China - Guangzhou

A "whirlwind" tour of Southern China..

No visit to Southern China would be complete without a night stop in Guangzhou, the nation's fourth largest city.
I've been to Northern China and the visit to Guangzhou adds to my China experience.
We arrived from Zuzhou via high-speed train and was ferried way to the downtown area for a lunch treat in a Muslim restaurant.
The food was really good and there was enough time for the rest of the media crew to file in their stories.
I chilled out and scouted around for prices of goods in this city.
Things are pretty expensive in China even though most of the branded goods are made there.
So, it was just window shopping on my part.
We were taken to the Canton tower and rushed away to a shopping district in the mid-town area after the tower visit.
I was quite pissed off when I get to spend less than five minutes on the observation deck. The excuse was "others need to do their shopping". What the fuck!
Not to be rude to our hosts, I complied.
Mahayuddin my old buddy was complaining about time being wasted shopping as none of the folks had spent their Yuans.

The Canton tower

Lunch time!

Hanging out in the mid-town area..

At the base of the Canton tower

A view of the city

The race against time

After we were done with shopping bit, the team leader had to decide.
It was "skip dinner" and head straight to the Chimelong Circus, about an hour's drive from the downtown area.
By the time we reached the mid-way point, everyone was tired.
Azhar Ghazali's jokes kept everyone upbeat and I had very little expectation of the Circus show.
But things did turn out okay.
We spent two hours at the Circus, entertained and satisfied.
Dinner was arranged at the Chateau Star River hotel near Chimelong.
We were staying in the outskirts of Guangzhou and frankly-speaking, I was beat as hell after a heavy meal.
I got the bellhop to arrange for purchase of mineral water and two cans of Harbin beer as a night cap.

An outfitter in Guangzhou

Lots of decent bicycle shops around..

A hipsters haunt in the mid-town area..

Dancing pachyderm

The encore performance

Clowns jesting around

What a rush! 

We were told to check out by 08:30am the next day and get ready for another round of shopping at Yide Lu (toy street). 
This is where cheap souvenirs are sourced (mostly from wholesale outlets) and the guys were really desperate.
I took advantage of the spare time to do some street photography.

The media team - photo-bombed by a porter

A cargo bicycle in action

Street peddler offering shoe-shine service

Toys at Yide Lu

A bicycle shop in the Yide Lu area

Cycling and walking is a way of life

Waiting for my meal at the Baiyuan airport

After rounding-up the media people, we took off to the airport.
There was a long queue on the check-in counter and when my turn came, my carry-on luggage was overweight and I can bring my model train into the aircraft.
There was a need to improvise and I was a bit worried about my crumpler duffle bag because it has no lock.
So, I took a chance, checked it into the aircraft's cargo bay and wrapped the model train with a fellow reporter's gift.
We did okay pass the CIC counters and the rush was on!
I met my roomie, a reporter from the Oriental Daily having lunch. He said that service was prompt.
The guy was having his meal with the fart-faced business writer from a business daily.
Thinking that I can clear this withing 15-minutes, I took a gamble.
The noodles I ordered came in 25-minutes later.
In record time, I finished my meal and boarded the plane.
It was a five-hour ride back to Malaysia and by the time we landed, I was glad to be home.
After clearing the Malaysian CIC, I took a budget cab back to Subang Jaya and was reunited with my doggies.
Michelle my wife was traveling back from South Korea on the same day.
And for the rest of the week, I had my day off and am looking forward to travel to Taiwan for the Taipei Bike show from March 5 - 9.

China - Zuzhou

Been dodging the bullet...

Overseas working trips are tiring.
My last official job was to Harbin in the Heilongjiang district in China.
Ever since, I've been dodging the bullet whenever my boss asks me to cover junkets and working trips.
But this time round, I had to submit.
I don't mind going to different parts of China since its never easy for journalists to enter this communist state.

Mission: Zuzhou

I was given the task to cover an assignment in Zuzhou, about two hours flight away from Guangzhou.
This place is in the Hunan province and the weather forecast wasn't really favourable with temperatures dipping down to 2C at night.
But its a job, someone has to do it.
I joined 20 other journalists including TV crews to visit the China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Company's yard.
They were responsible in supplying KTMB's new EMUs for the KTM Komuter service.
There were a lot of flack on this and I've come to appreciate what China has to dish out after visiting the electric locomotive factory.

