.EXPERIENCE.IN.WUHAN.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Besides going for lessons, we did nothing else. After 2 days straight of shopping, we felt that we needed to control our budget so that we have enough money to last till 12 October! My supply of moisturizer, shampoo and all the other toiletries are running out soon... It’s time for some share and care! Haha.

Our last lesson for the module - buddism and taoism.

That's the dean.
We went out to the wanton shop for our dinner. Along the way we saw people selling Flying Lanterns. Since it was so cheap, i bought more! Haha. I know my mother will surely grumble at me for buying such nonsense. Forgive me, mum! We lighted up one lantern outside school today and it was very beautiful. I should just buy 50 lanterns and sell it in school for I&E next semester right? I really think it's a good idea. But is it illegal to light this up and let it fly to the sky?

Chinese call these: Kou3 Ming2 Deng1
Anyway, i realised something. I didn't realise that that are foamless detergents until i came to China. I was wondering why no matter how i wash my clothes, there'll be no foam. It was only till my friend told me of such stuffs. I was thinking why would anyone prefer to use foamless soap? Wouldn't it give you a feeling like you did not wash your clothes properly? But anyway, i googled and i found my answer. It seems that the only advantage was that there will be no soapy film or residue left on clothes. Interesting.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

After the electricity was restored at 10am in the morning, there was another blackout at 12pm! This time round, it affected the whole school and even the stalls outside our school! Seriously though i may be contradicting my previous post, i think it is very frustrating to keep having blackouts! Wuhan should really find a solution to this as it may affect the country's economy. Imgaine if there's no electricity, then the frozen food and other foods will all spoil. The shops would also have no light and then there will not be business for them. Lucky for me, i had already published all my works online and so i just went back to sleep at 12 noon since there's nothing else which i can do. But in this situation, my computer will definetely spoil because of the sudden shut downs. Also the voltage here is different from Singapore that's why i kept getting electric shocks from my laptop.

Anyway, we went to class without fan, light and projector. We only survived on the remaining battery for our lecture. Luckily halfway through the lesson, the lights and fan came on. Which means that the blackout lasted for about 3 hours. I pray hard that there'll be no more next time. I can still tolerate the blackouts but my laptop might spoil soon if this happens again. Anyway, today was the only lesson we had without the projector:

I think the last time i was taught using a black board was when i was in lower primary. It's alright to me, but i pity the teacher as he had to dirty his hands to use the chalk and to clean the blackboard.

After school we saw many people gathering at the gallery to look at something. And so we went to Kay-po as well.

They were having their national day parade today!

I think it was complusory for all the students to attend this parade. It is the same as in Singapore with all the uniform groups marching and the symphonic band playing.

All the army people packed their bags, ready to go home. After this national day, they will officially resume their normal student lives - studying. (It is complusory for all year 1 students to go through the army training for a period of time before official lessons begin. Lucky we don't have this system in Singapore otherwise all girls will also have to go through army life!)

After lessons we went to town again. Shopping and more shopping! This time, the place was decorated with lanterns though the decorations were meant for their national day. It looks as though they were celebrating mid-autumn festival instead. Nothing much happened today during our visit to the town except for the following incident.

We took a private bus back to school from town(7 person for 30Yuan. Quite reasonable.). Anyway, what happened was the driver wanted to look at our Singapore currency as he was interested in keeping foreign notes. And so my friend gave him S$2 to look at. Next, that person then wanted to trade yuan for the Sing dollars. S$2 for 8Yuan. So my friend closed one eye and traded with him. However, he then wanted to see out S$10. My friend showed him reluctantly and as expected, the guy didn't want to return the S$10 back to him. He said the S$10 can cover today's ride fee and one more future ride. But then again, how will we know if we really can see him in future? It was quite scary. After telling him to return the money for afew times, he then reluctanly gave the note back.

Moral of the story: Never show our currency to the locals. Don't trust anyone so willingly.
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Time now: 9.53 AM

Seldom i have the chance to sleep in till noon yet there has to be a black out thus no aircon. I am a very sensitive person so everyone my mother come into my room to off the fan or aircon, i'll grumble. Over here i can't complain to anyone because i can only wait for the electricity to be restored. Complaining does not make the situation better, so i might as well save it.

