Day 14: 19 July--Return to Singapore

Woke up abt 9:30am today to do a final packing as we'll be returning back to S'pore. Our plan was to leave the hotel at abt 1:30pm. Aft packing, went down to the lobby to check-out and met the rest of a final lunch, which they insist on having with the S'poreans & Japanese since both sides were leaving tt day. Lunch was Szechun Cuisine and there were some amazing dishes like the cucumber soup with tofu, made wholely using gridded cucumber. It's a v refreshing taste and v unique. Love it! 1st time had pure veg soup. Lunch took longer than planned and aft tt we went back to the hotel to claim our luggages. Got the hotel staff to call in 2 cabs for us--1 for the S'pore side and the other for the Japanese. As we were in different terminals, we had to say our gd-bye at the hotel lobby. Anw, it was quite a rush to the airport. We ended up leaving the hotel only at 2+pm, which really scared me, as I wasn't sure if there'll be traffic jam along the way to the airport. Shanghai traffic jam can really be bad and it cld take hrs. And our flight was at 4:35pm which means we gotta be there at least by 2:35pm. But at 2:15pm we were still waiting for our cabs to arrive. Boy! The cab journey to the airport was rather long, as Fudan is really far fr the airport. The whole cab ride took us abt 45mins, thkfully we reached abt 3:15pm. At the airport check-in counter, it was another scare. The entire check-in queue was SOOOOO LONG! Thk god there was another shorter queue for those who had alr done their online check-in, so by 3:30pm, we were done with checking in and getting the boarding pass. Now I love the SQ groundcrew in Shanghai airport, they don't care abt luggage weight at all. Gd for me cos my luggages were way overweight. Anw, lugging thr my overweight 9kg handcarry to the boarding gate was no joke also. Juz walking a mere distance with it kills my shoulder. By the time I reached the plane, i was aching. Anw anw, since we had some time to spare b4 going to the boarding gate, we bummed ard at the airport bkshop 1st, which i bought 2 classical CDs from there. Then it was off to catch our flight home!

Plane landed earlier but however, the 3 of us were the last to come out. Cos we went to DFS cosmetics/perfumes and also to buy alcohol. By the time we went to collect our luggage, we saw tt the airport officers had alr "dumped" our luggages out fr the conveyor belt. I landed at 9:40pm but walked thr the arrival gate only at 10:40pm, which mum had to sms me so many times to ask why am i still not out. Anw, it was really great to be on S'pore grounds. Nice to be home. But at tt moment, some part of me still missed Shanghai and the company of friends which we made there. Stepping foot on S'pore ground signalled the end of this wonderful holiday. All that's to keep are photos and memories now:D

Aeriel view fr the plane

At the boarding gate in Shanghai

Last pic at the hotel lobby

Final Lunch together with those who've not went home

Cucumber Soup with Tofu

Day 13: 18 July--Farewell Dinner & Xintiandi

As I've completed my essay to be submitted to Fudan by today's dinnertime, I venture out to Qipu Lu with some others who were also done writing for some shopping. Tt place really is wad like the locals said, a wholesale place. It's not exactly like a mkt, cos the shop concept was tt all the shops are located in 1 building. The locals called it the wholesale place cos according to them, many items there are selling at wholesale price. But to me, it doesn't seem to be so. Most shop's prices are quite equivalent to those in the shopping centre. But I was quite surprised fr the shop's selling concept..they don't allow customers to try on the clothes as they claimed that the prices are alr at wholesale pr, v cheap. If wanna try, u gotta buy the clothes 1st, bring to the public toilet and try one. If don't like or not fitting, the shop can exchange it for sth else. But as I wasn't sure abt the trustworthiness on the shopkeeper's words, I insisted on trying 1st in the shop b4 i made any purchase. Aft much haggling with them, the shopkeeper relented and allowed me to try. But as all shops in Qipu Lu don't have a fitting room, I had to try on clothes in a store room. Worst, for stalls tt don't have a store room, they juz raised a cloth and hold it there for me while I tried on the clothes. My god!! It's really quite an experience!

Just aft 2hrs of shopping, all of us were tired and decided to head back early to our hotel to rest as we needa to dress up for 2nite's farewell dinner, hosted by Fudan. For me, instd of sleeping, I did some packing up as I knew I wouldn't have much time left to pack at night since I planned to be out clubbing/pubbing. By 6pm, all of us met at the lobby and went to the Deja Vu restaurant tog. The restaurant was so posh, tt was beyond our imagaination as we didn't expect Fudan to give us such lavish treats. Dinner was a 4-course Western set. Certificates were given out to us during dinner as well for the recognisation of our participation in this prog. Before dinner ended, we had some song and dances. Mostly songs actually..and I was sabo to sing for everyone. Actually, I dunno how the "rules" changed, it became fr the initial just 1 person to sing to having 1 person fr each cty to sing. As I don't know much songs given I'm alwys listening to classical or instrumental music, I'm quite glad tt 1 gal was having her 21st b'day tt day, hence, I cld sing her Happy B'day. Phew! Else it was so embarrassing when I've to go up and sing some "rubbish".

