Reference: Her singing 牡丹亭驚夢之幽媾@金曲娛樂真經典演唱會2010
29.11.10
謝雪心's Unknown Talent
I never really was a fan of 謝雪心, Susan Tse, before (when she was still with ATV). Thus, I never noticed how talented she is...very gracious when she acts AND can sing beautifully. You'll understand what I mean after watching the video (and that is if you know how to enjoy art).
27.11.10
Upcoming Movies (2011)
Within those announced movies to be out in 2011...there sure have lots of sequels.
Worth the wait: Green Lantern, Saw VIII (isn't Saw VII suppose to be the last? My premonition's right. Muwahahah), Mortal Kombat 3, Scream 4, Puss In Boots, GI Joe 2, Underworld 4, Kung Fu Panda 2, 3 Musketeers, Just Go With It, Night at the Museum 3, Wimpy Kid 2, Wolverine 2, and X-Men First Class.
Questionables: Monopoly, Smurfs, Reboot, Alien Prequel, 11-11-11 (LOL why did I at some point see this coming too), Silent Hill 2, Final Destination 5, Terminator 5, Kick Ass 2, and Marvin the Martian.
Waste of time: Last Airbender 2 (will certainly be the biggest joke of the year).
Worth the wait: Green Lantern, Saw VIII (isn't Saw VII suppose to be the last? My premonition's right. Muwahahah), Mortal Kombat 3, Scream 4, Puss In Boots, GI Joe 2, Underworld 4, Kung Fu Panda 2, 3 Musketeers, Just Go With It, Night at the Museum 3, Wimpy Kid 2, Wolverine 2, and X-Men First Class.
Questionables: Monopoly, Smurfs, Reboot, Alien Prequel, 11-11-11 (LOL why did I at some point see this coming too), Silent Hill 2, Final Destination 5, Terminator 5, Kick Ass 2, and Marvin the Martian.
Waste of time: Last Airbender 2 (will certainly be the biggest joke of the year).
25.11.10
Let Go...Free Thyself
Forenote: It's related to the horrible thing I've done to someone...which I already confessed some times ago.
It's been a while since I'm struggling on forgiving myself and trying my best hoping this person can find a way to forgive me as well. I'm aware that I did something terribly wrong and, in fact, apologized sincerely countless times. Really don't know what I can do more if that person chooses to ignore me (which is somewhat understandable).
So, I've decided to try and let it go...leave that person alone and not bother him anymore. At the same time, I hope to live a happier life by not thinking about it anymore, because life is too short to try and make everyone like/appreciate you (but I'm that kind of person...hate knowing that someone out there is mad at me) instead of enjoying the present moment.
Time flies faster than you think. Let things go...enjoy life to its maximum...don't allow yourself to have a chance to regret.
It's been a while since I'm struggling on forgiving myself and trying my best hoping this person can find a way to forgive me as well. I'm aware that I did something terribly wrong and, in fact, apologized sincerely countless times. Really don't know what I can do more if that person chooses to ignore me (which is somewhat understandable).
So, I've decided to try and let it go...leave that person alone and not bother him anymore. At the same time, I hope to live a happier life by not thinking about it anymore, because life is too short to try and make everyone like/appreciate you (but I'm that kind of person...hate knowing that someone out there is mad at me) instead of enjoying the present moment.
Time flies faster than you think. Let things go...enjoy life to its maximum...don't allow yourself to have a chance to regret.
