Day 37 (8-4-2009) - Paper Cutting

As the day that we finally get home draws near, the weather gets hotter and hotter. Today was the first time in Wuchang that I perspired while walking at a normal speed. It seems as though Wuhan’s spring has only lasted 5 weeks, and it has turned to summer already.

Meanwhile, on our side of the story, we started the day off with Chinese Paper Cutting, which was rather fun. The point of it all was to cut out Chinese characters from pieces of paper and the one that we were all thought how to do was the word “happiness”. You can do all sorts of characters but I reckon that they have to be symmetrical, and your art and craft skills have to be better than mine.

So after that we had another industrial visit. This time, we visited an online education company. A brief question and answer session was all that was needed to cap off the whole trip. Once again, I feel we should have visited an industry more closely related to our course.

Day 36 (7-4-2009) - Preferences

Today was just another normal day as far as I’m concerned; Maths in the morning to noon, and free time from then onwards.

It seemed especially normal to me since I did not go out for a steamboat dinner with the rest, for 2 reasons. Firstly, I do not have the amount of money left to be spending on expensive meals (they said it turned out to be 25 bucks). Secondly, my favourite show was airing at 9pm on Discovery Channel. This would be my last time watching it so I did not want to miss it. (The rest would only come back at 2am, much to my surprise).

Actually there was one more reason; I had something better to do.

Well, enough of that; I kind of don’t feel good right now since I just sat through 2 hours of mild horror, as Manchester United drew 2 – 2 with FC Porto. Their performance was just mediocre and I fear that their loss of form will affect them all the way until the end of the season. Right now, I’m just hoping for the best (and cursing the last goal that Porto scored).

Day 35 (6-4-2009) - Great weather

Enter the last week of our stay here in China.

It seems as if every time we come back from a trip, the weather here in Wuhan changes. Thankfully, this time, it’s for the better. From weather that always rained down on us and made us feel cold, today’s weather is actually rather hot. I must say, being in hot weather makes me feel like I’m at home.

But I’m also aware that it’s raining a lot in Singapore these days (at least in certain parts). Flash floods in Chai Chee and mini “twisters” in Tampines; Singapore seems to be experiencing some rough weather.

We took advantage of the great weather today to walk around and do some shopping.

In other news, I am very satisfied with the 85 marks I got for the Common Test. But immediately after that, I had no idea on how to do Quiz 4. Looks like I’m going to have to work extra hard for Quiz 5. (Which is unlikely to happen).

I took some time out to walk around campus alone in the evening. I think Huazhong Normal University is a great place to live in, for reasons that can’t be put to words.

Day 34 (5-4-2009) - Lu Mountain

Today is the day we “conquer” the Lu Mountain, otherwise known as Lu San. I seriously thought that we would be trekking for the most part of our way to the top, but what happened was we only had to walk a short distance, and then take the cable car all the way to one of the highest points of the mountain.

Since many of the days leading up to today were rainy, I was slightly concerned about the idea of taking a cable car up the mountain, when the suggestion was first mentioned. The weather had been so pathetic, that it seemed like a miracle that the sun was actually up and shining. Today’s weather was wonderful.

I’m not a person who is that afraid of heights. But when I was in the middle of the cable car ride up the mountain, I must admit, I was rather nervous; nervous enough to be gripping my seat as tightly as I can and looking down on the floor of the cable car.

It is in many ways different from the cable car I’ve ridden in Singapore. In Singapore, the height at which the cable cars hang at is no higher than Mt Faber, which is actually a hill. This one here is a genuine mountain. As it gets higher, it also gets windier and the car rocked. I did not like that part. And well, in Singapore, the cars are fully enclosed. Here, the cable car does not have window panes so it has an open air feel to the ride. In some ways it made the ride that much exciting. In others, it made it almost unbearable.

I had to give myself some time before I could sit properly, and fully enjoy the scenery displayed all around us from such a massive height.

The best thing that happened today was probably halfway through our ride to the top, when a certain song played on the loudspeaker radio. It was “Take Me To Your Heart”, the exact song we practiced and performed for Cultural Exchange Night, just a few days ago. I think this song has become some sort of a theme song for our trip and hearing it during the ride certainly helped calm me down and made the ride much more meaningful. I sang (screamed) along to it and I’m sure I was not the only one doing so.

Visiting Lu San (along with the Three Gorges) has provided us with a firsthand view of the natural beauty that China has. From gorges and cliffs to mountains and waterfalls, I have experienced much more than what I had expected, and much more than what I would have, if I had stayed at home.

start of the trail

cable car!!

streams

that lead to waterfalls...

end of the ride...

and end of the journey.

Day 33 (4-4-2009) - Hot Spring

Today I had one of the most relaxing days of my life, simply because we visited the hot spring.

Our impression of the hot spring was a natural one, among rocks and boulders, like what you always see on “Japan Hour”. After all, we were on the way to the Lu Mountain. Who would have known it would be a high class one, with VIP-style service all the way. I have never felt as important as a guest as I did just now, at the hot spring.

The place comprised of not one, but many mini hot springs, and you have the luxury of dipping into each and every one of them. There were so many types of hot spring that I forgot what were the names of the ones that I tried but one, which was Aloe. Aloe or not, all of them helped us relax and refresh.

Even better were the Jacuzzis which provided many ways for the water current to “massage” your body. Despite the wonderful hot springs, Jacuzzis, slides and saunas that we tried, the thing most worthy of mention was probably the service that they provided us.

I can’t help but emphasize this simply because it was the best kind of treatment I have ever received in my life. Since it was drizzling, they escorted us under an umbrella whenever possible. They also led us the way to where we wanted to go despite the distance between the two points. When you take off your slippers and enter the water, they rearrange it for you in a manner just so it will be more convenient for you to wear them back, after you are done. They provide you with a brand new towel when they see that you are not walking around with one. And needless to say, they did everything with a sincere smile.

So after all the VIP treatment that we got, we were keen to know what was in store for us next. We were sent to the hotel that we would be spending a night in. It might be because my standards are low, but the room I stayed in on this night was once more, the best in my whole life. It must be twice as big as the room I live in, at Wuhan. The toilet is clean and stylish, the bed is big, and I’ve got a Las Vegas look outside my window.

I can get used to this.

waiting for our locker keys at the hot springs

my keys bear resemblance to my name

enjoying awhile at the lounge after 1 and a half hours of hot spring-ing



like i said, i can get used to this