Dinner ended abt 10+pm and tt's when the partying begins. However, on the way back to our hotel, we heard news tt a typhoon will be hitting Shanghai tt evening. I was quite scared when I heard tt news tt I begun sms-ing bros to check out the latest news for me. I was afraid of the lurking danger tt accompanied the typhoon. I'm juz scared tt if I go clubbing tt nite and if a typhoon really hit Shanghai, there bound to be chaos which makes it v dangerous. So I was in 2 minds--should I stay back in the hotel to party with the other 2 gps or go out clubbing with the last gp. I was so undecided tt I only made up my mind aft going back to the hotel to google the latest typhoon news. Partly, my fright was cos the sky tt nite was so red and thunderous plus we felt winds tt've never been so strong. But aft some reading, I decided to go out clubbing, aft assuring myself it shld be safe for tt nite.

We headed out at abt 12:30am, getting the lobby staff to call in 3 cabs for us to bring us to Xintiandi. We got the 3 cabbies to coordinate tog so tt all the cabs cld follow behind 1 another. We 1st went to a club tt was at the top of a shopping centre. N i really cldn't tolerate the noise up there. The music's SO LOUD tt I had to grab a tissue paper and stuff it into my ears. The most disturbing part was the lighting. I cldn't tolerate flashing lights in such darkness at club. Ok I know club are likett but at least I wasn't tt prepared for it to turn out tt way. Just aft 0.5hrs inside the club, 5 of us left, me with 4 other guys, while the 6 gals remained behind. Quite ironic actually, cos it shld be all the gals leaving. Anw, the 5 of us headed to a french pub for a quieter environment and had some drinks there till abt 3am then we headed back to Fudan. So by the time I bathe n packed, it was alr 4am!

Tt nite, it's quite an experience to see how Shanghai nite life is like. Apparently, it's mentioned tt Shanghai nite life is more lively than S'pore's but I think otherwise. Cos at abt 2am, the entire street which houses pubs wld have died down quite considerably. Only the clubs were the still functioning one. Hence, I tink actually S'pore nite life is much better.

Drinks at a French Pub Sights at Xintiandi (a pub/club area)
Waiting for our 3 cabs to coordinate All 40 of us!

Farewell Dinner @ Deja Vu:

4-course set dinner: Salad, Salmon & Mushroom Soup, Steak, Apricot Tarts My dinner table Getting our certificates

At the hotel lobby: At Qipu Lu:

Outside Qipu Lu

Xiaolongbao lunch

Day 12: 17 July--Yakult China & Century Ave

I was recharged today and my tireness were all erased fr yest's gd nite slp. However, I was still bored during lecture which was on the topic of World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Fudan got an external person who's incharge of the World Expo to do some introduction to us, but by the 1st hr, I was totally bored and cldn't wait for lunch time. Lunch was again different, we tried out Hunan Cuisine tt day. As usual, Kangyin, the fudan student will alwys do the ordering for us. The most queer dish was the sour yoghurt. It's really sour as the name suggest, sth which I wldn't try as given to me, I wld 've tot the yoghurt was spoilt. It was one of those final lunches tt we had w Kangyin and to express our graditude to him for taking care of us and bringing us ard to try the so many diff cuisines during our stay in Shanghai, we decided to give him a treat tt day.

We went back to sch aft lunch as there was a company visit to Yakult China. Wah, the location of Yakult is superbly far! We spent like 1hr+ on the bus juz to reach there. Journey was so long tt instd of chatting and fooling ard w the rest, I was dozing away. I realised tt as the trip began to draw to a close, my energy level was draining gradually. I only woke up when we reached the company. So it was an introduction to Yakult Company and they showed us ard the manufacturing process of Yakult. By abt 1.5hrs, we were done and it's another long journey back to Fudan. Quite annoying actually, cos we've to take such a long coach juz to get to the Yakult Company. But anw, it was slping time for me on the coach.

Upon reaching back Fudan, we arranged among ourselves to meet at the lobby again in 0.5hrs time so tt we cld venture out to Century Ave tt evening. We cabbed all the way to Yatai mrt--which was an underground "mkt" at the metro station. I held back my spending tt nite as the next day we'll be shopping at Qipu Lu. By far, I've knew tt Yatai mkt prices were rocket high hence was quite relunctant to let the shop keepers "slaughter" me. We shopped till abt 8pm when they closes and decided to get to Jade Garden for dinner. It's a resturant tt I found fr lonely planet and since it's recommended, we decided to give it a try though some of them commented tt it may be ex given tt it looked v posh fr the outside. Along the way while we walked thr Century Ave, it's was the most lovely evening tt I experienced. The nite was v calm and cool, plus it was full moon tt evening. Moreover, pple were flying kites tt were lighted up, hence fr far, it looks like "stars shinning brightly" in the dark sky. Every sight along the way was lovely. We cldn't find Jade Garden and were thkful when an elderly couple showed us the way. I was v grateful to them for walking us there..else it'll take us ages b4 we cld find the restaurant. Anw, despite the posh-looking exterior of the restaurant, we still went in aft browsing the menu. Yes the dishes were more ex than those other restaurants we had thus far. But given tt we were fr US, Aussie and S'pore, our currency are strong enof to let us order wad we wanted. We tried some very delicious dishes, and i esp love the Jade Garden Tea Smoked Duck. The duck meat had a smoky taste attached to it and aft swollowing, there's some tea aroma tt accompanies the final taste. V unique! Tt evening, dinner was taken in a v leisure and slow manner since we juz wanna enjoy our last few days in Shanghai.