22.11.10
記憶宮殿
Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci
記憶宮殿法的基礎是這樣一項事實：我們非常善於記住我們所知的場所。“記憶宮殿”是一個暗喻，象徵任何我們熟悉的、能夠輕易地想起來的地方。它可以是你的家，也可以是你每天上班的路線。這個熟悉的地方將成爲你儲存和調取任何資訊的指南。來看看它是怎麽運做的。
2．列出明顯的特徵物
現在你需要注意所選場所裏的明顯的特徵物。舉例，如果你選擇巡視你的家，大門應該是第一個引起注意的特徵物。繼續在你的記憶宮殿裏做虛擬漫步。進門之後，第一個房間裏有什麽？系統地分解這個房間（你可以確定一個標準程式，比如總是從左看到右）。什麽是下一個引起你注意的特徵物？可以是餐廳中間的桌子，或者是牆上的一張畫。一邊走一邊繼續在頭腦中記錄其他的特徵物。它們中的每一個都將成爲一個“記憶槽”，等下你就可以用來儲存一個特定的資訊。
3．把宮殿牢牢印在腦中
要讓這個方法有效，最重要的就是要讓這個地方或者路線百分之百地印在你的頭腦中。盡你所能去記住它。如果你是擅長形象思維的人，這應該不難。如果不是，這裏有一些能幫上忙的竅門：按照路線親身走上一遍，當你看見那些明顯的特徵物時，大聲地重復。在紙上寫下選擇的特徵物，在腦中巡視它們，並大聲重復。總是從同樣的視角觀看那些特徵物。得明白形象思維是一種技能。如果你仍然感到困難，你可能要先去提高你的形象思維能力。當你相信你已經成功了，再反復幾次。對你的記憶宮殿來說，“大量練習”你的路線是非常重要的。只要你自信已將路線深深印在你的頭腦中，你就算準備好了。你已經擁有你的宮殿，它將可以反復用於記住任何你要記住的東西。
4．聯繫
現在你是你宮殿的主人，可以好好利用它了。就像大部分的記憶增強方式一樣，記憶宮殿法通過形象化的聯想起作用。過程很簡單：你選擇一個已知的圖像——稱爲記憶挂鈎——和你想記住的要素結合起來。對我們來說，一個記憶挂鈎就是我們記憶宮殿裏的一個明顯的特徵物。記憶挂鈎方法就是“改善記憶：講你大腦的語言”這篇文章裏描述的方法，如果你還沒看過它，強烈推薦。根據那篇文章的描述，形象化聯想的正確方式是：瘋狂的、滑稽的、討厭的、不同尋常的、超凡脫俗的、生動的、荒謬的——總之，就是那些容易被記住的東西，不是嗎？把場景營造得獨一無二，在真實生活中永遠不會發生。唯一的規則：乏味就是錯。雖然這個技巧能記住大量資訊，先讓我們從簡單的開始：用“家”這個記憶宮殿來記購物清單。假設清單上的第一項是“醃肉”。讓思維送你去你的記憶宮殿。你在頭腦中看見的第一個特徵物是你家的大門。現在，用一種滑稽的方法，把“醃肉”和你家大門的樣子形象化地結合起來。比如想象巨大的醃肉條像B級片的僵屍一樣從門下湧出來伸向你的腿，這樣如何？去感受“醃肉手”在你腿上的觸感。去感受那該死的邪惡的醃肉味。這夠讓人印象深刻吧？現在打開門，沿著你已經確定的那條路線繼續走。看到的下一個特徵物，把它和要記憶的下一項聯繫起來。比如下一項是“蛋”，而第二個特徵物是“丈母娘的照片”。很好，在這點上你知道該怎麽做……程式都是一樣的，只要保持頭腦中的畫面聯想，直到搞定所有要記的專案。
5.參觀你的宮殿
到這一個步驟，你已經記住了那些專案。但如果你是個新手，你可能還需要做一點復習，至少要把行程在頭腦中演練過一次。如果你從同樣的地方開始並遵循同樣的路線，每當你看到途中選定的特徵物時，要記的東西就會瞬間浮現。路線從出發到結束，注意那些特徵物，並且在腦中重演場景。當你的行程終結，轉過身從反方向走回你的出發點。最後就完全是增強形象思維能力的問題了。你越放鬆就這事越容易，你就能記得越好。
大家有冇睇 <讀心神探> 啊~~介紹記憶宮殿(最強大的記憶技巧)。
運用記憶宮殿法的五個步驟：
1．選擇你的宮殿
首先和首要的，你需要選擇一個你非常熟悉的地方。本技巧的有效性取決於你在腦海中輕易地再現這個地方並在其中漫步的能力。你必須僅僅用你精神的“眼睛”就能身臨其境。舉例，一個較好的初步選擇可以是你的家。請記住，你對這個地方的細節的再現越鮮明，你就能越有效地記憶。其次，試著在你的宮殿裏確定一條特別的路線，而不只是再現靜止的場景。也就是說，想象對你家做一次詳盡的巡視，而不只是簡單地把你家圖像化。就像我們將在下一步驟中看到的，這會大大增強本技巧的效果，如果你能按照確定的次序回想起物品的話。對記憶宮殿的選擇，這裏還有一些行之有效的推薦，以及可以採取的路線：你所在城市的熟悉的道路。可能的路線比如你開車上班經過的，或其他你熟悉的街道的順序。現在或者以前的學校。你可以想象從教室到圖書館的道路（或者是去街對面的酒吧，如果那讓你銘記於心的話）。工作場所。想象從你的隔間到咖啡機，或者到你老闆的辦公室（這不難選吧）。風景。想象在附近一帶散步或者你在公園裏慢跑的路線。
1．選擇你的宮殿
