blues..

blues..
::every cloud has a silver lining:: @ ::天無絕人之路 ~:~ 明天會更好:: @ ::tiān wú jué rén zhīlù ~:~ míngtiān huì gènghǎo:: @ ::天無絕人之路 ~:~ 明天會更好:: @ ::tiān wú jué rén zhīlù ~:~ míngtiān huì gènghǎo:: @ ::every cloud has a silver lining::

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Aug 5, 2014

இ First time flying..

Heard quite a lot of the good, bad & ugly of this popular 'Everyone Can..' airline. Finally Bananaz's very first time on board an 'AAX' flight for a 5 days due diligence trip. The last and my best holiday trip was Egypt, a couple of years ago. So far so good nothing much to complain about this no-frills aircraft. ETD/ETA was on time, no hiccups, a pleasant journey all the way to Pudong, Shanghai. Please do not have high expectation of picturesque views or food as they are not in my area.



Shanghai Pudong International Airport



Great choice of Kempinski Hotel in Suzhou for the Convention.



Yunyansi Pagoda *云岩寺塔* also called Tiger Hill Pagoda by the locals of Jinchang District and ranked #5 of 304 attractions in Suzhou by tripadvisor. Built in the year 959A.D. and was completed in Song Dynasty 961A.D. It is a seven-storey brick building designed in wood structure with a height of 47.7 meters, which is also the earliest octagon-shaped pagoda now known to be extant. It leans towards north east with a lean of 3.59 degrees. In 1961, this landmark in the Suzhou section of the Grand Canal was enlisted as a major cultural heritage protect at the national Level. 


No prize for guessing the name of the trees (know the pixz is too small). Missed out on one pixz of a huge 390 year old gingko biloba tree as Bananaz was too engrossed with the technical details surrounding the tree than the whole tree itself. Try to see if the fruits or leaves below could give you some clues...

...its ginkgo fruits 


Mango posing in front of the Suzhou train station en route to Shanghai. The wordings are made from some nice fine grown grasses, in Mandarin it says 'Suzhou Welcomes You' *Suzhou huān yíng nǐ*.

The famous must eat 'little dragon pao' when in Shanghai. Kinda tough to suck the hot steamy juice using a straw will need lots of special skill. Try sucking a cuppa of hot coffee/tea with a straw to assimilate the burning effect?


This is the driver seat of all taxis in Shanghai which are all fully protected for safety reasons. Impossible to stab or gag the driver from behind.


Cute little 'silent' electric motor bikes.


Very common to see these dragon-turtle in City God Temple of Shanghai. Sorry no idea on the names of the two cute animals on the left and right of the elephants


o.O a huge Chinese abacus hanging on top of the ceiling in 'City God Temple of Shanghai' *上海城隍廟 Cheng Huang Miao*, a good tip from blogger Rurousha to look up for nice stuff above eye level when entering temple. Abacus is closely associated with counting and also a popular feng shui cure for wealth. The abacus has an upper deck with two beads (5 units per bead) on each rod and the lower deck with five beads (1 unit per bead). Based on the placement of the beads it shows the number  9736720123568. Any experts in numerology to decode the numbers? Bananaz googled and discovered the 13 numbers are linked to Daoism and the answer is HERE.


These converted containers are looking good C&G *Cheap & Good* merely from RMB6 per night sleeping on double decker beds.   


The other side of Shanghai


Peddlers in action right at the front of the 'you know what' building along the famous Nanjing East Road. Opening offer price for a pair of clipped-on roller skates with lights at RMB80 but later rolled down to RMB50. When luck was not on her side its a final RMB50 for two pairs. Sure its final?  


If you have not visited The Bund they say you have not been to Shanghai. That's Mango at The Bund, by day & by night. The last trip to Shanghai was in the 90s we sort of  missed out The Bund or most likely Bananaz could suffer from an  early stage of STML *Short Term Memory Lost*.


The changing of lights and words intermittently. A pretty nice place to enjoy the evening and the walk. After Shanghai what's next?

