Virgin Blog

Oh wow..this is my first message..
What can I say...
It's my second week in Wuhan and my second weekend.
And it's my first time in the sweltering Wuhan weather! Boy was it hot today! 34 degrees and barely any wind. Just yucky hot and humid. One would think that I would have gotten used to this kind of weather coming from KL and Singapore. But I think

Oh boy, I can see that I will indeed be having some wet fun in the coming weeks.

I went down to see Old Mao's summer palace (梅岭） today. It is EXTREMELY interesting. I paid RMB15 to tour a 70s building. I think they just took the entrance fee for fun. No need for maintenance! Or perhaps it is all for authenticity purposes...Nothing has been changed since the 1970s, even the carpets! I think they just put transparent plastic coverings over the shelves and the beds! I can envision old Mao sleeping there! However his wife had a separate bedroom. I saw Jiang Qing's room too! Very kitschy..
The toilets are even authentic looking. Very white and has mosaic tiles.
Due to the condition of the place, won't advise anyone other than diehards to visit! Nearly fainted from the muskiness of the place!
Architects....needed...to suggest how to best maintain place!

Old Mao swims and plays tennis....that would explain the presence of the tennis courts and the swimming pool!

Only managed to see Mao's Retreat No. 1. Sigh...
No. 2 has been turned into a hotel that is hediously expensive but doesn't look expensive. Very tacky renovations!
No. 3 is undergoing renovations to be turned into a coffee house and restaurant!

I think Old Mao will turn in his grave!

Oh, there is also a army training ground in the Old Mao's place. Saw stiff soldiers marching around and doing very unique arm actions. Stiff swinging actions...i wonder what that all means...Poor boys though. It was so damn hot today!

Going from Old Mao's summer palace to Dong Hu is another interesting matter!
No one knows how to give directions here! Even though I perfectly understand chinese!
Ended up going round and round the place and Dong Hu was in plain sight! I just can't get across the damn waters!
Notice how things are like that in life...in plain sight but can't get to it...

Finally got to this boulevard and walked and walked..until a cab came by! I was thanking my lucky stars!

Had to see Dong Hu as I have been told it rivals the all famous Xi Hu (西湖）.

Dong Hu (东湖）is another proposition....driver took me to the "most scenic spot" but I can't see anything far! The smog is so bad. How scenic can it get when I can't see!
Saw from near distance the replica of the Chu Palace. Somehow someone in the 90s decided to build a replica of the Chu Dynasty Palace on one of the hills in Dong Hu.
If it wasn't so Lego-like, i might be tempted to go look. But after my trip to Yellow Crane Pagoda (that's another story), i decided to give the Chu Palace a miss.

On the map, Dong Hu is supposed to stretch 33 Sq Kilometres! Thank god I didn't rent a bike! I would have died trying to cycle in this heat! I was seriously considering that until I realised I would have to ride a two person bike by myself! Nah....don't need to highlight to people I am alone, and not to mention how much more energy I would need...
And also the fact that cars, buses etc don't give a damn to cyclists and always aim to chase them off the road......
I hope to ride a bike around here but that will have to wait..I need to be braver...

I have however learnt how to get across to the other side of the road alone!
Yeah! I don't have to stay on one side all the time anymore! I can finally see what's on the other side!

Managed to see all two Yangzte Bridge today. The second yangzte bridge (第二长江桥）is a suspension bridge similar to the San Francisco Bridge. In the guide, it has been described as " A rainbow flying across, barrier becomes thoroughfare"! I really have no idea what that meant! It's quite a majestic bridge but I still prefer the original Yangtze bridge! That one has strange soldiers on both end...and people trying to look into the Yangtze in the smog!

Touting is legal here! Amazingly every place I have been so far, I have been innudanted with offers to give the gate/reception a miss and try to find another way to get in!
It was like that here in Dong Hu. However that involved getting into a small chinese row boat and be rowed by a old man....I am too scared and I don't REALLY like water!

Nearly became a victim of a pickpocket! This well-dressed man (the pickpockets all are!) had this strange steel clipper-like contraption that he was using to try to pry my wallet out my front right pocket when he was standing next to me. He nearly got it as the I felt the contraption on my wallet! Fortunately I was alert and I was carrying plastic bags just next to my right pocket when I noticed that there was something else in my pocket and a guy was standing real close to me. So I caught him at it. He still had the audacity to look and scream at me! I screamed right back at him telling him to scram..if not I will call the Gong An. Man, that was scary! I actually fought off a pickpocket! After that I didn't feel that safe anymore. I took out my wallet and carried it in my hand. I didn't stay long in the night market.

So it has indeed been an eye-opening and interesting experience so far! I like the quirks of this place! Don't like the dangers but I guess it has been a maturing experience!
Tomorrow will bring another experience.

Will be heading on a long (500km) train ride to Shi Yan (十堰） to visit client's old headquarters！ It has been described as a country town by the chinese clients' so I can finally experience China once again!
Hope they have toilet doors and flushing toilets! That's all I ask!

Adios for now mate...
Take care...