首先和首要的，你需要選擇一個你非常熟悉的地方。本技巧的有效性取決於你在腦海中輕易地再現這個地方並在其中漫步的能力。你必須僅僅用你精神的“眼睛”就能身臨其境。舉例，一個較好的初步選擇可以是你的家。請記住，你對這個地方的細節的再現越鮮明，你就能越有效地記憶。其次，試著在你的宮殿裏確定一條特別的路線，而不只是再現靜止的場景。也就是說，想象對你家做一次詳盡的巡視，而不只是簡單地把你家圖像化。就像我們將在下一步驟中看到的，這會大大增強本技巧的效果，如果你能按照確定的次序回想起物品的話。對記憶宮殿的選擇，這裏還有一些行之有效的推薦，以及可以採取的路線：你所在城市的熟悉的道路。可能的路線比如你開車上班經過的，或其他你熟悉的街道的順序。現在或者以前的學校。你可以想象從教室到圖書館的道路（或者是去街對面的酒吧，如果那讓你銘記於心的話）。工作場所。想象從你的隔間到咖啡機，或者到你老闆的辦公室（這不難選吧）。風景。想象在附近一帶散步或者你在公園裏慢跑的路線。
2．列出明顯的特徵物
現在你需要注意所選場所裏的明顯的特徵物。舉例，如果你選擇巡視你的家，大門應該是第一個引起注意的特徵物。繼續在你的記憶宮殿裏做虛擬漫步。進門之後，第一個房間裏有什麽？系統地分解這個房間（你可以確定一個標準程式，比如總是從左看到右）。什麽是下一個引起你注意的特徵物？可以是餐廳中間的桌子，或者是牆上的一張畫。一邊走一邊繼續在頭腦中記錄其他的特徵物。它們中的每一個都將成爲一個“記憶槽”，等下你就可以用來儲存一個特定的資訊。
3．把宮殿牢牢印在腦中
要讓這個方法有效，最重要的就是要讓這個地方或者路線百分之百地印在你的頭腦中。盡你所能去記住它。如果你是擅長形象思維的人，這應該不難。如果不是，這裏有一些能幫上忙的竅門：按照路線親身走上一遍，當你看見那些明顯的特徵物時，大聲地重復。在紙上寫下選擇的特徵物，在腦中巡視它們，並大聲重復。總是從同樣的視角觀看那些特徵物。得明白形象思維是一種技能。如果你仍然感到困難，你可能要先去提高你的形象思維能力。當你相信你已經成功了，再反復幾次。對你的記憶宮殿來說，“大量練習”你的路線是非常重要的。只要你自信已將路線深深印在你的頭腦中，你就算準備好了。你已經擁有你的宮殿，它將可以反復用於記住任何你要記住的東西。
4．聯繫
現在你是你宮殿的主人，可以好好利用它了。就像大部分的記憶增強方式一樣，記憶宮殿法通過形象化的聯想起作用。過程很簡單：你選擇一個已知的圖像——稱爲記憶挂鈎——和你想記住的要素結合起來。對我們來說，一個記憶挂鈎就是我們記憶宮殿裏的一個明顯的特徵物。記憶挂鈎方法就是“改善記憶：講你大腦的語言”這篇文章裏描述的方法，如果你還沒看過它，強烈推薦。根據那篇文章的描述，形象化聯想的正確方式是：瘋狂的、滑稽的、討厭的、不同尋常的、超凡脫俗的、生動的、荒謬的——總之，就是那些容易被記住的東西，不是嗎？把場景營造得獨一無二，在真實生活中永遠不會發生。唯一的規則：乏味就是錯。雖然這個技巧能記住大量資訊，先讓我們從簡單的開始：用“家”這個記憶宮殿來記購物清單。假設清單上的第一項是“醃肉”。讓思維送你去你的記憶宮殿。你在頭腦中看見的第一個特徵物是你家的大門。現在，用一種滑稽的方法，把“醃肉”和你家大門的樣子形象化地結合起來。比如想象巨大的醃肉條像B級片的僵屍一樣從門下湧出來伸向你的腿，這樣如何？去感受“醃肉手”在你腿上的觸感。去感受那該死的邪惡的醃肉味。這夠讓人印象深刻吧？現在打開門，沿著你已經確定的那條路線繼續走。看到的下一個特徵物，把它和要記憶的下一項聯繫起來。比如下一項是“蛋”，而第二個特徵物是“丈母娘的照片”。很好，在這點上你知道該怎麽做……程式都是一樣的，只要保持頭腦中的畫面聯想，直到搞定所有要記的專案。
5.參觀你的宮殿
到這一個步驟，你已經記住了那些專案。但如果你是個新手，你可能還需要做一點復習，至少要把行程在頭腦中演練過一次。如果你從同樣的地方開始並遵循同樣的路線，每當你看到途中選定的特徵物時，要記的東西就會瞬間浮現。路線從出發到結束，注意那些特徵物，並且在腦中重演場景。當你的行程終結，轉過身從反方向走回你的出發點。最後就完全是增強形象思維能力的問題了。你越放鬆就這事越容易，你就能記得越好。
18.11.10
SA Magic Phrase
Countless sales representents have absolutely NOOO clue on what they're or suppose to sell. You ask them information/price about a specific model/item (with the product's name...thinking that it would facilitate their task), the only reaction you'd get is a face of I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about-can-you-speak-in-a-language-I-understand.
