My first business trip to Canton Fair

It was only 2 weeks after joining this company that I had my first 4-days business trip to Guangzhou, for the 103rd Canton Fair.










* my buyer badge


103rd China Import and Export Fair (4/24-4/27)

People:Hong Kong – Regional Manageress Ms A, Merchandising Manageress Ms V Holland – CEO Mr Fire, Supply Chain and Sourcing Manger Mr Crab (my head), Director of Design Marco

Venues: Liuhua Complex, Pazhou Complex

4/24 Arrived with Ms A at White Swan Hotel in the evening, took a quick rest, taxi to a Japanese Restaurant to meet our colleague, and dinner with supplier. The taxi driver must be from other province because did not know the place, and nearly drove us to somewhere unknown. Those Dutchmen drank alcohol like water. Then on the way back to hotel, they had gone… mad. While the CEO heard that we three ladies shared a room, he just came to check like discovering of the New World. This night I could not sleep…








* Liuhua Complex

4/25 We went to Liuhua Complex where it looked like the Kai Tak Airport. Ms A, Mr Crab and I as a group to visit existing suppliers. Along the way we found many of our products being fraudulent used or copied by other companies, by hiding our logo, changing the design a tiny bit, or even simply put into their catalogues. Crab and Fire ordered those people to take away the products, and I took photos of the booth numbers and the products as evident. Fortunately the three Dutchmen are strong and tall so that those people only argued "We made the length 2cm shorter, is it still copycat?" or "You use aluminum, but we use steel, it is not copy." Otherwise it would have happened like seizing the catalogue from Ms A's arms rudely, "Any prove? Do NOT take it if you do not buy!"

Dinner we had a BBQ at the hotel. I ordered two glasses of watermelon juice. After the first dish of salad I was almost full but still ordered a little dish of grilled mutton and mushroom, and made a puzzle of Stitch with them. While they continued their happy hour at the bar, I was sleeping deadly in the bed.


* Garden inside the hotel
















* Stitch made of grilled eggplant, mushroom, cucumber and mutton









* Lovebird in the hotel







4/26 A, V and Fire stayed at the Liuhua Complex; Crab, Marco who looks like Colin Firth and I went for sourcing at the new Pazhou Complex. Pazhou Complex is made up of two centres, and now constructing another two centres. The complex is huge but quite remote, and Marco said HKCEC is much more beautiful. Thank you. While we passed a booth hung up all chains Marco asked if I like playing with the chains. I replied no. Then he told Crab, "She does not like SM." (!!!) They laughed and talked in Dutch again and again since. To put a word of Ms A, "They must be talking dirty things." Sure. At 2p.m., we sent Marco off to MTR station for gather with Fire and Ms A to Hong Kong. We then went back to the complex and wait for an hour before getting on the first coach at 5p.m. back to hotel. Dinner at a steak house where the food looked good but… roasted duck breast was too tough to cut by a saw, cheese cake and tiramisu are iced to hard like a brick. The restaurant manager explained traditional cakes have to be put into fridge, but I wondered he meant freezer. We could not press the spoon into the cake. The most shocked thing is the waiter said he could reheat them with microwave oven. What!? After the meal, Crab suggested to have foot massage so we walked two hours (and consulted a Hotel manager) for a qualified foot massage centre. This is a good one. It is amazing that my feet and legs (and myself) were exhausted but turned out feeling light. The hot old ginger made me hot but comfortable. Following the master massage my knees and thighs, the great painfulness in my right thigh made me mute. After all, I had my best sleep ever.






* Pazhou Complex with a mascot looks alike Doraemon






* my roasted duck breast, looks pretty, but tough





4/27 The sleep was too nice to get up the next morning. Just a quick but rich breakfast we jumped to a van towards a factory meeting. On the way they slept at the back while I kept talking to the driver. One reason was I am talkative, the other reason was I do not sleep at the front seat. With the tight schedule, we visited a wholesale centre and found several of our products being copied; one of our previous suppliers produced a double of our products with a factory and sell at the wholesale centre.

In the evening, we took a train to Shenzhen and transit to Hong Kong.

I was exhausted but, happy.

A little donation

2:28 p.m. on 12th May, Gertie-Yunis was at home, sitting in front the computer, working hard for a company project. I knew nothing about the devastating earthquake in Sichuan until the radio news at 2:30 p.m.

