Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Bisikan Nurani

Lautan kematian ombak
Tenang pantai tiada terusik
Begitulah tasik hatiku
Sejak kehadiranmu

Betapa aku hargai
Anugerah syurga di dunia
Doa kudus aku panjatkan
Semoga dirahmati

Telahpun ku syukuri
Di dalam hidup ini
Cinta suci kurniaan Ilahi

Kejernihan wajahmu
Sempurna pada pandanganku
Kau kirana
Keturunan terpilih
Disanjung serta dihormati
Kau permata
Kesederhanaanmu
Mengecap kekayaan dunia
Kau mestika
Ketaqwaan dirimu
Itu yang merantai jiwaku

Bukan aku memuji
Apalagi memuja
Salahkahku kagumi… perhiasan duniawi

Bisikan nuraniku
Engkaulah pilihanku
Akanku pertahankan
Amanah suci ini

Thursday, November 29, 2007

The vicissitudes of V-Dann's daily life (Uncensored): Homecoming 2

Filippo Brunelleschi

Florence's Attractions

New Look

Ahh, what a refreshing make-over of my pet blog. Been over three years and pushing to the fourth year soon. The colors, predominantly blue contours, goes easy with the eyes for reading comfort. The heading of this blog seemed much more organised, finished with a picture of me, in Athens (Greece), then followed by a brief introduction of what Braindumpster is all about.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Homecoming 2

Good news, I will be visiting home country again in December. This time HF will be coming with me. If I manage to drag her icy cold feet far enough, we'll be there till Jan 2, 2008. She'll be meeting my parents and family members for the first time, thus the cold numb feet.

This Time Last Year
...we were behaving like two lunatics running ecstatically and randomly on the streets in Florence (Italy) with a camera wielded in our hands snapping at everything we see. Being silly as we can get was perhaps about the only way to show that we were truly enjoying ourselves -- especially HF. If memory serves the better of me, I doubt we have not mimicked every statues and sculptures that we come across. While I tried not to be a HF's joy-killer, I couldn't help but to feel a little empty as I look at the sculptures. And obviously enough, that sculpture looked back at me, probably probing the million dollar question, "What do you know about me?"
"I have absolutely no clue, David! I just know 'that' (imagining pointing at 'that') is puny because all you need is just a leave to acquit you from public indecency."

We didn't have the luxury of time and money, and perhaps above all, knowledge as to spark a genuine interest to visit the museums. At the very least, I know HF doesn't have any. Time was spent exploring the city of Florence. We stumbled upon a street stretched over a bridge (Ponte Vecchio & Arno River) where jewelers ruled the streets. If it was night time, I bet the glitters from every hundreds of jeweler stores would be bright enough to illuminate the sidewalks of that street! Suddenly, HF was paralyzed torso down & neck up. Stuck at Ponte Vecchio, Italy's oldest and longest surviving stone bridge, it was also the longest agonizing moments I had to go through with HF who at the time seem to be hypnotized and enchanted by the glittering colors of gold, silver, and diamonds. She tried to convinced me that she was not the only one, and indeed, she was not the only one with torso and mental paralysis by acute golden sort of rays. Did I look surprise? I masked it, but I did enjoy myself nevertheless -- observing the behaviors of the paralysis captivating them by these jewelries. I wish to return to this place when I could afford a jewelry or two for my beloved one.

I, however, do have my fair share of paralysis too. But of magnificent structures and pizzas! We arrived at Florence's duomo megastructure -- Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore -- designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. It is an astounding structure and a landmark. Being there reminded me not only can we achieve great things in life, but also the impossible. I recalled the documentary I watched on discovery channel about Esref Armagan, a blind painter, who was right here on an experiment test to prove that he could draw Brunelleschi's dome with perspective. He was born blind. He passed the test. All he did was a couple of touches on Brunelleschi's six-sided dome structure. Sat down and began drawing. It was mind-boggling.