BUT...their "professionalism" allowed them to come up with a get-rid-of-the-customer phrase which can subtlely sort them out of the embarrassing situation...
"Everything you see on the display window...is all we have."
Tadan!!! Their job is thus done beautifully.
BUT...their "professionalism" allowed them to come up with a get-rid-of-the-customer phrase which can subtlely sort them out of the embarrassing situation...
"Everything you see on the display window...is all we have."
Tadan!!! Their job is thus done beautifully.
11.11.10
Cheryl Cole Promise This
After Cheryl Cole's big success of "Parachute" and "Fight For This Love"...her new solo album Messy Little Raindrops (ft. her new single "Promise This") is officialy out and number 1 on the market...AGAIN. ♫joy to the world♫ Here's the new hit all over the world.
At the same time...she also launched her "Promise" pinky ring, a design collaboration with Fawaz Gruosi, the founder of Grisogono. "The first piece from her new capsule collection is a rose gold and blackened silver ring that spells out the word "Promise" with a heart-like "m." The ring is designed to be worn on the pinky finger. It sells for 920 euros (approximately $1,270)." Ayaaa!!! Why so expensive???
Through My Eyes by Cheryl Cole is also available...but not in Montreal of course, because we suck. I think I'll have to get my copy on Amazon. Siiigh!!!
WAYYY TO GO Cheryl!!! 2010 is definitely your year. *clap with big hands*
9.11.10
All Good Things Come To An End
One whole month of travelling is a good source of energy...but also a way to make you realise that Home (with a capital H) is the best and warmest place on earth. Quite honestly, I believe 2 weeks is the perfect number to get away...enough to make you forget about your tired everyday life and not enough to make you miss people you care.
Airports
- Montreal's airport is the most technology and design retarded
- Shanghai's very empty if you have to wait 5 hours for the rest of tour members to arrive
- Hong Kong and Beijing's are just huge as shopping malls so you won't have time to get bored.
Airplanes
- If you're not going directly to your destination, but have to be transfered (which is mostly done with smaller planes) remember not to choose the place next to the propeller...it'll make you deaf for the next hour. O_O
- Do not waste your time sleeping...they have now a good selection of old and new movies and TV shows. (if you don't sleep during the flight, you won't have jet lag...trust me)
- Can't understand why people hate plane food. Am I weird if I like them? I mean...they give Häagen-Dazs ice-cream.
- All take-offs and landings are good tests of my bladder control.
- On my way back to Montreal alone (HSK's staying an extra month in Korea)...a grandma was nice enough to put a cover on me just in case I get cold.
Suzhou 蘇州
- Extreme humiliation of a Mainlander...she didn't turn off her mp3 player during the take-off. We could've died because of that piece of ****
- A non logic woman who doesn't have the common sense to lead her seat back-up for me to eat. Literally having her head-rest over my plate.
- People are allow to smoke and speak loud in restaurants and hotel rooms. WTF! I guess I've been spoiled where smoking is prohibited in most places, Montreal.
- Very cheap (110$RMB can buy a dinner for 5), but oily and salty food. I guess "oil" is the cheapest ingredient here.
- Internet connection is snail-slow and networking sites (FaceBook, Twitter, BlogSpot) are just all blocked.
- Forgot to bring my camera's battery charger...had to use my mother's dummy cam during Korea and Beijing (photos might not be the best). Siiigh!!! What kind of memory is that??? Have no one else to blame but myself.
-Starbucks drink sizes are different. We have mezzo, grande and venti; they have tall, grande and venti. When I ordered my usual Mezzo Javachip Frappuccino, it turns out that the lady heard Green Tea Mokka. Euh...is that even drinkable??? It took her 5 minutes to finally get what I really wanted. Why didn't I ordered in chinese? Well, because the menu was only written in simplified chinese and I can't possibly know which is Javachip.
- Went to a temple and hit the gong 3 times to bring health to my whole family.
It is too humid for clothes to dry up if you wash them at night...had to use the hair dryer to blow dry my socks and undies. *sad*
- Watched the Ugly Truth in my hotel room. Muwahahahahah. Gerard and Katherine in China.
- Hospitals here have no names. They're identified with numbers.
- Went to the silk factory. Finally know where SK-II come from.
Nanjing 南京
- My neighbor's mother's 2 friends can sure drink a lot. They have to open 2 bottles of beer at each meal.
