After a goodnight rest, I woke up and took my last bath there. I washed up and lunch was brought for me by my friends, Alicia and Baohui. While I was waiting for lunch, I did the final packing up and checked for anything that was forgotten. We started throwing away what we did not want. We then waited for the people to come to check the apartment during the time, we were watching television and I was eating my very last bowl of Re Gan Mian. Very soon, there was the collection of keys and we had to leave the apartment that we stayed for 41 days at.
Some of the guys then helped carry the luggage down.
At around noon, the bus chartered for us came. Our luggage was then carried up the bus which did not have a compartment for luggage thus our luggage sat together with us.
Then wave goodbye to our humble apartment
We headed to Wuhan airport first. Problems arose when we reached there; Alicia had trouble with her luggage after it was brought down from the bus. So she did some tying up of the luggage at a counter. Also, some people had lost or misplaced their departure card. Mr. Wee and those who lost or misplaced their departure card started worrying about being able to leave China.
Then upon reaching Guang Zhou airport, we needed to rush to the counter. Then we rushed to another counter to check in our luggage. At Guang Zhou airport, problems were all cleared, Alicia transferred her broke luggage bag into a box and there were new departure cards available at an area we passed by.
After all done, we were soon off on the 4 hours flight back to Singapore.So its farewell to Wuhan and hello Singapore.
Everything seems to happen so fast. At the beginning of this trip, 42 days away from Singapore seems like an extremely long time however after spending 42 days there it seems to me like too short a trip. Just wanted more. Just hope time would stop at times in Wuhan but it would not that is reality. However, we brought back to Singapore experiences, memories and not forgetting friendship that would not be forgotten. A part of my journey in life that was well spent. Guess all that fun, laughter, joy, sorrow and tears that brought us through this journey in life would be kept in our hearts.
jetsetter___________**
WEEK 6 DAY 6
I was awakened by Alicia in the morning. I went back to my apartment to tidy up. Then we went to the opposite to eat lunch with Alicia, the last plate of fried tomato with egg, with a plate of rice. We bumped into Teck Chong, Tee Yong and Weiyang
After lunch, we headed to Carrefour by bus and rushed back to apartment in cab.
The Final event which was the grandest and marks the near ending of our trip, it was the graduation ceremony. We all walked to a building in school for it and as we entered the room, lots of important people were in there seated and waiting for us.
The building
The ceremony
The principal started off the ceremony, followed by speeches made by different people as the speeches continued on, memories of what happened in the last 40 days just came gushing back into my mind like all just happened yesterday.
Especially when it reached to Kia Fu turn to represent us students that attended the trip, in his speech it was mentioned about our first times, from how we were just strangers to meeting new friends and becoming close, the happenings of pleasant and unpleasant things that happened such as choked toilet bowls, inconvenience caused due to certain events to nice weathers. Also, the adventures we had during this trip, exploring the unknown and getting to experience it ourselves.
Then it was followed by a casual chat, handing out of certificates to us one by one and finally ends the closing ceremony the group photo taking.
During the ceremony
Refreshments
From this ceremony, we got to know some of the students studying in this school.
We went back to apartment to start packing and rest for a bit
Then headed to Wen Hua Jie but when we reached I wanted to go to Chicony to rest first as I was not feeling too good and Eileen and Alicia accompanied me. Thus, the rest who were Baohui, Bernice, Xiu Jin, Yan Khee and Li Zhen went to Wen Hua jie
We then sat at KFC to rest and chat while waiting for time to pass. We met with the rest for dinner at a restaurant with the friends that we made at the ceremony.
The Entrance
Atmosphere
Group photo
We also got hear the voices of 2 singing talents, the lady, Li Zhen(left) and the guy, Cheong Rui(right)
They got applause from the next table people too during their singing.
After dinner, we walked around the supermarket while the rest who wanted to go back, went back first.
