Day 42 tuesday 13 april 09

Today will be my final day in Wuhan. I woke up at 9 am and went to hua lou li shopping mall with Jia fu and Jian wen as we have some more spare cash left. We took a tram there; I and Jia fu bought our final t-shirt there. The shop owner told us that she will MISS US..... I guess she will definitely miss our cash....haha.

Good bye to my apartment....

After that we went back to our apartment as we need to check out by 11 am. I carry my stuff and place it in the living room. The apartment was like my second home after staying there for 40 plus days. Looking at my room one last time, I will miss my room. I check the apartment see if I have left anything behind (guess only memories). Then we board the bus, the guys help to load and unload the luggage. It took us about one plus hours to get to Wuhan airport.

All ready to leave.....

From Wuhan airport, we took a plane to Guang Zhou airport. At Guang Zhou airport we have to get our luggage and check it again. We took a plane again from Guang Zhou airport to Singapore, around 4 hours. On the plane, I chat with my mates for the last time before the plane land in Singapore. Time really past so fast.

I am coming back....singapore!

My last dinner before the plane reach singapore

When the plane reached Singapore, everyone was so excited and happy. We clap our hands and cheer; I guess all of us miss our family, food and friends here. Once I get down the plane, I went to collect my luggage. I saw my dad and mum waiting for me, I was really happy to see them! Finally I can get back to my home and sleep in my comfort zone once again.

Day 41 monday 13 april 09

Today will be the second last day in Wuhan and we will fly back to Singapore tomorrow. In the morning, me and a few class mates went to look for the caretaker auntie to interview her (for our IS project). The auntie was really kind and friendly, she really took care of us for the past 40 days.

Nice caretaker auntie!!! Thanks!!

Some questions we asked her were, some of the culture in china and some student life. From what she told us, I found that in china, during Chinese New Year, they have one week of holiday compared to Singapore we have only 3 days. And found out from her that in the university, students were not allowed to wear slippers and shorts to school for lesson. But in Ngee Ann plenty students wear slippers and shorts to school.

I also found out that, in the university, many students come from all parts of china. So it is not easy for them to travel back to their home town, they can only travel back home during school holidays, for those who are rich, they can afford to go home 2 to 3 time each year. I am sure if I were them I will definitely home sick. I felt really fortunate studying in Singapore because I don’t have to go through that.

In the afternoon, we had a closing ceremony for our trip in Wuhan. It was our graduation day! (Organised by the Wuhan institute of technology) When we enter the room, I was surprise, it was a big meeting room and it looks really formal. Then the principal, local lecturer gave their speech, on our side, we have Mr wee and Jia fu who gave their speech. Jia fu speech was long, but was really meaningful. Before the closing ceremony ends, we were presented a certificate by the Wuhan institute of technology for the 42 days of exchange programme there. After that, we took photos with local students and lecturers.

Finally, we made it through the 42 days!!!

In the evening (5.30pm), me and the rest of the cee guys went to have our dinner at the tepanyaki restaurant. The boss was really nice; the meal was on her bill as she knows that we are going to fly back to Singapore the next day. The dinner was one of the best meals I had in my Wuhan; we had baby lobster, fish, beef, noodles and many more. After eating at tepanyaki restaurant we took a cab down to Chicony shopping mall to have another meal as Mr wee is treating everyone including a few local students. When we reached there, we didn’t really eat much as we were all very full. We apologized to Mr wee because he is treating us but yet we did not eat much.

Mr wee really odered alot of food for us!!!

After dinner, I took a bus with my class mates back to apartment. Once we reached our apartment, we were all busy packing our stuff as we will be leaving the next day.

Day 40 sunday 12 april 09

I woke up in the afternoon, we wanted to go to hua luo li shopping mall. We took a tram there as we were lazy to walk and it cost us 1 yuan per person. We went there for our lunch and to do our final shopping at hua lou li before we leave on Tuesday.

For lunch, I ate a plate of curry chicken fried rice and a cup of fruit juice. At hua lou li, I bought a pair of jean (80yuan) and a polo shirt (70 yuan), cost me 150 yuan, the sales person service was goods, they will always say ‘’you can put it on and try, it’s okay if you don’t buy’’. I wanted to buy a handbag for my mum but the handbag there don’t suits my mum.

When we leave the place back to our apartment, it was raining outside and we had to take the tram back once again. I stayed at home to do my blog and chat with friends online until evening. For dinner, some of my friends went to Carrefour to have their meal. (Due to rain, we don’t want to go so far) Kiafu and I went to the campus fast food restaurant to have our dinner.

At night, we intend to interview the local student there, but they went out so we unable to reached them. I decided to interview the caretaker auntie the next day. Before I went to bed, I packed some of my stuff into my lugguage and tidy my room as we will be leaving in two days time.

After tidying my room.....

Day 39 saturday 11 april 09

Woke up really late today. We plan to go to Si men kou and then to Han kou once again. There were 13 of us, some took the “ illegal’ bus which is cheaper and the other group took the taxi. We reached Si men kou around afternoon, the weather was not good (raining).

We went to eat at the oyster stall for the very last time as we will be leaving on Tuesday. After lunch, we shop around there once again. I wanted to buy a pair of shoe there initially. But the shop owner was seriously suck, she pass me a pair of size 41 shoe, and I was unable to wear, so I told her I need a pair of size 42. I guess she don’t have stock, so she went in and find a size 42 sticker to stick over the size 41 and show it to me and told me that shoe was size 42. She tried to con me, but I was not that stupid.

