Archive for ‘Suzhou’

October 3, 2011

Shanghai Shanghai 2011 ~ Day 3

20th September 2011

Another morning @ China… today waking up @ Suzhou de… Nice place to have breakfast… yeah~! Alot of western food… kekeke… happy~!

Nice environment le… with very heavy chair… kekeke…

My breakfast… hehehe… I think you will see the same thing through out all my China mornings… The most important is bread with jam and butter… nice nice nice~!

Snapping photos outside of the hotel in a freezing morning while waiting for others to start out journey for today…

Apala… shopping time again… Aiya… not what I needed… Know what we’re buying today…?

Yes… going to Suzhou’s 1st best silk factory…

Too bad cannot take photos of the silk worm and the process… really an eye opening experience… 1st time seeing the silk work… it’s something like the butterfly worm in light green colour… It feel cold and smooth when touching it… cute~ And the plant below is the food for those silk worm… 桑叶

Hehehe… as expected, I didn’t buy anything from there la… previously bought the silk blanket during my Beijing trip which I think the quality was not that good… Abit feel that kena tipu de… So, I promise to myself not to buy anything during China trips de… kekeke… Oh yea… at least no chance to trick me…

Lunch time… went to 吉运楼饭店 at 狮山永利广场… Another 苏帮菜 restaurant… Hehehe… hopefully will not be “运吉” la… kakaka…

Quite nice environment… special interior design hor…?

Yes… beer again… free one… and the teacher uncle drink every single time…

Wired taste toufu… not noce at all… aiyer… behose…

Celery strir fried with black fungus… normal la… you know I don’t like to eat celery… yuck~ Sick smile

Fried super small prawn with alot of green capsicums & onion… this is nice…

This is also nice… fried long beans with alot of dried chilli…

Braised pork knuckle… ok le… not bad also…

Hahaha… oh yea… squirrel  fish again… nice nice nice…

Although this looks spicy and hot… but believe me… this totally have no taste… not even salty… Bean sprout with pork… beh ki la…

Think this is roasted duck gua… almost everyday also duck… aiyer… eat until high cholesterol lor…

Finish lunch de… ok la… not bad… Saw this shop beside our restaurant… see the big big ribbon on the door…? Wahhhh… cantik~!

Special flower by the river side… just opposite the restaurant…

Never see this before… special hor?

Ok la… after lunch… bid bye bye to Suzhou de… Next destination…? We’re going to Nanjing de… 3 hours bus drive from Suzhou to Nanjing de… Stop by half way for toilet and snacks…

Forget to tell… The tour was supply us a bottle of mineral water per day… hehehe… nice nice…

This place is really nothing… not worth to be a place to stop by and visit la… Xuanwu Lake @ Nanjing (玄武湖)… Paiseh la… not because of my camera or the photography technique… it’s really nothing to snap here… sigh

See what I mean…? Nothing…

Ok la… got a bunch of people rowing dragon boat… hehehe… that’s all I can snap… 1,2,1,2,1,2… go go go…

Ok la… continue the journey de…

Reaching 长江大桥公园…

毛泽东 welcomes you… hehehe…

Looking at the bridge across the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. Start building on 1960 and opening to public in 1968, the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is a dual-purpose rail road bridge , railway bridge length 6772 m, 4588 m long road bridges, ships, can pass under the bridge.

Such a grand bridge wor… sure need to take photo le… hehehe…

Finally reach Nanjing city de… nothing different from other city in China la… alot of high rise building… with alot of traffic and of course… bicycle & motorcycles…

See… everything on the same road… Pedestrians crossing wherever and whenever they like, no one wearing helmet when riding motorcycle, bicycle moving without following traffic rules and car driving with horns… Of course… our bus driver U-turned anywhere he wanted… hehehe… geng ler… this is the way of driving in China… kakaka…

Dinner time again… at quite a famous restaurant ~ 南京新开元大酒店.

