Shanghai Lawson

In my memory, it's not easy to find a proper 24Hr convenience store in China, most of those so call convenience store are actually local store selling cigarette & wine, very dark without air conditioning, with one local people sitting in the dark & smoking behind counter. You have to pay extra attention to what you want to buy is what you've got. 

I had this experience in Dalian before, I was tired after leaving the site, the sky had already dark; I was hungry and very cold on the street, I need to buy my distilled water before I got back to the hotel to have my dinner; so I rushed into a convenience store instead of a supermarket (not close to my area)......of course I failed, when I looked closer to the brand name in my room, it's something else, but the package was almost the same. This was due to my 3 mistakes = too rush, too lazy to find a supermarket and too concern to use a torch.


So, when I discovered "Lawson" in Shanghai, you can imagine how excited I was. Yes, I am sure it is a franchise operation from the original one in Japan, because when I walked in, the arrangement was quite the same; neat and tidy, with oden near entrance, magazine zone and quite a lot of mini size convenient product.

Did I buy anything? Yes, one 3in1 Nestle coffee pack. Anything else? No, because this store has adequate lighting, so I know what I want to buy is not what I've got, except the one and only one brand Nestle coffee.

Coffee diary 02

It's raining outside, quite heavy; I just finished my breakfast, and now, waiting for the rain to stop, with you - a cup of Japanese coffee brewed in Shanghai.

My friend told me that this is not a Japanese Cafe but a Taiwanese instead, I can't figure out, at least not at that moment; but never mind,I enjoy the timeless with you.

Sometimes I do have a strange feeling here, it looks like Hong Kong, I can find proper coffee shop, 24Hrs. convenience store or even Japanese curry shop; lots and lots of luxurious retail store and commercial center around, but at the end I still can clearly define that I am in China, may be the air is difference, the voice, the mood, or the colour of the city...I'm not sure.

This is the first day that I left behind after my job completed, a whole day to discover the city, starting from here, Shanghai in 2005 before the Expo, with a dash of human touch.

Prince Bear

Hello! I am Prince Bear, I used to live in my palace with my parents, but recently I move to live with some of my friends, you guys may know them, Hea hea :) If you wonder why? it's simple, just live as a normal citizen, that's what every prince or princess will dream of.

It's not as happy as what you think to be a prince, although you have so many servants to serve you, nothing actually needs to be worried about, especially in terms of materials. You can do what you want (in a boundary), play or sleep whenever you wish; every body obeys you...that's the problem, you see : YES man!

While we grow up, we need advice, lots and lots of advice; not only when facing choices or difficulties, even during heart breaking and lost. If every body around us only provide the best living with a sweet mouth, it's not the real life that we can face in the future, it's not true, I don't like this.

I need someone who can direct me with their experience, telling me what I did wrong before I hurt somebody that may never has a chance to remedy.I need friends as my guidance or telling me that I should wait for a bit longer, think deep before act. Here they are, TRUTH and be TRUE to me, that's what I want and love, there is nothing in the world worth to exchange with a true friendship. I've got four, how about you?

Sudden Escape

Hong Kong people do have a weird habit : Shopping. You may say, why? this is normal, most of the people like shopping, don't you? I treat this as a weird habit because it happens during our long vacation as the major event, even our original plan is to take a break from our hard work so as to enjoy a pleasant moment with our loves. It finally turns out as a busy shopping trip, which is quite common in Hong Kong's  family and bring back an even more tired body when return home.

In year 2006, while I was still busy in a project, but accidentally discovered that there would be 4 days clear from the schedule. An idea prompted up from my head: if I turned away from my computer now, gave a call to my travel agent, might be I could find two tickets to Phuket.


It happened within 24 hours from waiting list to step onto the plane, and here we were - a remote hotel in Phuket.

When I was sitting there, I still couldn't believe I had already left my office chair. I had no planning of what to do here, no schedule but only a sudden escape that I wanted. The sky in front of me was so blue, the air was still and peaceful, so tranquil; it took a few hours for me to settle my mind, to turn off my working machine, so relax!


I think sometimes we do need to have such kind of "sudden escape" as I call it, no itinerary. Do whatever the first thing that comes up to your mind when you wake up each morning; enjoy the simple fresh breakfast, free sun light and sea breeze, listen bird song every minute, covered by a light aroma of lovely flowers everywhere, learn the speech of tree in the wind......I am afraid my thought is having a "sudden escape" now......

Can we survive?

e

We all once dream to leave our parents, have a place of our own, a totally free and private area that we can enjoy our freedom.  

But when face of the reality, we can only gain a small space in high rent; we have to do our daily laundry, cleaning, maintenance, cooking...,etc, etc. All power goes to bundle of human issues, company politics, day and day traveling, leaving behind is an exhausted body sitting in our super mini apartment in front of our one and only one window.

What a difficult life? Is this what we want? 

Take a break, grab a cup of coffee and sit down, look around...I think, Yes! even this is not a luxury place, it is my tiny space that allow me to make my dream, to work hard for achieving my goal. I still can find a corner here to escape from hurt or sad......even it is not luxury.

