Shanghai in 48 hours

What can you do in Shanghai in 48 hours? That was what I thought when visiting a friend who was posted there for work recently. Turns out, there is quite a bit you can see and do if you know how to get around with public transport and the occasional taxi.

This is based on my itinerary for arrival on a Saturday night and departure on a Monday afternoon.

Night 1
Stop 1: The Bund
Shanghai is very well connected, so wherever you may stay in your trip, you can go to the Bund to see this famous skyline:

And bask in the architectural complexities of the waterfront amidst the crowds:

At this point, there is little to no chance of having a photo without at least another tourist in your photos, so it's okay not to try.


Stop 2: Nanjing East Road
Depending on the time you arrive at the Bund, you can do some shopping or have dinner at nearby restaurants along/around the Nanjing East Road before or after The Bund.

There you can also stop and take photos of more buildings like this...

This departmental store has been here since 1918.

At a junction that looks like this:

From Wikipedia

Stop 3: Nightlife
If you still have energy left for some fun, I was told there are some nice bars around as well. But we were rather beat (that happens when you spent most of your 20s working 70-80 hour weeks) so we headed back after some gawking at the lights and people.

Day 1: Going around Shanghai
Again, Shanghai is quite well connected, and generally touristy places are accessible by train or bus. But generally, if you don't speak Mandarin, I'll suggest sticking to the trains.

I generally like visiting museums, parks, historical sites and bodies of water (lake, piers, seasides etc). And I am a lazy travel planner, usually leaving the planning to 24-48 hours before the trip. If you are like me, a way to cover as much as you can in a short period of time is to list out your priorities and group them according to their location so you could cover them in blocks of after-breakfast, between lunch and dinner, and after dinner.

So my initial plan was:
After breakfast: Jade Buddha temple, Shanghai Museum
Between lunch and dinner: Fuxing Park, Green Massage
After dinner: Just chill

However, it turns out that you could do a bit more than that if you know how to get around.

So what I eventually did was:

After breakfast: Shanghai Museum

So many exhibits here! From pre-historic times to Imperial China, you can learn a lot about Chinese culture and way of life here.

The place is HUGE

My favourite exhibit: A ceramic horse

Between lunch and dinner: 1) Xin Tian Di, 2) Fuxing Park, 3) French Concession, 4) Shanghai's Long Tang Alleyways <---TAXI---> 5) Yu Garden (豫园） 6) Oriental Pearl Tower

These are within 10-20 mins walking distance if you walk fairly quickly.

1) Xin Tian Di
- A shopping and entertainment district, with mostly-Western hardware and Chinese software (what is inside).

French Chinatown in China? It's best not to think too deeply into it, unless you're interested in history...

And nearby you could find this: Museum of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.

2) Fuxing Park

For a leisurely stroll

 

To clear your mind...

Or join in some taichi...

 3) French Concession

More pretty buildings and greens.

4) Shanghai Long Tang Alleyways
- This place is awesome for souvenirs and street food!

Tianzifang is one of the must visits in the Alleyways

Pretty things up in the air and lots of stuff in the stores

5) Yu Garden
- So I thought 4 places is a bit much for a day, but turns out we did that in about 2-3 hours. So there is time for more! Yu Garden is 100% Chinese, and beautiful... You can find more street food and souvenirs here, but because it is very touristy, you can't bargain here like you can in Tianzifang.

This is a bit far from Tianzifang, so it may be good to take a cab. Our ride is about 30-40 yuan.

Pardon the bad panorama. It is actually quite magnificent.

6) Pearl Tower
- Yu Garden can take about 1 hour if you really shop, but if not, about 20-30 minutes will be enough to take photos and squeeze through the crowds to get a good shot. So, by now it's about dinner time, but if you are really ambitious, you can take another cab to the Pearl Tower, which is Shanghai's requisite high rise as a global city.

Capitalism wins

How luck looks like...

Until you get inside...

But it is all worth it in the end...

Even if it scared the bejesus out of you to get that shot...

And as usual, the view from a distance is always the best...

 After dinner: Green Massage
- So the Internet (and Time magazine) opined that Green Massage is a must try for massage in Shanghai. But after being told that I could only book a slot at 11:30pm I decided that that's too much sleep to waste, even if it is for a massage. It is also on the pricey side so you can decide if your shoulders are tight enough due to pre-vacation stress to deserve some pampering.

Day 2: The leftovers
If your flight leaves in the afternoon, you get to visit one site or two before you hop on your ride to the airport.

I chose to visit the Jing'an temple, which is the most accessible from where I stayed.