See… every restaurant is so so grand… Chandelier pulak…

Hehehe… beer again… I wonder it uses water from which lake…

Salty cold cut chicken… Aiyer… not my type of food la… I like hot chicken more… hahaha…

Strange chewy feeling soya products… Hahaha… I also dunno how to explain… but wired le… dun like it…

Kind of 咕咾肉 again… this is super nice… Like it alot~! Red heart

Pork ball cooked in black sauce… quite ok le…

Cabbage stir fried with pork… ok la… not too bad…

I totally forget what is this de… maybe it’s not that nice to eat… kekeke… so, loss memory de… hahaha…

If not mistaken… this is call 窝窝头… Made by corn flour or a mixture of corn and other flour… Below it there is a big hole… specially prepared to put in the vegetable filling…

See… like this… hehehe… not bad… it’s like eating a brown colour “bao” with vegetables filling… hahaha… ok pun…

Yes… you already know what is this… right? Neh… that fish call squirrel fish le… Just that this squirrel fish does not have a head… and the size is bigger… Nice… Love this alot also…

Went to the hotel quite early today… We’re staying at the famous Mandarin Garden Hotel (状元楼酒店) at 夫子庙. Locate in the northern part of Confucius Temple, the center of Qinhuai Scenic District in Nanjing, Mandarin Garden Hotel is a Five-star hotel with distinctive national features.

The room not bad right? Nice… but cannot stay too long here… My dad’s friend Mdm. Wu and her husband, which both are university lectures are waiting for us downstairs at the lobby…

Oh yea… I meet with her when I was just a kid… Approximately 21 years ago… She came here for an exchange program held by USM & Nanjing University… My dad was one of the receptionist… hehehe… Brought her to Taiping Lake and Ipoh for the weekend… And today, after 21 years, we meet again… kakaka… Pengsan… long long old story…

Walking with them around Confucius Temple. Nice night view… and thanks alot to my nice camera… which able to capture nicely and clearly all the night view that I wanted…

See… river side with 2 big dragon…

Wonder what it will be when boarding the boat along this river… should be nice… right? kekeke…

Went to Mdm. Wu’s house for a long chat with them… kekeke… tired… but happy because meeting back old old old friend… Hopefully they will be healthy and happy always…

Ok la… sleeping time de… Night night…

October 2, 2011

Shanghai Shanghai 2011 ~ Day 2 Part 2

19th September 2011

Ok… time to leave Shanghai de… and out next destination will be 刘嘉玲’s hometown Suzhou (苏州) lor… This time abit special… we’re not going to use bus but using the normal transportation ~ train. The journey from Shanghai to Suzhou only will need 30mins while driving through highway need about 1hr 30mins… Hehehe… how much different… I think the driver need to really speed up to catch up with us lor…

Walking to Shanghai train station…

Waiting for my train to Suzhou… at 1.39pm…

Wahhhh… train also free water.. kekeke… happy~!

See… my train reach de… how come it looks abit like Japan’s Shinkansen? Hahaha… copy cat again~~

Confortable seat… not bad oo… If i remembered correctly it was running @ 240km/hr… not bad… very stable also…

Reach Suzhou (苏州) de…

Because of the miscommunication between the local China guide and the driver… we’re force to stand at this car park for about 30mins… apala… what kind of tour is this… stand oo… no place to sit… under the hot sun… luckily that time the wind is cold… apala… !@#$%^&*!@#%$

Seriously nothing to do but just stand there… So, playing with my mom by letting her wear my sun shade… Does she looks like super star? Hahaha… See she so happy~! One of the pass time la… what to do… no shop… only have toilet… kekeke…

Ok la… the local tour guide apologies to us de… then ok la… forgive her… Next stop ~ 耦园. Not lotus root la… is Couple Garden located in Suzhou, east of the small bridge, Lane 8, Ying River on three sides and the area of 11 acres or 8000 square feet. This have being listed by UNESCO as World Heritage already.

