Beijing - HK food

Funny how strong is the influence of HK food globally. This shop sells HK food in Beijing, right next to the building where the Beijing office is. Had late dinner with Beijing colleagues one night, and its refreshingly eye opener that - though the food appears to be the same thing, but can taste a whole lot different - being localised to cater to the consumers.

Steamed chic, rosted duck and bbq pork

Spicy baked fish

Braised Brinjals with minced pork.

Some vege stew

Celery with lily bulb and gingko

Some soup....

Which turned out to be seaweed soup - so not my bowl of soup... eeek!

My iced red bean drink - the only pretty thing.

Beijing - Train

I travelled around Beijing very much using their underground train system - and I am very happy to say that it is VERY convenient!!!

Apparently, regardless where's your destination, it costs only a flat 2yuan per ride. It might be revised after the olympics - but dunno la har...

I must praise that their system is very efficient - with it needing to cater to a huge population as well, it is very, VERY fast. Should you unable to catch this train, fret not as the next one is within 5 minutes away! It is clean though most of the stations are swarming with people - it is China. You can see lines and lines of people queueing to enter the train, complete with many attendants blowing whistles to control and guide the crowd.

They have very clear boards with english translation at every other pillar in the station

I like how they have this lighting map in the train cabins. They indicate which station has passed in green and the coming ones in red.

And yes, it is really filled to the brink with people - you need to push your way into the train - and it seemed that the train will never be 70% full, even at off-peak hours! But no worries, should you not able to squeeze it, you wont be too late behind your schedule as the next train is just few minutes away * =) *

Beijing - Hutong

* Am getting tired trying to update about my Beijing trip - in which I had a great time but there is just too much to talk about. Am going to be very brief from this point onwards, more can be told from my pics in Multiply - or just treat me for coffee and a snack, I shall be more than happy to make you deaf with my stories of beijing * =P *

This is the area around the Forbidden City - which was what used to be housings for royal relatives and ministers - are now converted mostly into shopping area.

This place have shops open till night time, hence you can hangout here for shopping after work as well as eat eat. Really like this place as it is one of the places locals shop and eat, and it houses many interesting stores....

Streets lined with shops in rows... all restored old buildings - like the feel of how you feel like being pulled into the time before...

Cute - Beijing;'s smallest bar, and perhaps in the world? Really small, no kidding

We went to this shop name - believe it - " Pass by Bar" which is more like bar and restaurant for appetiser. This is "Kung-Po pizza"!!! We had had kung-po chicken quite commonly, but in the form of a pizza - a good try!

Before the appetiser, we caught sight of this small shop selling what appears like our local "lok-lok". The difference here is that those skewed food - instead of being cookied in boiling water, it is cooked in a spicy, herbal soup which tasted like our "bak kut teh" soup + black pepper * heehee *

How can we resist this when the weather is freezing cold? * LOL * Memang syiok - and sedap too!

Just for SP & WL - yes, got sell "spare-parts" here too...

We then went to this place for our main course - which is famouse for their steamed fish cooked in their special sauce.

Yeah, the fish was seriously very fresh, and apparently it is from a famous fishing place quite far away from there - in which the emperors used to enjoy eating.

FYI - the noodle like pasta is horrible - hard and tasteless.

Many Thanks to our Beijing colleague, YL for her generous hospitality!!!

Valentine with Special Doc

Totally unexpected that I will be out on Valentine's day. Being single * still! ughh... * on V-day will prompt us singles to steer clear of public places * =) *

One special sweet soul, whom is very dear to my heart, took the plunge to spare me few hours of his limited day off and on this very day for a date - my pet-bro who is finally back from Russia * its like forever you know * =P *

My dearest Pet-bro Adz. He is now Dr. Adz * heehee * Yeah, not easy to keep a 12-year relationship * and many more to go! * though we might not be in constant touch during our years apart, but its comforting to know that we can chatter away non-stop with no awkwardness when we eventually meet * =) *

We have all those silly chats and promises we made when we were young - sometimes in classes and mostly, during our long, boring, hot hours on duty as a First-Aider back then. Yes, Dr Adz, we will still have to work hard to earn & save enough $$$ to run the book cafe we envisioned * wink wink * And for him to marry me as 2nd wife should I am 45 and still single * LOL *

You may ask why - but we share this passion to ICE-CREAMS!!! Hence it is only natural that we have sessions, well, at ice-cream parlors * =P * We decided to try the HaagenDaz fondue since our last date, so finally...

