I've added my blog to several expat blog directories in China few days ago to increase my traffic and boost my ranking in search engine. In the meanwhile, I have just added a chat box on the right panel... so friends, now you can post a comment here... PLEASE :)
OH MAN~~ This is a white carrot that I found in a supermarket last month. Interesting shape...
We decided to use a more direct approach today. We called the company and demanded to talk to the taiwanese in charge of the marketing team in Sophia Shanghai. Michelle answered our call and we told her directly that we wanted Sophia to change out in-charge marketing person, Fei Fei. We told her we would rather give up on the deposit than continue with the misery. Michelle realized that we are pretty upset. She told me to contact her directly in the future if there are any problems. For the sake of other expatriates in Shanghai, we really hope Michelle's attitude can rube off on the locals.
Since signing up a package from Sophia at the wedding exhibition in April, we never get any calls from our marketing people. Nil... Nada !! So we decide to call up and ask WHO's our MP! ... and make an appointment to meet her today.
Alright... Fei Fei's our MP. She's not the first Shanghainese I've met with such a rotten personality. So arrogant, so defensive, so much to talk when bird shit splats on her. When we asked her to explain the package in more details, she was impatient. Her attitude was totally different from the taiwanese marketing lady from the same company that we met way back in April. At that point, we really regretted signing up with Sophia Wedding Studio. That same polite taiwanese maketing lady told us that any additional photos (in JPEG format) outside the 36 included in the package would usually cost RMB100. But she would give us a special price of RMB60/photo. However, Fei Fei told us that there is no way the company can offer RMB60 unless we add lots of photo. Damn!! We should have asked the taiwanese lady to add this term in our contract.
Given her attitude, we were really in a bad mood and not interested in talking to her anymore. We left feeling pretty down. We felt as if we had been taken for a ride!!
I called this guy an "entrepreneur" because he's doing his own business. And I called him a "creative entrepreneur" because he integrated the baby tram and the BBQ pit to form a movable stall! He fully ultilize the baby tram by placing a container in a baby seat to keep all his ingredients. What a great idea!
Bought a ferry ticket to Macau at HK-Macau ferry terminal. Get out from Sheung Wan MTR and follow the signs :) It's just upstairs. There are some other ferry companies staff shouting everywhere for their cheap fares but I ended up buying a ticket from Turbojet. First, I don't like people that approached me out of the blue and pursude me to buy something from them, secondly Turbojet have a whole row of counters ~ (haha).
HK-Macau = HK138 (economy class/weekday)
Macau - HK = HK142 (economy class/weekday)
Ferries going to Macau every half an hour. Don't forget there's no night ferries during weekdays.
You may want to change some MOP (Macau Pataca) in HK first and get some Macau maps at the ferry terminal. HKD is widely use in Macau but some small retail outlet only accept MOP. But MOP cannot use in HK! I suggest you take a bus to town, and it's only cost MOP2.5 and you can go anywhere you want! From the first station to the last station, MOP2.5 (USD0.31). Save your Money for casino~~
The journey start at Largo do Senado (where I get down from the bus), the focal point of Macau's historic centre. It's pretty easy, just a few stops away from the ferry terminal. I'm a fan of Colonial Architecture and immediatly fall in love with this place at first sight!
The must eat... Macau pork burger! BBQ pork slice sells everywhere, it's much much more bigger piece compare to other places like SG and MYS... and of course, the reknown Portuguese egg tart!
The must go place... First on the list: Sam Ba Sing Tzik!! Also known as St. Paul Catholic Church. The front facade and the grand stone stairs are the only remains of the greatest church in Macau! The architecture is simply magnificent!
St. Paul was designed by an Italian priest and was constructed with the help of the Japanese technology. Because of an indissoluble course, the church caught fire three times one after another and it was rebuilt again.
Some other attractions like Monte Fort (which is actually a shortened version of the fort's full name: The Fortress of St.Paul of Monte) You will find a barracks for the fort's troops, storehouses, water cisterns... etc.
Lastly... I know... the CASINO~
"Hong Kong... I love Hong Kong, Kowloon Hong Kong ~~~ That's the place for you!!" Ever heard this song before?? Again... I flew to HK. I love HK !! (An excuse to get out of China?? @.@)
When flying to Hong Kong, don't forget to look for the Giant bronze Buddha.
A world LARGEST Buddha statue (WOW~~~ ) sits cross-legged atop a green peak on Lantau Island with access via a very looooooong staircase. It was build using Bronze, 34 m tall and weight 250 tonnes. Take MTR to Ngong Ping 360 skyrail instead of bus. It involves a visually spectacular 5.7km cable car journey, travelling between Tung Chung Town center and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. You will enjoy views over South China Sea, mountains and valleys on an amazing 20 mins experience. It cost HKD88 for a return skyrail boarding pass. They have "Journey of Enlightenment Package" which include a return way skyrail, "Walking with Buddha" ( a story on how an Indian Prince named Siddhartha become Buddha), and "Monkey Tale Theatre" which I think you can skip. It's basically a comical show with special effects and surround sound.
Don't waste time in the village. Go straight to the Buddha. You can stop by the village on the way back for a bite or something... There's NO admission fees, but they will ask you whether you want to have you vegetarian meal included at Poh Lin Monastery. HKG60 per head and HKD 120 for a 'high class' vegetarian meal!!
Doing Business in Shanghai (Insider's Guide) - Examining basics such as the latest business trends, new business opps., and the city’s major industries, as well as analyzing economic progress of import, export, investment, this guide proves an essential tool for business professionals looking to invest in this expanding market. A useful contact directory of service-related organizations and government bodies is also provided.
Fast Boat to China: Corporate Flight and the Consequences of Free Trade; Lessons from Shanghai - A fresh look at exactly what we should be making of... the increasing number of U.S. and European companies that are relocating their factories and work force in China.
New Shanghai Cuisine: Bridging the Old and the New (Mc Cuisine) - Dining in Shanghai is an exhilarating experience.
