"Work on your Chinese Visa for the CS Asia Capital Face to Face and CCF/FAA Roadshow Training" that was Chui Lin, my manager. "Be ready to be in Shanghai on WW29". Cool! I will be able to visit one of intriguing countries for me since I was child. I have always been fascinated by the traditional Chinese houses, dresses and foods (yummy!) Here's the chance to see what I have just heard or read in the past about China and Chinese people in general.
The Golden buddha in the restaurant where we had teambuilding dinner
July 10, I was prompted by my husband to wake up following the alarm from my cellphone. Hmm.. it was 3:30 in the morning. My flight was at 8:00am but I need to be in the airport at least 2 hrs before the flight and we also live about 1.5 hr drive to the airport.
My flight to Hongkong was okay but my connecting flight to China was delayed for 2 hrs. When I finally arrived in Shanghai, I was flashing the Chinese name of the hotel where I have made the reservation to the taxi driver when there was this man who got my suitcase and prompted me to follow him. I thought he was a good samaritan helping me with my heavy load. He was walking so fast and I had a hard time following him. He led me to a taxi at the carpark under a building just opposite the airport. He talked to the driver in Chinese after putting my suitcase at the back of the car and then he left. I was starting to feel nervous that time. The driver seemed friendly enough and kept on chatting with me with his limited English vocabulary. I asked him how much it would cost me to the hotel and he said we will use the meter. I thought it was okay.
China's unique architectures
We were already in the highway when suddenly the man who accompanied me to the taxi showed up and rode with us. I felt that something was wrong. He sat in front with the driver and used his handphone. I just prayed that everything will be okay. When I spotted the facade of my hotel, I wondered why they did not park in the hotel entrance and instead stopped in the next street.
I had this gutfeel that they are going to trick me. True enough, when I looked at the meter, it was showing RMB450.00. What!?X%&* Earlier on my manager briefed me that the normal rate is only RMB150.00. Indeed! crooked people are everywhere.
With my friend Chern chern from Malaysia
This made my first trip to China really unforgettable. It's a good thing that I never tend to generalize people. I have good Chinese friends who upon hearing my sad experience sort of made up for me. I had a pretty hectic night life for the whole week. Shopping, or eating or just looking around....
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