Then, we took a bus back. This was a day that the night was still young as an adventure was about to brew. To start it off with something gross was that the bus we boarded had a mess by someone who threw up in the bus. As usual, after boarding the bus, we mostly would start chatting among ourselves. As we chatted along, we found out about a history of the place that we were going to walk pass later on. That the backdoor of the school’s gate had a cemetery located nearby. For me, hearing this kind of sends some chill up my spine and gets hair standing. A place that even the students that were going to bring us walkthrough do not usually or do not walk through there at night.
Alighting from the bus was the starting of our adventure. It would be the first and the last time we will walk by the back gate of the school for this trip. The people who took part in the adventure was the students we know from the ceremony, Alicia, Baohui, Eileen, Xiu Jin, Bernice, Li Zhen, Yan Khee, Jian Wen and Tee Yong. So let the games begin.
At night, the area was creepy, with little lights source, we had to walk through a muddy path before walking on a pavement. There was the silence of the night, chilly air and also there wasn’t really any human traffic there. Also to add to the already eerie atmosphere was the weird voices that the guys made and the flashes of the camera lights. We walked pass a path that leads to the graves. Another thing that happened while we were walking, the people following behind said they believe they saw me walking behind when I actually was walking right in front.
After that, we found out that there was a possibility that the person they saw was a girl which looked like me.
The students studying there started heading back to their apartments one by one. We said our goodbyes to them one by one. We made it back to our apartment in one piece
I rested after reaching back to our apartments. I tried packing but failed to pack finish as I did not know what was the best possible way to pack the items in and how to save as much space as possible. Thus, I ended up lying on the bed. While being super worried about how to pack my stuff, there was finally someone who came to my rescue. My superhero for the day was none other than Bernice. My luggage was eventually packed by a professional, Bernice in a flash.
After my luggage was about to be packed finished as some items needed to be packed the next day, I knocked out soon after Bernice packed. Thus, did not get to stayed up for the last night. I guess it was the continuous late nights up that really had my energy drained completely.
jetsetter___________**
WEEK 6 DAY 5
I was awoken in the morning by Yan Khee to go to the shopping centre near school. REB girls, CEE guys and I took a tram ride from opposite to the shopping centre. The rest did the most of the shopping, as I only could walk around and look. Li Zhen, Yan Khee and me left earlier to go back to our apartments.
I had a try at the yam and pineapple pie at MacDonald’s, something which could not be found in Singapore MacDonald’s and also could be rarely seen in China. The yam pie was one of the best among the rest of the pies I ate. We brought some back for the rest.
The PIES
Then, Baohui, Yan Khee and I went down to Carrefour first to buy the remaining snacks for families, relatives and friends also some walking about and shopping. Then to Ya Mao to basically collect the books that we ordered quite long ago and stayed in the bookstore for quite some time. After that we went walking about, shopping more and taking a bus back down to Carrefour.
We met the rest for dinner at Houcaller.
The new items we ordered
Drink
Ice Cream
After dinner, we ladies continued to shop while the guys went back to their apartments.
Met Mr. Wee, Hui Xin and Jing Rong so we headed back home with the Alicia, Baohui, REB girls, Hui Xin, Jack Boon and Mr. Wee.
I slept over at Alicia and Baohui apartment that night as Hui Xin and Cheong Rui was not going to be in the apartment that night due to the nights out at the Karaoke place.
jetsetter___________**
WEEK 6 DAY 4
Alicia, Baohui, Yan Khee, Li Zhen, Jin Rong, Jack Boon, Mr. Wee and I had MacDonald’s breakfast which was quite a distance away from our apartments but there is also another reason, something behind the waking up early to eat MacDonald’s. We were also going there as Mr. Wee was going to bank to get additional cash for us. It was from the pitiful state for us being broke to us having more money again.
So once we got the money, we went shopping at the nearby shopping centre near school. While, some of them went to a salon for a haircut
Then we went back to apartment, followed by our trip of “going back in time to places for irresistible delicacies”. To add on would be shopping.
First stop on the list, Shi Men Kou’s food street area there to have eat oyster and scallops which was the all time favorite also a must eat when going there. Not forgetting some of the other irresistible food such as Che Chong Fan etc.