Looked cute and yummy!

With fruits, cakes and cookies as well.

The disappointment was the ice-cream balls fall apart when you poke them.

However, it looked pretty, and like how they have partitions on the fondue bowl.

Sweetie him got me a lil present too! Thanks muchies! * huggies huggies *

What even sweeter is that he got me what I am passionate on too - Pandas! * LOL * Can add to my collection!

Thanks, bro, for remembering and the effort! Very much appreciate!

As promised, my Panda Family * so far! * =P *

And again, thanks. We MUST take more pics during our next session - I looked like a horrific giant next to him!!! * F!@#$%^&*() * LOL *

Beijing - Olympics & National Aquatics

Mana boleh miss the Olympics stadium when I am in Beijing * =P *

It being our 1st place of visit right ofter touchdown, braving the cold we went over to have a look at the olympics site. The area is huge and of course, impressive architectures.

The National Aquatics - cute how they designed the wall to look like bubbles... One have to pay an entrance fee top get in - in which we did not.

The infamous bird nest. It is seriously impressive, and yes, kena bayar kalau nak masuk tengok - in which we did not again * =P * and it needs a long walk from the car park, and we were running agaist time, hence the forgo

I was fascinated with this police car on duty. The funny thing is, the police thought I wanted to take pic of the car and they actually CAME OUT FROM THE CAR * LOL * I was trying to tell them that I want a pic of them IN THE CAR, but was too afraid they will behead me so I just leave it * =P *

Cute street lamps...

Rows and rows after rows of portable toilets - we were told that there were more of these during the games...

Hotel to accomodate for the olympics. Such cool building, which apparently is now empty after the olympics...

Beijing - Zoo

I finally made it! I get to see a real, live panda! * muahahaha! *

Was telling my colleagues, that I dont want to leave China until I see a real panda, and CM kindly accompanied me to Beijing zoo on a Saturday morning * thanks CM! *

We had a hell of a time travelling via the subway, as it was SUPER crowded. We naively believed that we can get to the zoo via the subway, mana tau the line to beijing zoo was STILL IN CONSTRUCTION! * pengsan * Anyway, it was a good mistake too, as we get to see more things along the journey. We ended up taking the subway to the nearest possible station from the zoo and took a pedicab. Not too bad actually as it was just a 5mins pedicab journey hence we took a walk back to the station after the zoo, in which we get to look, eat and buy some local stuff - as in REALLY local as the area is considered like suburban area.

The queue to buy admission tickets to the zoo was chaotic as there are no proper queue lines. Admission fee was cheap, but the catch is that for every animal kingdom you wanna go, you have to buy an additional ticket. For example, to see panda, you have to buy additional panda park ticket, to see tigers, a different ticket, etc...


The Zoo is a beautiful place, spacious and very clean. Luscious with trees and very Chinese parks oriented - theme.

The chaotic queues to buy admission tickets

As we did not have much time, hence we only went to Panda park and some nearby parks. The zoo is huge actually.

The outdoor Panda area. The pandas are out sunning and of course, munching away...

Lazy panda... cute!

There's an exhibition centre open for the olympics, dedicated to pandas. Here have more info about the pandas as well as them as an icon for the event representing China.

I like this section, where they have heavy sacks indicationg the weight of panda at various stages of age. You can try lift one up to feel for yourself how heavy a panda weighs - if you can lift it up at all * =P *

This sexy back belongs to a panda in the indoor captivity - the older one before the new one built for the olympics. This cutie - like others - were snoozing and were leaning against the glass wall.

Panda gift shop!!! Panda-mania! Not expensive too...

This way to Pandas!

How can I not wear my Panda hat to visit my fellow pandas? * heehee *

Am very happy with my Panda meeting, the only disappointment is that their fur wasnt as white as I imagined them to be - hey, bathe them more! * =P *

And leave the zoo with a Pandie! * wink wink *