Guangzhou Day 3

On day 3, after having breakfast at a Hong Kong restaurant near Home Inn Lou Hu, we take the long distance train back to Guangzhou. Arriving at Guangzhou East Railway station, we then take MRT (Line 1, RMB4) to Changshou Lu to check in to Home Inn Shangxiajiu 2.

[HomeInn Shangxiajiu 2 branch 如家上下九二店 322，Changshou East Rd， GuangZhou 中国广东省广州市荔湾区长寿东路322号Tel: 020-28350288 ]

From Changshou Lu MRT station, it is about 20 minute walk to the Inn. Disaster! Imagine dragging our luggage at the small walkside with so many people around. @@

After done with check in and drop our luggage into the room, we took our lunch at the noodle shop [JianJi Noodle Shop(坚记面记] right opposite our inn. The bf like it so much that we went again the next day, while for me, it is just so-so and quite plain. If you notice, I did not post much about foods, because here photographs of the foods is not allowed by the restaurant. =.=lll

After recharge, we start our shopping at Shang Xia Jiu Lu. *jaw drop* .. the streets looks like it won't end. And we walk until our legs feel numb.

At 7pm, we walk to Xi Di wharf to catch the night cruise. We ask around for the directions to the wharf, and we walked about 30 minutes to reach. I really think I'd walk the one month distance in 1 day on that day. The night cruise cost RMB48/ pax and lasted for 1.5 hour.

Nothing special but worth to try :)

Shenzhen Day 2: Bo Yuen Dim Sum

Second day of the trip. We woke up early to have dim sum. It's about 10 minute walk from our inn. Too bad, the dim sum only start at 10am. However, they allowed us to have a seat and a pot of tea while waiting for the kitchen to prepare.

Bo Yuen Dim Sum is located inside Yuan Bo Yuan Hotel at 5th floor.

We only manage to take this much picture before a waiter come over and stop us, telling us photography is not allowed. =.=lll This breakfast cost us RMB79, which for me, it's a bit expensive. We can get more than this with RM40 in KL.

After finishing our breakfast, we checked out from Zhu Zhi Lin home inn and check into Luo Hu Home Inn (RMB189) which is a wrong choice. I planned it this way because I thought it would be more convenient to go back to our hotel if we shop until late night. But, it's a mistake because the location of this hotel from the Luo Hu Station/ Shopping mall is about 25-30 minute walk, which is not easy with so many luggage and tiring leg after shopping. And with this 25 minute distance, it's more comfortable to spend it in the MTR back to Zhu Zi Lin Home Inn, which is only 5 minute walk from the station.

This is the external of Luo Hu. MTR station is located below and this is the shopping mall. We only spend around 1 hour walking around inside the mall. For me, there is nothing much to be buy here. The people are so scary (once you asked and not buying, be prepared to be pestered). We then take MTR to Lao Jie, which is more comfortable for shopping, as the price is put up and no necessary to bargain.

And there goes our second day, fully shopping. At night, we took taxi back to our Inn from Luo Hu station, which the taxi driver laugh at us, telling us that we can actually walk back from station. We knew it's walking distance (25 minute is not walking distance for me if there is transport), but we have no energy to walk anymore, thus paying RMB18 for the taxi ride =)

Shenzhen Day 1: Mu Wu BBQ

After the night performance at WOTW end, it was about 9pm and we head back to Zhu Zi Lin. We walked for about 15 minutes to Mu Wu BBQ restaurant.(From ZhuZiLin MTR station, direction facing ZhuZiLin Home Inn, turn left and walk until you reach China Ever-Bright Bank Building, then turn right and walk towards the end at Dong Yuen Bo. Address: 29-30, Yuan Bo Yuan, ZhuZiLin Si Road)

BBQ Chives. Yelks.

BBQ chicken. I like it for it is not fat and oily.

Fried meehon. Yum.

BBQ Oyster! Super yum! And fresh and cheap.

BBQ Buns. Yelks.

BBQ brinjals. I don't usually eat brinjal but this is good.

Total cost of this dinner is RMB78.

Shenzhen Day 1: Window of the World

After a quick KFC lunch, we took the MTR from Zhu Zi Lin station to Window of the World which is 2 station away (travelling time in MTR is 2 minute, cost RMB2).

We came off the MTR to a pyramid, in front of the entrance of WOTW. It's very convenient.

Entrance ticket cost RMB160/ pax, include the live night performance.

We opt to start the tour by monorail which cost RMB20/ pax/ round. 

The rest of the tour speaks by the pictures.

The live performance is superb and worth to watch. It starts at 730pm daily.

Shenzhen Day 1

Another self plan trip. The actual itinerary was different from the planned itinerary, as I did not expect that I need to walk that much, thus overestimated the time. I skipped a lot all of the historical places, and being me, I end up spending all the time doing shopping. Hehe..

Our flight depart at 5.35am. It's really torturing that I wondered why did I book a flight that flies on such an odd time. Departing at 5.35am, we'd been in the airport since 3am and I hardly get enough sleep.

We were woken at 7am for our breakfast in flight. And arriving at Baiyun airport at around 9.35am.

Baiyun airport is very large, at least the largest airport that I'd been to. Before the trip, colleagues already advised that the airport was too big that I might waste a lot of time looking for places. Luckily a week before our trip, the bf was there for business trip, thus I made him familiarize the airport before our trip. Anyway, signage was quite clear in the airport. After collected our luggage and done with clearance, we made our way to Metro station; which is inside the airport too. Just follow the signboard. It's quite a long route, don't worry, just follow the signage, you are not lost (just to assure, because I keep wondering where am I, as I felt we walk so much but did not seen the metro station). We will be taking Metro to Guangzhou East Railway Station, to take the long distance train to Shenzhen.