73 Bunchesஇ:

ChrisAu said...

Shanghai is such a big city where I guess it took days for us to complete visiting the place. Seems like you have a lot of fun! And, great pixs! Thanks for sharing.

wenn said...

I haven't been to Shanghai. Just been to Beijing.

Tekkaus said...

I have yet to fly... *sob sob*

Tekkaus said...

I would love to visit Shanghai one day. :)

Princess Ribbon said...

Princess tak pernah pergi Shanghai, only Guangzhou..

suituapui said...

Why you went, never told me one? I would want to ikut! Hmmmm...China. Come to Sibu better lah! Quick, quick! Everyone can...

Small Kucing said...

bananaz...so li ah...can have a small small request moe? the font color make it darker a bit can ah...this kucing rabun leh

Small Kucing said...

gingko fruit look like that ah....paiseh ..never saw before..


aiyo everyone gone to shanghai before this kucing still not yet gone

lina said...

Wah!!! Bananaz went on a holiday!

How nice.

Nice report there. :)

Reanaclaire said...

I also want to say 'WAHHH.... BANANAZ CAN FLY!!!"
Yes, after hearing so much about crashing here and there, one have to think twice nowadays..
But worry not, when it want to happen, it will happen..
But one of my friends really will not go anywhere. she said it is much safer to stay still at home.. oh well...
So... any more pictures? Want to see more!! :)

[SK] said...

wah.. Bananaz and Mango secretly went on a holiday!! this time Shanghai, and looks like the Banana and Mango enjoyed the trip very much..

[SK] said...

so what is the name of that Buddhist Pagoda, the landmark of Suzhou?? Bananaz did not mention that at all??

nice photos and some of them reminds me of my trip to Shanghai in 2007.. hmmm, and that reminds me my wallet kena curi along Nanjing Road.. :(

[SK] said...

Bananaz went to Egypt before?? wow, that's interesting!! must blog about this place and share the photos with us after your Shanghai posts, okay??

Gemma Ann said...

Very interesting..You awaken my curiosity about the place..a potential holiday destination? *fingers crossed* Mango is lovely....

Somewhere in Singapore said...

I loves Xiao Long Bao!!!

Twilight Man said...

Wah! I will kena 4-D today to see your updated post!!!! You could see how excited your readers are today.

I love your photos! Mango is so elegant and pretty even in your blurry photo! I have eaten the Little Dragon Pau in Xian which was famed for its assorted sized from a 20 sen coin size up to a 12 inch diameter size!!! Crazy!!

rainfield61 said...

A flying banana.

A flying mango.

When can we find a flying durian?

Merryn said...

Over there they suck the juice from the siew loong pao like that? Panas giler oh! After makan, no more tongue. All burned...

Connie said...

Great pictures! I enjoyed seeing these.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

ChrisAu இ Yeah preety more to cover but we had a short stay in Shanghai only three days.

Wenn இ Shanghai more modern, Beijing got nicer old building & Great Wall to visit.

Tekkaus இ You will get there one day.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Princess Ribbon இ With the 'Everyone Can...' am sure you also can be there one day.

Suituapui இ Yakah? We got convention in Suzhou on biz, perhaps next time.

Small Kucing இ Soli text color think improved should be better to read now. Bananaz also first time see gingko trees & fruits. No paiseh one.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Lina இ That's reason Bananaz MIA for half a year being flying often haha

Reana Claire இ Que sera sera..time to go nothing can ever hold back haha. Soli short & also biz trip & also no better camera then.

SK இ Yeah remembered you got picked pocket then. tQ for high lighting, have updated your feedbacks etc already. Huh post on Egypt that was so long ago. Have not post other recent trips yet. Shall juggle my time may take a while then.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Angie இ tQ, Mango is always sweet haha. Nice place to visit go go go.

Somewhere In Singapore இ Agreed but not with using the straw.