The temple has its own subway station

A common scene in Shanghai - where old and new coexist

Two of the main moral principles in Chinese culture (heavily influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism): Avoid all evils, do good for the benefit of the community.

The Buddha statue in Jing'an temple

And so, after paying respects to the Buddha I left Shanghai with a rather funny realisation that even though I am ethnic Chinese, I have yet to find a Chinese city that feels like home. That said, Shanghai is a good mix of old and new, and the company of old friends had made it all the more special.

Note: If you are concerned about language barriers, you can use Google Translate to get all your destinations down in Chinese characters and ask locals. Most will understand basic English and are very helpful.:)

Sidenote: There are tons on information on tourist spots - maps, tours etc at the Shanghai airport arrival hall. So please check them out before you head out!

All from the airport...

Singapore in 48 hours

I am not going to lie. Before I went back to Singapore as a tourist for the first time in more than a decade, I thought nothing happened in this place. With all these rules to follow, you can't help but feel restricted. No, I am not going to litter even without the specter of being fined SGD1000 (or something like that), but I guess I want my government to trust me for not doing so.

A bit of background before we start on the things you can do in Singapore as a tourist. You see, Malaysia is somewhat the laid-back sister of Singapore. Your achievement-obsessed parent won't let a day go past without reminding her of how much your other sibling has achieved, but secretly hangs out with you more because they feel more comfortable being human around you. Many of us have been to Singapore either as a treat for making it through primary school, a destination for better-paying work, or a visit to relatives who decided to make Singapore home. Fewer of us go there for a vacation because it is essentially Malaysia, with more air-cond and better public transport system.

So, when deciding on where to go for a short trip when I am in town, I was a little conflicted about visiting Singapore. However, since I don't have a lot of time, it seemed attractive enough. And also, I have quite a few friends from going back to school last year that are currently there.

I finally settled on a 3D2N, flying in the first day and leaving on the last morning. So, technically, there was around 40 hours to spend in Lion City. But it was enough time to fit in quite a bit of Singapore. So, if you have only around that amount of time to spend in Singapore, here is what you can do:

I. Get the Singapore tourist pass
Cost: SGD16 for 2 days (Aug 2016)

Time: 15-30 minutes depending on the queue

Where to get it: At the platform of the train to head to the city. It is hidden beside the escalator. 

This pass will make it convenient for you to navigate the Singaporean public transport system. It is efficient and there are signboards everywhere. But if you don't live in any city... you're bound to get lost. This will be useful because you don't have to worry about missing your stop and spending yet more SGD unnecessarily (of course, this doesn't apply if you come from the EU or US).

II. Chinatown
Cost: SGD 0
Time: Around 2 hours
Where: There are a few MRTstations that are close to Chinatown, but Outram Park seems to be the closest)

Things to see here: The Budda Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, a mosque, an Indian temple (Sri Mariamman Temple), the Chinese Heritage Museum, and much more. You can sample the food at the Food Street and buy your souvenirs at the street market. For more attractions click here. However, if you are going to go around Singapore for the following days, do visit the Singapore Tourism office next to the Buddha Relic Temple. You can get your tickets to visit places like Gardens by the Bay and the other museums around Singapore. Sometimes they have promotions and discounts as well.

III. Pass out on your bed
Cost: SGD 0
Time: Depends on how tired you are
Where: Your AirBnB, hotel or wherever you are staying (probably not a backpackers)

AirBnB is not yet legal in Singapore, so if you go for those, you need to be a bit more careful with your booking. Otherwise, lodging is quite expensive in Singapore. Prices are similar to Hong Kong (perhaps just a bit cheaper). I was quite tired before the trip, so it took me close to 3 hours to get myself off the bed again.

IV. Library@Orchard
Cost: SGD 0
Time: Depends on how much you like books
Where: At the Orchard Gateway

A view from the top

You can literally spend a day here if you really love books. From a quick glance, the collections are amazing. I love the author J.D. Robb, and it has all the books in the "In Death" series!

Do check out their magazine collection too, and you can find all sorts, from tech to gardening to news and popular culture. All these packed up in sleek, beautifully crafted bookshelves.

What's best? It's free! If I live in Singapore I swear I'll be here at least one day off every week!

Ways to get here: by MRT, Somerset station.

V. Food @ Haji Lane and surrounding areas
Cost: SGD 20-30
Time: As long as it takes to devour your food
Where: MRT Station, Bugis

Haji Lane is one of the must-visits of Singapore for its local food. It is also home to some nice pubs and interesting street art. We had the Singaporean version of the Briyani and Murtabak at this establishment and the murtabak was awesome! Forgot to check its opening hours, but Google says it opens 7am to 11pm so you have plenty of time to visit!