For larger size, click hereFilippo Brunelleschi's Basillica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereFilippo Brunelleschi's Basillica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereGolden sculptured panels of biblical stories (I think) on an entrance gate.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereHf and I before the 'wallpapered' duomoPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereInside the duomo, the artworks of painters, sculptors, stonemasonry, etc were all out of the ordinary. Awesome! Just have to be there to absorb my statements.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereThe Trompe-l'œil of Niccolò da Tolentino, the famed condottiero.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereEnchanted! Beyond-words beautiful frescos -- the interiors of the duomo.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click here...a closer look Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereWhile these ceiling frescos are not decorated with gold leafs and/or paints as did the doumo of Marco Polo in Venice, they are still as impressive!

At the end of our trip, I had to readjust the position of my head-neck to be forward looking. There were just too many to see. The ones in Sistine Chapel had the better of my neck! But it was fun!Posted by Picasa



When I first saw Duomo Fiore, it was late evening and we were looking for our hotel. The exterior of the duomo looked as though the entire structure was wallpapered with green bar strips. When we were there again the next morning, HF laughed at me right in my face, "So, wallpapered huh? Idiot!!" Great, I became the butt of the joke first thing in the morning!

For larger size, click hereHome made super-freaking-'solutely delicious original Italian Margheritta pizza, only available in Naples, home to professional Italian pickpockets and thieves. Thank God I still had enough spare change to afford this mouth-watering aromatic pizza!Posted by Picasa


Possibly traveling the Peninsula
This December we may be visiting Singapore, an island of Malaysia for either snorkling or scuuba diving, and Thailand. Looking forward to get together with family and friends once again.

Monday, November 12, 2007

The Simpsons in 300 Trailer



My hero got featured yet again in another movie. There are many versions of this on YouTube however I find this version stands out from the rest.

Friday, November 09, 2007

iPhone

The wait is over. Perhaps the most anticipated phone is finally manifesting itself today at O2 stores from 18:02. One's expected to pay £289.00 for the set and be contracted to at least a 35£ a month tariff.

It's definitely worth checking it out. I'll have to save up for two. I'm betting against all odds that its price will drop considering the time factor that affects all phones, and hacker's pledge to hack & unlock the phone.

Where did I hear a GooglePhone or gPhone will be out to hurt Apple's iPhone? Can't wait!

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Bond Fire Night 2008

This year yet again nobody can help themselves to burn effigies of sort to fuel the fire, at least it was the largest bonfire I have ever seen -- at Hyde Park, Leeds. As a matter of fact, nobody (apart from the organizers) would be allowed to do that in public places (except for I think the person who did it -- Guy Fawkes). By 7PM, the park was already jam-packed with people, mostly young people as the park is surrounded by student residentials. The crowd was great! There could easily be 20,000 people at the park then. It was at least 50m radius from the bonfire -- fenced. Guards and security personnels inside. Several fire extinguishers within the circle. Five blinding mercury spotlights around the circumference... made walking to a destination difficult -- silhouette effect.

The fireworks this time, compared to the ones displayed at Roundhay Park last year, was not, in my opinion, very impressive. In fact, and surprisingly, I felt bored watching the unsynchronized display. Every rockets that lit up the night sky were most probably store purchased. They were boring, unlively, too much noise, uncreative, and small. It seemed that the fireworks lacked the skillful handwork of professional pyrotechnics.

Even though the disappointing fireworks display was not the primary agenda of the night -- the bondfire was -- the organizers for the fireworks display could have at least and should have put more efforts in it because of their associative factor. People turn up at the bondfire also to watch the fireworks. Without it, the bondfire night would be lacking completeness. I feel they should be feeling a little ashame because there are people out there who have bought a bigger, better, single-use fireworks for his own amusements!

We should have gone to Roundhay Park for this night.

Since Bond Fire night is the only night of the year where fireworks display is a very real possibility, organizers should really get together to plan for the biggest night of all to commemorate what Guy Fawkes began -- England's biggest bondfire, and a competitive fireworks display. So big that they won't need those annoying blinding mercury spotlights anymore and would justify the 50m stand-off from the fire. So big that the entire city would thronged to the site with full anticipation to watch the best display ever. But I guess to burn down a city is never worth anything.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Almost scammed!

