

The underground concourse between Mid Valley and The Gardens mall would be one of my fav hangout place whenever I shop @ Mid Valley.

there are plenty of  eatery stalls and restaurant that left me spoilt for choices!

I pass by the other day and saw a 'new' restaurant...Perhaps it isn't new, but I remembered it wasn't there during my last visit. It specializes in hakka dishes..and the interior is quite Oriental.

flipped thru the menu, and I saw my fav pork dish - hakka braised pork set rice..RM18.90...looks good in the picture...so I decided to give it a try...am in the mood for porky food!

and there u go...my set meal with iced green tea.

the pork? ermm...so so only, and it's quite fatty...with thick layer of fats...I guess my parent and sis will complaint seeing those fat layers.

as for me...eat first, guilt later.

;-)

BON APPETIT!

Shanghai, Day 2 - Part 3 (Lujiazui)

*a continuation of the previous Shanghai travelogue post...

After the sumptuous lunch, I had another 2-hour ride back to the city.

as the bus approaching the city, saw lotsa tall apartments, offices buildings and integrated highways connecting Shanghai with various neighbouring towns. Various development undergoing, a sign of a fast growing & prospering city.

soon after, we were in Lujiazui, the financial district of Shanghai.

am excited to go up the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, but before that, some photo capture moment of its surrounding areas.

Lujiazui is a well planned site of the city...

The subway stations are located underground, wide pedestrian walkways adjacent to every road...the infrastructures are well maintained, top class!

in between the tall skyscraper, there is one huge green field...the greenery is so eye-soothing

below: the mesmerizing evening view, facing Huangpu river

common sight of colourful flowers...reminds u of spring

pretty, ain't it?

 landscaped garden tucked in the middle of the city, green concept, perhaps?

the Oriental Pearl Tower popular-staircase-for-photo-shoot @ the entrance

 the panoramic scene from the observation deck, but the weather was bit foggy

 i enjoyed my time taking pictures and observing the city view from the transparent glass panel

 awesomely breathtaking to be on top of the world city. I was stepping on a piece of glass with nothing beneath!

the ground floor houses a museum that displays classic cars, and lotsa replicas of classic Shanghai buildings and lifestyle (the 1920's - 1930's era). Some mannequin looks scary under this dimly lit museum.

 by evening, the tower lights are ON. It gradually changes its color tone.

 Below: a sunset picturesque of the surrounding office buildings. After 2 hours lingering at Lujiazui, the group departed for a "quick" dinner at 7 as to catch up with the nite activity later on.

Upnext: Huangpu River Cruise. Stay tuned!

Starbucks cafe & Counting Stars

there's a newly established Starbucks outlet at Wisma Scope, nearby my office. It's rather spacious...and I like it being that. Those who are working in the office above will be the lucky ones coz it's so convenient to get their coffee fix and would be the early birds to enjoy any seasonal promotion...

Plenty of seats available, potential place for chillout, appointments and meeting...I went there after lunch on one fine day...and it was quite empty, I wish to lie on that long sofa bench! (ahh, the long bench is so 'inviting' but of course I never do that)

here's this week's Friday song (aka "weekend entertainment") for u guys, n'joy!

a similar rendition from Chrissy, Alex Goot and Kurt...not bad though I prefer the original version by One Republic.

H.A.P.P.Y W.E.E.K.E.N.D