All happened unexpectedly. I could not help to hold my tears when I saw the survivors fleeing from the earthquake-stricken areas, and crying for their missing or dead relatives and friends. It is miserable. However, there are many heroes. Many fathers and mothers and teachers sacrificed themselves to save their kids and students.

Though they lost their homes, they are eager to fight for their life; on the contrary, in Hong Kong where has no natural disaster, some people choose to end their life just because of unhappiness or a breakup…

However, there are news stated that many animals had abnormal behaviour before the earthquake e.g. over ten thousands of toads run away from fields, animals in the zoo acted anxiety, and only humans alerted nothing.

All I can help is to donate as much money as I can. I only hope the money can really help the victims, not being stolen by greedy officers

New job, new beginning

Thursday 3rd April 2007 was my last day at company S. Starting from Monday 7th April, Gertie-Yunis will join a new company.

I worked in an American company which has over 500 staff in Hong Kong office. Now I will switch to a European company which there are only 7 staff (including me) in Hong Kong office. How would it be? My parents and friends warned me that I will have to do everything in a small company. I might have to work very hard. I think it could be a good opportunity to learn more than in a big company. Even it sounds dangerous to make tours to China factories every month, as long as the transport is arranged by company and factories, it will be safe.

In addition, Gertie-Yunis works from 9a.m. to 10p.m. In fact, I arrived at office at 8:30a.m. In company S, I need to work from 7:30a.m. till 11p.m. for two whole months in October and January, plus heavy work. I am used to work very hard.

The other reason beckoned Gertie-Yunis is, the new company pays much higher. S is big, but big does not mean good. My salary has been pulled down.

Gertie-Yunis never worry about being fired because of excellent attendance record, works very hard and gets low paid. But I made up my mind to fire the boss, for money, prospect and other reasons.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Gertie-Yunis have to stay with family for this long weekend.

It is really good to catch up some sleep as I do not sleep much during working days. However, momi woke me up around 7 o'clock every morning.

Holiday means Happy to dadi, because it is His holiday. After got up early, momi and I worked together to scrub the floor, wash and hang the washing on the line to dry, and cook a lunch, so when dadi got home at noon, he could enjoy the meal and had his favorite afternoon nap.

After lunch, I leaf through some magazines, search the job hunting websites, chat with friends, then select some photos of brother's wedding dinner with momi, and take them to photo studio to develop.

Due to the unstable weather, momi is struggling with pains from fingers of the left to her neck, both dadi and I also feel "rheumatism" on our shoulders, so we visited our Uncle who is once a practitioner of Chinese medicine. Then he discovered that several bones of neck and backbones are not at the proper position. So Uncle helped to put them back. While my bones "kur-la" I "Wahhhh~", but feeling much released.

On Sunday morning, we went to Gold Coast. It was noon, not many tourists around and only a few stalls were opened. So we went for lunch: Donar Kabab (very different from the one I had in England), Curry Lamb with Naan (slightly spicy, the lamb was fresh and soft), Ham-Cheese & Mushroom Pizza (Feta Cheese smelled good, but I was full after tasted one and a half slice of the pizza), and we ordered a Sweet Lazzi, Mango Lazzi and a Cream Soda. All cost us only HKD211, excellent. I paid the bill, just to celebrate parents' 34th anniversary. At night, I found some acnes on my face! The curry!

I did not spend the four-day-long holiday abroad, just stay with my family and catch up some sleep is so enjoyable.

This sales lady is really...

After paid dadi's aunt a courtesy call on the fourth day of Chinese New Year (Sunday), we went home via Shatin New Town Plaza, so we strolled around. Momi was attracted by a pair of gray short boots with patent leather and lace which costs only HKD100 in a big sale at a boutique called P.I.T. nearby the train station.

A sales lady named Candy promoted the shoes to my mom, but dadi did not like the idea to buy shoes during New Year. This sales lady smiled at first that nothing is a taboo but became impatient when my dadi murmured a few times. "Nothing is a taboo in our industry otherwise, we cannot do business!" We just ignored her since momi was really fond of the short boots, so she asked for a new pair.

