CNY Fireworks Away!

We had a blast!

This is the 2nd time we are playing with fireworks this CNY!

The first time was before we left for CNY holiday. Back then, Piak and GS bought a carload of fireworks, and we drove out to 5th ring area for our free play. That was very fun, far better than what bro and I played last year. There were all sorts of fireworks - my favourite was the "flying bee", after lighting these, fling them into the air and it will fly a distance before lighting up into a mini firework.

But this time, an ambitious Cat progressed to the "Li(2) Hua(1) Tan(4)!! Just heard in the news that a guy had blasted off his arm while playing one of these last week! I was very apprehensive! These Li Hua Tan are shaped like gigantic mushrooms, the size of a pomelo, and requires a launcher to blast them into the air, exploding into a lovely firework display! Yes just like a rocket launcher!

We had to find a very secluded spot outside 5th ring road. Wang shifu found us a perfect spot and we managed to stabilise the launcher over a tree stump. The impact was so great that it created a small crater around the tree stump! There was also a faulty one, which exploded mid-way in the air, sending shock waves which we could even feel though we ran a long distance away!

Prefer to stick to the safer options!

Harbin, China

I have been talking about wanting to go Harbin this winter to my Sales Director. Harbin is his hometown. And thanks to him for making my dream come true, we were in Harbin for our NPD launch at the National Sales Conference. We aslo visited the Harbin Snow-carved City and skiing!

A victim to global warming, the usually cold Harbin only had 2 snowfalls this year, and an unusual warm temperature, averaging about 9 degrees in early Feb, though it was -20 degrees same time last year!

Team Building in Zhuhai & Macau!

We had our first team building at Zhuhai, and crossed-over to Macau for a day trip!

The guys tried their luck at the gambling table, while the ladies went shopping! Everyone was satisfied!

Other thoughts:
Did you know that sometimes what we're good at is actually the thing we don't pay as much attention to (because we're good at it). Instead, we pay attention to the things that we're bad at (because were bad at them). As a result, at a certain point our strengths become our weaknesses because we neglect them.

Lu Gou Qiao, China

Lu Gou Qiao - Marco Polo Bridge - it is said that this is the oldest bridge in Beijing. A historical bridge where a full scale war from Japan was launched. It was said that the bridge is lined by 485 carved stone lions, and each carving is different. At each side of the bridge, are carved inscriptions by Emperor Qianlong. Clearly, some of the stone lions have been restored, but the grey cobbled walk-way and remnants of the multiple bullet holes are authentic.

Other than this one bridge, there is really nothing much to see around this area. Not a must-see in Beijing, only if you have the time to travel about 30-40 minutes each way to the bridge. And time spent at the bridge is less than 40 minutes to stroll across and back, with photo-taking.

Diao Yu Tai in BJ

Management conference this year was held at a villa situated at the foot of Fragrance Hill.
It was a very secluded and serene environment, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Some of us also took a climb up the Fragrance Hill, while the lazy ones took the cable car ride!

Highlight of the conference was a dinner at Diao(4) Yu(2) Tai(2). Enclosed in a very well-guarded compound, the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse is reserved for the exclusive use of foreign dignitaries, accessible only through a private-use highway which is off-limits to the regular urban traffic. A very rare opportunity, thanks to our GM and a very resourceful RA mgr who knows the right people to arrange for this elaborate dinner celebrations. Many of the locals have not even been here, or will never get a chance to come in their lifetime, the same goes for me!

Japan with mom!

Wanted to take mom on a trip, and our plan was to go Egypt, but as there were no suitable travel dates with the agencies, we decided to settle for Japan. Very rushed trip, but quality time with mom! I particularly enjoyed the dips in the hot springs with mom!

Pingyao - China

Pingyao, in Shan(1)xi(1) - is a traditional Han Chinese town, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
GS, Cat n I took a weekend trip to Pingyao. Thanks to Karen, who gave us travel info and suggestions. Via the email, we made bookings at the Tian(1) Yuan(2) Kui(2) hotel in Pingyao, which also arranged for a car to pick us up at the airport.

We took an early flight out from Beijing to Taiyuan aiport in Shanxi. On-route to Pingyao, we got the car driver to stop by Qiao Courtyard House - Qiao(2) Jia(1) Yuan(4), where Zhang Yimou's "Raise the Red Lantern" was filmed. Then we drove for another 2 hrs to Pingyao, before checking into Tian Yuan Kui court-yard style hotel. The rest of the day was spent exploring the well-preserved old town - including a Ming dynasty wall that surrounds the town, a yamen, a qian zhuang (money house), a wu guan (martial art school), courtyard houses, ancient temples etc. preserved just like in its hey days. The next morning, we hired another car from the hotel to Wang Courtyard House - Wang(2) Jia(1) Yuan(4), home of the Wang family - which at its peak had more than 1,000 male servants! This is a must-see if you are in Pingyao, far better than Qiao Courtyard house which only became a popular tourist spot after the movie and another local drama series. And it was definitely worth our while to get an interpreter, or we would not have fully appreciated the Wang Courtyard House.