If there are any reasons to be happy for a job-seeker that would be returning for a second stage of the interview process.

Executive Advertising (www.executive-advertising.com), otherwise known as Executive Advertising, Inc. based in Boston Massachusetts, was rather quick to wrap up my first round of interview, in Manchester, which lasted well under 10 minutes.

75% of the time was spent talking about what they do. How they have grown so big and expanding rapidly across the country -- a reasonable justification for a successful business (of scamming people by brainwashing!!) They used prominent brand names like Sky, Boots, Pizza Hut, etc. to show that their clients are big players in the market.

"Are you okay to interact with people face-to-face?", I was asked the question; to which I said on the level of preferences, of course, I'd dealing with people face-to-face!

As I walked away feeling like I was on top of the world, I was also quick to inform HF about the success of the first round of interview. I read their job description over and again not believing that I was going to be a candidate for a management training position. Well, having already two bachelor's degree (not tooting my own horn here) I thought the management training fits me well. Here's the job description, found on a job website:

GRADUATES, GRADUATES, GRADUATES!!!

TRAINEES, TRAINEES, TRAINEES!!!


CAREERS, CAREERS, CAREERS!!!

SEEKING: DIRECT MARKETING, DIRECT MARKETING MANAGERS, DIRECT MARKETING GRADUATE/TRAINEES


Are you a graduate searching for a career opportunity with a proven company? Still hunting for a position where hard work and ambition arerewarded instead of just seniority? Look no further!

Based in Manchester, Executive Advertising is a direct marketing company which specialize in the sports, home improvement, and telecommunication industries. Planning and executing promotions for our premier clients is our main focus. This year, our success with our portfolio has led us to increase our marketing and management teams. We value innovation, leadership, and a positive attitude. We offer career opportunities, competitive pay based on merit, a fun work environment, and paid training.

THE POSITIONS:
We are currently looking to fill entry-level Account Representative positions with career opportunities available in:

Promotional Marketing
Management Training

All positions are FULL TIME and ENTRY LEVEL. Advancement is based on performance, not seniority.

Executive Advertising develops a complete business solution targeted to our clients’ specifications, which makes our Account Representatives responsible for a wide variety of things, such as:


Teaching and training a team of marketing/sales/public relations experts to achieve a high-powered presence in the Manchester market.
Monitoring campaign and individual progress to ensure a steady stream of results.
Establishing relationships with local business owners to acquire new clients and strengthen our client’s presence in the market.
Communication of daily progress reports and maintaining established feed of information to and from our clients.
Execution of special promotions, test and target marketing, and brand management.
THE PERFECT CANDIDATE:
We are seeking individuals who enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. You must possess initiative, teamwork skills, and the ability to set and achieve goals. As our company is constantly expanding to national and international locations, we need people who are highly motivated and driven by the opportunity to financial and career growth.

TO APPLY:
Please send your CV to Jennifer Tanner at manchester@executive-advertising.com, or call 01612421780 and ask to speak to Jake Bradford. We are looking to fill all positions immediately. We apologize, but only those whom we wish to select for preliminary interviews will be contacted.

Thank you for your interest in Executive Advertising!

Feel free to visit our website @ www.executive-advertising.com.


All details and descriptions for the job sounds legitimate. Anyone will see it as the golden opportunity and would click-to-Apply right away. In fact, many people did and I was there (venue of the interview) to know.

Had I not took an interest to find out more about the company (their products, services, history, etc) last night, I would already be in Manchester for the second round of interview.

I began my search for, naturally, the company's name -- Executive Advertising. There was nothing much about the company and I began to be very curious. If ExecAd claimed to be as big as it claims to be, their histories (acts, profiles, deals with other businesses, news, etc) should be picked up and made traceable by search engines. I remember I was told,
"We've been around since 2001..."
If that was the case, I did a Whois search to find out about their website. Apparently, there were some discrepancies and I began to get very suspicious. First, the address of the registrant:
69 Wilson Street
First Floor,
Yukon Territory EC2A 2BB
Zimbabwe
1. Wilson Street... There are ten Wilson Streets all across United States.
2. Yukon Territory is in Canada.
3. EC2A 2BB refers to Islington, a part of central London, UK
4. Zimbabwe, is well one of Africa's country

It sure looked like an address on first glance. But this address points to nowhere, which translates to mean that the registrant does not want to be known/discovered.