Waaaahhhh… Peaceful, serene… Hope to wake up in such an environment everyday…? Hehehe… not in China la… other country ok… kekeke…

Wondering what is this… hehehe… actially is the water well for the whole family… Yeah… water well so so small… Is it because of safety issue? Wanna fall down also kena stuck at the entrance… hahaha…

Main living room… So simple yet elegant… You see the 2 blue china flower pot and a stone put on the table? The blue china flower pot represents 平平安安, everyone is safe & sound in this house and the stone represents 寿比南山, longevity… Geng ler… every decoration also have meanings… hehehe…

See… even the longkang hold also having the money shape… hehehe…

Can see this tree with the fruits… This is an super old old old tree standing just in front of the main living room… It’s pomegranate tree which bares alot of pomegranate fruits… Which I just know that pomegranate represents alot of kind and grandchildren… 百子千孙

Outside the main living room… See… still got the blue china flower pot and stone… Hehehe…

The garden area, with stones and trees decorations… very nice scenery… but I bet it will be much much better during spring… won’t be that green and dull as now… Smile with tongue out

Not sure what room is this but I called it the mahjong room… hehehe…

Ok la… time to leave 耦园 de… and we’re not just walking out from the private garden… we go out using ferry, kayuk by an old auntie which sing songs along the way… so nice & special… hehehe…

Outside the private garden… surrounded by river…

Nice scenery… don’t you think…? Smile

Ok… next stop 寒山寺 (Han Shan Temple), which is a Buddhist temple and monastery in Suzhou, China.

Nice bridge hor… This kind of bridge is really common in China le… everywhere also have this kind of bridge… nice…

Han Shan Temple (寒山寺) is famed because of the poem "A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge" (楓橋夜泊), by Tang Dynasty poet, Zhang Ji (张继). The poem is:

月落烏啼霜滿天,
江楓漁火對愁眠。
姑蘇城外寒山寺,
夜半鐘聲到客船。

Some other poems…

寒山寺 清·陆鼎

寺楼直与众山邻,鱼米东南此要津。

独惜牙郎趋利市,不闻渔火感诗人。

绝无逆旅知归客,安问寒岩旧应真。

一自钟声响清夜,几人同梦不同尘。

寒山寺 明·王犀登

古寺西边路,青山满目中。

石龙从作雨,江鹊尚鸣风。

市近僧难定,泉悭花不红。

烛怜门外路,尘土暗江枫。

题《姑苏十景·枫桥》 明·文徵明

金阊西来带寒诸,策策丹枫堕烟雨。

渔火青荧泊棹时,客星寂寞闻钟处。

水明人静江城孤,依然落月啼霜乌。

荒凉古寺烟迷芜,张继诗篇今有无?

