“I’m back in China!” ran through my mind as I boarded the plane in Shanghai, leaving for Harbin. Looking around at the massive amount of people with familiar yet strange features and loud voices which resounded through the plane, oblivious to the fact that they may qualify as public nuisances.

“Ah! Yes! This is China!” I am not being mean here and neither do I have anything against this country. What I am relating are facts and first hand experience and impression I have. Although what I had described are not on the positive side, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have good impression of this country. My short internship period in Beijing and travelling around the country have brought me to know many interesting and warm people who are kind to me. Just like most countries, there are people who establishes the fine reputation of a nation and there are many who tarnishes it.

Anyway, back to my story.

The first day of the Harbin trip started with a 0055 flight from my beloved Singapore to Shanghai. I’m unsure whether China Eastern’s planes have smaller seat size or it’s been too long since I last took a plane, but it was despairingly uncomfortable for me. Especially for the leg space. And considering I am a VERY short person for my age and gender, I think it must be much more terrible for others. Coupled with the haunting from my second failure to attain a driving license, I had a bad night on the plane. To make things worse, I was constantly awoken to be served with drinks and food.

Let me sidetrack to my driving test. I knew that I was doomed just a couple of minutes into the test as I mounted the kerb while trying to turn out from the damn crank course. Nevertheless, I was led to complete the whole test. At the end, the tester commented that if it wasn’t for the mounting of the kerb, I would have passed as the rest of it was alright. It was depressing to hear that you missed the mark by a teeny weeny bit. If only, you had been more careful and cautious! So I coaxed myself with the help of Isaac that it’s alright and I can just try again. But what really caused me to be on the verge of collapse was the announcement by the counter lady that the next available test date is in early March. The 4th or the 5th. This meant that I had to take my test at the new woodlands centre and re-learn my parking as from 1st March onwards, parking has to be tested without the aid of poles. This also implied that I missed the last of February test dates by just a bit! Tests in February are still conducted with poles and at the Yio Chu Kang centre.  Come to think of it, these weren’t such a great deal. But somehow, they appeared to be a traumatizing great deal to me at that moment and I still feel “gei” about it now and then. Why do I miss both the passing of the test and staying with the current test conditions by a bit? Why? Why? Why?

Poor Isaac had to continuously coaxed me when his own birthday is just the very next day and yet, I would already be on my way to Harbin. I felt really bad towards him, now that I’ve calmed down. He kept talking, coaxing, and encouraging me but I ignored him at certain points and said hurtful stuff because I was so very mad with myself and the whole plight that I am in. I shall stop whining about my driving test now. The more I whine, the more dispirited I am.

Anyway, it was really cold at the Shanghai airport without the polyester thermal wear. I wondered whether the difference will be great between cotton and polyester thermal wear. I don’t think Shanghai’s temperature went under zero and it was already friggin’ cold. I’m really not looking forward to Harbin’s winter where the temperature goes to twenty plus below zero. It appeared that the guide warned us of the slippery pavements in Harbin as bits of ice formed on top of them.

Upon reaching Harbin, it was already three plus in the afternoon and after getting us to this winter wear shop to equip us better for the winter and earn some commission for themselves, we were brought to this tropical themed restaurant for dinner. Most of us didn’t find the greenery, parrots and sea lions fascinating, although the local tour guide said that to most of them (the locals), it is really rare to see such greenery in their cold cold winter. The food was surprisingly good and I wonder whether it will be the first best as well as the last best meal of the tour.

amor,esperanza y fe 6:55 PM.

“I’m back in China!” ran through my mind as I boarded the plane in Shanghai, leaving for Harbin. Looking around at the massive amount of people with familiar yet strange features and loud voices which resounded through the plane, oblivious to the fact that they may qualify as public nuisances.

“Ah! Yes! This is China!” I am not being mean here and neither do I have anything against this country. What I am relating are facts and first hand experience and impression I have. Although what I had described are not on the positive side, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have good impression of this country. My short internship period in Beijing and travelling around the country have brought me to know many interesting and warm people who are kind to me. Just like most countries, there are people who establishes the fine reputation of a nation and there are many who tarnishes it.

Anyway, back to my story.

The first day of the Harbin trip started with a 0055 flight from my beloved Singapore to Shanghai. I’m unsure whether China Eastern’s planes have smaller seat size or it’s been too long since I last took a plane, but it was despairingly uncomfortable for me. Especially for the leg space. And considering I am a VERY short person for my age and gender, I think it must be much more terrible for others. Coupled with the haunting from my second failure to attain a driving license, I had a bad night on the plane. To make things worse, I was constantly awoken to be served with drinks and food.

Let me sidetrack to my driving test. I knew that I was doomed just a couple of minutes into the test as I mounted the kerb while trying to turn out from the damn crank course. Nevertheless, I was led to complete the whole test. At the end, the tester commented that if it wasn’t for the mounting of the kerb, I would have passed as the rest of it was alright. It was depressing to hear that you missed the mark by a teeny weeny bit. If only, you had been more careful and cautious! So I coaxed myself with the help of Isaac that it’s alright and I can just try again. But what really caused me to be on the verge of collapse was the announcement by the counter lady that the next available test date is in early March. The 4th or the 5th. This meant that I had to take my test at the new woodlands centre and re-learn my parking as from 1st March onwards, parking has to be tested without the aid of poles. This also implied that I missed the last of February test dates by just a bit! Tests in February are still conducted with poles and at the Yio Chu Kang centre.  Come to think of it, these weren’t such a great deal. But somehow, they appeared to be a traumatizing great deal to me at that moment and I still feel “gei” about it now and then. Why do I miss both the passing of the test and staying with the current test conditions by a bit? Why? Why? Why?

Poor Isaac had to continuously coaxed me when his own birthday is just the very next day and yet, I would already be on my way to Harbin. I felt really bad towards him, now that I’ve calmed down. He kept talking, coaxing, and encouraging me but I ignored him at certain points and said hurtful stuff because I was so very mad with myself and the whole plight that I am in. I shall stop whining about my driving test now. The more I whine, the more dispirited I am.

Anyway, it was really cold at the Shanghai airport without the polyester thermal wear. I wondered whether the difference will be great between cotton and polyester thermal wear. I don’t think Shanghai’s temperature went under zero and it was already friggin’ cold. I’m really not looking forward to Harbin’s winter where the temperature goes to twenty plus below zero. It appeared that the guide warned us of the slippery pavements in Harbin as bits of ice formed on top of them.

Upon reaching Harbin, it was already three plus in the afternoon and after getting us to this winter wear shop to equip us better for the winter and earn some commission for themselves, we were brought to this tropical themed restaurant for dinner. Most of us didn’t find the greenery, parrots and sea lions fascinating, although the local tour guide said that to most of them (the locals), it is really rare to see such greenery in their cold cold winter. The food was surprisingly good and I wonder whether it will be the first best as well as the last best meal of the tour.