We left Si mei kou at around 3 plus pm. We took a taxi there and it cost us 28 yuan for 4 people to get to Han kou. It was still raining. By the time we gathered everyone at Hankou, it was around 4 plus reaching 5pm. We went there for egg tarts again and went to shop at sports shop (Xtep). I bought t-shirt for my sister and a polo shirt for my dad.

We actually plan to leave the place by 8 pm and go to other place for dinner. But our plan failed. The girls still wanted to shop at Si mei Kou, so we had no choice but to join them. I went to a shop (metalbone) and bought two dry fit shirts for myself. For dinner, we ate curry chicken culet rice at a fast food restaurant called Dicos (food was average).

After dinner, we took a taxi back from han kou to our apartment cost about 50 plus yuan.

Day 38 friday 10 april 09

Today we are going on a tour to four places, the yellow crane tower (Huáng Hè Lóu), beach in wuhan, zoo and pass by the piano concert hall.

The first place we went was the yellow crane tower. From the tour guide, I learnt that Yellow Crane Tower is considered one of the four great towers of china. In its modern version it has the appearance of an ancient tower but is built of modern materials and includes an elevator. Facing to the east on the hill, we can see a large temple bell; tourists can strike the bell (need to pay money). During the week-long celebration of China's National Day (October 1st), ethnic and court dances are demonstrated in the western yard. At the yellow crane tower, there were also poem written by famous Liba.

the yellow crane tower

The second place we went was the beach in wuhan. The weather was really humid. The tour guide told us about the legend of the Da Yu. Beside the beach, we can see a lot huge statues showing the legend of Da Yu. We took pictures with the statues there and leave the place quickly as the heat from sun was killing me.

The third place was the zoo. When I first get in to the zoo, it doesn’t looks like a zoo to me. It looks more like a garden or a park. From the entrance of the zoo gate, we have to walk 15minutes to see one animal. The first animal we saw was the monkey, there were many different species, and one that caught my eye was the golden monkey. As compared with Singapore zoo, I feel that the animals in the Wuhan zoo were really poor thing. All the animals there were kept in a cage and the space are so small. The animals in the zoo don’t look lively; I guess the animals don’t feel good being kept in a cage. Some unique animals that we don’t get to see in Singapore zoo are the white peacock and the panda. I took some pictures of them, but because of the fence, the picture doesn’t look good. We also went to look at the animal show in the zoo. Seriously, I felt that the show was not entertaining at all, I felt sorry for the animals as it was really very cruel. The zoo keeper made the tiger jump over fire ring, made the bear roller skate and spin fire, made the tiger ride on the horse back. After the show me and my classmates felt the same thing (is really cruel to make animals do all that).

White peacock


Panda!!!!


Poor thing




Tiger on horse back


bear on bicycle


tiger jump over fire ring

The fourth place we went was the piano concert hall; we did not get down the bus to look at the hall. The bus just bus by the piano concert hall and the tour guide explains to us on the bus. For dinner, we went to a shopping mall called Chicony. We went to a Japanese restaurant to eat. The food there was finger licking good. I ate a bowl of sushi, rice and many more, the dinner was really worth it.

The dinner was really worth it!!

After dinner we went to our neighbour house to celebrate Eileen’s birthday. I played the drums, kuan played guitar and everyone sang birthday song for her. I guess that will be one of her most memorable birthday. We really had a long and enjoyable day.....

Day 37 thursday 9 april 09

Today we are going to a few places to shop for stuff for family and friends. Our first destination was Si mei kou, We took a taxi there and reached there around 25 minutes. When we get there, the first thing was to fill our stomach. We went for our flavour oysters, noodles, beef meat balls and end off with a milk cone ice cream. After lunch, we went to shop around; I bought a few t-shirt for myself as the price was reasonable.

The second place we went was Han Kou. We went for our flavour egg tarts there before we start our shopping there. We went to the local sport shop to take a look. I bought a few dry fit t-shirt for my sister because she loves to play golf. I also bought a few for myself as you won’t be able to get good dry fit t-shirt so cheap in Singapore.

By 6pm, we took a taxi back to Carrefour to meet the rest of my classmates for dinner; we went to a restaurant with Moa Ze dou theme. When I first get in, the place doesn’t really look like a restaurant, it looks more like those coffee shop standard. When I tried the food, then I realised why the place was so crowded. Although the place looks very normal, but the food there was delicious, the fatty pork was so nice when you eat with the rice.

After dinner, we took a bus back to the apartment, but for the girls, they continued their shopping......

Miss the beef meat balls in si mei kou.......



seriously, the meat is fat!! but yet so NICE

Day 36 wednesday 8 april 09

I woke up really late today (12 pm) because this week we don’t have to attend lesson anymore. I ate some bread for breakfast and we took a taxi to Chincony shopping mall (3pm) to shop. Lizhen brought us to the culture street to take a look.

The place was not very big, but the street was filled with many stalls. Most of the stalls sell ladies wear and perfume. I was not interested in anything there, so Jianwen accompanied me to a stall that sells Japanese food to have some sushi.

We waited for a few hours there for girls to finish their shopping. Most of them bought perfume and clothes. At night, we decided to eat something not that expensive; we went to the food court to have our dinner. I ordered a bowl of porridge cost 25 yuan. The porridge contains baby crab and prawn.