With my old friend Mahayuddin Mohamad in Changsha airport

Being an old fart...

The media group was equally divided.
Half the team were veteran newsmen while the other half were rookie reporters.
I was reunited with Mahayuddin Mohamad, an old friend who took the Voluntary Separation Scheme back in the mid-2000s.
He is now attached with Bernama as a photographer. I am very happy to meet and old friend who is dedicated to the job.
The rest of the news crew were people I have never met.
"Are you new? I have never seen you before..," asked one of the reporters from a Chinese daily.
I told her that I was desk-bound and that this was my first overseas assignment in two years.
Some folks looked petrified when I said that.
The rookie kids were okay. Except for one fart-faced writer from a business daily. This guy behaved like we were out of his league. His big boss was with the Star for a year and decided to leave. 
Well, the norm was for reporters with one year or more worth of experience to travel. This guy was only working for five months.. Amazing.
Back at the New Straits Times, I went for my first overseas stint after three years. And I am proud to say that I've planned it alone. It was a job to Japan. I sailed with the Petronas fleet from Bintulu to the Tokyo bay. That was back in 1998. 
In Zuzhou, the job was very straight forward. Get the news, send it back. Get the facts right. Quote the right source. Job done.

A shot with the reporters

A CAD operator at the China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock office

The company museum, neat with all the model locomotives

Experience counts...

I've been to China before and since this was an official trip, protocol and bureaucracy matters. Even more in a communist state.
So, I've anticipated time as the factor. 
Our host would squeeze every drop of blood out of us for formal dinners, luncheons and factory visitation. That's China allright.
From Malaysia, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) had looked after the media team.
I knew their PR man Azhar Ghazali from my reporting days and his head honcho Mr Lim, who was my colleague when I worked with a weekly community newspaper back in the mid-90s.
Right from the start, I've rounded up my "take aways" (souvenirs) at the Baiyuan international airport in Guangzhou.
Getting the gist of the story in this case, was very important.
I listened to the team's project leader's briefing, took notes on the statistics and figures and composed the story in my head.
In short, I knew what I want to write and the only thing that I waited for was the new Rapid KL Ampang Line LRT trains that was previewed at the locomotive yard.
When it was shown, I snapped a few shots, figured out what's important to transmit back to Menara Star and notify the Editor.
The company called for a Press Conference after dinner with SPNB and CSR's big wigs at helm to take questions.
I knew for fact that what they wanted to say was to formalize their statement, make corrections for the record.
That in mind, I went back to my room to file in my story and select the pictures..

A broadcast journalist doing a stand-upper on site

The new train

My job's almost done..

The game has changed.. 

Gone were the days where one had to dail-up to transmit stories.
We have high-speed internet and WiFi to get the job done these days.
I packed my gear the next day, leaving my trusty HP Mini netbook on with an Alcatel 3G modem on with a Chinese data and voice SIM card in to transmit the story and pictures.
I knew for a fact that the Bernama reporter including a few reporters from the dailies had sent in their short takes for their on-line edition earlier.
My take was enough to fill a page with pictures, so, I suggested a page lead including the photo of the new train at the yard.
It took about five minutes to load up a picture with the mobile line while others were struggling with the hotel's WiFi connection.
By the time I finished my breakfast, the story was sent. I alerted my boss in KL about it via Whatsapp messenger and called it a day..
From Zuzhou, we took a high-speed train to Guangzhou where we had a night stop before flying back to KL.
All the years in the business didn't go to waste. I knew I had to meet the deadline and squeeze in every bit of information. Most important of all: get the facts right and quote the relevant source.
And since there were rival English dailies on this working trip, the task was to take them on and give the best report..

Manchuria Road Trip Part 04

Blowing off some steam: Andre Su from Taiwan belting out a Wu Bai number

Our Chinese host had done a great job.
So, here I am, on the last day of my tour in Harbin. We stayed at the Volga Manor which is pretty isolated from the outside world.
On the final day of the programme, we were taken to a few industrial locations where foreign investments had been highlighted.
These are really boring stuff I had to endure until lunch...