- My sister have a new challenge...biking in high heels. lol People would go to work in suits and riding a bike.
- Super 5* hotel with a large plasma TV, wireless keyboard (connection faster than other hotels) and a princess chair.
- A lot of street vendors everywhere. You come out of somewhere and suddenly you see an army of vendors running towards you with their products.
- Just realized that people in China looove to use their own face as their commerce logo. Lack of imagination.
- I'm feeding all moskitos to protect others. Ahhh!!! I'm such a nice and generous person. (in exchange, everyone gave me their special cream...I ended up putting at least 5 different kinds on my legs) Really felt warm. People actually care for other tour members and so I became friends with everyone sitting in the back of the bus.
Wuxi 無錫
- Purple sand teapot is the most well known product from Wuxi. If you want to be sure to buy the real stuff...well you know where to go. Not only it's top quality, but the deisgn is also nowhere to be seen.
- Visited a pearl industry. SAs in China are very good sellers. After an hour of intensive brain-washing...I bought a grade A pearl necklace for my sister (approximately 250$CAD). I was very tempted to buy one for myself too, but my beloved A-grade-well-designed black pearl cost 8000RMB (around 1200$CAD)
Hangzhou 杭州
- The world famous SongCheng show was a little boring at the beginning, but it gets better...covered lots of love legends I appreciate.
- My mother got "mugged" at that tea garden...I mean who would buy tea for 500$CAD???
- I'm not very fond to the idea of letting people play with my feet (massage). Anyway I worried for nothing because they ignored me the whole time, thinking I'm not admissible (under age) for the treat.
Shanghai 上海
- Shanghai's night view is a chinese version of New York's...both beautiful.
- Absolutely have to bargain no matter where you go. Set the price to 1/3 of what the actual asking price is...if they refuse, higher the price a little and if they still refuse...walk away and they'll call you back. In other words, something they ask for 100$...you can have it for 30$ or less (depends on your bargain skill).
- A SUPER line-up at the Expo to get into China Pavillion. Don't know if it's worth it, but I'm utterly happy to get a VIP pass.
- I'm so good. Just realized that I didn't buy anything in the Expo beside food (was surprised that it was delicious).
- All pavillions are amazing from the outside (have no comments for the indoor since I didn't want to stay in line for hours).
Hong Kong 香港
- Taxis are cheap and everywhere...cannot resist to grab a cab no matter where I need to go.
- Love their MTR too. (have A/C, easy access, have multiple exits, and can walk from a station to another *in my spanish accent* al interior.
- What a good taste for road names...Nathan Road. Hahahahah. (Seriously, I'm not sarcastic. I love the name.)
- In our hotel room, the hairdryer happened to be broken and my adapter converter wasn't compatible. WTF! What's my solution to this (can certainly not go out with my hair undone)...go to a hair salon every 2 days to get a hair wash-cut-dry for only 80$HK.
- Had much fun in Lan Kwai Fong, Gecko bar. And NO I didn't drink anything with alcohol...only a small cocktail...didn't want to end up in a stranger's bed.
- OMG OMG OMG Last time in Hong Kong I had the chance to see lots of celebrities having a party in a restaurant. This time I had the luck to spot Steven Ma in front of Louis Vuitton in Central.
- A humongous cockroach in front of the bathroom door in a restaurant. It's special to have that insect guard your toilet door. You can be certain that I'm not dare to go in...although I did because I wasn't able to hold it anymore.
- DimSum experience in 7eleven...failure (we literally over cooked)
Macau 澳門
- First thing we saw in the ferry station was 2 women pointing and yelling at a man in public. What a humiliation. I was sitting beside them and was terribly scared that those women would hit me accidentally.
- Casinos-hotels-resorts in Macau are impressive. I got the opportunity to see the Grand Waldo (where my mother reserved), the Venetian (the one I always wanted to see...the one in Las Vegas is my next target), MGM Gran (to see the lion, of course), and Wynn (the golden tree and golden dragon presentation left me speech less).
- We boycott Lisboa. It's the only one who asks for a proof of expense in their casino before we could use their shuttle bus.
- People guarding the door asked me for a piece of identification in order to let me in. Euh...do I look THAT young???
- Have to honestly admit that Portuguese tarts are better than egg tarts. I shared a half-dozen with my friend, but I could've finished them myself.
Korea 朝鲜/韓國
- Not staying in an hotel, but an officetel (with a heating floor) = office + hotel. The door lock is by code...which is very awesome. Thinking of installing one for my room.
- Lots of churches everywhere.
- Advanced technology in metro: have air con, toilets, movement sensor esaclators, touch screen maps, tv, tells you which side to exit, and an elevator connected to the outside.