Having discovered new information, I went back to their website to read their entire contents. I realized that the choice of words used were mostly ambiguous and unspecific. Reputable companies do not use ambiguous words. They will specify exactly their nature of business, how they are conducted, and choice of words are directly specific. But Executive Advertising's website was just the exact opposite.

Then I applied search filters filtering keywords like: jobs, leeds, manchester, -site:.co.uk, etc. and the first item to appear on the search outcome was DS-Max -- Direct Selling to the Maximum. Uncertain what has DS-Max has to do with Executive Advertising (I didn't even know what it was all about), I clicked into it. I was definitely in for a surprise!!

Executive Advertising (and I made sure the two terms referred to the company, and not some corporate position) is a real company that is out there to scam job-seekers by brainwashing them into believing they are doing something good for the company with the hopes of career progressions -- with hard work!. As far as I have read, the candidate will never progress. He will be going door-to-door selling discount coupons, shabby goods, while claiming that he's doing it on behalf of big company names (legitimizing his sale pitch).

There's a whole lot more about job scam stories on http://www.ripoffreport.com, a consumer website for which I am thankful. It has made aware there are giants out there to make you scapegoats. Searching for "Executive Advertising" + scam yielded more search results than just searching for "Executive Advertising".

I am, nevertheless, happy to have found out about such scams. I am not disappointed in any ways. I hope job-seekers alike will have the instinctive interest to find out more about the company they will be working for. As HF said, "If a company does not show an interest to know more about you, clearly the company is ONLY interested in what you can do for them!" The absence of such simple reciprocity is what raises suspicion.

Pressing on!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Caged-like

There's nothing I can do to change what have been going on up in my head since I returned to Leeds on Sept 30. Somehow, rather perplexing, I finally found myself imprisoned in Leeds. Although my freedom space can be stretched to the city's span, I have only found myself circling in and around my 50 square foot apartment that sits on Leeds city centre's border.

The grocery store, Morrisons (I still can't spell its name correctly without referring to its plastic bags I usually use as [waste] bin bags), is conveniently located less than 600m away so that I could continue to stay alive. Everything I last saw here before I left for Kuala Lumpur has now been changed. A total make-over of the store that is, fortunately, not beyond recognition. I could just dart straight to the frozen food section and jet off back home to dump it in the microwave. That's meal! That's good enough to go on for another day. Another day of feeling trapped here in Leeds.

Again, I couldn't help to imagine everything accessible to me when I was back in my hometown. My sense of adventures have always kept me away from staying at home longer than 2 hours (after waking up). Traveling from town to town on my Mitsubishi's V6 Storm (pick-up truck) not only made me feel on top of everybody else (on the road) but also the very sense of freedom. My very same sense of adventure is still very much alive but I have gotta tame it and tune it down. There's nowhere to go anywhere further than both my legs will bring me. No wheels, unfortunately. It does actually feels like I've got an invisible hand (nothing to do with Adam Smith's theory), as that of an amputee who's trying to adjust to his new environment with one arm.

Despite the above, I've come to accept that my hiding-out lifestyle is temporal. I'm back here looking for employments. Usually this time of the year I would be in classrooms and lecture halls but not now. I'm done with university. I am behind my desk scouting job websites. It's hard to convince myself there's a purpose to this because the efforts put in always feels like a futile attempt as potential employers always appear as though they're out there to tear you down. Pulling myself through is a challenge. To make ends meet, I've got to take up this challenge and make myself proud.

