I'm Back

Still alive and kicking too! :-p

Was in China for a week and just got back this week. Went there for our annual family trip.

Original plan was for Steve to join us for at least three or four days but they end up having their board meeting on the day of our scheduled departure...:-(

Anyway, I was once again impressed by China at the same time sad. Impressed because of their super fast growth and improvement...sad because Philippines is waaay behind now. There's just no way for us to catch up to China's growth! And to think that we were like the 2nd richest country in Asia after Japan before Marcos' regime! This is the reason why ADB setup a headquarter here. Sad huh?

Ok, kinda got sidetracked there. Back to our China trip...1st day was in Xiamen. Xiamen is a province, but gee, I won't be surprised if by next year they'd be as advanced as Manila or maybe they're already more advanced than Manila. But no, I wouldn't want to live in Xiamen, at least not yet.

2nd day was off to Ningbo, it's once again a province and yet they're airport is nicer than our NAIA Terminal 1 already! And to think that just last year, it's almost like our domestic airport.

Rest of the stay is in Shanghai. I'm glad it's just the family in the tour group so we get to choose which places we want to skip. I was almost dreading the tour too because for almost three years, we always go to the same places...Shanghai's TV Tower, The Bund, Yu Garden, River Cruise.

So, the places that we visited this year are:

Jingmao Tower or the Grand Hyatt, tallest building in China. Their observation deck is on the 88th floor, so go figure.

Shanghai Zoo for the panda...a malnourished, dirty and lazy panda. Cute though...all he did was eat and sleep...and he eats on his back or tummy! Have a video clip, will upload it on multiply.

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, a super super nice aquarium! Got dizzy afterwards though, the glasses used are so thick I feel like everything around me is spinning!

Hmmm...where else did we go? Can't remember anymore, hahaha. Ah, the People's Square, where it doesn't feel like you're in China.

Bummed out though because Shangyang Market is not around anymore. There's another similar concept in Pudong but we didn't get to go there...so shopping was limited.

Our hotel is on Nanjing Road so it's a nice location. And no, didn't get to shop to my heart's delight. Saw the nice shops on our last day already. So we asked the tour guide to drop us off on West Nanjing hoping that we can do some last minute shopping...but it was quite late already, we only have an hour left before closing time.

My good buys? An Arden B. bag from Hot Wind. A Converse Chucks from one of the stores near the subway station and knick knacks.

Didn't get to enjoy the trip that much because I was missing Steve. Wish he was with us.

The rest of my family and relatives went to Beijing. Didn't go with them anymore because I have to come back to my hubhub. :-p So now I'm back and starting on my wifely duties again...which is for another entry. :-)