Superb feast: Western Chinese Muslim food

We had two Muslim journalists in the group.
So, the hosts must have been really kind to cater to their needs. What I find strange is the fact that they were picky about food, but not the booze.
Anyways, lunch was simply amazing. From Cow's head all the choice morsels to sliced lamb, anyone with Cholesterol problem would have a tough time.
After lunch, we rushed back to the Volga Manor for a tour of the facility.
This was followed by a dinner by our hosts and a trip to the Russian Spa.
Now, having my brains blown away by some Chinese Vodka, I must say that the steam bath.
But what I'm not used to seeing: are naked guys walking and just chilling out. 
For an Asian, I value my modesty, so, I put on a towel.
There were a few Russians who were 'back to nature' at the steam bath. They seem to be pretty okay with it, but I found it to be very gay.

A nice view of the Volga Manor

Sunset in Harbin's Volga Manor

Me, enjoying an electric buggy ride

I had a flight to catch at 05:00am to Pudong airport in Shanghai.
When I staggered back to my room, I've packed everything, leaving only the essentials. 
With only three hours of waiting time, I'd literally slept in my Polo Shirt and Jeans.
And before I knew it, I was on the way to the airport, still reeking of last night 42degrees proof Chinese Vodka. 
Throughout the day, I felt like I was pounded by a steamroller.
It took us two and a-half hours to get to Pudong and when we got there, there was another long and agonizing wait to check-in at the Malaysian Airlines counter.
Rene and I were eagerly waiting for a good lunch break at the departure hall.

Dancing the night away with the Russians

Shanghai beef noodles and dumplings

It took us an hour to clear the check-in counter and the Chinese CIC. 
Once we were done, we went to the airport cafeteria to look for something to eat.
We found a Shanghai dumpling shop and ordered beef noodles and dumplings.
The food was only so=-so and also pretty expensive.
While having a coffee break, I bumped into Ng Sek San, a folding bike kaki. 
Sek San was in Beijing cycling and did a solo ride in Shanghai. 
He brought his Brompton foldie for the ride and told me that the Ko Lanta Storm Riders were back with stories of epic proportions.
I told Ng about the CFAL3 ride on Sept 11 which he had totally forgotten about.
After catching up for a chat, we boarded the Boeing 777-400 which was bound for KL.
At 9pm, after five hours from Pudong, the flight landed at KLIA. I bade farewell to Rene after picking my baggage.
Michelle was waiting at the arrival hall.
I missed my kids and was told that they had waited for my return.
To sum it up, the Harbin trip was very interesting. Now, that I've seen China in a different light, I do plan to return to this ice city during winter...
The only slack I see during the media trip was the fact that the participants had no time to round up some souvenirs for their colleagues at home.
All I can say is that I am grateful to my big honcho who gave me this assignment and to the China Daily who organised a helluva great trip!

Manchuria Road Trip Part 03

Modern city: Harbin in Summer

When it comes to work, the Chinese really knew how to pack it in.
We left for the Baroque development area after breakfast and was followed by a trip to the China Heavy Machinery Company.
There was an English-speaking dude there who is also quite worldly.
He lived in Dubai, UAE for some years before heading back to CHMC.
Anyways, watching how turbine props and power generators are being made aren't my stuff, but the lunch really caught my attention.
On the previous night, we had a 10-course dinner.
At CHMC, they broke all previous records!

Donkey meat

Stewed snow frogs

The Chinese live to eat.
I mean, affluent ones. When lunch was served, everyone gawked at the sight of a plate filled with frogs.
As for me, I was simply amused. I helped myself to a bottle of chilled Harbin Beer and picked up a whole frog, put it in my mouth and started devouring it.
Samo loves frogs! And it was a good treat indeed.
Other exotic dishes include a plate of Donkey's meat. It was done in such a way, the meat was tender and tasty.
After a hearty meal, the entourage was led to the Binjiang wetlands. Yes, more swamps.
It was an agonizing drive as my bowels were filled with Harbin Beer.
I found instant relief once the bus made a stop at the visitor's centre.
At Binjiang, we were given a tour of the wetlands, and in my humble opinion, this is one of the better places to visit in Harbin in terms of its natural attractions.

A young girl playing a Chinese harp

After spending two days in Manchuria (Harbin's old province name), everyone thought I'm a Mongolian.
There is no escape from this stereotype.
Even the Bangla reporter had tried to be funny.
Anyways, moving on, when we were done with the swamp thingies, we were herded to the Volga Manor, a country resort that made its name on the Harbin tourism map.
This is a Russian-styled manor with many replicated Russian architecture.
FYI: Harbin was once a flourishing place when the trans-Siberia railway was laid.

Bread and salt: A traditional Russian welcoming treat...