Life is truly not a bed of roses. Student's life is definitely the bed of roses that I am now out of it, for now.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

The Secret to a Lasting Marriage : Embrace Imperfection (Must read for married and unmarried people)

Thanks to LYHV for this forwarded-mail, which I find quite insightful and perhaps useful to my current relationship with HF. I invite all to have a read.

When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food
for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in
particular when she had made breakfast dinner after a long,
hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs,
sausage and an extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I
remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet, all my dad did
was reached for his toast, smiled at my mom, and asked me how
my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember
watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat
every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I
remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the
toast. And I'll never forget what he said: "Baby, I love
burned toast."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked
him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his
arms and said, "Debbie, your mommy put in a hard day at work
today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt toast
never hurt anyone!"

In bed that night, I thought about that scene at dinner...and
the kindness my daddy showed my mom. To this day, it's a
cherished memory from my childhood that I'll never forget. And
it's one that came to mind just recently when Jack and I sat
down to eat dinner.
I had arrived home late...as usual...and decided we would have
breakfast food for dinner. Some things never change, I
suppose!

To my amazement, I found the ingredients I needed, and quickly
began to cook eggs, turkey sausage, and buttered toast.
Thinking I had things under control, I glanced through the
mail for the day. It was only a few minutes later that I
remembered that I had forgotten to take the toast out of the
oven!

Now, had it been any other day -- and had we had more than two
pieces of bread in the entire house -- I would have started
all over , but it had been one of those days and I had just
used up the last two pieces of bread. So burnt toast it was!

As I set the plate down in front of Jack, I waited for a
comment about the toast. But all I got was a "Thank you!" I
watched as he ate bite by bite, all the time waiting for some
comment about the toast. But instead, all Jack said was,
"Babe, this is great. Thanks for cooking tonight. I know you
had a hard day."

As I took a bite of my charred toast that night, I thought
about my mom and dad...how burnt toast hadn't been a
deal-breaker for them. And I quietly thanked God for giving me
a marriage where burnt toast wasn't a deal-breaker either!


You know, life is full of imperfect things...and imperfect
people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. And you might be
surprised to find out that Jack isn't the perfect husband! He
likes to play his music too loud, he will always find a way to
avoid yard work, and he watches far too many sports. Believe
it or not, watching " Golf Academy" is not my idea of a great
night at home!

But somehow in the past 37 years Jack and I have learned to
accept the imperfections in each other. Over time, we have
stopped trying to make each other in our own mould and have
learned to celebrate our differences. You might say that we've
learned to love each other for who we really are!

For example, I like to take my time, I'm a perfectionist, and
I'm even-tempered. I tend to work too much and sleep too
little. Jack, on the other hand, is disciplined, studious, an
early riser, and is a marketer's dream consumer. I count
pennies and Jack could care less! Where he is strong, I am
weak, and vice versa.

And while you might say that Jack and I are opposites, we're
also very much alike. I can look at him and tell you what he's
thinking. I can predict his actions before he finalizes his
plans. On the other hand, he knows whether I'm troubled or not
the moment I enter a room.

We share the same goals. We love the same things. And we are
still best friends. We've travelled through many valleys and
enjoyed many mountaintops. And yet, at the same time, Jack and
I must work every minute of every day to make this thing
called "marriage" work!

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept
each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's
differences - is the one of the most important keys to
creating a healthy, growing, and lasting marriage
relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to
take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your married
life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's
the only One who will be able to give you a marriage where
burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker!

At a malay wedding

Thursday, September 27, 2007

生日快乐!

今天9月28日我过我28岁的生日。
突然发现时间过了其实太快了!
也许不可能是个不好的事情。
有朋友和我家人的祝福,我年龄都不笑了,一定要努力的工作成功。

我最最最好的生日礼物就是得到了英国的签证on this day. 对我来说就是非常重要的时或礼物。
黄斐我很快就会回来了。

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Shanghai Traffic Preview

Referring to the second paragraph of my previous posting entitled "Shanghai", a video was especially made to illustrate just that. Before recording this video, I amuse myself by standing at the junction along Nanjing Road and Henan Road and watched every motorists' behaviors on the road.



