Reunion

well... almost. Not every family members came for the trip. Remember... it's Chinese New Year Eve, the traditional night when the whole family come together for a reunion dinner. I guess we had reunion supper instead.

Fire Crackers

At this time of the year, I wished I'm China Chinese. Fire crackers are banned in Malaysia.

Kung Fu

They start them young.

The Children

My Big Brother

No, no, no... I don't mean the gangster "Big Bro". He IS my big bro, as in the blood-related one, same father, same mother, you know.

Mom & Daughter

Daoist Temple of Mystery III

A lady enjoying her bing tanghulu. And honestly, not much of a mystery at the Temple of Mystery, just ordinary folks enjoying life with their loved ones.

Daoist Temple of Mystery II

Well... what can I say, it's Chinese New Year.

Daoist Temple of Mystery

Located right in the middle of the street is this temple. It has a very huge courtyard and it's a place of leisure for the locals to spend time with their family.

Suzhou (Day 2)

After lunch in Shanghai, we moved on to the next city, Suzhou. A quaint old city where the ancient buildings within the city are preserved (it's illegal to tear these buildings down) and new modern architectures are in the outskirt of the city (it's also illegal to build modern buildings in the city).

Upon arrival, the first place we were brought to is their main shopping street, Guanqian St a.k.a. high street in UK. I like this street better than the one in Shanghai where it was overflowing with tourist. Here, I can see the real Chinese doing their last minute new year shopping. It's Chinese New Year eve, by the way.

But...

*Piture courtesy of KYSham... my brother

Some things are better left out in the cold, and that's how the locals keep their beer chilled.

p.s. Best beer I had throughout the trip and I think I tried at least 10 different local brew. I realised that their beer are on the lighter side as compared to the commercially available beer in Malaysia.

It's Winter!

It was freezing cold and it's a nightmare if you're left outside in the cold.

All In A Day's Life

My Aunt - Pastor Joanne

... showing you the proper way of eating tanghulu. Love her!

Chinese Lollipop

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_hu_lu) says:

"Tanghulu also called bīng tánghúlú is a popular traditional winter snack in northern China, especially in Beijing, and particularly for children. It consists of candied fruits on bamboo skewers that are approximately 20cm long. This snack can be found widely along the snack street of Wangfujing but there are street vendors who travel from place to place selling it.

Tanghulu typically has a hardened sugar coating that comes from dipping the skewer in sugar syrup, but versions can also be found with a second chocolate coating, or sprinkles. The fruits used are traditionally Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida, called shānzhā, 山楂 in Chinese) but in recent times vendors have also used strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, kiwifruit, or grapes, resembling a fruit kebab."

The one I had IS the original/traditional tanghulu, which to some is better known as "bing tanghulu".

This Is How You Eat It!

First, you suck with a straw.

Second, you dig the flesh out with a pair of chopsticks.

Finally, you tilt the bowl till all soup/juice is emptied from the dumpling.

Food @ Town God's Temple

Yummy, but nonetheless pricey.

Town God's Temple III

I thought I just mentioned it's CHINESE NEW YEAR?!??

Town God's Temple II

It's Chinese New Year.

Town God's Temple

Everything here is overpriced! It's crazy. Reminds me of a Bible passage where Jesus overturned the tables of peddlars while rebuking them saying,

"My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have
made it 'a den of thieves'" - Mark 11:17

It's just a thought! This place WAS a temple long time ago but have since become a tourist attraction and hence, the overpricing of goods sold here.

CNY Shanghai Trip (Finally)

Ya, ya... I know. Long overdue. I was not in the mood, okay? Haha... anyway...

Reached Shanghai on 25 January 2009 at 1 a.m.!! By the time I checked-in to the hotel and get ready for bed, it was 3 a.m.! Four hours later, I'm officially China's national treasure a.k.a. the panda. My dark circles are charcoal black... just kidding.

But... hey! Hello Shanghai! First stop for the day was a really tourist-ie place - Town God's Temple. Yes, I know, what a name. They have a hilarous way of translating Chinese to English in every literal sense.