With the Banglas out of sight, a few reporters - namely three white guys based in Japan and Dubai had organised a trip to a Russian Disco.
Turned out that it was a plain rip-off. 
Lucky for me, I met Khun Rittikorn, a Thai TV cameraman who was willing to share the payment for four bottles of beers.
Later, we joined the China Daily crew at Karaoke before calling it a day...

Manchuria Road Trip Part 02

A view of the Songha River

The day begins as early as 5am in Harbin.
By the time I got up after a short rest, it was already bright and shiny.
Our organizers had set the day's highlights with a visit to Sun Island wetlands and a meeting with the city's Mayor in the afternoon.
For me, the only thing in mind was a solid breakfast and a walk along the Songha riverbank.
Since I am no stranger to a Western meal, my day begin with some sausages, eggs sunny-side up and some good coffee.
Later, I walked along the Songha riverbank to record its morning activities.
I was surprised to see people swimming in the frigid cold water in the river.
Some guys were also fishing on the spot.
It took me about 30-minutes to capture some of the day-to-day life shots before making my way back to the hotel's coffee house for breakfast.
One thing I noticed about Harbin is the fact that its dusty during Summer.
And this city is also busy with traffic as scores of people made a rush to their workplace.
The Communist China which I came to know decades ago, is now a different place.
Harbin is a modern city with everything you can imagine.
The only difference, is that its an authoritarian state. 
Anyways, after breakfast, the Press crowd were herded to Sun Island and another location in the South of the city later.

Wetlands within a city: The Sun Island

Since half of the day would be spent on visiting swamps, I dressed as comfortable as I could.
No point wearing pants and shirt since its going to get dirty.
So, that said, things were smooth at the wetlands. 
Later in the day, we were introduced to Harbin's Mayor and his staff.
During the Q&A session, a representative from Bangladesh had floored him with tonnes of questions.
I guess this is typical for wannbes to impress the rest of the crowd.
Then, at night, the Harbin City Council hosted a welcome dinner.
I had the luck of being seated next to the Bangla guy.
Not only he's irritating, the dude was also very demanding, wanting pictures of him to be taken with high-ranking Chinese officials.
Anyways, that aside, we later visited the downtown area of Harbin and since my bladder was filled with Harbin Beer, the first order of the day was a trip to the gents.
After the tour, I lounged around at Shangri-La's bar and listened to their entertainers perform.
It was lights out and back to packing again before hitting the road towards the Binjiang wetlands and Volga manor..

Exhibits at Harbin's Russian village

Manchuria Road Trip Part 01

Shanghai's Pudong Airport

The timing was really tight as I've obtained my China Visa only days before my trip to Harbin, China.
It was a mad rush to submit the paperwork as China is very strict in allowing journalists into their country.
For this, I blew a hole in my pocket for a 'rush' Visa and its 'service' fees.
And before I knew it, I was onboard flight MH388 to Pudong airport in Shanghai, China.
It takes about five hours to get there from the KLIA and as soon as I alighted from the plane, it was another mad scramble to the domestic departure terminal on the same building.
Thankfully, it had free internet connection where I utilised my waiting time to get in touch with my wife back in KL.
Pudong airport is huge and at the same time, stuffy.
Foodstuff is very expensive here and I was lucky for the fact that I had a piece of snack on my Ortlieb hip pouch.
This kept me going for another few hours before boarding the flight to Harbin at 8pm on the same day.

Staying in touch with my HP Netbook

So, there I was, waiting, waiting and waiting.
It was an agonizing six-hour wait and the fact that the CZ6525 flight to Harbin was delayed didn't help.
I was on this trip with a fellow journalist from Sin Chew Jit Poh, which is a member of the Asian News Network (ANN).
The trip was organized by the China Daily who did a splendid job in keeping things together.

Podung airport at Dusk

Finally, when the boarding call was made, it took another two and a-half hours to land in Harbin.
Meanwhile, dinner was served.
This was a relief as my tummy was already growling.
Even when the food sucked, it was better than nothing.
When I arrived at Harbin, I was greeted by Yolanda Pao, a China Daily staff whom I kept in touch with over the travel arrangments.
At the airport, I finally met Rene Foo, the reporter from Sin Chew daily.
So, basically, we spent 16 hours on the road before arriving at Harbin. We checked-in at the Harbin Shangri-La hotel before calling it a night....