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Category: China

Shanghai: Shanghai South Long-Distance Bus Station

China Trip – Shanghai: Shanghai South Long-Distance Bus Station 上海长途客运南站 (Day 2) – Good morning! It’s second day at Shanghai. I was not feeling well the day before due to lack of sleep and sudden cold, but then I was so much better on the second day. I was craving for some McDonald’s to bring up my appetite.

The second day of my China Trip was to a very famous ancient water town – Zhouzhuang, which is located near to Suzhou. After getting direction from the hostel’s front desk, we started our journey.

How to go to Zhouzhuang? – Go to Shanghai South Long-Distance Bus Station and take a 1.5 hours bus ride to Zhouzhuang.

The morning was OK-cold, it’s about 9 degree celcius. It’s my first time experiencing Shanghai, but the main point of day 2 was not Shanghai, but Zhouzhuang, so I didn’t bother to see Shanghai yet. Shanghai South-Long Distance Bus Station is kinda far, we have to change two lines in Shanghai Metro. We took Line 2 train at Nanjing Lu Station to People’s Square, then change to Line 1 to Shanghai South Station.

Walking towards the Shanghai Metro.

Wet morning, but not heavy rain.

11 Lines in Shanghai Metro. Not easy reading the Metro’s map.

Look! Chinese people queuing up to board the Metro! That’s so cool man.

The bus station is not located right beside the Metro or above, it takes another 10 minutes walk from the metro station to the bus station. We were hungry, but we wanted to go buy ticket first.

There’s two bus going to Zhouzhuang daily, one at 8:15am, another at 1.20pm. We bought the 1.20pm tickets, and as usual, we need to produce our ID document while buying the ticket. It’s only 35RMB to Zhouzhuang. Then we went to buy food for lunch – McDonald’s!

How am I gonna shit here? Imagine you see other people’s poo floating pass you.

Cold duck wing. Yums.

Checking ticket.

Spicy Chicken Fillet Burger is awesome!

Spotted a ferries wheel while on the way to Zhouzhuang.

The bus station is really high tech. There’s a waiting hall and ticket check point gate. We boarded the bus at about 1.10pm. The driver wanted us to finish the McDonald’s burger as he said that the burger smells weird. Haha. Chinese driver doesn’t like McDonald’s. The ride to Zhouzhuang takes about 1.5-2 hours depends on traffic. I looked out of the bus window to see Shanghai and I found some stupid thing. A driver parked his car by the highway’s road side, went down of his car, then pee by the road, then get back into his car and drive. DA FUQ is the Chinese doing?

March 4, 2012
Hangzhou: 1-Hour Train To Shanghai Hong Qiao Station

China Trip – Hangzhou: 1-Hour Train To Shanghai Hong Qiao Station 搭快速火车到上海虹桥 (Day 1) – It’s almost 6pm at Hangzhou, I was tired and not feeling very well. I wanted to go to Shanghai, checked in the hostel and sleep so badly. Brother and I went to take our luggage back, checked that everything was still there and we went to buy the train ticket to Shanghai.

Very stupid thing is that train ticket counter was about 10 minutes walk from the platform. It’s just far away from the boarding platform. There’s super many counter at the ticketing area, but it’s easy to buy at ticket. We need to show our ID document (passport) to buy the ticket, it costs 78Yuan one-way to Shanghai Hong Qiao station. After buying ticket, we realised we only have less than 15 minutes until the train starts moving.

I hate that the platform is so far away, and with a 12kg backpack on my bag. We ran. We ran towards the platform as fast as we can, together with the backpack, I was panting away. Phewwwww. What a relief that we still have about 4 minutes before the train started moving. Train in China is very on schedule, they won’t wait for anyone who is late.

The train was pretty cool and was very clean in it. It’s a very long train, with about 15 coaches. We found our seats and rest ourselves. I think I’d a little fever, so I sleep all the way to Shanghai. The train was so smooth and calm as it’s electric train. It’s fast and takes about an hour to reach Shanghai. There’s people selling coffee and food on board too.

We reached Shanghai Hong Qiao Station, which is a train station, and also a domestic airport. I asked brother to take the cab because we did not know how long it takes for MRT to reach our hotel – Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel. I couldn’t really feel the outside temperature because we were indoor. The bad thing was, we waited the cab for about 1 hour! It’s a super duper long queue at the cab area. WOW. Cab driver in Shanghai doesn’t really speak English well, it’s better to have the address print in Chinese for him to refer.

In Shanghai already, so excited!