Life may not be the same as those in fairy tale, but it is so real for us to experience...starting from our "dream corner".

Coffee diary 01

It's November? Or December? I can't figure out.

Where am I?...ah! Wuhan, alone again... with you. 

Where are all the peoples, are they preparing for the Christmas? Where are the joy? Can I join them to celebrate?

Yeah...there they are, when I look back from the departure gate. 

I feel sad because I will never be the one to enjoy Christmas there, at least not up to now.

I wish I could, some day. 

內地公幹101第二回 Business Trip in China 101 Chapter 2

事實上,愈來愈多人需要到內地公幹, 由一個發達國家去到一個經濟急速發展中的國家,所遇到的奇怪問題是無可估計的. 上回談了交通問題, 今次讓我跟你們說說旅店罷.


1) 如果要住所謂的五或六?星級酒店, 倒不如住一間中外合資的商務酒店比較穩當. 至少那個西式自助早餐是正常的.注意: 達標的自助早餐對一個商務旅人來說是十分重要的.


2) 如果打算在酒店內用膳,請第一時間查看每一間餐廳或飯店的營業時間.因為內地的用膳時間不一定連續,午間會休息. 所以常見午後烏燈黑火.


3) 酒店內的房間送餐服務也不一定是24小時, 有些約晚上11:00便會停止服務. 對於我們這些依賴房間送餐服務的小女子來說, 是很不方便的. 所以這是我每次入酒店房內第一樣必做的大事.


4) 自備咖啡,即使是三合一也好,除非你很喜愛淡而無味的雀巢三合一.幸運的話, 你會有一兩包本地名茶在桌上,不妨一試.


5) 千萬不要飲自來水,要不飲酒店贈送的樽裝水或自行往超市購買. 如果要沖咖啡, 更加要用樽裝水; 如果用自來水煲熱來沖, 保證你有"意想不到"的新感受.


6) 牙膏 - 切記自備.不是沒有提供, 而是那不肯定是否真是我們所認識的"牙膏" !


7) 我習慣在空調出口噴一點消毒噴霧,並會較大空調出風, 不論是冷或暖氣, 確保室內有大量流通空氣; 這樣較難受不潔的中央空調系統傳染.如果可以開點窗更好,但只限高層.


8) 如果要洗頭, 切記用護髮素; 沐浴後潤膚霜也不可缺,因為國內水質會使皮膚較乾.


9) 一般酒店是沒有潤膚霜提供的,即使有......還是自備好. 不然有錢也不容易買到, 因為在國內這仍然屬於奢侈品.


10) 房門的防盜鍊要全時間鎖上.


好! 暫且說到這裡.

Truly speaking, there are more and more people who need to stay in China for business, for people who lived in a developed country will face unimaginable things that may happen in a fast growing developing country like China. Last time we talked about traffic, lets have some tips in accommodation this time.


1) Instead of looking for a so called 5 or 6? stars hotel, you better find an international business hotel, (even owned or run by both local and foreign parties). Because you will have a guarantee of morning buffet breakfast in "real western style". For a business traveler, this is really important.


2) If you will most probably having your lunch/ dinner in hotel, make sure you've checked the operation hours of them once in your hotel room, which are listed in the booklet. Because in China, restaurant may not operate normally,  say from 0800 to 2000; they may close for several hours after certain period. If you are not in a proper time of lunch or dinner, no one can serve you; the chef may already go home for a nap. And that's why you will always discover some restaurant are totally dark but having door opens on the street, or even in a hotel.


3) If you are a person like me who depends on the hotel room service a lot, especially at late night; please check the delivery time as a must do item. Most of them will not operate in 24hrs, some only up to 2300.


4) Unless you are a fans of Nestle 3 in 1 coffee packs, bring your own. For those served in China's hotel is only a kind of "coffee look powder".If by chance you have some local Chinese tea bag, on the contrary, you can have a try, sometimes they are bonus to your trip.


5) Never drink directly from the tap, drink the bottle water provided by the hotel with sealed or buy from the supermarket. If you need boiling water, boil those from the bottle water, especially for your coffee; or otherwise, it's for sure you will have an unforgetable experience to your "new taste" of coffee. Trust me - I've did some test before.

6) Bring your own toothpaste. Yes, the hotel will normally provide a mini size for you, but you will not be sure whether it is really "toothpaste" according to your knowledge after you've taste it.


7)  I have a habbit every time when I arrive my room - to spray disinfectant onto the air grill, then turn lower of the thermostat no matter it is operating in cold or warm air.Just to make sure there is enough air circulation to reduce the chance of being affected by the poor centralised air conditioning system. It will be better too to open a bit of window if possible, but only for staying in high levels for security issue.


8) & 9)  Remember to bring along and use with your hair conditioner and body lotion after wash, because the water type in China is special which result in dry skin. Don't assume you can easily buy body lotion in China, it is still a luxuary product and is difficult to find even you are willing to pay a lot more. You may find some hotel do provide them......I will still suggest......better use your own unless you have thorough read the ingredience or you are familiar with the brand.


10) Always hook on your safety door chain whenever you are in your room.


O.K. lets finish up to here and talk next time. Have a Good trip !