I don't know if i've blogged before about the American lecturer living in China. I remembered that he once said Wuhan ran out of water during Summer and that lasted for 3 days! It was extremely hot in summer, especially in Wuhan. So most people usually bathe 3 times or more to keep their body cool. I don't know how they lasted 3 days without water but i can imagine everyone sleeping drenched in pespiration.

Compared to that i feel that i'm already quite fortunate. Though there's no aircon, but the room is still cool because we set it at 16 Degree Celsius the night before. I think coming to China makes me a stronger person altogether. One day if there's ever a black out (touch wood) in Singapore, i believe i will remember of the times in China and tell myself that a temporary black out is not a big issue. There are some parts of the world without electricity, water or food, so my situation is considered better than them.

Now after1 hour, enlectricity is restored! So i shall continue doing my work. Bye!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Today’s a hot day! The weather change is too drastic! One day can be below 20 Degree Celsius yet the next day it can be more than 30 Degree Celsius. It’s a miracle that I have not became ill since day 1, and I hope that I won’t fall ill for the remaining 2 weeks. Oh ya, surprisingly my leg didn't hurt at all! I think i must be used to it as i already have to climb 135 steps up to class everyday. Great workout! Anyway, I’m glad to be back in the dorm because this is where it’s clean and cool. We have our fixed duty – I’ll be sweeping the floor, someone will be mopping the floor and the other person will clean the toilet. We’re the best roommates ever!

Anyway we’re only left with 2 more lectures! Woo! But there’re lots of upcoming projects, reflections and blogging to do. I want all to end soon so that I can enjoy my last few days in Wuhan! Wuhan is a great place to shop because we can always bargain and the things here are really cheap!

So after the morning lecture, we all went to the Q&R pharmaceutical company. While waiting for the school bus to come and bring us, I finally saw the answer to my question on how China people learn to drive! Here’s the driving school which was located inside my school.

Here's their whole driving circuit. There's the S-crank course. We asked the person in charge and realised that for the whole driving lessons to the test, it costs 2000Yuan plus. It is a one-time payment, so no matter how many lesson it's still the same cost. And we saw the student learning to drive without the instructor sitting beside here. The instructor was no where in sight.

The pharmaceutical company is about 15 minutes away from our school. It was really very very hot outside and because all my shorts are still not dry yet, i had to wear jeans. Anyway, the trip there was pretty boring because we weren't allowed to go inside to see their production process or packaging process. Basically we just walked around the company and just looking from the outside. Back in Singapore, we had a chance to step inside the company and see how they manufacture tablets and how they package the tablets.

We just reached the pharmaceutical company. The weather was a mood killer, but none of us held an umbrella. Locals here use their umbrella everyday as long as there's sun.

We were greeted by the buffalo. It seems that they are still using the traditional method of using the buffalo for farming.

We asked the person-in-charge and was told that they grow the grass as they are not allowed to have free, unused land. And so, they planted the grass to take up the space. I don't really see the point in doing this, but still this is how it is done here.

As we cannot take photos inside, we can only take photo of the entrance.

*Secretly taken photo* They place their inspected products and not-inspected products together (beside each other). This might lead to higher chance of mistaking the correct batch of goods. And also they used wooden crates to hold the products. By right, they should use a plastic crates and what i heard from my senior was that wooden crates usually attract the growth of spiders and other insects.

Waste disposal

I've learn some new chinese words today. This is Sodium Hydroxide. But i admit that i don't know to read this word. At least i will recognise this word in future.

(yán suān) Hydrochloric Acid

Ion-exhange resin. I've learnt about this in Pharmaceutics and did not see this Singapore. So this is a new experience. I've seen something new!

They also had to remove their shoe. In the shoe removal area belongs to Class 100.

Spelling error: PHARMAOEUTIOAL.