Felt so good after boarding the cab, it takes about half an hour to reach Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel on Shaan Xi Nan Lu 陕西南路. Actually, we should have take the Shanghai Metro, it seems faster. We did not do homework about the Metro station and hotel distance so we went for cab which cost us 70RMB.

About the Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel, it’s cheap, 130RMB/room but no attached bathroom, it’s troublesome a bit but it’s cold when taking a shit as the bathroom somehow connected to the outdoor balcony! The people at there are very friendly too, most of visitors are young travelers like us, you can mingle around with them and get social. There’s a bar with free Internet usage and free-wifi. Every Wednesday night, there’s a movie night at the bar. Besides, there’s also washing machine and dryer. Room is very small, but I don’t think you will spend many time in room. Opposite the hostel, you will find a convenience store. It’s about 10 minutes walk to famous Nanjing Lu and 15 minutes walk to the nearest Shanghai Metro, Line 2 and Line 3.

Guess what I did after check-in into the hostel? Slept until the next day! I skipped dinner. =D Wasted my first night? Not really, I have plenty of time in Shanghai. I needed to charge up for the coming days.

March 4, 2012
Hangzhou: Zhi Wei Guan & Xi Hu West Lake

Click here to read more about my China Trip.

China Trip – Hangzhou 杭州: Zhi Wei Guan & Xi Hu West Lake 知味馆，西湖 (Day 1) – After exploring Qing He Fang Cultural Street which has not much thing to see, without wasting time, we headed to the famous Xi Hu West Lake next. However, we have to eat something first because brother did not eat anything for lunch. I didn’t have much appetite though.

We get to know about Zhiweiguan Restaurant has good Dong Po Rou 东波肉, so we hopped on a motorcycle-tuk-tuk style vehicle which brought us to Zhiweiguan near to Xi Hu West Lake.

Dong Po Rou.

Xiao Long Bao.

Zhiweiguan is a famous restaurant in Hangzhou. I’ve head that Dong Po Rou is pork with fatty belly that must not be missed in Hangzhou. After trying out, it’s awesome, but not that wonderful as people said afterall. Perhaps we went to a wrong shop? Since Hangzhou was just tour-for-fun, we didn’t bother to look for the best Dong Po Rou. We also ordered Xiao Long Bao to try out. One sad and funny thing is that the restaurant does not serves Chinese tea. OMG! Chinese restaurant with no Chinese tea. I wonder why? We’ve to buy mineral water from convenience store nearby.

So, this is Xi Hu, the West Lake, what do you think?

After a little bit of food, we walked to the famous Xi Hu West Lake. Everybody say Xi Hu (West Lake) is a must-go attractions in Hangzhou. It’s a very big lake, standing by the lake side feels super duper cold because of the wind. I read that you can hop on the boat which brings you to a garden on the other side of the lake. Unfortunately, it’s raining, the weather was no good, the scenery was not really nice also. So Xi Hu did not leave a good impression to us.

What’s cool by the Xi Hu is that there’s many branded shop, designer’s brands located across the street at Xi Hu. It’s like a luxurious shopping street along the lake which is pretty cool.

Cool bus with wooden interior.

Since, it’s cold, nothing much to see in the blur rainy weather, we went to look for cab to bring us back to the train station to go to Shanghai. Sadly, it’s very hard to find a cab at there. Then local thought us to take the bus which will bring us to the train station for only 2RMB. Cool and cheap! =D

Click here to read more about my China Trip.

March 3, 2012
Hangzhou: Explore Qing He Fang Cultural Street

Click here to read more about my China Trip.

China Trip – Hangzhou: Explore Qing He Fang Cultural Street 清河坊文化街 (Day 1) – Finally I’ve touched down in Hangzhou after 6 hours of flight from LCCT, Kuala Lumpur. What a long flight, it was. I went to the WC to dressed up my winter wear and meet my brother who was waiting outside the airport.

I didn’t get a chance to take photo as my camera was in my big backpacker’s bag. My backpack was really heavy at 12kg! How wish I can find a place to drop my bag to lighten up myself. I wonder why people like backpacking. Haha.

Near to train’s station.

We went to buy ticket to Hangzhou’s train station outside the airport. There’s actually an AirAsia counter that sells bus ticket traveling to Shanghai (3 hours bus ride) for only 75 Yuan. but I recommend you to take the fast train to Shanghai, it’s only an hour ride from Hangzhou. To take the train, you have to go to the Hangzhou’s train station in city. This is where we were heading to.

Hangzhou’s alley.