- People seems to like pushing me.
- The main thing we do in this country is eat and shop.
- Went to a traditional restaurant where you have to leave your shoes outside the room, sit on the floor and wait for the waiters to bring in the table full of food.
- Speaking of food, I think I ate too much over-spicy food...felt sick and vegetable for a day.
- Saw a guy with a condoms-print tie. I truthly hope he won't ever find out. LOL
- E-mart is a place like Costco, but only bigger and more food stands. Mmmm
- Koreans looove caffes. You can find at least coffee shops on each street. The most special ones we went are surely Star Wars Caffee and Hello Kitty Caffee (which I enjoyed killing her)
- This is where I start to miss home and my mamaaa.
- Adidas is my real thing...here they have Samdidas.
- It is NOT possible for foreigners to visit Korea alone...there're no english sign and local people don't speak english.
- Bought a passport case, but had to return it because it doesn't fit...the SA refused to make a refund because it was an open box. Well...how am I suppose to know that it doesn't fit if I don't try it? Apparently, you're suppose to test it with the sample...but who shops with their passport in their bag???
- Most memorable person in Korea? Shin Won Lee, HSK's cousin. She's such a nice person...she brings us wherever we want to go, invite us to expensive dinners and gave me lots of compliments.
Beijing 北京
- A man in our tour forgot his passport home...so his wife had to travel alone and he had to go home. lol
- A stupid kid spent the entire flying time kicking on my seat and her parents say nothing. What kind of education is that???
- Don't have much photos of meself, because I can't possibly always take photos of myself or ask people around.
- My backpack is at everyones service.
- It is not even a question, I would definitely go back to Beijing once more. Only an hour in the gorgeous Forbidden City and the Great Wall...it's far from sufficient.
- No shopping at all during this tour. *depression* At least I'm lucky enough to have found my beloved candies.
- Greatest deception for the Beijing duck. Even those in Montreal and Toronto are wayyy better.
Trivia
- I do feel tall (at least average) in China. Muwahahahahah.
- Forgot to bring my camera charger and thus have to use my mother's dummy.
- Since day 1, people assume I speak mando the moment I set foot in a store.
- People there are only unilingual. I'm lucky to know mando...just failed for Korea.
- "There are still so many smokers in China I'm afraid the world's tobacco industry would collapse if China suddenly decided to ban smoking all together." (from Kelly Hu)
- If the smoking didn't kill me, the driving might have. At many occasions we're just missing head on collisions or kill some pedestrians by inches.
- Everyone think I'm 15-16 and wonder why I'm not at school, but travelling.
- Put in the garbage all unwanted and worn clothes...don't have to do my laundry and make more space for new clothes. Incredible strategy. *thumbs up to myself*
- In Canada, people cover their mouth when they cough...In China, I have to cover my face when people cough.
- Miserable squat toilets...no seats (only a hell whole) and no toilet papers. So most of the time I have to hold it for as long as I could. After all this time, I still haven't master the art of those hell wholes and my pair of Converse suffered the consequences (RIP after a month of intensive work out). If you think positively, it is a good way to train your biceps femoris and rectus femoris.
- When drivers get on the wrong road, instead of taking the next exit and find the right way...they would immediately make a u-turn and literally drive in the opposite direction of the traffic.
- If you ask me what i've seen during the trip...I'd say the tour guide's flag.
P.S. Bonus materials are available if you have earned my friendship-trust package.
Airports
- Montreal's airport is the most technology and design retarded
- Shanghai's very empty if you have to wait 5 hours for the rest of tour members to arrive
- Hong Kong and Beijing's are just huge as shopping malls so you won't have time to get bored.
Airplanes
- If you're not going directly to your destination, but have to be transfered (which is mostly done with smaller planes) remember not to choose the place next to the propeller...it'll make you deaf for the next hour. O_O
- Do not waste your time sleeping...they have now a good selection of old and new movies and TV shows. (if you don't sleep during the flight, you won't have jet lag...trust me)
- Can't understand why people hate plane food. Am I weird if I like them? I mean...they give Häagen-Dazs ice-cream.
- All take-offs and landings are good tests of my bladder control.
- On my way back to Montreal alone (HSK's staying an extra month in Korea)...a grandma was nice enough to put a cover on me just in case I get cold.
Suzhou 蘇州
- Extreme humiliation of a Mainlander...she didn't turn off her mp3 player during the take-off. We could've died because of that piece of ****
- A non logic woman who doesn't have the common sense to lead her seat back-up for me to eat. Literally having her head-rest over my plate.
- People are allow to smoke and speak loud in restaurants and hotel rooms. WTF! I guess I've been spoiled where smoking is prohibited in most places, Montreal.