Image from yelp.com

V. Sentosa and Fort Siloso

Cost: SGD 0 if you just walk around. Some entrance fees are required to enter the museums and parks.

Time: Around 2-3 hours

Where: MRT HarbourFront

Sentosa is a nice place to go to if you want a fun day at the beach or if you are in the mood for some fun in the water (there is a water park here and this is perhaps the least air-conditioned part of Singapore you can find). 

Fort Siloso, on the other hand, is quite something if you are into history. It is the Fort that was used as to keep prisoners during World War II when the Japanese took Malaya. Here is a video about it.

VI. Gardens by the Bay (website)

Cost: SGD 28 max (for 2 conservatories)

Time: Around 5 hours

Where: MRT Bayfront

If you ask me this is the best place in Singapore. I just love it. It is just as its name describes. It is a huge garden by the Marina Bay, a bay beside Singapore's Central Business District. The CBD is a hub that houses most of the financial sector operating in Singapore. A bit like Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur City Centre and Bukit Bintang, or Hong Kong's Central. 

If you have never been to a tropical forest this is as close as man can make it to be. It is oh so beautiful. I'll let the photos do the talking:

 

I didn't take many photos like I did the first time I was there, but you can expect a beautiful waterfall, two domes of relief from the humidity and heat, and a skywalk you would not forget!

VI. Marina Bay

Cost: SGD 0

Time: 30 mins - 1 hour

Where: Just beside Gardens by the Bay

Marina Bay holds many beautiful memories for me. It is really beautiful and I could only say it is the place where I feel most peaceful in Singapore every time I was there. There is a LV shop which has a floating platform where you can sit down with a bread or coffee and see this:

Source: cegoh @ http://pixabay.com/en/singapore-river-skyline-building-255116/

I don't know if I would recommend Singapore as a vacation spot (it is a little too hectic a place for me), but it has its charms. The food is awesome and kind of reminds me of home, and public transport is awesome. Perhaps my previous trips were mostly due to work or an event (watched Phantom of the Opera at the Marina Bay theatre). But I was pleasantly reminded that if you care to take time to have fun, Singapore can be a quite interesting place to be.

How to survive a typhoon in Hong Kong

If you have lived in Hong Kong long enough, there is almost a 100% probability that you would develop a love hate relationship with typhoons, or specifically, the (in)famous and rather anticipated Typhoon Signal no. 8. 

If you have not seen this on HK dramas, you may ask: "What is Typhoon Signal no. 8? What is so special about it? And why no. 8?" Although the HK population is predominantly Chinese, the No. 8 has nothing to do with the Chinese's undying love and worship of money. Then again, if No. 8 also signifies luck, then we may be able to explain it away (more on this later). 

Typhoon 8, in short, means the winds are strong enough that you are advised to get the hell go home pronto, stay indoors, and avoid shorelines. Your umbrella probably wouldn't survive the storm, so be prepared for the sacrifice.

Taken from the Hong Kong Observatory info sheet

After surviving my second T8 typhoon, here are a few things that I found useful to know when preparing for the bad weather:

1. Knowledge is king

Have the Hong Kong Observatory app (android | iPhone) installed on your phone. Seriously. It is perhaps the only app you want to receive push messages from besides your 101 messaging apps. This will give you the latest updates on weather, whether it is typhoons, heavy rain (black rain), or just frickin hot weather. It is also useful when you, you know, have to make small talk about the weather.

2. Try to go home early

Warning signals for typhoons are usually hoisted a few hours earlier than it is expected. This is to make allowance for people to return to safety before the storm hits. Check your company/school policy on how soon you can leave the office. Sometimes we think we can game the system and work until the last allowable minute, but I don't think it is advisable. Buses would be packed and transport service may end earlier. That spreadsheet can wait. You only live once.

3. You may need some supplies (but probably not too much)

Big storms in HK usually won't last more than one or two days (I was told). So some supply of dry goods (biscuits, cup noodles) are useful, but you really don't have to clean the aisle at ParknShop.

Unless you're super rich or happen to live in a place where there is no barrier between you and the sea, you will likely experience a milder version of the storm. If you are, then, the HKO has more tips for you here.

So, coming back to the love hate relationship. If you've seen people moan about the typhoon leaving HK earlier today, here are some FAQs about the realities of having a typhoon disrupt your daily routine.

1. What's so special about the T8 warning? And why do some HK people wish it stays hoisted for longer?

With T8 in force, if you are at work, most of the time you get to leave early. If T8 happens in the morning, you get to sleep in. If T8 lasts beyond 12pm, most offices will close for the day. Makes sense now? To some, T8 is synonymous with a precious day off (to work in your pajamas).

