Flying to Hangzhou!

[Firestorm1978]

I saw a number of males cross dressing..

A lot.......saw many when I was there.

 

[Firestorm1978]

Actually, my sister lives in Wellington. Thought of dropping my daughter with her for one month then I go tour around New Zealand myself. But I got quite a few work stuff ongoing during this period so I cannot be away for that long.

What?! What are you waiting for? Just drop your child there and go have a wonderful road trip there! Trust me.......the route from Christchurch to Queenstown is really damn shiok......can make multiple stops (if you are driving) just to view the lakes, mountains and have a picnic. Some roads are totally devoid of cars.............can simply stop there just to take photos (still gotta look out for traffic la). Loooooooooooong stretches of coastal roads if you plan your route.

 

[Spike]

What?! What are you waiting for? Just drop your child there and go have a wonderful road trip there! Trust me.......the route from Christchurch to Queenstown is really damn shiok......can make multiple stops (if you are driving) just to view the lakes, mountains and have a picnic. Some roads are totally devoid of cars.............can simply stop there just to take photos (still gotta look out for traffic la). Loooooooooooong stretches of coastal roads if you plan your route.

Maybe next year.. this year is challenging for me to be away for that long.

Need to work to earn money.

 

[carey]

Their dim sum is quite similar to our standard, but their steamed dumplings and buns definitely thrash ours hands down (in terms of size, juice within and variety).

Their goose is a MUST TRY (if you know where to go), including the traditional roast duck. The solid ones will keep reusing the delicious juices that dripped from within and used it to 'marinate' other ducks. The roast duck is also nice. IMO, their char siew and roast pork similar to our standard (we do have some really nice ones locally).

Just close your eyes and you can find all sorts of delicious food over there, including Foshan. Most importantly, is the cheap cheap prices (unless you go to those atas restaurants.......but even then, still cheaper than ours)

I actually don't know which is a good roast duck place - I got my info from YT and TK videos hahah

But I am guessing most would be good if locals visit (then again, some visit for the 'cheap' price and not good taste)

Yes, that's why I am planning a day trip to Foshan just to makan; but age is catching up, doubt can eat much

 

[carey]

What?! What are you waiting for? Just drop your child there and go have a wonderful road trip there! Trust me.......the route from Christchurch to Queenstown is really damn shiok......can make multiple stops (if you are driving) just to view the lakes, mountains and have a picnic. Some roads are totally devoid of cars.............can simply stop there just to take photos (still gotta look out for traffic la). Loooooooooooong stretches of coastal roads if you plan your route.

I also would love to go back to NZ if I can get the chance; but hard to take such a long leave these days

I prefer South Island to North and I love the BBQ there

 

[carey]

Actually, nothing to hao lian. Those stupid influencers just want to post on social so that foreigners will be 'tempted' to go and try. I was one of the victims who kena chopped.

Sometimes, they pay them too. Locals usually don't go there to eat.....cos they know the real deal.

Yup, think a lot of these influencers were paid to do the videos

 

[carey]

That's true......I hope to visit Peru one day......visit the UNESCO site.......looks incredible!

Same - but the long flight is putting me off hahah

 

[Full_Cream_Milk]

Yes, that's why I am planning a day trip to Foshan just to makan; but age is catching up, doubt can eat much

Shunde is the gastronomic centre of Guangdong.

Go there eat first.

Followed by Foshan. Then lastly, commercialised Guangzhou.

 

[carey]

Shunde is the gastronomic centre of Guangdong.

Go there eat first.

Followed by Foshan. Then lastly, commercialised Guangzhou.

Thanks, let me ask Deepseek to rearrange my itinerary hahah

 

[Firestorm1978]

I also would love to go back to NZ if I can get the chance; but hard to take such a long leave these days

I prefer South Island to North and I love the BBQ there

The meat quality is definitely another level. You see all the free-roaming animals there...........with such lovely weather and vast farm land for them to roam around.......the meat will definitely be top notch.

I also dislike the North. That's why I chose to start from Christchurch to Queenstown. Drove along the coastal route..........the views are incredible.....once reached the south, embark on the mini-cruise trips.......dolphins swimming so near us with the clear water and mountains..........really cast all your worries and sadness away.........

However, really can't stay there for long if you are foodie. Will crave our local food. Their Asian food is really terrible (imo).....saw a bowl of 'laksa' actually cost more than SGD20++ . Maybe they just use a packet paste and then charge a crazy price.

 

[Firestorm1978]

Shunde is the gastronomic centre of Guangdong.

Go there eat first.

Followed by Foshan. Then lastly, commercialised Guangzhou.

Shunde roast goose and duck is UNBEATABLE!!!!

I actually went all the way there to try it before...................SHIOKKKK!

 

[Firestorm1978]

Same - but the long flight is putting me off hahah

Me too.........can't sit in an airplane for more than 6 hours nowadays.......getting old and I have a horrible back issue. Unless stopover and then stay at a hotel overnight.

