Day 41

Maybe it’s due to excitement; I woke up very early today to get myself ready for the trip back to Singapore. Before I leave, I happened to meet the aunty who sells the egg la main. The familiar face sending us off with her 2 grandchildren. Saying good-bye and controlling my tears may be one of the hardest things. I can still remember the warmth of her hand when she touched me. She also asked me if I’ll be back and I had to be truthful and said “probably not”. She started sobbing later *Hate this feeling*. Whatever it is, she said something that I think it’s meaningful. She told me that as much as I hate to leave this place, I still have to. Cause I have my family, my parents in Singapore. I have to always think of them. Her words make me realize that I’d not meet my family for quite sometime and I’m starting to miss them.
When I reach the airport, everyone, including me was taking pictures. Too bad my camera’s battery got exhausted and I had a hard time getting my pictures since I used other people’s camera. We were having fun at first, but as the time to check in get closer and closer, I try to avoid them so that I won’t cry in front of them like what I did with the aunty in the morning. The journey back home makes me reflect on what I’d learnt throughout this trip and if I had achieved my learning plan. All in all, I did achieve what I want though this trip. Not only have I taken my first flight, but after this trip, it makes me realize that I am able to co-switch between different the two global cultures (Singapore and China). In the future when I go to China, I will not compare between Singapore and China. Instead, I will blend into the culture and adapt to the place as I am not there to compare and critic, but to learn. There are many things that I do not know and I hope to make a trip back to China again in the future to gain more knowledge and experience.

I really love that place and I’m gonna miss it immensely. But, somethings have to be left behind in order to move forward … which is exactly what we are doing.

Outside dorm before leaving

Saying good bye
She sobbed
Our luggages

We got to board a bus to take the plane to GuangZhou.

It's rainning at that time

On our way back to Singapore from GuangZhou Bai yun airport

I will miss them dearly

My sis and I (Mr. Wong said that we look alike)

Lastly, I had my chicken rice and it taste heavenly!

Day 40

Masita, Hajar, Joey and I went to Han Zheng Jie to get Masita’s father’s slippers this morning. We intend to just buy it and leave that place. But we cannot resist the temptation to shop. So we ended up ahopping for sometime and then leave that place. When we reach our school, we walk around the neighbourhood to say good-byes to the locals there as they’re really nice to us. It's really nice to see them for the last time since I can pridict that I won't be seeing them in the future. One of the shop owner even gave us a souvenir each and ask us to come back often. *Hope so* We also went to the salon to get our hair done for the last time to finish up our package. The time taken in the salon was very long as Benedict perm his and they have a hell lot of customers. In addition to that, the "bye-bye" time with them is also very long. We even took pictures of the worker’s there. When we’re o our way back, we then realize that it’s very late. The packing of stuff was alright and I seek help from Haja. Hope it will be a fine and safe journey tomorrow.

Near Han Zheng Jie
Joey and me!

The owner actually put our photos on the shelve so that people can see

With one of the Egg La Mian owner

Ben with his hair stylist

Randolph and one of the staff there

Jar and 2 staff

Me and my wet hair

All the staff at Fa Yuan Di

No 53 and me!

Last shot

Day 39

As what I’d mentioned yesterday, I went back to that shop with Zee Min to get my dress. Though ther;s no more discount, but i still thik that it's worth the price. After the purchase, Zee Min and I just walk around that area for several hours She brought quite a number of things and it's definitely a fruiteful trip for her. As for me, i didn't buy much stuff. After the trip, we went back for farewell party as well as Rocco's birthday party.It was until that time then I realize that it’s Rocco’s birthday. He’s 20 years old already. I guess that’s the most memorable birthday party he ever had, With all his friends around him and 3 birthdays cakes. During the farewell party, some of the local students cried. Maybe it’s because of us leaving and they’re getting a little too emotional. Anyway, I really hope all the best to them and we will definitely wait fir them to come to Singapore to visit us and have fun =)

Japan's food in China

How the Si Men Kou looks like
Fire saying his last words.