While we were walking through the streets, it started to be a rainy day but it still did not affect us much except that some of us got slightly drenched. We shopped around the area then soon to cab down to the next stop.
Second stop on the list, Jiang Han Lu, where the egg tarts were just beyond what words can describe the best egg tart we had so far and the mango dessert which tasted heavenly.
We resumed our shopping while munching on the snacks we brought. We just went into all kinds of shops, shops which are big in size, small in size, on sale, not on sale etc. But there was a store that we were in love with. Thus, we spent the most time in there.
We had dinner at a fast food restaurant there. It was a random choice as it was the nearest place we were standing at that has food. The shop is called “Dico”
The feeling of walking into the fast food restaurant was actually quite like an Indian place to eat as there were lots of Indians in the shop thus I started to wonder whether the food will be spicy. However, it turns out our random choice was a good one.
The food was nice especially the donuts.
The donut
From ordering at this fast food restaurant, I learnt a lesson, to keep a big look out for notices. The thing was that even ordering a meal, a meal with a difference of a drink could well cost you a few bucks down the drain.
After dinner, the rest continued shopping while Alicia and I just chatted as we did not want to shop already.
After all the eating and shopping for the day was over, it was time to go back to our apartments. It was one of the times we reached quite late; we reached back around 10.40pm.
jetsetter___________**
WEEK 6 DAY 3
We had an outing today. Thus, all of us gathered downstairs at 8.30am but the thing is that the bus was not on time making us wait for about half an hour. We were told that we were going to 4 places and for 1 place, we would just go pass in the bus.
This time round, the tour guide, Mr. Liu did not tell us all about the history and stuff about Wuhan but asked us what we taught about Wuhan. Then he began introducing Wuhan a bit more before going into the details of the places we were about to head to.
First stop and first place, was at Yellow crane tower.
Yellow Crane Tower sits on top of the Snake Hill at Wuchang. It enjoys the fame of "the best scene on earth" in ancient times, equally famous with Yueyang Tower in Hunan and Tengwang Tower in Jiangxi.
Yellow Crane Tower was built in 223 with a wooden structure. Fires and wars had caused destruction to it time and again before it was once again burnt down in 1884. The tower, which was first built as a watchtower for military use, developed into a gathering place for scholars to have farewell banquets to friends. It became ever more well-known for a poem by Cui Hao of the Tang Dynasty, Yellow Crane Tower.
It was rebuilt in 1981 and the construction took four years. The new building is 51.4 m tall: 5 stories seeing from outside but actually l0 stories inside. It is really the best place to viewing the surrounding scenery by the Yangtze River.
Yellow Crane Tower is the symbol of Wuhan city. It is now surrounded by a large park featuring many gardens, ponds, and buildings nestled into Snake Mountain. It is a beautiful spot to get away from the busy life of the city. Yellow Crane tower is one of the most famous towers in China. Originally built in 223A.D. this five story tower has inspired poets for centuries.
We stepped in and the tour guide started talking about the place. We walked around the park before reaching the place.
The park area
Climbed up floor by floor, and stopped by certain floors with the tour guide giving explanations.
The place
Models of the different looks of Yellow Crane Tower at different period of time
The second stop was to a nearby place to eat our lunch. We had some Dou pi, deep fried spring rolls, sotongs, and escargots with a cup of soya bean milk.
Lunch time at
The third stop and second place was a park like area.
At the park like area which was called the Myth Garden of Yu the great
Then the next place was when the bus drove pass while the tour guide explained.
while passing by the place
The fourth stop and last place was to the Zoo.