 

[Full_Cream_Milk]

Me too.........can't sit in an airplane for more than 6 hours nowadays.......getting old and I have a horrible back issue. Unless stopover and then stay at a hotel overnight.

Anything over 6 hours is auto biz class

 

[Full_Cream_Milk]

The meat quality is definitely another level. You see all the free-roaming animals there...........with such lovely weather and vast farm land for them to roam around.......the meat will definitely be top notch.

I also dislike the North. That's why I chose to start from Christchurch to Queenstown. Drove along the coastal route..........the views are incredible.....once reached the south, embark on the mini-cruise trips.......dolphins swimming so near us with the clear water and mountains..........really cast all your worries and sadness away.........

However, really can't stay there for long if you are foodie. Will crave our local food. Their Asian food is really terrible (imo).....saw a bowl of 'laksa' actually cost more than SGD20++ . Maybe they just use a packet paste and then charge a crazy price.

Side topic question:

If really curious about NZ and don’t want to self drive or follow tour group,

Which is the best city to start for a beginner?

Or there is really no point go NZ without self drive to those scenic spots?

 

[Firestorm1978]

Anything over 6 hours is auto biz class

Due to my back issues, I have to take biz class (not rich...just saving enough to take a biz flight) most of the time. Actually, after trying biz from many airlines (not hao lian......just stating), I really don't see the hype. Just paying thousands of dollars on a small recliner seat.....if not for my back issues, I would gladly take Econ or Premium Econ and save the extra thousands for my trip. If you take those reputable airlines, the flight attendants will usually treat you with the same politeness, regardless whether you are Econ or Biz.

As for the meals, really nothing special. They simply place the food on plates and make it presentable and 'classy'. To be frank, for the extra money spent, can get even better quality ones from the food court / hawker centres! For e.g. SQ provides Bak Chor Mee (LOL) for their Biz Class menu. For those who don't book-a-cook for their lobster thermidor and get the bak chor mee, damn boh hua.

 

[Firestorm1978]

Side topic question:

If really curious about NZ and don’t want to self drive or follow tour group,

Which is the best city to start for a beginner?

Or there is really no point go NZ without self drive to those scenic spots?

To be frank, go NZ without self-drive is really pointless imo. NZ is huge. That also means their 'places of interests'/attractions can be spread far apart in terms of distance. You really go there for their scenic views and landscapes. Not those typical attractions you find in a city state.

Thus, if one can self-drive and you are into scenic views.....then NZ is for you. Imagine........self-drive those long (mostly with few cars or none) stretches of mountain and coastal roads........the blue lakes and sea just beside you as you drive. Then, if you find a particular damn swee scenic spot, just stop your car (they have sign boards to indicate if there is a scenic spot) , park it and have a picnic there with the sea/lake right in front of you (enjoying the super nice breeze and weather).

For me, best city to start (if you are not into urban/city attractions) would be Christchurch or Wellington. Then venture south. Go YT.....you can find out more.

 

[carey]

The meat quality is definitely another level. You see all the free-roaming animals there...........with such lovely weather and vast farm land for them to roam around.......the meat will definitely be top notch.

I also dislike the North. That's why I chose to start from Christchurch to Queenstown. Drove along the coastal route..........the views are incredible.....once reached the south, embark on the mini-cruise trips.......dolphins swimming so near us with the clear water and mountains..........really cast all your worries and sadness away.........

However, really can't stay there for long if you are foodie. Will crave our local food. Their Asian food is really terrible (imo).....saw a bowl of 'laksa' actually cost more than SGD20++ . Maybe they just use a packet paste and then charge a crazy price.

Yes, I am a meat lover and when I was in NZ, it was steak and BBQ most of the time

I can go without Chinese or local food for quite a long time, so not a big issue for me hahah

The North is just so grimy and Auckland is full of drunks when I was last there - maybe it has improved (not holding my breath)

The South is more pristine and full of beautiful sights - we had one of the best horse rides there in a sheep farm that came complete with flowing stream, rugged hills etc (almost made me want to be a sheep farmer in NZ) hahah

We also stayed on the shores of Lake Te Anau - it's so big that it was also like being at the seaside

There was also a glow worm cave there but we were badly bitten by sand flies

Walking and hiking on the glacier was also an unique experience

 

[Full_Cream_Milk]

Yes, I am a meat lover and when I was in NZ, it was steak and BBQ most of the time

Then Argentina is your heaven.

 

[carey]

Anything over 6 hours is auto biz class

Yes, but even some of the lie flat beds can still be quite uncomfortable

Recently took ANA to Tokyo and back - couldn't sleep on their flat beds so my red-eye flight left me with red eyes

 

[carey]

Then Argentina is your heaven.

But so far away hahah

I will settle for Japanese beef, which I had like almost every other day when I was in Toktyo recently hahah