Day 5- Free & Easy

Today, is a free and easy day = Sleep more, shop, and slack.

Woke up at 9 plus am and at about 11 plus, YF, Letty, Melissa, Kimberley and I went to wash our clothes using the washing machine. We only need to pay 3 yuan per washing machine we used. Hence, each of us only need to pay 1.80 yuan.

And after the laundry, we ate cup noodles for lunch. At 2.30pm, Betty and her 2 other friends arranged for us to go out to the city by taking a public bus :) this means shopping!!! Hahaha..

So, we took a public bus from the bus stop near the school and waited for the bus to come.

We have to take bus 549. The words are read downwards. Each column represents one stop.

The bus is actually similar to the ones in Singapore. They have both double decker and just the normal, single level ones. The one we took was the single level one. And the windows inside actually have curtains! But the air-con isn't strong enough so we felt sleepy after a while.

The traffic on the way to town


When we arrived, we walked through an underground route to Wuhan plaza. It's like a departmental store. But the thinds there are very expensive! Clothes were quite nice but the price was *ahem* haha.. so end up, none of us bought anything except for Carol who bought a charger for her camera.

Wuhan Plaza

However, at the top floor, we ate some food because they were selling Singapore food like roti prata, ice-kachang, etc. And so, we bought a quite a lot of food like ice-kachang, sushi, roti-prata, 'mango ice-kachang'

Our friend came back! "Good Year"!


After that, we left earlier than planned to another shopping centre. One that has cheaper things (plus can bargain.. hehe) The name of the street Jiang Han Lu. (I think) We tried to catch a taxi but it was at about 6 plus and many people are trying to catch one too. So there were some china people who just snatched the taxi! Quite shock to see that. Finally, we walked further down to get a taxi and crossing the road in China is something like crossing the road in Vietnam just that Vietnam one has more motorbikes and horns and it's scarier. So, wasn't first time crossing like 'I don't care about the vehicles coming'.

Because there was only 3 china students and one taxi can only fit 4 people, one group of 4 of us have to go on our own. Hence, Letty, Melissa, YF and I shared one taxi. The taxi fare was only 8 yuan!

And later, everyone met up in Macs. Macs in China looks almost the same as those in Singapore.. guess because it's international. Finally, we started our shopping! Yay! And the first but only thing I bought was sunglasses! Hehehe.. have been looking for one for a long time. And since here, they sold it for 38 yuan which later the china student help me bargain to 25 yuan, I just bought it! It's only $5 Sing!!! haha.

Spent quite a long time walking around in our own small groups. Had lots of fun shopping around with Letty, Melissa, Betty (china student) and Eddy :) Was trying to look for clothes or other stuffs to buy for my family but just couln't find/ thought of anything to buy for them. Sorry! Maybe another time :)

Just before we meet the rest at 8.15pm at macs, Eddy wanted to buy the 'porcupine' bag! (I called it the durian bag. Hahaha). Melissa managed to bargain from 160 yuan to 115 yuan. Not bad girl! Hahaha.. Must learn from her!

The streets at night!

Yan Fang was the most successful!

So after the shopping, it's time for food!! we went to another mall that sells all types of xiao chi! Yummy! I love the dumpling with corn! Something quite different! :D Then, bought passion fruit slush (ice-blended). Was a bit too sour, but they actually use the real passion fruit because there were seeds in my drink. After that, we went outside to buy eclair puffs (Honestly, I didn't know Spore has this and Hana and Rani were shocked that I didn't know. Hahaha. Totally noob here. After wuhan trip, bring me around Spore! hehe)

My eclair puff!


After that, we went to another mall with some more xiao chi, but some of us were quite full already. Others went to buy takoyaki. It's so much cheaper

Next, YF and Betty crossed over to another street to da bao shen jian bau for all of us! While waiting for both of them, there were a lot of dogs with owners around.. I think they're trying to sell them. (on the streets?? Interesting.)


Finally, after they came back, it was already 9 plus pm and it's time to go back!

So we walked further down to take a public bus. Journey was about 20-30 mins. And we took a double decker bus. In China, you can just stand on the 2nd level. No one really cares :O Quite dangerous though.


When we reached the school, everywhere is just so dark and it's already 10.20pm. Surprisingly, there were some students studying in the classrooms and the china students says that they're medical students. Very dilligent! When I ask the china students what they'll be doing tmr (Sunday), I got a shock! They have class at 8am! And so they said it's because they need lessons to make up for the 1 week holiday (China National Holiday) :O

Finally, we've reached the room! It's been a long and tiring day!! But filled with lots of fun and laughter! :D

Our awesome china friends

Reflection

Being out on the streets for the whole day, I saw many things that were very different. For example, the roads are so messy and poeple just anyhow cross the road. I was thinking that maybe because there are so many people in China. Hence, it's so difficult to maintain order. Oh, and on the bus, when there was someone carrying a violin case and eating ice-cream at the same time, she was struggling to balance. So, Betty (who was sitting with her friend) actually shifted to the side so that there's space for her to put down her case! Pretty surprised that they're so gracious. In Singapore, I don't think anyone would do that for me even though I might be struggling to keep my balance with my violin case on the bus. Singaporeans need to be more gracious!