Wuhan Forest Safari Park
Wuhan Forest Safari Park is located at the lakefront of Youzidong of Wumeishan Mountain, Bolin Town, Caidian District, Wuhan. With more than 3000 mu land area and 260 mu water area, it is the first large safari park possessing both forest and animals in the Central China. There are many scenic spots and entertainment items, such as children's heaven, horse ground (for horse riding club), feral beast section including homes for bear, lion and tiger, deer home, rare birds paradise, animal's performance arena and first-class wooden-housed villa section, paradise for hydrophilous plants and animals, fishing platform and painting bout. In this park you can not only enjoy beautiful scenes and pleasant weather but also visit different sorts of wild animals. The number of species of wild animals is No. 1 in the whole country, especially the number of feral beast species including Dongbei tiger, African tiger, and catamount has gone beyond 200. And even more surprisingly all the animals in this park are breed in the open place
We got to see some actions that the monkeys made, peacocks showing off their magnificent feathers, the pandas which were the main highlight of the zoo Xi Xi and Wang Wang, some birds like creature flying out of its own enclosure and wanting to have really close contact with the people actually, I think it just wanted food, as after food was given and it was being chased, it went back, elephants, giraffes, goats.
Pandas
A Lion and dog that went on the newspaper before
But unlike in Singapore Zoo, the animals were treated very differently. In the Singapore’s Zoo, animals were kept in cages which were cleaned and maintained properly, with an artificial environment created for them to be able to adapt to the different environment they are in. The animals looked more relaxed and less bored compared to the animals in Wuhan Zoo.
The animals in Wuhan Zoo have to live in cages which had rusty bars, dirty conditions. The condition that they were living in was like living in jail or even worse off. Just like locked up animals for the sake of people entertainment and putting the animals’ welfare aside.
Also, the surrounding of the Wuhan Zoo was like it was more like of a park whereby you could see people fishing, playing pokers cards on the grass patches compared to the Zoo in Singapore.
At the Zoo, we got to witness two shows, one of them was a seal show and another was a combination of different animals like a circus type of performance. It included animals such as monkeys, tigers, lions, dog and horse.
For the seal show, the seal was really smart, knowing mental calculations.
At the seal show
For the “circus” like show, it was really a very heart-breaking scenario, whereby, the animals are being forced to do the acts they are being asked to, they were doing things in fear. Even when the animals had tried their best, guess the show must go on, they are being forced to continue the act. From this, a picture could be painted of animals being tortured. All this for audiences’ applauses. Is this worth?
At the “circus” like show
“The Dutch design company Jora Vision has been contracted as designer and architect for the new look Wuhan Zoo in China. The winner of an international tendering process, Jora Vision presented a detailed plan to rebuild the zoo to Wuhan City representatives at the end of 2007.
Inspired by Wuhan’s location alongside the Yangtze Kiang/Han River, the zoo will integrate a new theme entitled “The Journey of the Big Rivers.” Six other rivers from around the world will also be represented, including the Zambezi (Africa), Kapuas (Indonesia), Mississippi (North America), Amazon (South America), Darling (Australia) and Rhine (Europe) – all linked to a central lake. Around each river an imitation of the specific flora, fauna and scenery will be recreated.
Dutch zoo designer Erik van Vliet and Chinese landscape architect Benno Wu form the concept team for the project together with Jora Vision managing director June and Jan Maarten de Raad and his wife June.
“For a Chinese Zoo this is a revolutionary breakthrough, since Chinese visitors are used to viewing the wild animals in cages behind bars,” says van Vliet. “In the rebuilt Wuhan Zoo, guests can experience the habitat of animals by crossing the paths and streams by foot, boat or special vehicle.”
The restyled zoo will open its gates in the second half of 2010.”
The Wuhan Zoo is about to revamp, it is such a pity I could not get to have a look at it since it will only be completed in the second half of 2010.
After the trip to the Zoo, it marks the end of our lessons for this whole trip.
We were brought back to our apartments, had some rest before heading off to dinner at Chicony’s Japanese restaurant.
After coming back from dinner to the apartments, we washed up and celebrated the sixth and last birthday of this trip.
We celebrated Eileen birthday at her neighbor’s apartment. They partied all the way till 11am with music such as from drums, guitar and also something simple, from a person voice which was song singing. We ate the cake after the party.
Group photo grabbed from Eileen
I went to sleep over at Bernice and Xiu Jin apartment after we chatted.