"OOCH!" momi's foot was nearly hurt when she tried the boot. A very slim nail was found inside the boot. However, the sales lady said there was nothing inside just by a quick touch, so momi told her to feel the place. Then she inexpressively went for a new pair.

So we got a new pair. But immediately I found there were not only some spots of color difference but also two clear "ditches" on the front. This Candy said they were glue that can be removed but, how can she remove those "ditches"? Momi still wanted another new pair but when she saw this sales lady pulled a long face, she gave it up.

Just at the time, this sales lady Candy complained, "Why don't tell earlier you are not buying, Ms?" turned and left immediately. What a manner? Is there any rule we have to buy what we have tried? Is there any reason consumer has to buy something no satisfy? We do want to buy something. I've never heard "tell earlier if not buying".

I wonder how this Candy pulls a long face and complains to a customer. She does not fit into a sales job.

Happy New Year 2008 the Year of Rat

Happy New Year!

I wish you all a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy Year of Rat.
2008 is a year full of hope. Gertie-Yunis has to set targets and go for them.

1. Get an ideal job, get promoted, raise the salary, normal working hours, never again to work a month continuously from 7:30 a.m. to unknown time to off without a day-off (it is hard to recover no matter how many facial treatments I have).

2. Take a master course, but need to know which course I want to take as soon as possible: Marketing, Finance, Interior Design…

3. Travel around the world, eager to visit galleries in Europe, especially Uffizi of Firenze, Lourve of Paris; visit Santa Clause and his village; see sakura and red leaves in Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya, to experience the snowy day in Hokkaido; go to Egypt, Greece, Vienna; visit New Zealand by working holiday before 30 years old…

4. Good health -- I wish all my family, friends, relatives and Dai-guai May May have good health. No more sensitive nose, no more sensitive / allergic skin, no more acnes, all scars disappear.

5. Improve personal relationship: self-protection but also be tactful, more communication with others, and be the old self -- positive, optimistic and active.

6. Slow down when speaking: be patient, speak slower that every one can hear comfortably and clearly.

7. Get back my skills: save my piano and drawing skills from out of practice, as well as English, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, just in case.

8. Exercises: my badminton friends who are either working in China or moved overseas. The main reason is I am lazy. I never like doing exercises. That is why I am so slow-witted. It is great not to be alone, not necessary to talk to, but have a company.

9. Have an ideal husband: he must love me and my family (including Dai-guai), has his career, has a desire to advance, loves family life, likes sports and has healthy lifestyle. He must not smoke or addict to alcohol or speak dirty language or addict to famous brand or ani-com or games. That is not too demanding.

Fire around the hill

A hill fire has broken out yesterday at 2:24p.m. on Por Lo Shan in Tuen Mun. About 30 walkers were trapped and later being rescued by fire fighters. The hill fire later became grade three wildfire and has threatened the Tsing Shan Temple and Yeung Siu Hang Village where about 200 residents have to evacuate. The firedrake spreads over to the westside of the hill towards Lung Kwu Tan and is still burning. The scene of fire is over 300 hectare.

My momi takes a walk along this trail every Sunday and Gertie sometimes would join her. I remember there was a hill fire that not long ago, and fire breaks out again. This hill is already like the Rocky Mountain, and just rank with trees and grasses after rich rainfall this year. It's sad that this fire has burnt the lovely trees and greenly grasses in a second but it may take 20 years to recover.

However, in my memory, this hill often catches fires since in my childhood, then helicopter flow back and forth to deliver "water bomb", but the fires were not as fierce.

Did the plants start fire itself because of too dry, or did someone throw a cigarette end carelessly?

How are the terrapins and goldfish at the hill?

Oh please all fire fighters, flying service and civil aids keep on putting out the fire, save the plants!

* after 6p.m. on 1/1/2008

* after 9p.m.

Goodbye 2007. Be a new girl.

Cannot believe today is the last day of year 2007, I have to say goodbye to my past.

Tomorrow will be 2008, a new day a new beginning. Gertie-Yunis wants a new self. I have to determine, not just simply say it.

I am not young now. Day has gone day by day, opportunity would not stay, but I stay at the same level. No, I am going backward. No matter my reaction, my thought, my health, my work, my salary, relationship with colleagues, my temper… worse. Every time I was in a deep thought, when I think of my family and friends would go away at any moment, other people are striving for the best, people at the same age are having not hackneyed life, I am so breathless with anxiety.

