Weekend in GuangZhou 2013

Last Friday Night, before the clock strike 1730, I packed my stuff and took the bus to Changi Terminal 2 from my workplace. It was a canton fair trip which initiated by Wilson Tsen. Both of us, Teo and I agreed to join him this Canton Fair.

We met up together at airport, had a quick dinner Macdonalds, I had the samurai burger and we then embarked the plane heading to Guang Zhou. We started to discuss about things which had happened to us for the past years in Singapore. From work, women, family commitment, friends and a gossip. We also mentioned about our similarity as we are both Cancerian, which I think really helped a lot in our conversations. 

The flight was about 4 hours, and we took off around 1020pm. Despite being very tired, I was unable to sleep well on the plane. It was a budget flight, so there will be no meal for this trip. 

We managed to talked a little bit on the plane but Teo decided to rest for awhile as our trip shall be rather intense. 

By the time we reached Guang Zhou Bai Yun new airport, it was about 220am. Most of the shops over there are closed and there were little people around. If I am not mistaken, we were the last flight touching down that airport. 

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Both of us do not have any check-in luggage, and therefore we walked straight into the arrival hall. Upon exiting the hall, we were immediately approached by a few locals and they offered to bring us to our hotel in Tian Ho. Of course, at a tourist rate. RMB350. 

With all the research done by Jenny, I am aware that the normal price is around RMB140. So we hackled all the way and finally managed to get the driver agreed with RMB 140. Although it was rather a disaster to bargain with Chinese. Especially when we are all tourist, but it was all worth it. 

Thinking back, it was rather exciting. 

Upon reaching our hotel, we checked in and went to our hotel room 1805. It was a rather new hotel and the room was clean. It was about RMB880 per night for the three of us. So each of us is about SGD70 per person per night. 

Very quickly, we settled ourselves. Teo was very considerate, he bought a few pair of ear plugs for us as he is afraid that his snoring would wake us up. Having said, I had good sleep. 

Day 2, we were rather disappointed with the hotel breakfast and we decided to have a Macdonalds breakfast, it was around RMB30 for a breakfast meal while we were waiting for Ricky, Teo's HK friend and also Wilson. Both of them are travelling to GZ from HK. 

Upon checking in, 5 of us, including ricky's girlfriend went to the Canton Fair via the MRT. 

Upon reaching the canton fair, we registered and entered, although Wilson had some difficulties registering, but it was sorted out with the help of their polite assistant on desk. I must say, looking at the size of the fair, the fair was rather empty. From hindsight, it was the least visitors ever recorded. I guess our gloomy economy climate has an effect on the fair. 

3 of us walked for hours and hours, share our thoughts, jokes and catch up. It was really amazing to synchronising our thoughts, and things we see during the canton fair. It is like 3 little sea turtle looking for opportunity together in the sea. 

After hours of walked, we decided to sit down for a quick meal, we continue our talk, women, world economy, friends and bla bla bla. The place we had our meal was like our Singapore Food Court, just that their food is rather oily. Must be the cold weather. 

After our lunch, we decided to continue our fair, the fair ends at 6pm. We then walked to the nearest MRT station and head towards GZ City. Upon exiting the mrt station, we can see the magnificent night view of GZ. They got sky scrappers all over the place. I was humbled by the progress GZ has made, I think KL is like 50 years behind GZ now. This might not be the case, just my own two cent. I guess Wilson shared the same thoughts too. We were very angry at our government together for one moment. 

After our awesome dinner, which was recommended by Jenny's friend in GZ. We went straight back to our hotel and then to a nearby massage parlour. The massage session was about 153 per person, according to Wilson, it was the best massage he had ever tried. 

We had massage for about an hour and went back to hotel to sleep. 

On our next day which is also our last day in GZ, we decided to skip breakfast and went to Shang Xia Jiu Bu Street for breakfast, we went to a place for yum cha. It was authentic Chinese Dim Sum, it was nicely decorated and they serve proper Chinese Tea. They got several class even for just one flavour of tea. It was a rather enjoying experience to be able to dine with the locals and absorb some of their culture.

After our dimsum, we went to tour around the old city of GZ, and had tea at a Starbucks nearby. Two drinks cost us about RMB66. I still remember there is this report saying the profit margin in China is the highest for Starbucks, which could fetch about 39 %.

After our quick dinner at food republic at the nearby shopping mall in GZ east train station, the main train station for Wilson and Ricky to go back Hong Kong, they boarded the train around 830, and we went for a quick shopping to buy some souvenirs.

We then went to GZ baiyun airport, checked in and prepare to board our flight back to singapore around 220am.

We reached singapore around 620am and that marks the end of our GZ trip.

 It was amazing.

Thank you Wilson for inviting me,  Seah Hean to book the air tickets, covered some of our daily expenses and Jenny done all the research on where to eat, booked the hotel, taxi, packed my luggage and changed RMB for me, Ricky gave me a free ride in Guang Zhou.

I must say it was an awesome and memorable one. Looking forward for another one soon.