- Very cheap (110$RMB can buy a dinner for 5), but oily and salty food. I guess "oil" is the cheapest ingredient here.
- Internet connection is snail-slow and networking sites (FaceBook, Twitter, BlogSpot) are just all blocked.
- Forgot to bring my camera's battery charger...had to use my mother's dummy cam during Korea and Beijing (photos might not be the best). Siiigh!!! What kind of memory is that??? Have no one else to blame but myself.
-Starbucks drink sizes are different. We have mezzo, grande and venti; they have tall, grande and venti. When I ordered my usual Mezzo Javachip Frappuccino, it turns out that the lady heard Green Tea Mokka. Euh...is that even drinkable??? It took her 5 minutes to finally get what I really wanted. Why didn't I ordered in chinese? Well, because the menu was only written in simplified chinese and I can't possibly know which is Javachip.
- Went to a temple and hit the gong 3 times to bring health to my whole family.
It is too humid for clothes to dry up if you wash them at night...had to use the hair dryer to blow dry my socks and undies. *sad*
- Watched the Ugly Truth in my hotel room. Muwahahahahah. Gerard and Katherine in China.
- Hospitals here have no names. They're identified with numbers.
- Went to the silk factory. Finally know where SK-II come from.
Nanjing 南京
- My neighbor's mother's 2 friends can sure drink a lot. They have to open 2 bottles of beer at each meal.
- My sister have a new challenge...biking in high heels. lol People would go to work in suits and riding a bike.
- Super 5* hotel with a large plasma TV, wireless keyboard (connection faster than other hotels) and a princess chair.
- A lot of street vendors everywhere. You come out of somewhere and suddenly you see an army of vendors running towards you with their products.
- Just realized that people in China looove to use their own face as their commerce logo. Lack of imagination.
- I'm feeding all moskitos to protect others. Ahhh!!! I'm such a nice and generous person. (in exchange, everyone gave me their special cream...I ended up putting at least 5 different kinds on my legs) Really felt warm. People actually care for other tour members and so I became friends with everyone sitting in the back of the bus.
Wuxi 無錫
- Purple sand teapot is the most well known product from Wuxi. If you want to be sure to buy the real stuff...well you know where to go. Not only it's top quality, but the deisgn is also nowhere to be seen.
- Visited a pearl industry. SAs in China are very good sellers. After an hour of intensive brain-washing...I bought a grade A pearl necklace for my sister (approximately 250$CAD). I was very tempted to buy one for myself too, but my beloved A-grade-well-designed black pearl cost 8000RMB (around 1200$CAD)
Hangzhou 杭州
- The world famous SongCheng show was a little boring at the beginning, but it gets better...covered lots of love legends I appreciate.
- My mother got "mugged" at that tea garden...I mean who would buy tea for 500$CAD???
- I'm not very fond to the idea of letting people play with my feet (massage). Anyway I worried for nothing because they ignored me the whole time, thinking I'm not admissible (under age) for the treat.
Shanghai 上海
- Shanghai's night view is a chinese version of New York's...both beautiful.
- Absolutely have to bargain no matter where you go. Set the price to 1/3 of what the actual asking price is...if they refuse, higher the price a little and if they still refuse...walk away and they'll call you back. In other words, something they ask for 100$...you can have it for 30$ or less (depends on your bargain skill).
- A SUPER line-up at the Expo to get into China Pavillion. Don't know if it's worth it, but I'm utterly happy to get a VIP pass.
- I'm so good. Just realized that I didn't buy anything in the Expo beside food (was surprised that it was delicious).
- All pavillions are amazing from the outside (have no comments for the indoor since I didn't want to stay in line for hours).
Hong Kong 香港
- Taxis are cheap and everywhere...cannot resist to grab a cab no matter where I need to go.
- Love their MTR too. (have A/C, easy access, have multiple exits, and can walk from a station to another *in my spanish accent* al interior.
- What a good taste for road names...Nathan Road. Hahahahah. (Seriously, I'm not sarcastic. I love the name.)
- In our hotel room, the hairdryer happened to be broken and my adapter converter wasn't compatible. WTF! What's my solution to this (can certainly not go out with my hair undone)...go to a hair salon every 2 days to get a hair wash-cut-dry for only 80$HK.
- Had much fun in Lan Kwai Fong, Gecko bar. And NO I didn't drink anything with alcohol...only a small cocktail...didn't want to end up in a stranger's bed.
- OMG OMG OMG Last time in Hong Kong I had the chance to see lots of celebrities having a party in a restaurant. This time I had the luck to spot Steven Ma in front of Louis Vuitton in Central.
- A humongous cockroach in front of the bathroom door in a restaurant. It's special to have that insect guard your toilet door. You can be certain that I'm not dare to go in...although I did because I wasn't able to hold it anymore.