TM இ Good good you kena 4D, Toto & Kuda so can buy us ho liao dinner, good luck. Time is the concern and honestly speaking Bananaz need plenty of time for an entry coz words don't come freely, always depend on inspiration. Oh tQ for your compliment on Mango pixz purposely make blur one or else might scare you with sharp pixz..lolz

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Rainfield61 இ Seeing a flying mushroom in your post haha.

Merryn இ The siew loong pao is nice but of course without using the straw.

Daisy இ Bananaz is interested in things not commonly or easily noticed by people. Sorry they are bit not sharp, blame it on the camera, bad carpenter blames his tools haha.

PH said...

I haven't been there before :( But who knows one day I will! I noted you like to refer to yourself in the third person. Ah! I see there is a mango in your life :)

eastcoastlife said...

I went to Shanghai once many years ago. I didn't get to see much of it because I lost my credit cards and had to seek help from the Singapore Embassy. :P

London Caller said...

I miss Suzhou!
I used to work there, you know :)
It's like my 4th or 5th "kampung".
No 1 Kampung still in Malaysia, of course.

Leovi said...

I love this wonderful airplane - banana, an adventure!

Happy walker said...

wow, 1st time flying, must be excited ah~

Regards,
(A Growing Teenager Diary)

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Phong Hong இ Sure one day you will be there. Sometimes would say I sometimes just Bananaz haha.

EastCoastLife இ Oh dear sorry to hear you had a terrible time in the Embassy. Hope no lost of money. Go again.

London Caller இ Whoa 4th or 5th kampung. Can walk the streets with eyes closed huh.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Leovi இ Shall need a bigger one to fly everyone.

Happy walker இ Yeah first experience on a no frills aircraft after hearing so much @#$%^& from friends and relatives. So much have changed over the years of being pampered with first & second tier airlines, from bookings of flight, check-in & on-flight service etc. Well just have to adapt to situation and flow with the tide.

mun said...

Looks like Mango and Banana enjoyed Shanghai a lot!

London Caller said...

Cannot lah, there got many lakes and canals, remember?
So must open both eyes and walk properly loh :)
Did you also go to Hangzhou?

kitchen flavours said...

I have not been to Shanghai, only to Beijing, and that was a decade ago.
Interesting way of sucking the hot bao! I'm curious what is in it.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

mun இ Yeah a happy and short stay

London Caller இ Nope no go Hangzhou. Only Suzhou & Shanghai. Not on a holiday trip but a due diligence biz trip.

kitchen flavours இ Its pork meat inside but the only special is the hot juice. There is another easier way to eat siew loong pao without the straw ie to place the pao in a spoon and take a small nibbling bite at the top thus making a hole then slowly suck in to enjoy the hot juice before eating the whole pao.

London Caller said...

Ha ha... I also worked there in Suzhou for a Singaporean firm.
Make time to go there next time.

HappySurfer said...

Woot! A slight detour from your usual theme but a good change, nevertheless. Looks like both you 'fruits' had a great time. :D

You know what, you may want to continue the trend of posting your other recent trips.

I haven't seen gingko nuts on trees, so thanks for sharing that and the others. Thanks for the tour.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

London Caller இ Lot of changes by now. Heard of the S'pore involvement in building the roads & infrastructure of the city from the local guide

HappySurfer இ Reason for the hiatus been eating wind then. Yeah you are not alone Bananaz also no got see the gingko nuts before plus the leaf. Next destination is coming up but will take some time busy again.

eastcoastlife said...

Fortunately I didn't lose my money. Yes, I plan to visit Shanghai again.
There are so much to see and do there.

foongpc said...

Wah! Went to Shanghai? The only place in China I have been is Guilin. LOL. Must make a trip to Shanghai soon :)

foongpc said...

Oh yes, just learnt about the abacus - not learn how to use, but learnt about its uses in feng shui :)

foongpc said...

After Shanghai, go Chengdu. To see the pandas, hahaha! :D

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

EastCoastLife இ Great that's good. Go ahead so much have changed.

foongpc இ Guilin is a nice place followed your post from A-Z. Abacus & fengshui go together. Chandu? haha will go one day.