To start with, for example, you'll first notice a cyclist (wearing red polo) ignored the traffic lights on his side and happily pedaled ahead while the road crossing this junction was still green. This is skill!

Then, when the light turns green, hordes and hordes of motor-cyclists revved up and jet by -- without helmets. The amount of cyclists and motorcyclists is a staggering number. Also take notice of sounds from just this video clip. Everybody is honking at one another -- and it's only normal. This is only one cross junction of Shanghai.

It's not that those without helmets are more prone to getting knocked down by another motorist, but the amount of motorists out there who are not abiding traffic rules. The attitude of crossing is more like when it's a clear way, go. It does not matter if it's either red, amber, or green. In a way, it tells me that these rules and pedestrian facilities are only for-show for those who doesn't drive anything bigger than a car. On the contrary, in Kuala Lumpur, pedestrians are complaining to the newspapers and the local municipals that our zebra-crossings and such are 'only for-show' for the motorists! Those with cars (and motorbikes) over here thinks they own the streets and think much less of those who are walking. And when one Malaysian driver honks at another, the honk is, more often than not, accompanied with a furious and irritated face or a cold stare. Personally, I think Malaysians have a long way before coming to terms with being courteous.

What is a honk for anyway?
1. "Heads up. I'm behind you. Make way" OR
2. "WTF! GET THE Frack outta my way!"

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Point of inception

I think I am going to start a little episodic story to put on here. It will probably be about...

... should I spoil it? Nah!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Shanghai Zoo

HF and her best friend finally met again after three long years. I picked the venue for their meeting as I wanted to see some panda bears.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Shanghai

I enjoyed beautiful sunny weather throughout my stay until the day I left Shanghai. It was CROWDED! In fact, it is over-the-top overcrowded with more than 20 million residents in it AND still expanding. I have yet to witness a large gap between people out on the streets nor indoors. It is probably already a known fact, however, to be among the crowd is just phenomenal! It was then I fully realized that traffic congestion situation such as bottle-necking, not only happens on motor/causeways for vehicles but also on pedestrian ways especially evident at the metro's escalator and entrance points AND ALSO in hypermarkets (Carrefour -- shopping cart congestion. Can you believe it?). Not that I was ignorant of this fact but, as mentioned, it was truly a phenomena to be there among the millions of people squeezing just to get on the escalator's steps. The stairways up would already be flooded with people by now. Even a street as broad as Nanjing Road (南京路), one has to zigzagged through to a destination. TWL was right, it is a good place for people-watching. I think it is the best place!

For larger size, click hereHDR Photo: The Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower, Pudong.
Cover photo for this posting.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereMy lonely shadow stretches down at Lujiazhui Station (Line No#2)Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereNanjing Road by day with lots of things to see and do. Lots of activities! It's Shanghai's landmark shopping street.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereNanjing Road by night still as crowded but ever so colorful with not just neon lightings, but also flooded with people from all over the world! It's Shanghai's landmark shopping street.Posted by Picasa


On the surface top and among the sea of people, there are countless and a variety of bikes ranging from pedaled-bicycles (trillions of them) to motor-powered bicycles (in thousands), scooters (billions of them) to motorbikes (in hundreds of thousands). None, and I meant NOBODY, ever wears safety helmets while riding. Not even the motorbikers. NOBODY seems to be abiding traffic rules. AND, the magical part of this phenomena is NOBODY ever gets run-over or even knocked down by anything!! Every vehicles that can honk will never hesitate to honk! The streets and roads could be an unsynchronized music lane; in fact, it is rightfully one for it'd be a dead metropolis otherwise -- like that Tuesday's early morning (a day after HF left).