2. Isn't T8, like, very serious?

Yes, the winds are very strong and building do get damaged. However, if we stay indoors we are generally safe. Sometimes there will be floods so it's useful to have some supplies (see above) just in case.

3. Is it true that HK comes to a standstill when T8 happens?

No. People will work at home if there are deadlines to meet. A storm just means you are not physically in a office. Imagine this exchange. Macai: "Boss, it's T8 today." Boss: "Yes, you don't have to come to the office. Please send me the report at 9am tomorrow." So, unless there is a power outage you bet at least 50% of the working population will still be working at home. Though, this time we have to say about 40% because the remaining 10% is out playing Pokemon Go.

4. So, are most people sort of happy when T8 happens?

It depends on what time it happens (see 1). Also, it depends on your thrill seeking behavior (see video below). Generally, if T8 is still in force by 8 a.m. the only question on the minds of 100% of the working population is "Do I have to go to work today?". Sometimes it generates a great amount of anxiety and speculation in Whatsapp/WeChat groups.

So, there's that. We may joke about it here but most typhoons will bring destruction in its wake. While I am grateful Typhoon Nida did not hit Hong Kong that severely, my thoughts are with friends in Shenzhen and Guangdong.

Four movies and two books

Since I am waiting for my lunch to thaw, I thought I'd write about some movies and books I've enjoyed over the past 2 months. The movies I finished in 2 weeks, but still, writing about them makes letting go of them so much easier.

So here are they:

Movies
1. G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
2. The Ghost Writer
3. Legally Blonde
4. Legally Blonde 2

Books
1. The Element by Ken Robinson
2. The Drama of the Gifted Child

Image from google.com
Trailer

If you are looking for a couple hours of action-packed suspension of disbelief, this is the movie you are looking for. I've never seen the comic, but I'm not nerd enough that it matters.

Duke (Channing Tatum) was in charge of guarding a weapon made out of nanorobots that consume metal that was being transported to NATO. The convoy is ambushed and the weapon was stolen. Soon, Duke and his partner Ripcord joins the elite team supposed to get the weapon back, faces another elite team with exotic fighting talents, boom boom pow, America saves the day again.

Not bad at all for a mind-numbing Friday evening.

Image from imdb.com
Trailer

I took this movie off the shelf because well, it's a story about a writer. But this was the one I liked most among the four.

Ewan McGregor plays a ghost writer that took on a job to profile British Prime Minister Adam Lang, after the previous profiler was washed up a shore in what appears to be an accident. As soon he as he enters the world glimpsed by only a few, he discovers that the job is not as simple as it seems.

What I like about the movie is its interesting twists and turns. It's not really what is said that is intriguing. It's what is not said. Brilliant movie, and I'm going to pick up the book if I can find it.

Image from google.com
Trailer

I gave this a pass a couple of times, but thought hey, it's one of those movies you've got to watch at least once.

It doesn't disappoint. Elle Woods personifies every dumb blonde joke you can ever think of. Except, she is kind of smart and brave in her own way. Watch as Hollywood line up every possible coincidence that makes Elle a successful lawyer, breaking blonde stereotypes for at least the last half of the movie.

At some point the "everyone can be successful, just be hot, white, and blonde yourself " message will make you stop yourself from rolling your eyes, but it's an enjoyable movie, in an oddly inspiring in a way.

Image from google.com
Trailer

Now since both installations are out how can you watch one without the other?

The second movie saw Elle traipsing to Washington DC trying to pass a bill to ban animal testing for cosmetics, and in meeting a lot of serious lawmakers she transformed their stoic exterior with her encyclopedia-like knowledge of skin care and personal care products. If you feel like all that is err... unrealistic, then just remember it's just a movie.

The realistic part is that you do get away with a lot when you are a walking barbie, but when all stars align like this movie, it will blow your frickin mind.




The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything
By Ken Robinson
This book is perfect for anyone who needs a confidence boost. A Chinese saying goes, 天生我材
必有用. That means every person that is born must be useful in some way.

Sir Ken Robinson chronicles stories of people who found their "element" - the state in which they flourish the most. It encourages people to seek out their passion and live out their best talents, whichever it may be.

One of the best reads I've had in a while. But if you are not picking up the book: here's a sneak peek.

The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self, Revised Edition
By Alice Miller

Being different is alienating, and growing up different with a family that tries their best but still could not understand you is painful. In this book, Miller describes some of the growing pains gifted children may face and the trauma they carry to adulthood.