At this age I am not able to do what I want to, on the contrary, still dilly-dally. I am afraid I would become a homeless old maid die of cold by the roadside!

Tomorrow, new beginning, a reborn me.

I bought myself a Christmas gift

I received two gifts this Christmas, all from my associates-- a pair or stockings with patterns and a mirror of Snow White. All cost around HKD10, but they are for a happy Christmas.

I bought a pair of pants to momi, paid them an Indian lunch in Kowloon City, but got no Christmas gift... woo... Momi told me to choose a pattern and promised she would knit me a scarf for this Christmas, however...

Momi went with my in Christmas Eve upstairs and downstairs to read all models and prices in all shops. Sony Ericsson K770i, I fall in love with it once it comes to the market, though it is not very special or gorgeous, I like its thin body, it is cool. But momi kept on persuading me to buy other models other girls buy, creamy white, pink, or even K850i. Then, she got angry and went away because of my fault... and "5 o'clock now, I can buy no fish!"

Momi complained to dadi about I cannot make up my mind on the mobile. Ai, I have told her which model I want but she keeps on telling me that K770i is too much for a guy. I don't want too lady style!

On Christmas morning when we had breakfast, I said I want to buy a mobile by myself, momi said she wanna go with me, cause she wanna see how I buy a mobile. I refused immediately because I can buy nothing with her as she would have millions of opinion. And so, I bought my own Christmas gift in a minute, alone. Then I spent a whole night to study it, and more unexpectedly, my brother sponsored me HKD1,000! Hooray~

Merry Christmas!

I wish you all a fabulous Merry Christmas 2007 and a Marvelous New Year 2008!

May May - Prison Break

May May is enjoying lying anywhere in her cosy bathroom.


* Hey, why are you staring at me?

* Can you see the Heart shape on May May's tortoiseshell?

* May May loves to lie on the stone

Suddenly, Momi gets in to wash the bathroom with a toilet brush. Once May May sees her scary-as-ever toilet brush, she RUNs.

* HELP!

She jumps up to a rack and the rack falls down (it is too messy to take any photo as prove).

Momi is so angry. She punishes May May by putting her into a small plastic box, places her outside the bathroom.

The box is too small to turn her body. May May does not like it, so she tries hard to climb up, she has to RUN AWAY.

May May is trying hard with her hind legs. She jumps out! Prison Break successful.

I pity the poor May May. As the Uncle Sun comes to our living room after hiding for ages, I think it is time to give May May a sunbath.

May May loved to have sunbath, but after 21 years, she wants to whiten herself.

Look at her! She RUNs away from the sunlight by making herself a 90 degree against the ground. How difficult it is.

* May May, "The ultraviolet of afternoon sunlight is too strong, it would hurt me, idiot!"

Miss Potter

Beatrix Potter was born on July 28th 1866 in London. At the time, the British were feudal-minded, people did not respect females even they were talented. Beatrix did not get marry at young age like other females to house themselves, instead she stuck on to her dream, created popular characters and published, such as the famous Peter Rabbit.

The Potters was a typical Victorian family, lived in a large house with several servants. The mother had overprotected her two little kids – Beatrix and Bertram. She never let them made friends because "the village kids have germs". Brother Bertram could go to boarding school however, Beatrix was educated at home under governesses, and made friends with her pets. Since 1882, the Potters spent their summers at Lake District where Bertram studied insects while Beatrix painted the landscape and animals with water color, and created stories for self entertainment. The Lake District and her animal friends had inspired the tales of Peter and Benjamin, and other characters later came out.

* Beatrix Potter at age 15, with her family pet Spot the spaniel

At a later age, Beatrix had defeated some real estate developers in several auctions, and bought over 4,000 acres of farmland with her huge fortune from selling her books, which had saved the nature from devastation. She had devoted her love to the nature. She had bred the rare and threatened Herdwick Sheep indigenous to the Lake District, and became the first woman to be selected President of the Herdwick Sheepbreeders' Association; she also showed her passion to farming, to ensure the traditional farming methods would be preserved. When she died, she passed all her farmlands, cottages, etc., to National Trust, to preserve a beautiful nature for future generations. Otherwise, people now would not be able to enjoy the gift of the Lake District.