[In the airport, take GZ subway line 3 RMB12 to go to GZ East Railway Station] 

[Line 3 = orange color. Train interval 5 minute.  35-50 minute distance]

Arriving at Guangzhou East Railway Station, we then proceed to look for the long distance train. We were lost, and ask for route from the officer there. We were then been told that there is no train to Shenzhen from Guangzhou East Railway Station. Luckily I did my homework, I opt to ignore him. We walk out from the Metro station. Looking around for signage, we saw the board written 'Shenzhen/ Hong Kong'. We follow the signboard and found the long distance train ticket center. To buy the ticket, there is auto-machine ticketing and also counter-ticketing. The auto-machine are for locals, and they will need to slot in their identification card. We used the counter-ticketing and were needed to show our passport for identification.

Train ticket from Guangzhou to Shenzhen cost us RMB80 each. Traveling time is 1hour and 19 minutes.

This is how the long distance train looks like.

Bye Guangzhou.

Arriving at Shenzhen, we then walk to Shenzhen Metro (inside and within the same building.. take the escalator to the underground and you will find the Metro. And that is why, be prepare to walk). We take Metro Line 1 from Luo Hu station heading to Zhu Zi Lin station. RMB4. 11 stations. 23 minutes 6 seconds.

We stayed at Home Inn Zhu Zi Lin on our first day which cost RMB227. I booked through China Depot Travel. Payment is only made during check out, but they will request for deposits during check in. I opt for this Inn for our first day because it is only 2 stations away to Window of the World. Expecting that we will spend our time until late night at Window of the World and to have our supper at Mu Wu BBQ nearby this Inn is also the reason. It's walking distance from Zhu Zi Lin Metro Station. It's located inside a building. Please ensure you get out from the correct exit.

We had a quick lunch at KFC beside our Inn. We had a regular burger, italian meatball rice and hot soya at KFC. This cost us RMB32. Time was already 3pm. Head is spinning out of tired but we need to proceed to Window of the World, else our time will not be enough to use.

4D4N Guangzhou Shenzhen

Year 2012. This year, our year end trip was to Guangzhou and Shenzhen for 4 day 4 night. We did not went to too many places as we break our legs (literally) doing shopping. Shopping at Guangzhou and Shenzhen was crazy! The shopping area was so so so so big; yeah.. although most of the shops repetitive. Here's a short summary of our trip.

Day 1: Arriving Guangzhou Baiyuan Airport - Take train to Shenzhen - Check in Home Inn Zhu Zi Lin - Windows of the World

Day 2: Check in Home Inn Luo Hu - Shopping at Luo Hu and Lao Jie

Day 3: Go back to Guangzhou - Check in Home Inn Changshou Lu - Shopping at Shang Xia Jiu Lu - River Cruise

Day 4: Canton TV Tower - Shopping at Beijing Lu - Shopping at Shang Xia Jiu Lu

I will write more details on each day activities later. This is a very very tiring trip. I think I'd walk the distance I need to walk for whole month. I'm not exaggerating when I said I walk until my leg is shaking.

Amante Nail Spa & Body Care

I realized the power of information sharing and it's influence to the people who read it. Even when I intend to go somewhere or purchase something, I will also check the review from others before making my decision. Today, I would like to share my experience of having my very first Nail Tek Spa Pedicure at Amante Nail Spa & Body Care, Kepong outlet.

Never tried manicure and pedicure before, I purchase the deal from living social, after reading review from others of how awesome it was, only to realize they are the invited bloggers. Anyway, what annoyed me most was not really that treatment, it's the staff who keep pushing me to sign up package with them. The moment I step in to redeem my voucher, they insisted me to have manicure as well. I keep on rejecting, commenting I am running out of time. But this does not stop them. They keep on pushing, saying they will offer 50% discount for the treatment. Somehow, feeling annoyed, I insist that I don't have time.

Giving up, they lead me to choose the colors I want and then to the treatment area. Thinking that, this is it, finally can relax and enjoy my pedicure; was so wrong. Even the foreigner staff that doing the pedicure spa for me start to insist me to have manicure as well. Then come another lady bringing a set of nail art and start promoting, insisting me to have those nail art, price starts from RM5/ nail. Noticing I'm not giving any response, she starts to promote on the products they have. I feel headache and dizzy being push like this. Relaxing moment?! Forget it. Halfway of the spa, I really feel like running away already. All I can do is just present that stupid smile on my face and shaking my head to indicates NO.

One customer were lead to the lounge, and from the treatment room, I heard how the staff being pushy insist her to sign up a package with them. I was doomed. I knew it, I couldn't run away. So I called my bf to come over to help me to get out of that hell. After putting on the colors, I was lead to the lounge too. And they start to insist me to sign the package. I said I would want to consider first, and they insist no consideration, just sign it today. With that look ''you don't sign, you don't leave". I have to bear listen to them and continues putting up that stupid smile until my bf come drag me away. Sigh..

Regarding the treatment, the cleaning, scrubbing, trimming, removing cuticles, buffing was there, as claimed by the invited bloggers. Very basic. The so called sauna .. I don't feel any warm.. are you sure that's sauna? Massage .. no.. no any massage. No.. no lavender oil. After the whole process completed, it's only 45minute and not 1 hour 45minute as claimed by the voucher. Awesomeness? No not any awesomeness felt. I'm sad that my first pedicure end up with an experience like this. I don't think I will ever go for pedicure anymore. Or maybe not with this branch anymore. This is a very horrible experience.

p/s: above was just based on my own experience. My friend do enjoy their service from Bangsar outlet. You have to try to know it.