At there, we found luggage drop service to drop our backpack. It’s 15Yuan per piece of big luggage for one day. It’s safe, but it’s better to get all the valuable with you like cash, passport, and electronics. I felt so relief after dropping the luggage there. We then asked for direction to go our first stop – Qing He Fang Cultural Street, about 4km away. I realised not many people know about this place, we have to show them photo only then they know about it.

Very cool thing in Hangzhou that they have bicycle rental service where citizen can rent a bike to ride, then park at another station.

Buying umbrella.

The weather was not really good, drizzling and temperature was about 11 degree Celcius, we bought umbrellas along the way. It took us about 20 minutes from the train station to Qing He Fang.

Lonely Planet introduced Qing He Fang to us. Qing He Fang Cultural Street is a street that has old Chinese shop but tourist centric, selling gift, food, sweets, and more. It’s not very wonderful because it’s raining and nothing much interesting to capture. I think it’s better to visit during fall or autumn. Wanted to find food at there, but failed, so we moved on to Xi Hu lake.

Buying Long Xu Tang, a kind of sweet.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.0004b80a852f7e1d51867&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=30.241792,120.166612&spn=0.008898,0.013733&z=16&iwloc=0004ba3059271488315a5&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

Click here to read more about my China Trip.

March 3, 2012
China Trip: Overnight At KLIA LCCT Terminal

China Trip: Overnight At KLIA LCCT Terminal (To Hangzhou/Day 0) – Last December, I went to a 13 days-long China semi-backpacking trip. My travel destinations were Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and lastly Hong Kong. For the flight, I took the Air Asia to Hangzhou, only then take the fast train to Shanghai, it costs me about RM500 for one-way ticket to Hangzhou.

Since it’s Air Asia, my flight departs at LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal), Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It’s my first time at the LCCT and I’ve to spend my night at there because I actually flew from Penang to there and wait for about 8 hours, only then I get to board the flight to Hangzhou.

I was actually very excited of “transiting” at LCCT, overnight at the airport like other travelers do, but then it’s not really a good experience. Sleeping on the hard and cold tiles flooring was really bad and uncomfortable. In fact, I didn’t get any sleep on there. I think I did successfully fall asleep for about 30 minutes on the bench outside the LCCT. Hahaha.

You can’t really get a good sleep after 3.30am when the announcement of flight started going on the loudspeaker. Another thing is, don’t bother to tour around the LCCT at night, I was curious so I did not settle down at first when I touched down at LCCT about 12.30am, I toured around the airport for half an hour only then I was busy finding an empty power socket. Luckily, I found one but it’s not really working well. I have to readjust the plug to make it works. My phone battery was running low and I need charge badly for the next day usage at Hangzhou. Phew, I got 75% charge after-all.

The night was really long. 6.30am was when I started moving around again, look for a sandwich, toilet, brush and enter to the departure hall. I was started for not feeling well because I didn’t get a good sleep. My body was tired and head was heavy. When I got the board the plane, the plane was so far away and I have to walk. At the plane, sleep wasn’t pleasant too, I have no idea why. It was a long way, and luckily I’ve got chicken rice. =D Despite the tired-ness, I was still able to tour Hangzhou on the first day. =D Let’s get ready for my China trip.

There’s many restaurant at LCCT like McDonald’s, KFC, OldTown and more, but not all of them are 24 hours.

There’s not many water fountain at there and they were not working well.

Found a good spot, to lie down.

Lousy power socket. Sucks.

Flight to Hangzhou is located at the end of the parking way. LOL

Although it’s HOT SEAT, it’s very uncomfortable to sleep.

Chicken rice, not nice already. I prefer nasi lemak.

In Hangzhou already.

March 2, 2012
Shenzhen And Now Hong Kong

Shenzhen And Now Hong Kong – Hello again everyone, yoyoyoyo, chiak ba liao buay? Have you eaten? What’s up? Finally got time sit down and write blog. I am now in Hong Kong, approaching the end of my year-end China trip as Hong Kong is my last stop and will be going back to Penang soon, sigh, like so fast, yet the trip like so long too. The trip is very awesome but somehow it’s getting tired with a lot of walking especially in Hong Kong.

I went to Shenzhen right after Shanghai from last Monday till Thursday. Shenzhen gives me a feeling of Singapore-alike with lots of condominium, lots of trees and walkways. Shenzhen has nothing much except for factories, several theme park, some fake market, and a shopping street – Dong Men Lao Jie. I don’t really like Shenzhen if were to compare to Shanghai as it’s too artificial, there’s not much culture and history about it. It’s a planned city. Though food is a lot better than Shanghai as there’s Hong Kong-food. 😀

One thing, the metro is somehow cheaper in Shanghai then Shenzhen.

