Nutcow the traveller: October 2010

Shanghai at night

Took MAS to Shanghai. The flight was delay for half an hour due to 17 passengers yet to board the plane. Well, I guess this people got to catch the next flight as I don't see any of them boarding the plane. MAS standard has drop tremendously, the food is horrible. Is it because I took the morning flight, food either nasi lemak or omelette with potatoes top with cheese. No words can describe.

We also took the morning flight back to KL and the flight was delay for 1 hour and 15 mins after everyone boarded the plane, this is due to the air traffic congestion. The food is even worst, you either have chicken with spicy sauce or deep fried fish with noodles. Gosh the food combination is horrible. The appetizer is some sort of cold chicken, no ones dare to eat. One look at it, you want to puke.

We drove to Hang Zhou and stayed at Marco Polo Hotel which is 15 mins walk from West Lake. The hotel room is clean and spacious. Please take note that tourist attractions closes at 5pm.

We went to watch Impression of West Lake directed by Zhang Yi Mou and music composed by Kitaro. Highly recommended. Really impresss on the show, they actually perform on the west lake. They built the platform and raise it at night for performance. In the morning the boats can still go through. The shows is about love story how the couple met at the west lake, fall in love, married and then separated. Refer to the pictures shown below under Impression of West Lake.

You should tried foot reflexology in Hangzhou, totally differnt. At the end of the massage, they place the fire in the cups to push the wind out from your leg. You can't find this in other places. The centre opens till 4am.

We visited Wu Zhen, Water Village, 2 hours drive from Hang Zhou. Highly recommend this place. You can walk around the village and then take the boat ride. The entire boat can fit for 8 pax only cost RM40 per boat. 300 families still leave in this village.

Wu Zhen is famous for chrysanthemun tea.

Pictures of Wu Zhen Water Village

We visited West Lake, took a boat ride to one of the island in West Lake. West Lake is very huge and they have different island on it. You need to spend at least 1 day to tour entire West Lake. A lot of walking to do.

West Lake

One of the famous pagoda at West Lake. You need to walk up all the way. We did not go up...

Temple at Hang Zhou

We had dinner at Wu Ji Hotspot at Shanghai. They are famous for fresh fish head to cook in the hot pot. You can either choose ma lat or herbs as the soup base. We tried both.

Fish head weights 3.8kg

Soup based - herbs and ma lat

We went to Yu Garden @ Cheng Huang Temple which is famous for steam dumplings @ siu loong pau at Nan Xiang Restaurant. This is the so called famous restaurant. People mountain people sea. They have different rates depends where you dine in the restaurant. If you order take away, it will be much cheaper. If you go up to the first floor and wait for tables then is also another rate. If you queue up and to have a table reserve for you, your rate is also different. If you choose to order set meals then will be another rate. Lucky my cousin took us there otherwise I will be very confuse on their system.

Look at the number of siu loong bao orders

steam dumplings @ siu loong bao

This bao cost RM11 just to drink the soup. Was dissapointed with the soup cos too much pepper. They did refund us for this bao after we complain. The soup supposed to be very sweet and tasty. Dissapointed!!

The so called famous "Tung Poh Pork Meat" at Hangzhou. It cost RM7.50 per bowl at Zhi Wei Guan Restaurant. I find it too oily.

Tong Poh Pork Meat

Stinky Tau Foo

Visited Shanghai World Expo.It was 35 degrees. We went in to the expo at 2pm where the crowd are minimum. We do not need to queue at the security check. We visited Taiwan and China Pavillion thank to a friend who got us the fast pass. We spend 1 hour queuing in to Taiwan Pavillion cos each time they only allow 25 people to enter. When we first enter to taiwan pavillion, you enter to 4D and 720 degrees. What do you mean by 4D? 4D means that you can feel and smell. You can smell the flowers fragrance when it shows the flower animation. Then you could feel water splashing on you when you see the dolphins splashing. It was amazing. Then the next section is to talk about Taiwan Sky Lantern. You can make your wish by choosing the wish list from the touch screen. Then stand backwards to see your sky lantern written with your wish from the LCD. You can also feel the heat.

electronic taiwan sky lantern

You being serve taiwan chinese tea and at the same time enjoy a performance. At the end of the visit, you are given taiwan pavillion recycle bag, the cup which you drank the tea from, hand sanitizer, one packet of drinks. The tour is only less than 20 minutes.

We visited China Pavillion and we got to queue for almost 1 hour. Unfortunately my camera is not good when taking dark environment. I must said China Pavillion really feature better life better city. They featured water villlage, national treasures, children inspirations, the land of flowers, enerygy and wind, the structural from the past and present. I understand that after the expo ends in October, China Pavillion will still be there therefore I suggest you should pay a visit. The organisers should consider providing a special lane for foreigners as we travel so far just to visit this expo unfortunately we are not given any privileges. Majority of the people entering to the world expo are mostly mainland chinese. Guess no foreigners would like to queue for hours for each pavillion. That's why some of the friend will enter to the expo after 3pm where most of the tour groups already left. Total got more than 100 pavillions and is impossible to visit 15% of the pavillion unless you spend few days.

We get culture shock in Shanghai, there is no such things as Zebra Crossing. The cars, motobikers, cyclist don't give way. It is worst than Vietnam. No Taxi stand available and very difficult to get a cab.
I don't think any malaysians can drive in China, those cars don't give way either and they seldom use signal. When the driver is driving, we are shouting. Therefore my cousin advise all of us to close our eyes and pretend to sleep. ha!ha!

Pictures of Shanghai World Expo