For larger size, click hereThe number of bikes parked could reach horizon's end and only two people are watching over this parkade! Yet many still dutifully parks here.Posted by Picasa


I began to think it'd be an abnormal sight if there exists a building with less than 5 floors in Shanghai unless it's a preserved building maybe for historic or cultural reasons, or a museum. Singapore is a concrete jungle but Shanghai is probably one that is a planetary-sized by comparison. They say it's like New York city, LA city, and Tokyo city. I have not been to any so I wouldn't know. Mexico city has a 20 million population but the number of skyscrapers in Shanghai would probably have easily outnumbered Mexico city. It was, for me, mind-boggling. More buildings are being built towering the skies as if a couple more is just not enough. It all almost seemed as though each is competing for the-tallest-building title. The Oriental Pearl (Shanghai's Radio and TV) tower has been belittled by Jinmao tower (金茂大厦) in 1998. It will soon be over-towered by the Shanghai World Financial Center, adjacent to it, upon completion in 2008. In fact, since September 14 2007, the Shanghai's super skyscraper WFC is officially the tallest structure in all of China. What's next?

Every square inch of the city's land is developed. If it is not buildings, there must be a park. If neither high-rise apartments/offices, then it must be transportation infrastructures. I thought elevated highways is the best logistics solution to most cities but I was wrong when I saw multi-tiered elevated causeways! Not single, double is a common sight, but three-to-five tiers above ground! I didn't think people over there needed umbrellas to stay in the shades just to avoid getting a tan. With buildings towering the skies and multi-leveled causeways all around the city, I was getting concerned not receiving my vitamin D from sun exposure and getting a tan! We were all in the shadows most of the time. By the way, being fair-skinned in East Asia is the ideal concept of beauty. The fairer you are (females), the more beautiful you are. Simple. Getting a tan is a no-no! I was out there looking to get a teeny-weeny-bit tan.

For larger size, click hereLook, a burried hydrant! Need I say more?Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereEven pedestrian bridges have multi-levels version!Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereHF and I at The BundPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereChenghuang Shopping districtPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereMan lugging giant bags of recyclables -- wearing a shirt! Nice white-collar job!Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereHF and her parents with mePosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereHF and I at Chenghuang Business districtPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereI don't know why but I just like this placePosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereThe Chenghuang Business district is not a small area. This has been a handy reference!Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereclassic Chinese wine flasks which has been around for more than a thousand years.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereDon't know what it says. Just thought it'd make a great photoPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereChenghuang SD's building styles.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereThe live ones at Shanghai's zoo, which we've been. We didn't take any of these pandabears home either.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereThe Old Street of Yu Garden grand entrancePosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereIn and around Yu Garden's Old StreetPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereIn and around Yu Garden's Old StreetPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereOne of my favorite photo of the Old Street of Yu GardenPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereFire departmentPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereLanterns for Mid-autumn FestivalPosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereHF at her sanctuary meditating...Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click here... and this was the result of her meditation. I had but to share everything.Posted by Picasa


While the never-ending astronomical heights concrete towers dominate the skylines with over 50 floors up, at ground level, there are comparatively phenomenal depths! Metros and subways are, of course, underground. But I'm referring to underground shops and stores that the collective size and depths of them all made me feel as though I was in an underground city or an underground shopping center! To top it off, they're complete with elevators and escalators! Tell me about scarcity of land! The Chinese would probably come out with the world's deepest tower on land. And if this caught on, we'll probably all dig to earth's core and live comfortably. Mind you, a nuclear winter is not too distant of a possibility. Great Wall is an amazing feat. Shouldn't be a problem create a habitable underground city.

Food and Culture
While The Schindler's List (240 items) is not a base of comparison for a list of food varieties, it'd probably give one an idea of the endless varieties of food one can get in China. Probably at least 10x longer. Perhaps one is familiar with a popular saying that the Chinese would cook/eat anything that walks/swims the earth and/or has its back facing the sky. Well, that and also anything from the sea. There's always a special Chinese sauce it and it's always the correct tasting one. You can never go wrong with Chinese! Maybe for the same reasons how the Chinese figured out acupunctural points. Or Chinese herbal medicines. Right now, I'm like how-the-frack do they do that?!