After Shenzhen, two days ago, we took the metro to Luohu, stamped our passport and entered Hong Kong. Hong Kong is always lovely with it’s vibrant and lively city life, awesome food, beautiful dense skyscrapers and always moving Hong Kee.

Have been walking a lot in Hong Kong, went to many places like the wonderful Apple Store IFC, Big Buddha at Lantau Island, Central, the very happening Kowloon and more. Really tired. Haha. I will be visiting Stanley tomorrow and The Peak then no idea where to go already. 😀

Anyway, Hong Kong is pretty awesome and the weather is very good at 14-20 degree Celsius. Perfect! Not too cold, not too warm, you say shiok or not this kind of weather? Haha.

Stay tune and will update officially about my trip when I get back home to Malaysia. Have a nice day and enjoy your last month of 2011.

December 18, 2011
Hello From Shanghai, China

Hello From Shanghai, China – Hello my baby, my friends, my family and my reader! Finally I get to sit down in front of the computer provided at the bar area of Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel to do a little blogging. The weather out there is about 3 degree Celsius and it’s feeling warm in the indoor. Today’s weather is kinda nice at about 4-5 degree Celsius and my body is getting used to the temperature already. It was freezing cold in the past few days, it’s rising now.

Today is day 5 of being in China. Arrived in Hangzhou on day 1, then went to Zhouzhuang, an ancient water town on Day 2 and Day 3, then exploring Shanghai since day 4.

I guess I have already covered most of the interesting attractions as introduced by most of the people, the Lonely Planet like the Nanjing Road East shopping street, The Bund, Pudong financial district area, the two awesome Apple Store in Nanjing Road and Pudong, French Concession area, Xintiandi, Xujiahui Cathedral, Tian Zi Fang, Dongtai Road Antique Street (went there late and only a few shops were open) as well as Yuyuan Garden and Cheng Huang Temple. Where else do I miss?

The another two more temple like the Jade Buddha and Jing An Temple are introduced by the Internet, however both of them need an entrance fees which is RMB30 and RMB10. It doesn’t seems to worth it to me. HAHA.

Food in Shanghai is just OKOK, not really my type of food I think. Price is cheap by the road side but doubt about the cleanliness, it gets more expensive in the restaurant. Xiao Long Bao is awesome but imagine eating it everyday. HAHA. Overall, I am not very attracted with Shanghai’s food, I favor towards food in the North e.g. Hong Kong, Guangzhou. The fastfood in China especially KFC is yum-yum though! =D

Shanghai is big, huge. It’s many size of Hong Kong, and Singapore. It has a feel of Hong Kong, but I prefer Hong Kong as it’s denser and more happenings throughout the day. Shanghai gets quiet at night where major attraction closes after sunset. Shopping district and bar areas in Shanghai maybe happenings but that’s all. That’s why I see so many people hanging out in the hostel’s bar area at night.

Well, I’m gonna sign off now and take a rest for the last day in Shanghai. No idea when am I gonna visit yet. But the day after will go to Shenzhen for two days and later Hong Kong for 5 days. Check out my photo updates on Away From Computer and Twitter @nicholaschan

See ya.

December 11, 2011
Nick Chan’s Year-End Flashpacking China Trip

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Nick Chan’s Year-End Flashpacking China Trip – Hello fellow friends and readers, I will be going for flashpacking trip to China and Hong Kong in this coming two weeks. Flashpacking is a travel type somewhere between budget backpacking and a normal trip, and still uses a backpack. This is my first backpacking trip – traveling with just a backpack, camera and myself.

Well, not trying to promote AirAsia but since the desktop wallpaper so nice, so I share it up here also. Haha. AirAsia is my flight to Hangzhou (Shanghai).

Zhouzhuang Ancient Water Town – Venice Of The East.

Manhattan-alike of the East – Shenzhen. Photo by defence.pk

The trip basically covers a little bit of Hangzhou, more of Shanghai, a little bit of outskirt Shanghai like the ancient water town in Suzhou – Zhouzhuang, Xi Tang, then to Shenzhen for some gadget and electronics hunting, ending the trip in Hong Kong for some awesome Chinese dimsum.

China blocked Facebook and Twitter, luckily I still have Nick Chan Dot Net and Away From Computer. Follow me on my blog, Twitter and Away From Computer for latest updates! I update more on Away From Computer as I constantly post image to there.

