THE QUEST

I had an adventure. An adventure that dates back exactly 100 years ago... ...

23/04/2007 1330

Reached budget airport at 4am. No matter how 'budget'it claimed to be, it is still singapore. How bad can it be? Other than the forbading unusal roar from the engine and wheels upob taking off and landing, everything was surprisingly above expectation.

Our first stop was the 3 hrs air trip to Guangzhou's Baiyun airport. The Place is not a really fun and friendly place to be in. Already my impression of the people and place were horrible. Probably its due to my cough which is affecting my mood. Seeing the people there made me so irritated. Moreover, my first meal in china was a delicacy, its vegetables were sour and there was no spoon. We had to drink the soup from the metal bowl itself. I repeat, its METAL BOWL. Like those dish which dogs eat with.

I can find peoole jumping straight towards you literally saying,'COME! let me EARN your MONEY!!". Certainly, that is ultimately the main aim of tourism but can't they just express it in a more indirect manner?
Now i'm seating at this super ancient bus terminal where people lined up to buy their bus tickets from the ticket booth and their bus will take off on schedule ( hopefully)

I must say, there are all sorts of people around here. Particularly there are this china tribe wearing a unique costume sitting on the ground and one of them is using a long bamboo pole to balance her numberous baggages on both ends. I really wanted to take out my camera to take some pictures but was afraid that i might become a target. I'm on my guard.

1830
The sky darkened, our journey by bus was much longer then i thought. I've already been traveling for 5 hours on this bus. Initially, the scenary was a novelty that i couldnt help it but to snap some pictures. As i always say,'i dislike traveling as i never really accomplish anything' ... To think i'll be travelling like this tomorrow. Cant wait to get it over and done with.
I felt as if i'm a wondering soul surrounded by strangers from another culture and tongue. The development here is rural... Where's my touchlight when i need one?
The stars will be exceptionally bright i hope.

2100
Try driving on the road without your spectacles.
The 45 mins taxi ride was a trill ride uncalled for. Already there were no streetlights for this place is rural. Visibility is almost 50m. Nonetheless, the driver insists to drive on the phone, smoking and talking. I'm already scare stiff from the way this guy is going. Father, on the other hand was commenting,'Hey! there are a lot of banana trees along the road!".
The fog is closing in, visibility reduced to 1m.... ...

2300
It was dark, we decided to camp for the night. This 'hotel'room is pathetic. 50yuan for the night. meaning s$10. I'm glad that i've insisted in bringing along 2 big bottles of Singapore mineral water and my own towel.

24/04/07
1830
I'm very certain that if by any chance mother is here with us for this, she will definitely break down, freak out and will hate father forever for bringing her along. Till now, I've not eaten anything filling. Dont dare to eat much or should i say the food here doesn't allow me to even swollow. So far, i've only eaten for the sake of politeness and to sustain myself. I was rather surprised that they used bowls as cups for their drinks. They don't mind dropping anything food on the floor (in their house) and theirchickens and dog will be around clearing them instantly.

I suddenly recall how the annoucement was made in the bus terminal ,'do not shit or urinate anywhere in the bus terminal"....

During the morning, I found myself walking along fields and terrences. It was raining heavily then. For a startm i'm certain that i was struck by lightning if not for the umbrella I bought eariler on, I only feel the sharp static on my hand upon the strike.

** Following content during the afternoon and night was censored due to the security reasons**

25/04/07
0030
The frustration of traveling again for another 5 hrs back to guangzhou has taken toll over me.
In addition, I'm tired and hungry. I started venting my frustration on father.
Just reached this better hotel. Lets hope i'll be eating something swollowable for dinner, or should i say the culmulative meals for the past 2 days, later


1000
I'm now on the taxi to the airport.
The driver asked,"what is the time for your flight?"
Father replied,"11am."
The time now is 10am, it takes 1 hr to get to the airport. HE was trying to tell me that all these while he thought that our flight is 11am! YET he made us step out of the hotel at 0945 instead of my stated 9am. TO think he still have the mood to negotiate the price with the driver. Why can't just use the meter?? everybody knows its the most standard pricing. I'm really going to blow

1155
My worries were uncalled for. Eventhough it was raining heavily, 2 roads leading to the airport expressway were blocked by the police and there was traffic jam. We reached the airport with 45 mins to spare. And yes, my flight is 1150, NOT 11am.
For some reasons, we found ourselves having VIP services, with the VIP waiting lounge for us to consume free (and tasty) breakfast...
It will be another 3 hrs flight to beijing. My journey at guangzhou was finally over!