PHARM ACEUTICAL
Our visit to the pharmaceutical company ended early because we cannot step inside to look at how they do their things there. (We still had to do a report on our visit to the company. Seriously, i don't know what's there to write when we can't look at what they are doing!) So as it was still early, we headed to town to have our bubble tea. We had been thinking of town since last week but due to the workload, it dragged till today. I was so happy to step into town and to have my bubble tea! I only bought a new bagpack today. I want to shop more!

This is the hottest food i've eaten since i was born. Just one bite into the skin can make your lip sting like crazy. After you swallowed the chicken, your stomach will be very pain and uncomfortable plus your lip will be as red as a tomato. Earlier, i tried just one bite of this and my stomach ache so badly for the rest of the day and my lip was so red. I will not buy that ever again.

This brave boy ate 4 of such spicy chicken. He was sweating like crazy and his mucous kept dripping down. It seemed that it was a torture to eat the chicken.

Celebrating their 60th anniversary. The locals told us that this year's national day will be a big event and advice us to stay in the dorm. FYI China's national day is on 1st October.

Even before the performance started, there was already a crowd there.

This is simply too hilarious! The aunty was exercising with this weird equipment.

New Chocolate Pie. Inside there are apple bits and chocolate. It tastes just fine. Not exceptionally nice though.

They do not have chilli sauce over there. They only have hot pepper. It was real spicy. I like!

When we were about to leave the place, the performance just started. Once again, the performance consists mostly of traditional dances.

Something embarrassing happened. It seems that the locals are attracted to my eyes and they will usually give me more discount. Today the guy even gave me some handphone chain. He just shoved it into my hands! My good friends here all keep teasing me and matchmaking me to the guys. Crazy people. But thanks to me they got discount too! Don't worry. I know what's right and what's wrong so i won't have anything going on with the locals here. Besides, my friends will protect me. I have great friends over here! But it is very troublesome as we had to repeat to everyone that we are from Singapore when we step into their shops. There's one guy who said that the only thing he knows about Singapore is that we have caning punishments and that chewing gum is banned in Singapore. Lol! Others thought that Singapore was part of China but some knew that our ancestors came from China then migrated to Singapore. It's very interesting to hear their views about Singapore!

14 More Days!!!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

I’m glad to say I’ve survived sleeping in the disgusting hotel and survived the cold weather just by wearing shorts, t-shirt and a windbreaker. I’ll be more prepared next time when travelling.

So anyway, we woke up at 6am and had breakfast at 6.30am. I had a satisfying breakfast. This photo just shows half of the food which was served to us.

After breakfast, we began our trek up the Wudang Mountain. We were given a choice whether we want to take the cable car up or walk up. We felt that 55 yuan for a single trip is not worth the money so we decided to climb up instead.

Look at what everyone was wearing. I was super cold at that moment.

The yellow line shows the path that we were going to trek.

And so, the trekking begins! Everyone still feeling so strong and energetic.

Along the way we saw beautiful scenery. We would have missed such views if we took the cable car. I feel that Singapore lack natural beauty due to space constrains. Anyway, the air there was cold and fresh. Most of us breathe till we had clear mucous dripping from our nose. From what I’ve learnt in TCM, clear mucous is caused by the cold element.

Beautiful right?

Still strong and fighting..

I just felt that this was interesting.

No comments

I wanted to show that there’s no barrier around the path. Once we fall, we’re gone!

I just wanted to show that there is no barrier around the pathway. Once you fall, it's game over for you.

Slimy earthworm.

Read the last point. “WINDIDING MOUNTAIN PATH”

There’s a dam over there

These 2 men have to carry all these drinks up the mountain. Even without load I felt so tired. I cannot imagine how they managed to do it.

Their only support was the stick. They used it to push them up.

Climbing…. Climbing… And more climbing……

By this time, I felt very tired already. I think by this point, we were merely halfway through. I was sweating in such a cold weather. My leg was wobbled and I felt dizzy. I was afraid that I would fall off the steps and land on my head. Luckily that didn’t happen.

Look at that dragon in the water. We are supposed to toss a coin and make sure it lands on the dragon for some auspicious reasons. It looks easy. I spent 1.20Yuan and I still can’t do it.