Back to the movie. When Mrs Potter did not approve Beatrix's marriage to Norman, the determined Beatrix accepted her mother's advise to have a "calm down" summer at the Lake District, to prove that her love with Norman was true. Unfortunately, this separation was for ever. Norman was cough to death so suddenly. Why Norman died so quickly? I was so curious to know if he was died of pneumonia or galloping consumption.

The fact is neither of them. I searched some websites and found out the truth: he was died of pemicious anaemia within a few weeks.

More than that, again, this movie has digested the history to make Beatrix younger, also re-arranged the sequence:

1. The Warne brothers did not decided to publish The Tale of Peter Rabbit until Miss Potter had successfully printed and sold several books herself.
2. The Tale of Two Bad Mice was inspired from the dollhouse Norman made for his niece, but not of her own in childhood.
3. Jemima Puddle-duck was a real duck that kept hiding her eggs at Hilltop Farm, and the story was written after Norman's death.
4. William Heelis was neither a groundskeeper nor a childhood friend of Beatrix, in fact, she was older than he.
5. The publication sequence has been changed in the movie. Though Peter Rabbit was the first book published, the second published Jemima Puddle-duck in the movie was in fact the twelfth book published in real life.

This story moves smoothly. In between there are lovely animated Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-duck take part which make the story more lively; the Lake District and the natural landscape are beautiful and fresh which colorized the movie. "A place propitious for giving birth to great men", it is no wonder to have million inspirations when one is having such a comfortable and tranquil live there.

The performance of Renee is fair. Her acting has not much improved indeed. She tries to imitate the accent of British upper class ladies but gives a strange feeling; on the contrary, Ewan McGregor is much competent to be Norman and delivers Romance. However, the length of the movie cannot be longer, so is not enough to tell more about their romance. (At least I feel not enough)

Although this movie has been criticized, Gertie-Yunis thinks it worth watching as it depicts the life story of Peter Rabbit's author, along with the beautiful scenery of England. Even my momi, who does not like watching movie, has sat down quietly to watch it. See? It is quite a good movie.

Director: Chris Noonan

Casts: Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Potter_(film)

http://www.peterrabbit.com/?territory=1&country=1

http://www.hop-skip-jump.com/

http://asp.mov3.com/trailer/index.asp?mov_id=2393&ver=B5

Back to Macau (2) Old days were gone

I miss the old Macau and Taipa I used to have in my childhood...

Unfortunately, all nice and familiar villagers were gone, old style restaurants were gone, newspaper stand was gone, fire station was gone, the river next to our old home was gone, the huts behind our old home were gone, the old streets we used to cycle were gone... all replaced by new tall buildings and Chinese immigrants. Even my mom cannot find her way... Taipa has changed tremendously over the years, 10 years. Both Macau and Taipa become more commercial, town building is not well planned, cluster of tall buildings here, cluster of others there. Too many casinos are grouped together in the city center, which produced constriction.

Old days were gone, memories stay.

Construction sites are everywhere. Dust is everywhere. I felt nasal obstruction, almost suffocated and eyes felt dry the whole day. After I got home my right eye was red with gum... in this morning when I got up I have ophthalmia again. When I was in Macau I see the blue sky; when I look at the photos I find grey-blue sky and buildings covered by dust, a hazy view.
One more thing made me dislike the new Macau and Taipa is the manner of the service providers. Waiters and bus drivers, who we meet a lot, are so impolite. Their manner is even worse than people in Mainland China. How can a bus driver put his legs on the steering at the bus terminal? Shame on him!

*My Momi's birth place, next to the cafe, located at Rua Horta e Sousa.

*Next to the "Ship builing asso." was the house of my grandparents, a place where I had my holidays in childhood; the tall buildings behind were once a shuttle area where needed rescue by firemen in Typhoon days...

Back to Macau (1) The Venetian Resort Hotel

My mom took Dadi and me to revisit Macau when I had a compensation leave on a recent Friday (which I planned to sleep).

Momi has been to the new opened Venetian Resort Hotel in September, when she joined primary school alumnus trip to her birth place to visit former teacher. After she came back, she could not stop praising "Venetian is so huge and grand. We have walked for three hours but could see only a little of the place." So she decided to broaden our horizon.