Small Kucing said...

alo alo bananaz...how are you..two weeks no update blog leh

eastcoastlife said...

Bananaz still in Suzhou. Too many Suzhou beauties, can't bear to return home. muahahaha....

Yee Ling said...

It seems like the trip was a great one with lots of good food and sightseeing.

I have stayed in Kempinski Hotel, Frankfurt. Superb like the beautiful and cozy hotel with excellent service.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Small Meow Meow இ Sorry lah busy again with ghost month haha

EastCoastLife இ Yalor Suzhou mei ni not letting Bananaz go so easily haha

YeeLing இ Kempinski Hotel chain is wonderful

Libby said...

Same as Wenn, I had been to Beijing but not Shanghai, actually I would prefer Shanghai, more modern, thanks for visiting my blog and leaving comment.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Libby இ tQ for dropping by. Both places are nice, love the Great Wall

Lrong Lim said...

Sucking the juice from the little dragon paus? First time for me to see.... :-)

煒霖 said...

Hong Kong is the next?

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Lrong Lim இ Hard to suck too 'risky' of being burned haha.

小影 இ Nope sorry did not follow through to HKG though its so near yet so far.

rainfield61 said...

Busy in ghost month?

Creepy....

Yannie said...

Yannie was just coming back from Super Star Libra cruise. I highly recommended Bananaz and Mango to go for cruising. But then, must remember to take sea sick pills, Yannie's PIL were having bad motion sickness during the trip.

I heard from somewhere that Shanghai's Disneyland is opened in 2015. May be, Yannie and family will go Shanghai after 2015.

HappySurfer said...

Wei wei, happy 'friendly' weekend, Bananaz!

I don't get a headache from the haze but it makes may eyes 'smart'. Take care there..

TZ said...

Wow~ ShangHai looks so different from my last visit on 2007.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

rainfield61 இ sorry lagi busy lor

Yannie இ Must have lots of fun cruising. Yup will do will be interesting sailing.

HappySurfer இ Sure haze can make eyes 'smart'? haha

TZ இ Things there changed pretty fast compared to my last visit in the 90's. 2007 to 2014 also transformed as well.

Nux V said...

hi bananaz....am dropping by for the first time...
so u went to shanghai also? I went there in April this year...haha almost half year ago...but just recently blog about it..
btw, u mention "first time flying"? but u went to Egypt before...how u reach there without flying then?

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Nux V இ Hi tQ for dropping by. First time flying... the 'no frills' airline where heard lots of comments, complains etc hehe.

HappySurfer said...

Whoa, somebody won big wor, at SK's. Congratulations! Psst, surf over to see the comment I left for you.

Still "mm tet hun" for new post, is it?

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

HappySurfer இ Helor mm tet hun, worst still plus funeral in the family lagi sibuk. Will pop over SK's blog asap

HappySurfer said...

Oh dear. My condolences.

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

HapperSurfer இ 有心 *yǒuxīn* tQ

Small Kucing said...

banana oh banana...mana you hilang? ok ka?

Lee said...

Hi Bananaz, how you doing'? Just dropped by say hello. I've been MIA 1 year. Its too cold go fishing. I've returned.
Hoping this finds you well.
Lee.

Sunshine said...

lol nice trip :)
First thing I was wondering what was the blog name all about nd still I can't get it :p probably you love the complexity of the fruit :D
Nice to see you had a gr8 trip :) Hope I will b able to visit China and enjoy without knowing Chinese :)

HappySurfer said...

H U L L O..

Trust all's well. Still globe-trotting? :D

HappySurfer said...

Wei-wei, thank you for being such a great sport!

HappySurfer said...

Happy New Year, Bananaz! Best wishes..

Small Kucing said...

Happy New Year Bananaz and Mango :)

HappySurfer said...

Happy Friday, Bananaz!

Btw, new year boh new post meh? :D

HappySurfer said...

Hello hello! How are you, Bananaz? How is the new year treating you so far? Very GOAT I'm sure. :D

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and frolick awhile. I appreciate that very muchie.

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