3 birthday cakes!

Journey and me

Fighting for the cake

Clearing up the mess

The birthday boy (Rocco!) and I

Day 38

I had my final presentation today. *Yeah!* That also mark the end of my module here in China. I will be really free. Though I got bombarded by Mr. Wong, but I think the questions that he asked help me to stimulate my thinking. After the presentation, I went over to Si Men Kou with two of my newfound friend in China to shop. In my opinion, it’s better than Han Zheng Jie. The trip to that place today is very fulfilling as I manage to get some of the stuff that I like. I’m going to go there tomorrow again to get a dress. (I regretted not buying today). I learnt something new today. if you buy something from the shop houses, it is a must to bargain. To Singaporeans like me, 90 rmb for a dress is considered as cheap. But in china, it’s quite expensive. Price of a top can go down all the way from 130 rmb to 35 rmb! See the difference? One tip for you if you want to buy really cheap stuff here is that you don’t shop in shopping malls, but in shop houses. And when you want to bargain, ask the local to bargain for you. Anyway, I went to KTV with the locals today. Guess what, they only have Chinese songs. No Amy Winehouse’s song. Since I can’t sing Chinese songs, I slept there. Okay, that’s all for today. I’ll go back to the place that I went today tomorrow to get the dress that I want.

Group A!

Out to shop

Ye shi (Night Market) -- I was told that these people come out at night as the police are not working at that time.

Singing with Zee Min

Everyone's tired

Day 37

There’s no lesson today. Only for some group who wants to present today will have to go to the usual classroom block to study. I was actually clearing my blog posts today and so, I stayed in my room for almost the whole day. Maybe some shopping around the back street after I finished updating my blog. I got myself a nail polish there – nothing amazing.
After all the shopping, Vivian and I went to the usual classroom black to interact with the students. Since I only get to know that there’s such activity in the afternoon, I wasn’t very sure of what to do. Well actually those who went don’t really know what to do. We were shocked to see so many local students (I heard international) and they started performing out of nowhere and next we were divided into 2 groups and we got to interact with them. Can you imagine, I actually talk for more than 2 hours without knowing it. By having such activities, I actually made new friends again. But too bad I’m leaving this Sunday =(

I'm starting to pack already!

The guy came intomy room to fix my toilet light today. Finally I don't have to bathe in the dark!

During the interaction time with the locals
They performed for us

Mr Wong found himself a good place to sit.

More performance

My newfound friend

Day 36

I was at another branch of the WUST. The place was just huge! Beautiful! Perfecto! Lovely! I” went there for some leadership training stuff. I was really tired in the beginning and don’t even have the strength to joke around with Zee Min. Just imagine a person sleeping at 5 the day before climbing rocks and playing high elements. I’m lucky that I didn’t fall from the high elements. Cause that’s the one that I’m most afraid of. Anyway, they group us into different groups and at the start of the day, we had some interaction games. That’s like a boot camp isn’t it? Actually I’m not the only one who’s tired there. The rest of my group mates were also tired too. But we manage to joke around. After the team building games, we went off to have our lunch and visited the dormitory of the other group of students who stayed there. They actually stayed in an apartment. With television set and a cleaner to clean the place every week. That’s like a little different from my place. But something to make me feel better is that the place that I’m living now has got more places to shop as compared to the other group. No wonder they need that television set to keep themselves entertained. *Opps…*

After the lunch break, we went to play trust fall, high elements and rock climbing. Fun I must say. When I reach the dormitory, I was so tired that I slept on my bed within minutes after dazing at my laptop for sometime.

Getting ready in teams
Me jumping across for high elements

Giving massage (Wei Guang is a lucky guy as he's in front of me!)

Before climbing the rock.

Me climbing up... up.. up.. but still didn't reach the top

Unscrewing...

