Dongguan

Dongguan  is an industrial city located in central Guangdong province, People's Republic of China.It lies on the border of Guangzhou towards the north. It is also home to the world's largest shopping mall, South China Mall.

Dongguan ranks behind only Shenzhen, Shanghai and Suzhou in exports among Chinese cities, with $65.54bn in shipment and is relatively free from tourists as visitors are predominantly here for business./work.   

I caught a super comfy train to Dongguan from Guangzhou Central Railway Station. It costs around RMB50 one way and takes around an hour to reach. Best thing is that the trains are ON TIME and you have around only 5minutes to board so you better be waiting at the platform!

Seating is also spacious and clean. Speed can reach up to 180km/hr. Toilet are also clean and there will be a hostess who would wheel up some titbits/food for sale  in case you get hungry or thirsty!

This is the front of Dongguan Railway Station. Looks modern and clean right?  

There are these little pedicabs which are like the Thailand’s tuk-tuks which you catch for short ride and they are cheaper than the cabs but then also riskier.

The normal cabs would charge by meter basis. Much safer and more comfortable!

Steve Jobs Unveils the iPad - ABC News

Apple's Steve Jobs unveils the new iPad...Ya the name is a MARKETING AND PR DISASTER!! Ladies liken it to youknowat ...they use monthly!!!! LOL

Steve Jobs Unveils the iPad - ABC News

Read here for things that the iPad cant do:

http://mashable.com/2010/01/27/ipad-whats-missing/

However after seeing above video, saw another news clip from yahoo on the following:-

SHANGHAI (AFP) – The unveiling of Apple's iPad tablet computer was one of the most anticipated technology events in recent years, but a similar looking device has been on sale in China for nearly six months.



The touchscreen iPad look-alike marks a new milestone by Chinese manufacturers: cloning a product before it had even been announced, mused Shanghaiist.com, a Shanghai city blog, and Shanzhai.com, a tech blog dedicated to Chinese copies.

But Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial Co. -- makers of the Chinese device, which resembles an over-sized iPhone -- said Apple appeared to be the copycats.

"We don't understand. Why did they make the same thing as us?" Huang Xiaofang, an executive at the company, told AFP.

The iPad-like "P88" was launched in August and was on show last year at the Internationale Funkausstellung consumer electronics fair in Berlin, she said.

"We launched it earlier," she said.

Although thicker and heavier than the iPad, the P88's specifications boasts a slightly larger screen, faster processor, larger memory and, unlike the iPad, has USB ports, according to the manufacturer.

But its battery life is only 1.5 hours compared to the iPad's 10 hours.

Apple's first iPads will ship worldwide at an entry-level price of 499 dollars in two months.

But for gadget fanatics who cannot wait, Huang said the P88 is available now on Great Loong Brother's web site.
http://en.hkjulong.com/Product-37.html

You can compare and see which one is better?!

Square Watermelon

Spotted this in Isetan when i went there again to buy the honeydew to try. Will post on that later.

This unusual water melon is also from Japan but NOT FOR SALE wo!! If ppl started growing watermelons like this would be a good thing cos easier to cut right?  Then the slices would come out in rectangular pieces so you dont need Bugs Bunny teeth to bite into!!LOL.

Isetan’s Members’ Sale

Isetan is having their Sale and for its Members, there are some additional goodies in store from 22nd-24th January.

I saw some delicious goodies at the supermarket on offer though on the pricier side.  However if you are shopping for these items, then head on to Isetan.Some items are only on offer till tomorrow!

  Juicy rock melons in gift box for RM52.80 per box! These rock melons look like the Japanese ones below that costs RM129 each!! What’s the difference? Hmm…i tried the Jap ones last year and dont think they are worth the price paid(tho i got them as a gift!). However this is personal preference and opinion and BUDGET!! 

However if you take the RM52.80 for 2pc and they are just as sweet , then of course go with that cos Malaysians are suppose to be saving for a rainy day according to news reports!  

Giant strawberries from Japan for RM120 per box! 15 pc in each box..that works out to RM8 per pc!!? Err…maybe Camerons has equally just as good??! Maybe not so big but price also a fraction of this.

  I always thought that the small little CNY oranges were from China only but now Japan also exports theirs, called  Mikan. Costs around RM1.40 each!!

Jap apples at RM5.90 each and the pears at RM8 each!! Similar sized ones from China etc would probably cost around  RM2-RM4 each? Why are Jap stuff so expensive?? Never mind!

Okay abalone is one the Chinese New Year’s delicacies and Isetan is having a promo for a can of Skylight abalone for RM135 each. They normally would cost around RM180 each.  A packet of reasonably big sized Sea Cucumber is at promo price of RM268 instead of NP  RM300. 

For these 3days also, the Skylight brand is offering a promo set of 2cans of abalone and 1 can of Shellfish for RM268.85. Basically if you buy the 2cans of abalone it would cost RM270, now you get extra the can of shellfish! If you are thinking of preparing a grand feast of for your reunion dinner, then this is it!