- DimSum experience in 7eleven...failure (we literally over cooked)
Macau 澳門
- First thing we saw in the ferry station was 2 women pointing and yelling at a man in public. What a humiliation. I was sitting beside them and was terribly scared that those women would hit me accidentally.
- Casinos-hotels-resorts in Macau are impressive. I got the opportunity to see the Grand Waldo (where my mother reserved), the Venetian (the one I always wanted to see...the one in Las Vegas is my next target), MGM Gran (to see the lion, of course), and Wynn (the golden tree and golden dragon presentation left me speech less).
- We boycott Lisboa. It's the only one who asks for a proof of expense in their casino before we could use their shuttle bus.
- People guarding the door asked me for a piece of identification in order to let me in. Euh...do I look THAT young???
- Have to honestly admit that Portuguese tarts are better than egg tarts. I shared a half-dozen with my friend, but I could've finished them myself.
Korea 朝鲜/韓國
- Not staying in an hotel, but an officetel (with a heating floor) = office + hotel. The door lock is by code...which is very awesome. Thinking of installing one for my room.
- Lots of churches everywhere.
- Advanced technology in metro: have air con, toilets, movement sensor esaclators, touch screen maps, tv, tells you which side to exit, and an elevator connected to the outside.
- People seems to like pushing me.
- The main thing we do in this country is eat and shop.
- Went to a traditional restaurant where you have to leave your shoes outside the room, sit on the floor and wait for the waiters to bring in the table full of food.
- Speaking of food, I think I ate too much over-spicy food...felt sick and vegetable for a day.
- Saw a guy with a condoms-print tie. I truthly hope he won't ever find out. LOL
- E-mart is a place like Costco, but only bigger and more food stands. Mmmm
- Koreans looove caffes. You can find at least coffee shops on each street. The most special ones we went are surely Star Wars Caffee and Hello Kitty Caffee (which I enjoyed killing her)
- This is where I start to miss home and my mamaaa.
- Adidas is my real thing...here they have Samdidas.
- It is NOT possible for foreigners to visit Korea alone...there're no english sign and local people don't speak english.
- Bought a passport case, but had to return it because it doesn't fit...the SA refused to make a refund because it was an open box. Well...how am I suppose to know that it doesn't fit if I don't try it? Apparently, you're suppose to test it with the sample...but who shops with their passport in their bag???
- Most memorable person in Korea? Shin Won Lee, HSK's cousin. She's such a nice person...she brings us wherever we want to go, invite us to expensive dinners and gave me lots of compliments.
Beijing 北京
- A man in our tour forgot his passport home...so his wife had to travel alone and he had to go home. lol
- A stupid kid spent the entire flying time kicking on my seat and her parents say nothing. What kind of education is that???
- Don't have much photos of meself, because I can't possibly always take photos of myself or ask people around.
- My backpack is at everyones service.
- It is not even a question, I would definitely go back to Beijing once more. Only an hour in the gorgeous Forbidden City and the Great Wall...it's far from sufficient.
- No shopping at all during this tour. *depression* At least I'm lucky enough to have found my beloved candies.
- Greatest deception for the Beijing duck. Even those in Montreal and Toronto are wayyy better.
Trivia
- I do feel tall (at least average) in China. Muwahahahahah.
- Forgot to bring my camera charger and thus have to use my mother's dummy.
- Since day 1, people assume I speak mando the moment I set foot in a store.
- People there are only unilingual. I'm lucky to know mando...just failed for Korea.
- "There are still so many smokers in China I'm afraid the world's tobacco industry would collapse if China suddenly decided to ban smoking all together." (from Kelly Hu)
- If the smoking didn't kill me, the driving might have. At many occasions we're just missing head on collisions or kill some pedestrians by inches.
- Everyone think I'm 15-16 and wonder why I'm not at school, but travelling.
- Put in the garbage all unwanted and worn clothes...don't have to do my laundry and make more space for new clothes. Incredible strategy. *thumbs up to myself*
- In Canada, people cover their mouth when they cough...In China, I have to cover my face when people cough.
- Miserable squat toilets...no seats (only a hell whole) and no toilet papers. So most of the time I have to hold it for as long as I could. After all this time, I still haven't master the art of those hell wholes and my pair of Converse suffered the consequences (RIP after a month of intensive work out). If you think positively, it is a good way to train your biceps femoris and rectus femoris.
- When drivers get on the wrong road, instead of taking the next exit and find the right way...they would immediately make a u-turn and literally drive in the opposite direction of the traffic.
- If you ask me what i've seen during the trip...I'd say the tour guide's flag.
P.S. Bonus materials are available if you have earned my friendship-trust package.
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