Many a times when I was brought to try out a new delight and I guess it was my mistake to instinctively find out what I was going to eat. It's only natural to do that especially in the land of Eat-anything. I'd dread to imagine that black-pepper she's shaking onto my hotdog are made from black spicy ants (probably a substitute to cut cost!). Of course, there is no such thing! But there's no stopping anybody from doing something close to this. It may have happened to me: HF mother bought me two lamb skewers (羊肉串) at a canopied hawkers lineup. I had wanted to have it again since HF and I had it in Wujiang Rd. I took my first bite on the lamb meat. It was hot. As I was masticating the meat, I began to realize it doesn't taste like lamb's meat! If you're a meat-eater, you can tell if it was beef, chicken meat, mutton, or lamb meat apart easily. I took another bite in. Not even close to lamb taste, nor beef, nor chicken. HF's mother tried a piece. She agreed with me. The meat do not taste like lamb meat. I threw the binned away. She pulled me away and said: "There have been a lot of people from other provinces came to Shanghai and do little businesses such as these. Not all have enough money. And it has been rumored that cat's meat has been used before in food joints like these." I was stunned to hear that! I stared at her with a blank face as i couldn't believe what I just heard -- I could have just had cat's meat!! Funnily, Nigel the black cat popped into my head but it didn't last long to be consumed.

Among other things, I noticed that Chinese people are extremely nice and friendly... perhaps only towards foreigners or non-Chinese. Bear in mind that this is only one point of view. However, I have seen some Caucasians that have been 'spoiled' by this norm that their needs and demands must be met first. I experienced a rather comedic situation. It was at Longyang SMT Station (龙阳路磁浮站). Nobody is allowed to the station's end for photo. I was already there, alone, when a security guard approached me saying,

"... this area is prohibited. If you want to take pictures, please go to the centre of the station", in his Shanghainese accented Mandarin.

I understood everything that was said but I pretended not to as I really wanted to get a couple of shots. I stammered in extremely broken Mandarin and resorted to using hand gestures to communicate my intentions of being here for only 5 minutes just for photos and will leave when the maglev train leaves. He scratched his head puzzled and confused struggling as he doesn't know how to respond in a language I'd understand. Soon, he nodded his head and hesitantly said "okay...!". I was in a restricted area and it was okay!! I know I was taking advantage but he could have insisted.

I did a lot of walking. I walked the length of the Century Avenue (世纪大道), which was like the Champs-Elysees of the East, about 3.2 kilometers, to the Jinmao tower. Back and forth the stretch of The Bund, about 2 kilometers, twice. I got to know the lights at The Bund shuts off at 10:45pm and there's nothing left to see by 11pm -- all lights will be out. The city needs to conserve energy. As usual, The Bund is always crowded. This was also the place I realized Shanghai's metro closes at 10:25pm! I was already too late to catch the last train back to Zhongshan Park. I walked about 4 kilometers on Nanjing Rd towards Zhongshan Park (westward) and by midnight, I flagged down a cab. It would have cost me 40元 from The Bund, but because I walked it cost me 28元.

For larger size, click hereShanghai Science and Technology CentrePosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereShanghai Science and Technology CentrePosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereShanghai Science and Technology CentrePosted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereCentury Avenue, Shanghai.Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereCentury Avenue, Shanghai.Posted by Picasa



For larger size, click herePeople's Square (人民广场)Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click herePeople's Square (人民广场)Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click herePeople's Square (人民广场)Posted by Picasa


It was overall a good trip. I had only wished HF did not have to go back to Leeds so soon. I could have been to more places rather than sticking in Pudong all the time.

When I returned to Kuala Lumpur, everything else here seemed dwarfed. Streets and sidewalks are empty -- where are all the pedestrians?! Felt as though I am in the ruins of my city -- where are all the super skyscrapers? I was getting too much sun tan now that I just wanna stay indoor. Shanghai is truly an international city. I like Shanghai.

For larger size, click hereBurdenedPosted by Picasa


Photos
Alternatively, a photo-album style viewing here.

For larger size, click hereAlways long queues for Kue-tie (fried dumplings)Posted by Picasa


For larger size, click hereIn the line queuing to get a taste of what everybody is queuing up forPosted by Picasa