Very Precious Hours

Beijing 2010

87 hours of food fun feasting and fine wine.

Time flies too quickly when spent with loved ones, especially alcohol loving ones.

Shanghai 2010

61 hours of food fun feasting, fine wine and insomnia.

How I wish all this will not end.

Too little time too much to do.

I am glad we did everything slowly, at the pace we liked, no rush, no agenda. This is a holiday to be spent with friends. And I'm glad I did.

Uber Chic Urbn hotel - Lounge area at Downstaris with David Laris

Like spending a leisurely morning sweating it out in the hot room. Nothing beats the feeling when the 90 mins are over, esp when the experience is shared.

Like watching my first movie in a cinema in 2.5 yrs.

Like spending the whole afternoon staring out of La Strada over late lunch, spilling into tea time.

Like strolling the streets simply to enjoy the tree-lined avenues, and explore art enclaves.

And posing with Vitamin Water van.

Like waking up late to have brunch at Mr Willis and Element Fresh, enjoying wine at 11am in the morning.

Like hopping into Green Massage simply cos the weather was too hot ( Green is my fav massage place, really )

So many of these moments, so enjoyable.

The best part of it all - looking forward to each meal daily, knowing full well it will be a good one, cos its shared with wonderful people.

When can I have my next holiday?

Old Summer Palace

We visited this huge park which was razed to the grounds by the Allied Troops in the 1800s. In it were loads of empty barren lands where ornate buildings once stood, except for the marble park where nothing could be looted , for obvious reasons.

I was impressed with how modern and forward looking the Chinese were in their times. The gardens can rival that of Versailles in France and the English at Windsor. In fact it would still make a very impressive garden in any European country in this day and age.

I cannot remember if these were imported or made locally in their time. But they were beautiful.

The park was HUGE and we were COLD! See the frozen lake behind.

And the beautiful sunset we witnessed while trying to find our way out of the park. If the weather had been tropical, I'm sure it would feel like Chinese Garden in Jurong, no matter how nice the place.

One (Week) In Beijing - Part II

After a super-star send off for our dear friend from Shanghai, we decided to have a quiet dinner across the road before waiting for a new tour member to join our group. Pity he missed out the fun over the weekend.

Fried Spicy Ribs

Spicy wantons

Dan Dan Mian

Celery with squid

Potato and Eggplant mash

Braised carrot in claypot

Almost all the dishes were yummy! All we wanted was probably some noodles as we would be having supper at HuDa , but we couldn't resist ordering all the yummy looking stuff on the menu.

After dinner it was back to the apartment to wait for the the arrival of Mr R. Before midnight, he walked in.

And off to Hu Da again as welcoming ceremony.

All the dishes were numbingly spicy but yummy!! The only thing that could help was the tub of garlic fried rice above. Somehow HuDa has become an institution each time we needed supper. We must try to find another eating place the next time. Nothing wrong with the place though, service was prompt and friendly and the food decent as well.

After the late night supper all washed down with beer, it was back to snooze before embarking on my second great wall expedition.

This year we went to Mutianyu section - too built up for my liking. Of course it was not a challenge at all compared to Simatai. Personally I like the ruggedness and challenge of Simatai.

Mutianyu's challenge lay in the numerous steps along this secion of the wall.

Walking the wall in winter presents a different view

Peeping!

Took the toboggan slide down.

We took the route all the way to the right. Apparently a better view than the left.

After the trek, we had lunch. Possibly the worst lunch we had this trip. Bleah!

Sweet potato with salted egg - this was the best dish of the lot

Roasted local almonds - these were nice too

 Roasted spring water fish 虹鳟鱼 - this area is famed for this fish

same fish - braised

boiled fish soup - the worst fishy broth - couldn't stomach this no matter how cold the weather

Then we went to the Temple of Red Snail nearby. 红螺寺 It turned out to be a huge park - prepare to spend 3 hrs or more to explore the entire place. It contains quite a few places of interest and a climb of 800 steps to the top of the temple. The toboggan ride also is longer and faster than the one at Mutianyu. We reached the place at 330pm, quite a pity as we rushed through most of the attractions before sundown at 5pm. Didn't do the climb or the toboggan.

One (Week) in Beijing - Part I

It was to be another trip of drinking, partying and possibly sight seeing ( if we were still sober )  We came we ate we drank we partied, and found out that we were absolute madness. 一般疯子！It was a trip to be remembered , just like all the trips we had! Heh heh!!

