Guilin, China

Asian break after graduation! 

Okay, i have been waiting for this moment for quite some time. I have got a free ticket to everywhere Air Asia flies. My initial plan was to go Thailand because i wanted to see strippers ahem... Tiffany Show and of course people were telling what a shopping paradise Thailand is. But all this changed because i got no one on my side. In the end, i gave in to China. That was a family trip, not with my family, it was with my uncle's family and my second aunt. The reason we chose Guilin was because my parents have been there once and they were enjoying a lot. They have been to Mulu Cave (the famous cave in Borneo) and kept saying it was like in heaven. But all this changed after the Guilin trip (blink)!

Okay, our flight to Guilin was 7am. We stayed at KL Tune hotel and woke up early morning like 4am and got ourselves ready.

When we reached at the check-in counter, it was already a long Q. I saw many aunties and uncles. WHAA... fine!



The journey from KL to Guilin was about 5 hours. Luckily i brought my RD and MP3 with me. 

We went through security check and immigration clearance and finally trolley-ed our luggage out to the arrival door. The hotel personnel was already waiting for us with a piece of white board with my uncle's name on it. 

This city has long been renowned for its unique scenery. Little did we prepare (not clothing, just emotionally) for such a cold weather. It was 6 degree Celsius. I LOVE IT!! But it got colder and colder for the next 7 days which i ended up SCARED of it. The wind made it worse and the best thing was holding a baked potato in hands.


This is our first meal in Guilin. Local duck cooked with chillies. This was about RMB 150 (RM 75). Nice but I would say kinda expensive because the duck was sooo skinny that we hardly got a bit of the meat!

This has been Guilin local breakfast staple, Guilin rice noodle (桂林米粉). Not a love at first sip, but you just gradually fall in love with it. It is a blend of sour and spicy. You can have it dry or with soup. Must try. RMB 3 (RM1.5). Well, it depends on size you ordered. The largest cost only like RMB 5 (RM2.5).

 

This is a must try too. Egg fried rice. RMB 5 (RM2.5)

Okay, i know this is disgusting. Who on earth wanna eat these puppies? Where's your love, peeps?!!  China people do eat dog meat some event go to the extent of cat meat and rat meat. However, it depends on season if you wanna eat those meat. However, I was lucky enough this time that they serve dog meat. At first glance i thought they were just fried piggy. But the face look so.....abnormal, till the waitress introduced them. It was already cold, but that "DOG" just chilled down my spine.

Food done. Now, let's look around Guilin...

(Pic: Elephant trunk hill)

 (Pic: Guilin twin Pagodas)

(Pic: Liu San Jie, Sister Liu stage performance)

(Pic: Pretty Sisters Liu) 

(Pic: Cable car @ Yao Mountain)

(Pic: View from cable car)

Bird's eye view...

I found my family name on top of the Yoa Mt!!

China's fruit candies...

Fried drumstick is very popular in this cold season. Hot and crispy with pinch of pepper. RMB 5 (RM2.5). I never thought it would be that cold here till i need a pair of gloves!

Guilin cuisine is known for its snacks and the use of spices, especially chili. The famous Guilin chili sauce (桂林辣椒酱), used widely in cooking by locals. It is made of fresh chili, garlic, and fermented soybeans, and is considered one of the city's Three Treasures (桂林三宝). The other two of the Three Treasures are Guilin Sanhua Jiu (桂林三花酒), a variety of liquor distilled from rice; and Guilin pickled tofu (桂林豆腐乳).

This is how they chop the chillies and garlic together...

This is the Moon Hill. Do you see the curve shape that looks like moon? Well, this is named so because of the shape of the semicircular hole.

Only at Yang Suo that you can find this delicious dish...The beer fish.  RMB 45 (RM 25). This is really nice! 

 

The Li River, pearl among the beautiful landscapes in Guilin. This immortal scenery can be seen on the back of the RMB 20 notes. Cruise along this river took us around 1.5 hours.

 

Enough of scenery? It is always good to shop at other people's place just because all the stuffs are like so fresh to me and most of all..it is CHEAP shopping here! I never tried bargain so fiercely before in my life. Back here in Kuching, the most i know is like 20% off and not to say Singapore, they have this no-bargain attitude. Well, those are the boutiques, not the in-mall type which always goes up to 70% knock off and the probability of 2 people with the same clothes come face to face is higher.

What a girl want when shopping? Do i hear BARGAIN? In Guilin and i believe in most places in China too, you can actually call for a price which is half off the figure on the tag. Then the sales ladies would tell you that she is not earning much or price below cost bla bla bla... But once you stepped out of shop, they will call you back and put your stuff in the shopping bag. CLOSE DEAL! How i not love it? *Blink*

Xiao Xiang Gang or Little Hongkong is the best place to shop. Shops range from beauty (facial, manicure, pedicure, massage, tattoo etc), shoe, clothing, bags and all the stuffs you can think of.

 

Ta da... end of Guilin tour ^.^

Miss Cheongsam Charity 09'

Mr Alaric (Organizer): The winner of Miss Cheingsam Charity 2009 is (drumming)...No. 8 Pauline Lau!!

My mind when blank for that split seconds. Did i hear him wrongly? "NO, i didn't. It is REAL!!" I just lost of words but did manage to stay very cool because i know the cameras were on me now.

I was crowned by the former Miss Cheongsam Malaysia 2008. I felt a great sense of success. After been through all the cat walk training, personal grooming and preparation. It has finally come to an end...a happy ending.

After receiving my crown, i was given the honor to walk the stage. The spotlights were so bright that i could not see a figure below. The strong flashes form the cameras further disturb my vision. Anyhow, i successfully did my glory walk.