Me and Wei Guang

Group shots of the whole OIP group Another group shot with the LSCT

Day 34, 35

I was touring for the past 2 days to Lu lin mountain at Jing men. That place is just lovely! Just a little history of that place:

Lulin bing (Lulin force) is one of the two major agricultural rebellion movements against Wang Mang’s Xin Dynasty. Their collective strengths eventually led to the downfall of the Xin Dynasty and the establishment of a temporary reinstatement of the Han Dynasty. But the empire still fall afeter 2 years due to the infighting and incompetence of the Lulin leaders. Basically, the place is more like a battlefield and how the people survive and stay in that mountainous area.

Day 34
The journey to the place wasn’t as far as the last few tours I’ve been. So it’s nice. It’s only a 3 hours ride. Yes, only 3 hours. And as usual, I slept through the ride without going for toilet break. Those that went for the toilet break told me that the condition of the toilet wasn’t that nice. There’s only 2 options – one with full of blood and vomit and the other one is with full of shit. Guess I’d learnt something from here. Next time when I’m using the public facilities, I will be extra careful and be more considerate. Cause I can understand the feeling of the next person using the public facility. Ok, back to the bus ride. The bus driver love honking. He can just honk at anything. If I still have my phone with me, I can just stuff the ear piece into my ears and listen to whatever music I have instead of the honking sound. *sign*
When I reach that place, I’m like “Wow! Finally!” The place is simple and nice. If it’s not because of the Flexsim, I can just relax and enjoy the night there. But anyway, I toured around the Mei Ren Gu and one of the village there. The Mei Ren Gu has got waterfall and it’s my first time seeing it! *Haha.* One thing that I like about this trip is that I don’t have to climb a lot to just see a little part of the scenery (Eg. Wudang trip). The village visit was still alright. I get to see how people grow mushrooms, one of my favourite food. Though the locals there may not have cars and bungalows, I was told by the tour guide that they are quite rich. They choose to stay there to live a peaceful life till they die. As for the younger generations there, they don’t live there. They went off to town to live =) We had a campfire after our dinner with some people performing and some of the students from Ngee Ann singing.

Day 35
Visited the lulin gu bing and one of the cave there. The lu lin gu bing place is a place where the solider fight there in the past. I climbed a lot and it’s nice to see how the people in the past fight. I always doubt the dramas that I’d watched. The scenery looks fake to me. But after this trip to the lu lin gu bing, the place really look like those in the dramas. So don’t doubt those dramas. After visiting the lu lin gu bing, I had my lunch and went off to visit the cave. The journey was horrible once again. With the sound of the honking and my undigested food in my stomach, you can imagine the feeling. The journey was longer than I expect it to be. So as usual, I slept. Actually many people slept through the ride I guess. When I reach that cave, I’m really excited as it’s my first time. I expect to see those diamonds and sparking stones. But too bad, I think I imagine too much. I didn’t get to see what I want. But still, the experience is worth the trip there.

The place I stayed
Room key/card

This is how my room look like

These are not dung, but for growing mushroom

At Mei Ren Gu

This rock is meant to be slept. She's not crazy.

This is how mushroom growing looks like

Villagers still use this when their daughter gets married. The parents will give this to their daughter.

Chestnut comes from this thing

House that's made of stones

For bees... Bee house?

Waterfall!!!

Campfire's burning now...

Clive singing... There are girls who want him after he sang...

I find this interesting. Look at the words.

Lulin force

This is how people live in the mountain (in the past). There are fruit trees around. So people will surely get food.

Knock this 3 times and you will be lucky! I'm lucky now!!!

Scenery pictures to enjoy

We climbed a lot. But not as much for the Wudang mountain

I'm strong! This is heavy ok. But I cannot carry more weight.

Tour guide saying good bye to us...

Getting into the cave

Nothing much in the cave. But it's cooling inside =)

Before we get out from the cave we got to climb again. Round and round...

One last picture before we leave...