Day 1

We arrived at the stroke of midnight, ushering in the start of a FUN FUN FUN week ahead. I guess in good tradition we all made our way to 胡大。Cheyannemummy and Adam, XMS and her gold medal manager were already raring to go from their apartment. Met up with my dear favourite friend from Shanghai, and his pal whose good name was to be dragged through mud at the end of the week. Oh ho ho!!

Had our lip-numbing super spicy 小龙虾 烤鱼 amongst other yummy stuff downed with 24 bottles of beer to start the day. How i wish this is how I can start my every day.

Dragged ourselves home all high and happy

Day 2

Had Dim Sum lunch at Park Hyatt's Private Room. BEAUTIFUL!

Each dining table was housed in a private room, hence the name, and came with lounge area,TV and the works. The bathroom was fun heh heh!

After lunch was a sight see tour to He Shen's house, also known as the 恭王府. We did the tour guide thing, which was quite interesting really.

We tried getting tea at 1949, but no seats, so we had coffee at Costa instead.

Dinner was at 三只耳 after a long trek in the freezing cold, brrrrrr.rrrrr.rrr.rrr. Dinner was very good, hot hot steamboat on a cold cold night. Yummy!

Shirley joined us for dinner, after which we went to Xiu for drinks.

First time at Xiu, nice place to see and be seen. Took a while to get seats, heck, I was even contented to try out the tent area. In fact all I wanted was to drink.

We finally got seats thanks to Adam's friend, and downed 2 bottles of Belvedere. It was fast and furious to say the least. We were rowdy, noisy, bodering on uncouth. Hahaha! We played 789, and targeted my love and W. Unfortunately the fengshui that night was not in favour of my love and XMS, both passed out. Some commotion also broke out between the pair of singles that were meant to pair up. So no go.

Upon opening the third Belvedere, we packed up and went off for part 2. Semi dragged XMS and my love to the cab. W tried to make a quick escape, but no he could not scoot off.

Went back to the apartment for part 2 which was more fierce than before. I like I like!! Hahah!! It was downing pure vodka in wine glasses, woa! So everyone got really high and happy!! There was a semi strip tease, an almost made it pole dance ( till the pole broke, that is - Sorry Aunty!! ) There was adam sweeping the floor, a human pole base, people rowing across the floor ( i dunno why ) and an entourage for XMS to the bathroom and people cheering when she didnt puke. All this happened while she and my love were fast asleep. Such a waste.

After a while, i think everyone slipped in and out of consciousness, drinking and making a completed idiot of themselves. How do I remember all this - all thanks to our camera crew of the night. It was hilarious, too X rated to be posted online. HO HO HO!!!

Day 3

I woke up not realising where I was, oh on the sofa in the living room. So I survived. And no one was able to make their way home that night. Perfect. We had succeeded.

W woke up and puked.  Potent! Poison! And so he went home. Old folks need rest.

And so we zombied our way to Muse for viet noodles to clear the system.

After Muse we went to Solana to see Yankee Candles. W brought them to China and is busying himself with the business for the time being. These are really good quality candles. You can read about them here.

After getting the candles we went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream - yes in this freezing cold. Founders Favourite, Cheesecake and Chocolate of course for my love. Somehow I like this better than the one in Spore - Cold Rock. Think the ice cream is creamier.

Too zombied to do anything else, we went to my love's place to rest, and for her to refresh herself before dinner. 

She of course had to plaster her bathroom door in case our evil minds wanted to take photos of her in the bath.

Dinner was at Dali Courtyard - a lovely hole in the wall place, so inconspicuous in the hutongs. 小经厂胡同 近鼓楼东大街

The interior was nice and cosy with courtyard which would be lovely in the summer. Food was good, no menu, eat what the chef cooks. And 14 courses for about 100 rmb each was good value for money. My favourite was the dessert, some Mo Mo thing.

All the men didnt take beer that night, erh! Terrible!

Day 4

We had lunch at Sureno - located inside the achingly hip boutique hotel - Opposite House. Very Hip, Very In.

There must have been something we were enthralled with......

And here's this year's glam rock PUNK superstar!!

After lunch we went to 1949 for tea. It was like an art gallery space for exhibits, both indoor and outdoor galleries. Like 798, but smaller in scale.

After tea and coffee, it was time to bid farewell till the next party again. Sob Sob!!