赋得寒山寺送别 明·高启

枫桥西望碧山微,寺对寒江独掩扉。

船里钟催行客起,塔中灯照远僧归。

渔要寂寂孤烟近,官路萧萧众叶稀。

须记姑苏城外泊,乌啼时节送君违。

枫桥寺 宋· 俞桂

湖水相连月照天,雁声嘹唳搅人眠。

昔年曾到枫桥宿,石岸旁边系小船。

枫桥 张祜

长洲苑外草萧萧,却算游城岁月遥。

唯有别时今不忘,暮烟疏雨过枫桥。

怀吴中冯秀才 杜牧

长洲苑外草萧萧,却算游程岁月遥。

唯有别时今不忘,暮烟秋雨过枫桥。

吴松道中二首二

晓路雨萧萧,江乡叶正飘。

天寒雁声急,岁晚客程遥。

鸟避征帆却,鱼惊荡桨跳。

孤舟宿何许,霜月系枫桥。

暮秋游虎丘

寂寞虚廊暗草莱,天风缭绕宝华台。

江空露冷蛟龙仗,殿古云深鹳鹊来。

山馆老松褰绿蔓,石坛芳桂落苍苔。

寒钟敲断枫桥月,半夜禅僧入定回。

松江舟中四首荷叶浦时有不测末句故及之

夜听枫桥钟,晓汲松江水。

客行信匆匆,少住亦可喜。

且食鳜鱼肥,莫问鲈鱼美。

寄恒璨 韦应物

心绝去来缘,迹顺人间事。

独寻秋草径,夜宿寒山寺。

今日郡斋闲,思问楞伽字。

送僧归山 刘言史

楚俗翻花自送迎,密人来往岂知情。

夜行独自寒山寺,雪径泠泠金锡声。

再游蒋山

寒山寺里立斜晖,只有垂杨自在垂。

不待新亭成洒涕,向来已识宁馨儿。

赠相僧杨懒散

野鹤本长生,孤云无定意。

托迹虽世间,游心乃尘外。

请问绛人年,曾观柏寝器。

微言洞倚伏,妙中惊人世。

往夏识方瞳,今春分别袂。

飞帆烟雨外,驻锡云林际。

逸兴轻远游,滞念牵离思。

后夜听钟鸣,应有寒山寺。

枫桥寒山寺

江枫吟咏工,幽寺冷遗踪。

不改前朝路,犹闻半夜钟。

地凉汀月皎,村迥水烟浓。

试问谁曾见,憔应独有松。

枫桥

冷落回塘欲暮时,峭帆女猗去何之。

数行鸿雁书来少,一段风烟客到迟。

关吏尚嫌愁未税,榜人惟有梦相知。

偶然渔火江枫地,记得寒山寺里诗。

夜泊枫桥望寒山寺

夜火疏钟伴寂寥,十年旧梦泊枫桥。

清狂不见王司理,来问寒山寺外潮。

寒山寺

瑟瑟吴江正落枫,碧山古寺独携筇。

寒空鸟下岩边塔,残照僧归径外松。

虚寂高斋无俗韵,风狂弥勒有遗踪。

扁舟却趁寒潮去,梦里应闻夜半钟。

Arrhhh… so artistic… Maybe I don’t quite understand all of them… but all are beautify poem talking and describing about 寒山寺.

Dinner time de… but jam jam jam~~

Finally… reach makan place de… I wonder what will we be having tonight…?

Nice restaurant le… 苏城家宴 at 李公堤. Suzhou kind of food (苏帮菜/江浙菜)… Hmmm… I wonder what is the difference?

Nice & clean…

Oh yea… beer again… heard that it’s using the water from 阳澄湖 kekeke…

Super small fried prawn… from 阳澄湖 also? hehehe…

This is nice… something like 咕咾肉

Chicken stir fried with red and green chilli.

Frozen toufu with duck… not nice le… very wired taste… hehehe… aiyer…

Squirrel fish… It’s not the name of the fish la… it’s the way of preparing it… no bone at all… It’s like fried fish in sweet and sour sauce… not bad le…

Vegetables… normal le… Smile with tongue out

Oh… this is nice… Cabbage with dried chilli…

Spring roll… not bad… but the filling is totally different from what we have in Malaysia…

Stir fried alot of mushrooms with super fat pork… Aiyer… pengsan… super too oily de…

This is a kind of vegetables call 茭白.

茭白 stir fried with pork… quite nice oo…

Roasted duck… yes… duck again… nice also..

Soup… with alot of ingredients… Prawns, toufu, super fat pork, wanton and alot of cabbage… not bad le…

Visiting the Suzhou’s bird nest (苏州鸟巢) which located by the Golden Chicken Lake (金鸡湖畔). Hahaha… seriously this place is not called bird nest la… It’s called Suzhou Science and Cultural Arts Centre la… apala… See the lightings? Cantiks-nya~~!!

Went in for a show called 苏SHOW, missed like 15mins of the 30mins show la… really see not much… So, spent much more time taking the photos of the ever changing lights of this place… Enjoy~!

Oh yea… 苏州 also have Times Square… Shopping time? I don’t think so… but they are bringing us to see a roof top show…

Just love the night view along the river… reminding me of Clark Quay… which I missed alot…

Yea… the show was on the roof… need to look high up but I totally don’t understand what it means… Super long LED  roof… but cannot look too long… feel dizzy very soon… kakaka…

Ok la… going back to hotel de… Tonight we’ll be staying at Nan Lin Hotel Suzhou (南林饭店). Suzhou Nan Lin Hotel occupies an area of 35,000 square meters, with easy access and quiet surroundings. The hotel combines modernized service facilities and Suzhou’s traditional garden architecture into a pleasing whole, adding radiance and beauty to its nearby famous gardens. Room was quite nice… with alot of calligraphy, even on the wall… hehehe…

Nice and clean…

Wah… super tired de… beh tong liao… Zzzz…… Sleeping half-moonStar