However, I am not amazed by the Venetian. It is not huge, instead, just a normal size shopping mall for big brands. The ceiling is only 70% like a real sky because only the rear of the sky has lights on, the middle is quite dark. You would feel it is 7:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. When you were there you do not feel the ceiling is so low but when you look at the photos you do. Though the architect tried to build a copycat Venice, it looks just not a Venice. People who have not been to Venice might be amazed by it but those who have been to Venice could find the difference.

Hmm, because that day it was crowded, momi had to walk slowly, so she thought the "plaza" was huge. The day we went was not holiday, we arrived at noon, and there were only a few people...we just spent less than an hour included the casino. On the other hand, this casino has divided into smoking and non-smoking areas. However, the smoke and strong aroma still choked me to sneeze and sensitive eyes so dry.


*Casino sight from upper floor, so OPEN.


*Painting under the ceiling is great.

*These paintings under the corridor ceiling remind me the Vatican Museum, but more glitterings.

*The Copycat Venice, the sky looked like early morning.

*If the "blue sky and white clouds" could have brighter sunshine... it would be perfect.

*Outside the Venetian, it looks more like the Saint Maco Plaza.

Released

The October Buying Trip was finally finished. Our company has been moved to new office.

After a whole month, I finally can enjoy normal day off these two days. It is already past eleven in the morning when I woke up. Gosh! I already wasted half a day!

There was no day off during the whole October: 6:00 a.m. – get up, 8:30 a.m. – back to office, 10 p.m. – go home; finalization week: 5:30 a.m. – get up, 7:45 a.m. – back to office, after 11:00 p.m. – go home... all required by the senior, but only me listened to her...

10/26, the buying trip was over. I had to stay in showroom for vendors to pick up samples, while my colleagues were packing all stuff at the office for moving to new office (I pack our stuff when I came back earlier in the morning). When I did not have time to assign number onto labels for moving, they pasted them onto the cartons which had to be moved already, so SMART, that I had to climb up and down for counting one by one, over 300 cartons in total. And they all went home... I had no choice but was "lucky drawn" as one of the two coordinators, but the other one was super lazy, he passed all label matters to me and he did the computer moving stuff (only 13 computers, and actually we managed our own one).

10/27, I still had to wait for vendors to collect samples, on the other hand wait for removers to remove stuff from our department. He said lunch time from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In the end, he was urged by the secretary to come back at 4:00 p.m. At 5:00 p.m., all our stuff had been removed, he told me to go to new office and he would go after a while. As a result, I was the only one to wait for over two hours at the new office. Then, he and the stuff arrived. Of course, I was the one to check the number of stuff we received, while he chatted on phone and then asked me "finished?"

All the others praised for his "responsible". Well, playing NDS at the old office was really responsible.

10/28, it was a day-off, however, I had to stay with my momi in the hospital in the morning, then had to pick up my friend at the airport at 4:00 p.m. However, the Oasis had several delays so that I could not see my friend until 7:15 p.m. How did I spend the 3 extra hours? I went to the said Great but nothing special Sky Plaza... there was someone to go with me, however, he did not tell me the flight had been delayed after he checked online, he slept and blamed me for not checking online. He was so responsible. It was who told me everything was okay?

After all, I had to work in that either cold-as-icehouse or hot-as-an-oven office, and suddenly got a flu and headache and dizzy plus stomachache.

Luckily, I will have 3.5 day annual leaves and 6 days compensation leaves on the way.

Ocean Spring Resort (4) Ghost?

Gertie-Yunis had some experience about meeting ghost while stayed out before, and heard some ghost stories happened in hotels, however, the met with ghost this time was indirect. Did it count as one?

Back to this hotel. At night, dadi and I were watching TV happily, momi was washing her face in the bathroom. When she turned right to get her towel, at her corner of her right eye she saw something white flashed before the tall mirror towards the bedroom. Momi said she felt it was ghost, but I who can feel "it" felt nothing. Perhaps because I placed the sutra on the bedside cupboard?

