Trip to China (8 Sept 2007 to 16 Sept 2007)

Prelude

Actually China is the last Asian place I would ever think of visiting if given a choice, among all other interesting places that I can rather go. But given the opportunity to meet and travel with my sis and others, I have no reason not to go.

A trip to remember

If there is one thing most enjoyable about this recent trip which I am back from, it must be the company that I went along with. Yeah. Its my dearest mother, lovely sis and cheeky cousin brother. This is the first rare opportunity that 4 of us can come together to travel together. My cousin even changes his reservist dates to make available for this trip. During the trip, 4 of us shared alot of funny and interesting conversations back in our hostel dorm at night. Oh ya staying together in a 4 person dorm is definitely the main highlight. My sis shared with us alot of her stories and encounters from her past 3 mths of travelling through HK, Korea, Beijing and Inner Mongolia. I really get to understand my sis better from this trip. Her thoughts, sentiments, point of views on various things that she has seen and felt. I guess it is through such a trip that creates various chances of communication between us that has brought us closer which we otherwise will not in the comfort of our home. My sis is leaving again for US in a few days time to meet her bf over at Minesota. I guess my distant relationship with her is going to restart once again.

The backpacking nature of this trip adds spices to the journey. Alot of uncertainties and trial and error. Disappointments, frustrations, tiredness and surprises along the way. But my sis loves to take charge so she was the one who oversee most of the things. I also witness how she manages to 'argue' with the ticket counter staff with seemingly good usage of Chinese to win our rights in passing an entrance gate. Like what my mum commented, my sis has indeed 'hardened her wings', we don't have to worry for her anymore. She is free to fly on her own. Indeed.

The People

If there is anything not worth mentioning about this trip, its the disgraceful and uncivilised behaviour of the Chinese people. They love to spit anywhere on the ground. They have bad customer service attitude. They cut queues without battling an eyelid. They knock into you without saying an apology. Never will I want to associate myself as a Chinese as I am proud to identify myself as a Singaporean Chinese. But I guess the behaviour of people usually progress slower than the socio-economic aspect of the nation. We have to understand the transitional phases that the nation has gone through in order to make sense of the citizens' behaviour.

Regrets

Anyway, I dismay with the fact that I have very limited knowledge of the rich cultural history of China to be able to appreciate the beauty of the historical sites that we have visited, unlike my mother who is very well versed with the stories and characters that we have come across. Good for her.

Will perhaps post some photos in my next few posts. Taken some videos as well but very lack of memory space. But I find it very fun to take videos. Shall fine tune my videotaping skills in my future travel trips.

Ciao for now.