THE TRIP

26/04/07
1935
I found myself writing father's stupid things harder than i thought. Cos by the time i got the chance to write, he had already performed so much of it that i became too numbed to remember exactly what happened
Climbed greatwall today.

28/04/07
1730
By the time we got back to the hotel at the end of the day, i was too tired to write anything. Anyway, yesterday morning, we had moved to novotel xinqiao before proceding to the forbidden city. It is a 4 star hotel (788yuan) so expensive but no breakfast and need to pay for laundry, unlike the $180 hotel we had been sleeping for the past 2 day with only the downside that it is a common bathroom.
Thanks to 'war and beauty'I had a clear picture before hand before entering the forbidden city. Thatwas the only place which seemed civilised with very little people spitting.
Seriously, these people are disgusting..
Today was a leisure shopping trip at wang fu jing. that place was like orchard road. Most of their shopping malls are older than singapre.1920...1950...We chanced upom LAO se's house, seein g him reminded me of my life. His words are inspiring...

29/04/07
1000
gong wang fu was interesting. Never planned of coming here in the first place.
Funny how corrupted officers were remembered and his place itself is now considered as national treasure. I was ripped off once again buying souvenir, nis isnt that the point of being a tourist? Fengshui-- it will work as long as you belief in it.
If there is one personal skill i've improved during their trip. ot will be 'patient'. I told many people that patient is something I've lost. Now, i NEED it more than ever.

01/05/07
2333
Body massage is just so addictive. It is one of the places we frequent so much during the stay in beijijng. Other than toilet and MRT of course. How can anyone resist a relaxing time of massage, especially when there are pretty girls touching you here, here and there? Moreover, its ultra cheap!

I slept for 15 hrs straight yesterday. TO think we only been to the temple of heaven yesterday. The fatiage took its toll over me.
Walking along the streets of lama temple , confusius temple and imperal college, I was highly motivated and even took picture with confusius. pity that they were having reconstruction of the place. Along the way, i suddenly remebered alex and felt like crying.

Father started saying something silly,"rmb the girl in the neighbourhood who always come to our place with the excuse saying she forgot to bring her keys? It make perfect sense! cause she wanted to see you, forgetting the key is just an excuse! She's not bad actually. Why don't consier her?"

02/05/07
1950
Keeping my cool is so much harder than i thought especially when you are at a foreign land with eople you are not used in reading their thoughts. Hence difficult to manipulate. Singaporeans are so much easy to handle. I went back to my room and foun dthat my box of pearl powder was missing! I actually throw my weights around at the reception! And i had to keep on reminding myself.... 'Dont bother doing so, they dont even care in the first place... its just wasting my energy if i throw my weights around"


03/05/07
0900
I was so tired that i fell asleep before writing what i wanted to write yesterday.
With only 2 days left, I feel that money cannot buy opportunities and time. Hence, if by any chance we can do so, just buy it. Thus, we spend money on taxi to travel to our destination for the next 2 days. We were too tired to walk anyway.

The olympic games is just next year. ALl people in beijing know it, but i was surprised to see that quite a significant amount of peole doesn't know the great impact it will cause . Its like slapping them across the face and they don't know what hit them.

1234
Im greatly inspired by LUxun's works. Now im very motivated to read The red mansion dream, Luxun's works. Do you know he address himself as 'L'when writing letter?
Looking at his exhibition, I can't stop wonderingif my tables and chairs and even books im using now will be in exhibition in the future...

1900
After a trip to bell and drum tower. We took a riskshaw ride around the small alle to view the little people. Afterwhich was the last minutre shopping. Let hope i can successfully smuggle my beijing roast duck back singapore. For sure, I'll not be carrying the ugly china bag. Well thats the good thing of being in china, no one (i hope) will stare at you if you use that bag as your luggage. Anyway, my taxi was fined for illegal U-turn. I became awfully generous by paying the fine....

04/05/07
I was wrong when i told myself all china girls look almost the same and i normally dont take a second look at them. Well, ice skating girls are totally different. Just like those on gymastic, they give off that aura of graciousness and elegance which i dont see any during my 2 weeks stay here. I always got a soft spot for such characteristics. Father and i spent almost 1 hr at the ice skating rig observing... Cos our flight was in the afternoon.
Couldn't help smiling (alot) at fellow singaporeans upon boring the SIA plane. For the past 2 weeks, at last i found someone who smiled back or should i say, smile....