Exterior of Jade Garden Restaurant
Gp Pic at Jade Garden

The dishes we ordered at Jade Garden: Fr Left to Right--Jade Garden Steamed Pork Bun, Brasied Cabbage with Vinegar & Chili, Taihu Whitebait Soup, Sauteed Noodles in Shanghai Style, Jade Garden Tea Smoked Duck, Panfried Sweet Rice Cake, Pineapple & Huts Pastries

Along Century Ave

Guys fooling ard in the room

Yakult Company:

Lunch--Hunan Cuisine:

Day 11: 16 July--Chinese Acrobatic Show

I've no idea why I'm so tired today, that I cld barely keep awake during the entire day. There were 2 lectures scheduled for today followed by a chinese acrobatic show in the evening at Shanghai Theatre, located downtown. I was so tired tt during the break from 3pm-6pm, i returned back to my room to sleep right aft my tailor delivered my suits back to me as I sent it for 2nd alternation. In fact, not only I was tired, some of us were also tired as well, and many skipped dinner. For me, I had a really quick dinner tt evening b4 the acrobatic show. Roy n his roommate cooked instant noodle w eggs for us. This was the 1st time I learnt how to cook instant noodle in a hotel room given tt we don't 've a proper pot. The guys used the electric kettle provided by the hotel to cook it. IT"S AMAZING! While they were cooking, I had to go downstairs to the restaurant to borrow some chopsticks and plates. All in all, we cooked and eat our noodles within 10mins b4 rushing down to the lobby to board the coach for the evening's acrobatic show.

During slippets of the live performance, I was dozing off. The cold aircon and the soft sofa seat, made it all the more comfortable for me to slp. I was really too tired to keep my eyes open for the entire 1.5hrs show. Aft the show, many of them planned for a full body massage which was quite near fr the theatre. I initally was so tempted to go, since it's only like S$40 for 2hrs massage with free flow of food n drinks. V cheap! and also I tink my body needs some massage given the past days of outings and walking. End up, my slp ruled over the massage and decided to head back to the hotel to slp instd. Anw, when many of them told Ms Wang tt they won't b following the coach back to Fudan, I tink she and the tour guide were really shocked. They both had the "how on earth these students noe where got massage" look on their face. Quite funny to see tt expression. Anw, I'm desperately in need of slp tt nite tt nothing else quite bothered me.

Day 10: 15 July--Shanghai Museum

This morning begun with a visit to Shanghai Museum. The bus journey there was really long, cos of the heavy traffic along the way. Fortunately, the tour guide was gd--she explained to us the sights during the journey, which made our ride more interesting. When we reached the museum, it was another waiting, cos we needa get ourselves cleared by customs. Yes customs, those that u see at the at the airport. We gotta get our bags scanned and ourselves too. The most sickening part was the security only allowed 1 bottle of water per person, and most of us had 2. So we had to either dump 1 bottle or finish it up. I chose the latter given the v hot weather outside and my belief that the museum toilet shld be clean. Yup going to the restroom in China other than those in tourist areas/hotels is a scare. It's so unclean! So anw, I gulpped down 1 full bottle of water at the checkpt, before I was allowed to enter the museum.

The museum is so big and it's culturally-riched. Just having 1.5hrs there is not enof, such that 1 gp insisted on staying back and returning back to Fudan by themselves, while the rest of us went back on the coach. Anw, the section tt I loved most was the part on currency. There was so much relevance to wad I've learnt in Macro 3 and I cld see myself building on the knowledged I've gleaned fr tt module. The nicest part was that a local student was w me and hence, he could explain to me every bit of the exhibit. I just love seeing those ancient coins and understand its gradual transformation to the modern coins today. Tt currency section was the longest time I spent while in the museum!

We headed back to Fudan ard noon and had lunch at a nearby restaurant. Thereaft, it was back to afternoon lecture. It was quite a tiring day tt day and as I didn't feel like venturing out too far fr sch, I juz decided to 've a nice dinner at wujiaochang area which was near sch and thereaft juz 've a walk. I asked the local student to bring us for sth diff for dinner, which he did--at Dong Bei Ren, which serves Dong Bei Cuisine. There i had my 1st try of bone marrow. For Dong Bei Cuisine, they usually don't 've rice as their staple but instd have malt-wheat porridge. Pretty interesting. Aft dinner, we went for a walk at Wal-Mart to get some juices and grocery and back to the hotel thereaft. So it was another early nite for us tt day.

Sucking the bone marrowDong Bei Cuisine (North-East part of China) Inside Dong Bei Ren restaurant Ms Wang & I Shanghai Museum