You can braise the abalone and shellfish with some broccoli or kale over abalone sauce and you will have a dish fit for an emperor!! Something like this…..me likes!! Any invitations? LOL.

Kung Fu Fast Food

When in China, you will see this chain of fast food restaurants called Kung Fu Fast Food. I first spotted it in Guangzhou Airport  but never tried it till my recent trip last December.

Initially i thought it was a Western McD type of fast food but i was wrong. Its Chinese fast food. Bruce Lee pic is on the logo and i imagine the food is suppose to make you strong like Bruce Lee! LOL.

Anyway, Chinese people would consider this as healthy food as a set which costs around RMB30(RM15 approx) comes with a soup, rice, steamed egg, stewed meat and boiled vegetables.

I tried out the stewed pork with mook yee(black fungus) with dried mustard green vege soup and cabbage. It looks like any typical Chinese meal at home but as you can see, it was pretty oily(even the soup!). The stewed pork was soft enough but quite salty.Those of you who would like to try it out should order 1set and share with a partner cos the portions are pretty big especially  the bowl of rice.

This is a good alternative to typical Western fast food and if you dont wanna to be stuck not knowing what to order in a Chinese restaurant! 

 

What a sad note to a New Year...

Recent events seem to cloud over the New Year...church attacks, Haiti earthquake and now the Chung Ling Dragon boat mishap!

It really brings home again the fraility and meaning of our lives. When i read of the parent who had lost her only child after trying for 12years in the dragon boat tragedy, it really made me tear up. The agony those 6 parents of the teacher and 5 students must be going thru!

In Haiti, thousands of lives were lost and bulldozers were used to bury the unidentified! Dont you think that after losing a loved one, all those petty arguments and brouha about the usage of a single Malay word seem so pointless?!

Day after day, people are struggling against cancer and some other critical illness and yet we bicker and feel uncontented with our healthy lives!? Perhaps its time to take stock and look at the bigger picture. Time to appreciate what we have and our loved ones. Always remember the day you lose your anger with your parent, your child or your spouse may also be the last day you see of him/her! Lets pray for a better Chinese New Year.

Lei Loi Kei Pork Chop Burgers

This is the scene at Centro Square in Taipa one weekend afternoon around 2pm. Long queue?? Whats cooking, you ask??  Long queue all the way to the back!

Yes it was for these pork chop burgers only available at 3PM!!  Freaking big piece of pork chop inside freshly baked buns sold for MOP15 each! Now you know why the long queues!!!

I sent Syd to queue for the burger and i was too hungry , i ordered the pork chop noodles first!! LOL. This is at MOP20 comes with a bowl of curry too if you want.

Finally Syd reaches the front after a 15minutes wait and burgers are served pronto to the “oh so patient” customers!! 

Syd couldnt resists and bites into her “bigger than Big Mac” pork chop burger. Cropped the pic cos her mouth gotta open pretty big to down this burger!! LOL

  

The curry fish balls were also to  die for. Much better than HK ones. This bowl of 10 balls costs as much as a bowl of pork chop noodles at MOP20!! But worth every bite cos so springy and bouncy.

The milk tea is served in a pot with tea leaves and a glass of milk to sieve thru yourself. MOP8 each glass of hot milk tea. Super nice!

Seriously if you are in Macau, and happen to be in Taipa, dont miss out on this cafe. If you cant be there at 3pm for the burgers, you can still eat the fish balls and pork chop noodles cos the pork chop is the same. Its just that the buns are freshly baked by 3pm.

Personally i  would order just the pork chop without noodles or bun if i happen to be in Macau again!!  You can also try the pineapple pork chop buns or some of the other dishes as well. The curry is also a “not-to-miss”! Its homemade and you can even buy a bottle back for MOP60!

A church in Indonesia.

This pic is taken from the most Islamic populated country in the world- Indonesia!

Lord Stow’s Bakery, Coloane

Whilst strolling around the village of Coloane, we smelt something wonderful.  The wonderful aroma came from the Lord Stow's Bakery which is located  in the main square.

This bakery sells a wide variety of sweet pastries like Macanese/Portuguese egg tarts, chocolate tarts, breads, chocolate puddings, and milk teas. Macanese egg tarts are like Cantonese egg tarts except with more sugar and with a caramelized top. Lord Stow’s claims to having invented the Portuguese egg tart, and i can believe this cos they were the best Portuguese egg tarts i have ever tasted.

Costs MOP7 each, with discounts if you buy more  and freshly baked daily!!   Lord Stow’s also has a cafe round the corner but we didnt try it as the small little cafe was already packed.

 

Senado Square, Macau

Senado Square for me is what Macau truly is and should be...not the casinos.  Right now if you go there, its like a mismatch of old buildings and “new” tenants/shops. But round every nook and corner, is another beautiful building with so much charm and character it takes your breath away. Truly a photographer’s paradise. Unfortunately it rained and the temperature dropped so suddenly, we didnt do the place enough justice.Even the cobblestoned streets look so picturesque.

I think i would just let the pics do the talking here and you will get a rough idea of what i mean.