Next morning after we left the hotel, the tour guide then told us, "in the early years when the hotels were building, we had thousands of pile diving but failed to reach the bottom. The management immediately set up an altar to worship the god. Then we succeed. It is a miracle. Formerly this is a Japanese munitions warehouse in the world war, after their defeat they had to retreat. They worried their military confidential would be revealed. All villagers were slaughtered then. See, the temple there is built to 'look after' here."

Oh~ so what momi has seen may be really...

Ocean Spring Resort (3) Looking for dadi at hot spring

Everyone praises the hot springs at Ocean Spring Resort. According to the tour guide, there are over a hundred hot springs, with many characteristic hot springs, for example, with coffee, beer, milk, Chinese angelica, ginseng, plus Chinese and European styles. But it is a pity we only have two hours on it, in between we had to look for dadi...

We told dadi to wait for us after come out from dressing room. However, he did not come out after 20 minutes Hence, I asked three staff for help, and I forgot dadi knows no Mandarin Chinese.

The staff said he saw a man looks alike dadi at the "feet bathing area" in the dressing room. "I asked if he is Mr Huang, he replied no." the staff asked again, "Do you come alone? He said, 'I soak (his feet) alone.'" Another staff led some uncles out and asked us "Is it he?" But.. no.
After one hour of being "mad women", looking for dadi along all pools, and being stared by everyone, momi rushed to the dressing room for seeking more help. I was not reconciled and went back to the pool rear. Suddenly an old man stood there. "Oh DADI!" All staff cheered too, "My Huang is there!"

Of course, momi was angry with dadi. "Where have you been? We thought you collapsed in toilet!" As it turns out, dadi thought that feet bathing pool is a hot spring, he thought males and females have to separate like in Japan.

"A man asked me if my surname is Huang? I said no, I am Wong ma. Also, I soak there alone ah." Ai, last time we went to Tomamu Resort in Hokkaido he was so smart to try a Jacuzzi, enjoy spa and have sauna by himself. Dadi insisted we are stupid! Gosh!

As a result, we had about half an hour left, we gotta hurry up. Momi and I went to indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi, a imitate beach with cave and waterfall, several small very hot spring... dadi went to Doctor Little Fish for eating his cuticle of feet, this funny experience made him a little child cheered, "The fish bites me, it is so funny!"

Other tour group members said the characteristic hot springs are great, unfortunately we did not have chance to enjoy... we really wanted to come again, but these hotel... maybe those villas cost several thousand dollars a night would be better?

Ocean Spring Resort (2) Browse around

Apart from the hotel, this trip included:

Zhanyuan – once upon a time, there was a well-known merchant from Macau bought a piece of land in Zhongshan and built a grand house in classic style for his mother. He named this house "Zhanyuan" after his mother's maiden name. However, Old Mrs Zhan felt too lonely living in this huge house. She lived there for only three months then moved back to live with his son in Macau. The Zhongshan government then picked this grand house to be a spot for tourism.

There is a garden planted lots of litchi trees, longan tress, peach trees, mongo trees, wampee, etc. All these very large fruits make me mouth water. When other tour members went to watch acrobatic shows we strolled the street of the garden. Near by the stage is a snack-bar. I ordered almond milk with ginger sauce… the spicily ginger made me cry.

.Zhanyuan, Path of Wealth .Mango tree at Zhanyuan

Agricultural workshop – a part of a University of Agriculture. Balsam pear mix pumpkin - horrible lumps on the skin; cucumber mix sponge cucumber, etc., what a eye-opening event. Then we had a mini-lecture, a researcher taught us how to identify herbs, and shared some prescriptions. The result of their good intentions was to promotion man-to-man. Momi consumed HKD500 on the herbs. Suddenly came another salesman, "That researcher is old now. Just one more civil servant point he can upgrade to a higher class. Please buy one more..." Then, momi spent another HKD250, and worried if she has been cheated. It is odd that they sell one more can get one civil servant point.

Yunjin Buyi clan – a clan came from Yunnan, a "country" led by females, looking for better life in Zhongshan. In this clan, all females have to work to support their families, while males have to weave cloth, do household duties and cook. What a different culture. The ladies introduced their teas and dried fruits, so that the money can be sent back to their distant homeland as tuition fees for their babies. However, every time the tea we bought tasted so different from what we had in tea shops, how can we be confident with their products? All dried fruits are put to dry under the sun on the ground. We do not know how many flies and insects have visited them... so no matter how hard these ladies promoted their products we finally left with nothing.