The event started with us giving 2 dance performances and later introducing ourselves in our own dialect. I spoke in Foo Chow of course. I admit my Foo Chow not of the original version but i have tried my best.

Pic: Starting performance

Pic: Introducing myself ^.^

After the performances 2 in a row, those of us who prepared for the talent show were rushed to the back stage and got ourselves ready because there were no break in between! I was lucky that i got a friends who was ready with my belly dance costume helped me to get dressed up. I was the 4th to do my talent performance and butterflies were in my stomach cos that was solo time! My turn, without hesitation, i gracefully got myself ready in the center of the stage with my veil. Sometimes it is good to have something to hold on to just to reduce the nervousness.

Pic: First part is veil dance

Pic: Second part is drum solo

My performance was about 3 minutes. Not the relieve moment yet because we will be putting on our self designed Cheongsam and the Top 8 would be announced.

I got into Top 8. HAPPY!! Now, time for Q&A for all the Top 8. Our question was: What do you think a woman needed the most? I have no time for my adrenaline to be excreted because i was the first to present my answer. I got a round of applause from the floor. My answer?? MONEY. Don't say i am materialistic. I have got my explanations well support my statement. I am REALISTIC.

Pic: Q&A 

At the end of the whole event, i was finally relieved! Took many photos with many people and press. We had a gathering after that and served with food!! Oh, i can't remember how long i didn't have supper since i joined this competition. Hohoho...FOOD!! 

Sadly, the next morning, we checked out of the hotel and greeted each other Good-bye. Although we only knew each other for a short period, but this competition ain't war..instead, we built a strong friendship and sisterhood.

Pic: My supportive family

I graduated!!

My big fat GRADUATION~

Why i called it big fat? Uni life has brought too much good and bad memories into my life. I think that's where i have been molded to become a better person to the society and the companies out there who is looking for a good employer. Yeah, you hear me!

Still remembered clearly of my freshman year. Registered for my room in the hostel and report myself to the Students Affair Department. It was all the complicated process made easy by the effective and organized workers.

Well, we needed to register for our courses as well. This was the part that i hate the most through out my 6 academics years. We actually got to race (in this case, wake up early) to get the desired subjects. And the early is like 4 something in the MORNING. I tried once going at 6am and the Q was already like half a kilometer! Not a problem till when it was our turn, the guard said that first year students were not qualified to do registration YET. wth! That was my once and for all queuing up for course registration. Fortunate enough i got all the courses i wanted still in the end. ^.^


Alright, when you are with new people and these people are all from different backgrounds, no doubts, there gonna be misunderstandings. But if you handled it well, everything would be fine. What's important is that we need to be sensitive to them, knowing their likes and dislikes. Not to buy their hearts, just to know where's the limit. Then you all will be in harmony.

Living in the campus is no better than at home. Sometimes the room would heat up like an oven. Food in the canteen are too salty and full of MSG. But we were left with no choice. Thank God i met this vegetarian auntie who send vegetarian rice to our hostel. She had my order for the next 4 semesters. I wasn't sure whether it was the flour that i consumed from the vegetarian meat, but i got constipation for about a month. I went to the specialist and get my colon cleaned. From then, i still had my normal vegetarian meal but having myself to eat oatmeal every morning just so i can do my big business (I hope u understand this term). And oatmeal really did the magic. SO, it was not that flour fault.


Gone through all 6 semesters and finally it was the most awaiting moment...being in the square academic cap and the heavy thick graduation gown! My parents were so excited and happy for me because i was the first one in the family wearing the cap. I regret i couldn't share this happy moment with my beloved Grandma. She entered the door of Heaven 10 months before i graduated after battling with cancer for a month. I love you Grandma. You were always being supportive of me and loved me so much...


The ceremony was grand and all of my family members were waiting outside to take pictures with me.

Mt. Gading

Yes, time to get crazei again! This time to Mt. Gading. A mountain with 3 waterfalls in it.

This trip was organized by Phui, a master student in my lab. So, when it comes tolab trip, it gonna involve many peeps. 2 cars 11 people!

Mr Anthony was the driver. Having such a great driver, we were so relaxed till ZZzzz...

 

 

 

Upon arrival,  we unloaded all of our baggage and food then checked into our rooms. Ladies and gents in different rooms of course!

 

 

 

 

We have got the kitchen to ourselves and all the girls started to prepare for dinner..BBQ!

As i could not help much, i was with my camera taking down all their actions...many potential housewives here! ghehe... 

 

 

 

After the preparation, we took a short break by visiting to the nearest waterfall to chill out. Although this one is small, but the impact of the water splashing down on us was great. I had my Gua Sa the day before i came and i was not suppose to go into the water. HOW CAN I CONTROL MYSELF?? haha...

 

 

Finally, time to BBQ our food. Starving!! 

 

 

All the pretty ladies...

 

 

OMG...this scorpion was our the BBQ chamber when we were almost done!

 

 

 So we changed place. Still inside is safer...

Pic (back): Miss A, Sing Yiing, Robert

(Front): Anthony, me, Phui, Fu, Boon Ling and Pei Sing

Day 2: We went ups and downs and finally did the complete trail in the jungle. The trail always seem shorter when you have friends to walk with. Because we will be having each other talking, eating and supporting.

 

 

 

 

As Boon Ling is not feeling well, she and Liew stayed back at the camp preparing our lunch. STEAMBOAT. yeah!!

 

 

 

We had our sweet time finishing the whole bowl of steamboat because it was still too early for beach.

The best beach ever...Palm Beach. Sound like the one in Florida? ha...this one is the Kuching version.

 

Best, isn't it?

The beach maniacs..

We had a blast of our time. But sadly enough, i was having fever that night and coughed terribly. My baby was caring enough sms-ing me from next door. His car broke down too because of the old battery but luckily we managed to get back to town and have it changed.