See you!

FOLLOW TRAVEL UPDATES @ AWAY FROM COMPUTER

December 6, 2011
Hong Kong: Causeway Bay And Somewhere Around

Hello my friends, I will be writing quite a few posts about Hong Kong this few days because I realized that I still have quite many photos to share with you guys about my Hong Kong trip during Chinese New Year this year. Although it’s late, it’s still nice to share and bring back my memory when I was in Hong Kong. This makes me miss Hong Kong so much.

As you know, one of the famous place in Hong Kong is Causeway Bay 铜锣湾 which is a mid-high end shopping district and people like to go there to shopping and also number one hang out place for Hong Kees. =)

Everytime go to Hong Kong must go to this place because of the crowds and it’s the most happening place on the Hong Kong island, whereas on Kowloon side will be the Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok area.

The famous Times Square shopping mall also situated at there but I tell you it’s quite boring inside, looking old and dull even it features some international brand at there. I don’t really like walking inside.

One cool thing about this place is that if you comes at night at 1am, there’s still people hanging around, it’s like a place that does not sleep at night. Very happenings.

I don’t know why Hong Kong has so many happenings place. Unlike Malaysia, Penang or KL. KL has the Bukit Bintang area and that’s all, and Penang, I can’t think of any happenings place, perhaps Gurney Drive? But on the weekend only. I like to go out and join the fun.

One thing that you must do at Causeway Bay, Times Square area is that go to the street food stall opposite of Times Square and grab some local street food like curry fish ball, mixed beef organs, sausages and more. They are real awesome and my dad love it very much.

It’s a trend that people either stand by the roadside to eat, or grab and eat and shop at the same time. It’s really an Hong Kong culture, that you probably can’t find it here in Malaysia.

Causeway Bay is a real shopping district, given you want to find cheap stuff at Jardine’s Crescent, or some young stuff and mid-end fashion at Sogo and Island Bevely Shopping Arcade, if you want high-end, go to Times Square. =D

Brother and I were actually walking pointlessly, and almost lost the way of going back to Times Square. Haha, but we didn’t went back there, we went to somewhere else we didn’t know where it was. We keep walking and walking to explore the place around.

And we found World Trade Centre. A office place revamped into a shopping mall too and I found Muji, my favourite Japanese minimalism item store. I wonder when Muji will come to Penang or Malaysia.

There’s plenty street food corner in Hong Kong, you can find them at almost any corner, so no worry of being hungry in Hong Kong because you can get food easily.

We also found the famous in TVB series, 打小人 hit small people, which literally means hitting the paper man with the name of the person you hate or want to curse. It’s kinda famous and lame, but still there’s people visiting these grandmas.

=D D24 Durian at Hong Kong’s Hui Lao Shan.

July 4, 2011
Hong Kong: Sai Yeung Choi Street #3 And Mongkok

Sai Yeung Choi Street really is love because I just love that street so much, all the neon signs, peoples, shops, LED display and huge TV, and also the night market on the next street parallel to it, it’s really a super duper happening place in Mongkok.

I went to Sai Yeung Choi Street twice during my last visit to Hong Kong and spent a little while at Fa Yuen Street which features street market.

The street market selling mostly ladies clothing is not really my type of place to go, we were just accompanying my lovely mommy to go shopping and what’s interest me more is the Sai Yeung Choi Street South. However, nothing much for us to buy already, it’s just that that day was Saturday and it’s a crowded day, we wanted to go there to take photos of crowded people on the street. Haha.

I am a very weird person. I love Penang for being peaceful and relax and I also love Hong Kong for being fast, happenings and people-ful. Somehow, I don’t like Singapore. *finger cross*

It was only me and brother Yikhung at Sai Yeung Choi Street as dad and mom went back to hotel early for a rest. You know, you need to have a good stamina if you want to travel to Hong Kong because it’s all about walking, walking, walking and walking, and walking.

Tired, yet fun. Look at the people, it’s just everywhere on the street. Perhaps their house is small and there’s nothing much to do at home, so they come down for a walk and window shopping, whereas in Penang, home is beautifully designed and packed with entertainment, people felt lazy to go outside the hot weather and don’t want to be stuck in the traffic jam.

Let’s get the photo shooting started.

Slow shutter. =D

One cool thing that will only appear in Hong Kong is that there’s so many mini booth on promoting their local cable and Internet service. It’s just everywhere on the street. They put up a bunting, a mini booth and there you go, a promotional booth for their Internet and cable service.

Don’t you think the place is so nice?

July 3, 2011

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