Written from a psychotherapist's perspective, this book will attempt to explain some of the common issues gifted adults face in the context of their childhood experiences. A rather interesting read for the gifted as well as those who seek to understand them.

Hail the Gudetama (McD) burger

One thing I observed here in Hong Kong is that its retail sector is very dynamic and highly responsive to consumer preferences.

Case in point: you could almost mark the turn of the season from autumn to winter and winter to spring by the types of electronics they sell in home appliances stores. A few degrees drop in temperature and you'd see all the space warmers lining up the shelves. The moment it rises a few degrees, the warmers will vanish and dehumidifiers and fans will magically take their place. This year, the temperature dropped sharply a few days after the temperature rose consistently. You can imagine how many stores are out of stock by the time people say "screw it, I'm going to buy one so that I could use it next year!", which includes yours truly.

Luckily for people who love a good fast food meal like me, McDonald's here is pretty innovative as well. Almost every month, there will be either a new flavour of ice cream to try or a new set meal to sample. So far, memorable ones are as follows:

White burger (promotional photo on Pintrest)

Pulled burger (non halal version).
There is a halal version which looks
just like this, but offered a week
before this arrived.

So when I saw this on the daily free newspaper I get on the way to work... it's been all I anticipated since Thursday.

This made my week, seriously. From www.mcdonalds.com.hk

I know this sounds pathetic, but trying new McDonald's products has always been the highlight of my week everywhere I go. This sometimes gets be into trouble, because my work sort of implies that I should know that this sort of lifestyle is not something that your local health department would recommend.

Anyhow, the burger set retails for HKD 34 as of 27 May, which is called a "sampling price" on the menu when you buy it in person. Order it a-la-carte and the burger is around HKD 27 (if I remember correctly). The set comes with a medium fries and your choice of a drink you can do without of fizzy drink. 

The fries and drink are pretty standard, as you can already tell, but the burger, well, was interesting.

It comes in a cute box like this:

Too cute to rip apart.

Check out the side!

And finally... tada!

After ripping the top part of the box off, you'll see that the burger is made out of rice substituting the bread, an omelette, and a piece of fried chicken fillet.

At first taste, the rice was a tad too salty. But after you bite into the omelette (which contains a bit of corn) and the chicken, it isn't too bad. The chicken fillet was crunchy and not too dry, but given that the rice was salty I would prefer it to be a bit more spicy, like the one in the Spicy McChicken fillet. 

The omelette was okay, and I thought it a weird combo with the rest of the burger because it was a bit sweet. Overall, it is an interesting combination, but I wouldn't say this is the best seasonal burger I've tried. For those who like to try seasonal burgers such as this one once, I think it's worth a sample just for posterity's sake. 

Here is to hoping they bring back the Pulled Chicken Burger! 

(Probably unnecessary) PSA: Too much fast food is not really the best lifestyle choice you can make. I used to eat a lot of fast food and let's just say I feel much healthier now that I eat such meals only about once every two weeks. It's fun to try new things once in a while though!

Have a great weekend everybody :D

3 years down the road

So, as I was consolidating all my online blogs to create a single site for all my hobbies and flights of fancies, I stumbled upon this ancient creation of mine (yes, a 3 year blog for me is a milestone).

Surprisingly, some posts have more than 100 reads! I know it is rather minuscule by the sort of following bloggers have these days, but I'm not even sure 100 people read my published articles much less something I wrote without readers being forced to read it just because they happen to read X, Y, Z newspaper/magazine.

Anyhow, in 2013, I wrote this:

I have no drawer at home so here's my list of to-dos before Dec 31, 2013:1. Run a 10km marathon in under 1 hour2. Exercise and meditate every day3. Monthly day/weekend trips to all states in Peninsula Malaysia4. Contribute an article to an international publication

I have achieved number 4 so far. Number 1 and number 2 is work in progress, and number 3 is logistically impossible now. It is 2016 and I'm at 1 hr 20 mins for 10km (it was 1:45 - 2:00 back then)

It strikes me how long some goals can take. But I'm happy to say that I'm still working on 1 and 2.

Soon I will have a site to document all my flights of fancy, because in hindsight they not as frivolous as I thought they were.

Like the time I helped an IT guy revive his boss' old iPhone in winter because I just revived mine. Apparently iPhones hate the cold too (https://www.getorchard.com/blog/iphone-battery-dies-in-cold-weather/). What you have to do is give it some warmth with your hair dryer.

And the time I used vinegar to clear the recurring mold underneath my desk. All the computer tricks used to remove formatting, copy and paste, Excel hacks, etc etc.

And so, I'll be migrating this blog soon, and will provide a link in my last post. Will leave this here for future reading, but am excited for what lies ahead!