If there were no downpour and gales, we would have eaten along the Fishermen's Wharf at night, because the meals were little. As for the Adventure land, I am an old maid since child age, I do really not like to play them, in addition, I would not play as I am with my parents.

There are some other places we visited but, they are nothing so special that I want to write about.

Ocean Spring Resort (1) Hotel Watery

Ocean Spring Resort has been introduced on TV travel programs for its beautiful scenery, luxurious accommodation, especially the most attractive hot spring resort. How is it in reality? It has been opened for a year now, my friends and colleagues went there last year with good compliments of the beautiful hot spring, it is a must go. So, why not?

As soon as I stepped in the Ocean Spring Resort area, the environment is really good, only cannot see clearer under gray sky. The hotel we booked is the newer and prettier Hotel Neptune between the two, which obviously more Middle East style. However, it looks neither fish nor fowl after tied Chinese red lanterns.

Back to the hotel room. There is a French style glass door, outside is a balcony with chairs and little round tea table. It is really nice to look out the landscape widely from there. The bathroom is quite new, there are glass walls to separate the toilet and the shower room; next to the shower room is a bath, where the wall beside can be pulled aside to look through the room, to enjoy the landscape when you are bathing.

.garden, looked out from the balcony.

.tall ceiling of the balcony, great.

The two four feet wide single beds are big, plus a "highest-ranking" imperial concubine chair and a screen, but no dressing table.

When the leader came in to ask if the room is okay, a service lady asked us to close the balcony door, because "it will be wet". Then we found that the corridor floor was already wet. We shut the glass door immediately, and the glass was wet then moisturized once it was shut. The floor was wet than ever even we placed cotton towels on it we failed to absorb the water. We had to change to slippers since we could not stand or walk with sports shoes on that slippery corridor. When we walked along the hotel lobby the floor was wet and slippery too. All windows and glass doors were moisturized.

In no time a thunderstorm came with downpour, we dare not to run due to the slippery wet ground. Drainage pipes and ditches can hardly find. Ponds are everywhere. We have no choice but rush to Mediterranean style pavilion for shelter from rain (I am not sure if it is a pavilion). My jeans are sucked and colored my right sports shoes into blue and blue. Luckily it is man-made leather which does not absorb rain water, otherwise I would have no shoes to wear.

However, both sports shoes and socks of my parents are sucked with rain water. Momi tries to dry the socks and shoes with a weak hair dryer, but it wets again the next morning. There is air-conditioning in the room, but, without any drying function. What…

A ride on Highways

9 months after I get my driving license, I finally jumped on a private car and had a ride on Highways at a rainy night. It was a Golden access driving course (just squeezed out a few hours before deadline). I drove from Yuen Long driving school, got on the "circular" Highway to Tolo Harbour, passed through Shing Mun Tunnel, Tuen Mun Highway and back to driving school by Yuen Long Highway. Total 73 km.

When I marked the schedule a month ago (sunny for a whole month) I thought it would be great to drive at night (no sunshine, since I apply a plaster on face I have to hide away from sunshine, otherwise my face will be red and swollen like Spiderman) and it would be perfect if it rains (learn the skills), I thought it would not happen but it did.

The second day, I drove from driving school to the airport (overcast & wet weather) which I can drive up to 110 kmph on North Lantau Highway! Though I had driven 70 mph the same speed here in the UK (on A40 which learner can go, not a higher speed M40), I felt great! Total 99 km.
There was a funny thing that the first time I drove through a paid tunnel, I got to pay toll, but I did not drive closer to the little tollbooth, my palm could not reach the officer's fingers, even though I was nearly stood up (cannot… cos my foot was on the break, it's a auto, not a manual car) I cried out "my arm is too short~" then the lady officer stretched out her whole right arm to catch my toll which was nearly dropped onto the ground. She might think I am a little idiot. The tutor teased me for that...the next time I paid tolls, I was smarter.

Do you think driving a manual van cool? It is! I can drive a manual van, but the seat does not fit my short legs; so I choose an auto private car this time, it's more comfortable that no more hand break and gears, my hands only need to control the steering; no clutch up clutch down, my left foot can rest all the way.