“DEAR TOURISTS, THE HUNDRED STEPS LADDER IS ALREADY ARRIVED, FOR YOUR SAFETY, PLEASE GO TH-ROUGH THE HUNDRED STEPS LADDER BY WALKING” By the time I saw this sign, I bet I’ve climbed more than 1500 steps already. And so I thought that what they meant was that I left 100 more steps. I was obviously cheated. This signboard was quite redundant.

Things they sell on the mountain.

Just when I thought I was reaching, I saw all these flights of steps. How demoralizing.

We reached the top faster than those who took cable car. We still had to wait for them. We took a total of 1hour 45minutes to reach this point. By the time I reached this point, I looked as though I had just taken a bath.

Throughout the whole trek, they kept stressing on preventing fire.

I was at the checkpoint doing nothing so i took photos of the others arriving. If I’m not wrong, I was the third girl to reach the top. The only source of motivation was that I have to train hard for Magnum Force so that I will not lag behind when I return. I miss cheerleading!

From the checkpoint, we still had 0.3KM to reach the golden palace on top.

No comments.

You can find these locks all along the way to the top. These locks are supposed to lock your relationship, family or friendship together.
Anyway, Wudang Mountain is a holy place and mostly there are temples. However, I felt that it was rude to take photos of the gods and temples and so there are no photos to post online. But there’s one particular place that I would like to share... There is this place where we can pray for a change of luck for the better. And so I went ahead and got scared instead. We have to walk through a narrow path which was pitch dark. We had to walk sideways through this path around the god. I couldn’t even see who was beside me and so I was awfully scared! This walk lasted about 1 minute which was very long! Given a chance, I don’t think I dare to try that again. Anyway, the only next thing I prayed was for my parents’ health. Hope they sensed my sincerity because I don’t know the right way to pray.

That building on the top was the Golden Palace. We all climbed all the way to the top.

The view from the top. It was magnificent!

I think we are at the same level as the clouds. It is really very high up.

This lock is used to pray for the family

We had to place a coin on this thing for some good luck or something. As it didn't harm to give a try, i gave it a shot. I successfully placed it on my first try. My friends dropped theirs but eventually managed to put it up as well.

Trying to put the coin...

Once again, no comments.

We had to take the cable car down as they said we don’t have time to climb down and that no one will accompany us down so it might be dangerous. We were very reluctant to pay the extra 45 Yuan to take the cable car but we had no choice. I have to admit.. After climbing at least 3000 steps up to the peak, my leg wobbled so badly that I can guarantee that I will fall off the steps if I were to climb down the mountain. Being a strong headed person, I didn’t like to lose face and so I acted as though I was force to take the cable car. But in my heart, I was awfully glad that I didn’t have to climb down the mountain! Phew. Haha. But the trip down by cable car and bus to our starting point was 1 hour long. From this, I concluded that my stamina and determination is quite strong. Great!

I spent 45 Yuan taking the cable car down....

7. Keep your kicket and get it cheeked again at the exit

3. DO carefully and strictly the check - in work.

The cable car only allowed 2 person per car.

The cable car travelled down a very steep slope. Super scary!

The ride lasted for 20 minutes. Look at the chain of cable cars behind in the photo.

It's more interesting to look at the signboard instead of what is sold in the shop. All the shops there are all selling the same things!

Some Martial Arts area

My friend secretly took this photo. This is how all of them look like in the temple.

Here's our lunch. It was delicious. All of us are starting to clear up the dishes on the table. Thinking back on the first few days, the food left was all more than half full.

This is their private taxi. Heard that it is banned in Wuhan because it makes alot of noise. But it is cheap!

Cute right? 3-wheels motocycle cum van.

The bus ride back took 6 hours! I sat till my knee, back and butt hurt. But still, that sums up the weekend trip to Mount Wudang. There will be no more weekend trips anymore for the remaining 2 weeks. I have to admit i've learnt alot from the weekend trips and i've learnt to tolerate hardships through these trips. It was an eye-opening experience to look at things which we cannot see back in Singapore. Now, i've learnt to treasure everything around me. I honestly feel that i'm very fortunate to be born in such a good country and have a good family. I miss home....