Short Story #2 - RM 100 Discounts

So after I dragged few weeks and months to get my car for its regular service maintenance, today I finally did it. 

I went to the workshop where I used to send my car for the past 7 years. The owner/ foreman that used to attend me was busy so his older brother (which I never met before) took place. 

After 45 minutes or so, he told me everything is done - Engine Oil, Oil Filter and Spark Plugs all changed and replaced with the new one. 

As I walked to the cashier, he told me - 
"Everything is RM 268. But I give you discount of RM 100. So you only have to pay RM 168"

I almost want to laugh. Is that a new trick?

Oh come on uncle! I don't even think of haggling you with the price. I knew the price is always around that for minor maintenance. 

..anyway, I just paid and walked away to get my car washed.

I bet uncle think his trick works and he is happy for that.

As for me, well, I make an uncle happy today, though.

Alaska All White Pt. 2

Nature wonder in Alaska is so majestic and I just learned that not everyone can afford to experience it. I never failed to make everyone raised their eyebrow every single time (including the New Yorkers) I mentioned Alaska and married to an Alaskan. Not America, not white guy, not westerner. Alaska has its own grandeur. Alaska does not need renaissance architecture, tallest tower or be fashion capital and yet still a National Geographic Channel's favorite.

..but somehow, few of my girlfriends smirked at me being with Alaskan. To them, Alaska is ceruk kampung to the United States like Kampung Ulus to Malaysia. So my husband is a village boy to them and cosmopolitan stupid. Well, thank you bitches.

During full moon, Alaska glow at the utmost beautiful which my pictures don't do justice. Snow covered hills and mountains illuminate brightens Alaska at night.

I used to see this view only on the cover of novel and posters. I took this shot when we were wandering around in the hope to see glimpse of northern lights which, Alaska still owe me one, until now :(

This taken during Rondy Fur Rendezvouz in Anchorage. Well, we were late (because I woke up so late) so we missed the dog sled race and parade. But it doesn't mean the end of the day because I still can shop around. Good thing about shopping in Alaska is, here got no tax on goods. I really can feel the difference of $$ when I shop at the same shop in LA, for example, Sephora.

And Hard Rock Cafe is soon to be opened in Anchorage too :) barulah cosmopolitan. Ye tak?

I went to Hatcher Pass during summer. So I asked Mike to show me Hatcher Pass again during winter.

I knew Hatcher Pass when I was here during summer. But in winter, this place has change in color like, totally. I can't believe how vast area can change its look until I unable to recognize the spots I've been to, last summer.

This is Susitna River. Frozen. Click Here to see Susitna River during summer.

Everything is so white and it hurts my eyes.

One point of time, I felt like watching a black and white TV.

There is some area, I got totally lost, where the land totally covered with thick snow, then white mountain as its background and continue with white skies. You unable to identify the horizon and direction. I felt I was in world with no dimension. It is kinda scary if I am alone.

Here is my short video in Hatcher Pass

Enough with the all white for now. I bet my pictures hurting your eyes right now.

to be continued.

Guangzhou Stopover

If you are not rushing to your final destination, you can always take your time by having 24 hours stop over/ layover in between your long flight. Book a 1 night stay and do a quickie city tour. This will make you appear having a jetset life (LMAO) and your travel diary seems has more stories to tell. Today you are here then the next day you are there. You save on your flight ticket and you can tick off one more destination out the world map. Flight from KL to LA has few stop over such as Guangzhou, Jeddah, Seoul, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Istanbul, depending which carrier you choose.

Since Mike never set his foot to any part of China, so we took a 23 hours stop over in Guangzhou. Although Guangzhou isn't fancy as big capital Shanghai or Beijing, but it has something that we really like to see.

We booked Holiday Inn Guangzhou because 1) nearby airport 2) it provides free airport shuttle, 3) 99% reception staffs of chain hotels are fluent in English 4) chain hotels has standard service which you can expect. You do not want to be surprised on your short stop!

We were ready to get cheated upon arrival in Guangzhou airport. All sign mostly in Chinese, most people couldn't speak English. We tried to get the direction where to find Holiday Inn shuttle area, and suddenly, this guy so eager to help by willingly to call the hotel with his mobile. Ching chong ching chong on the phone, then he said we have to inform the hotel earlier if we wanted to get pick up by free shuttle. So since we didn't inform the hotel, so, no transport provided. That guy put his hotel transfer price - RMB100. I am in Tourism industry and dealing with hotelier for quite sometime. Knowing the standard service they provide, I don't think it is totally different in this part of the world. Holiday Inn is no boutique hotel that can set up their own service by their own grandmother's standard.

I was mad at Mike. Because he was the one who booked the hotel. Why he didn't give them the flight details. But at the same time, we do not want to surrender and succumb to the stranger's kindness. I grabbed his roaming mobile phone (and I don't care how much the bill will cost) and called Holiday Inn directly and thank God English speaker Chinese on the other line. It turned out that we only have to go to DEPARTURE HALL UPPER LEVEL, Gate A and we will see MPV with Holiday Inn  logo waiting every 10 minutes. Simple as that.

So, we won the 1st battle and got checked in safe and sound. Room is big but only Chinese TV program and English TV program with Chinese voice over on telly. So we sleep.

...and woke up to very limited choices of breakfast. I respect them Chinese eat veggies for breakfast but it is overly salted so it might give me high blood pressure instead of good nutrition.

and we were surprised that the hotel provide this in case of fire! Usually hotels asked you to stay low while get your way to the fire escape, which can slow down your move, so mask like this can make a very big difference during the emergency. What a good practice.

Anyways, with the help of English speaker reception staff, he helped us with the direction and map. He suggested us to take the train from the airport to access the city. So we checked out and return back to the airport, stored our luggage over there and so excited to explore the city. 

The train costs us like RMB 10 per way. It is cheap. And the route connected to all touristy spot.

We have like 7 - 8 hours before our next flight to LA. So we heading straight to Canton tower. The entrance fee ranging from RMB 150 to 498 depending on levels and what's include. We go for RMB 228 which enable us to the 488 lookout and spider walk, minus all the attraction such as bubble tram and sky drop. 

Standard pose stating that "hey, I've been there, done that"

We created our memories by eating ice cream up here.

We are here to witness the massive architecture of Guangzhou. Unlike most Malaysian see Guangzhou for shopping - ONLY.

I must admit that I was amazed by the buildings in Guangzhou. It looks like so 'Asgard' in a glance and very futuristic. BUT what amazed me more is that the people living among these futuristic landscape and construction still refused to step up to modern civilization. Spitting in commercial building and I saw a mother helped her son peeing in the city light TRAIN conclude that civilization and sophistication is not about the landscape, able to built tall building, your outfit or currency you are holding. Civilization is in your mind. There is no 1st world country or city if you still thinking and act like a 3rd world class. Macam KL, kencing air bersepah sepah di public toilet. Macam kera baru dapat toilet bowl.

Pearl River.

I unable to take the picture without having the column in it, left or right. Because of the tower spiral  design structure, the column of this tower is kinda close to each other so it gives the visitors very limited wide panorama view to capture.

and this is why you need to include 488 lookout observation in your ticket entrance.

488 lookout is the height in meters, the highest outdoor observation deck visitors can reach in Canton Tower. It offers 360 degree view of Guangzhou city but um, still with a little obstruction - that damn bubble tram. So, if you really wanted unobstructed view, you need to pay the ultimate price which is RMB498.

That day was kinda foggy, so I told Mike it is best to come here at night. We can see the city lights and colder. So we might come here again at night, with the bubble tram ride.

and this is 'sky drop' in Canton Tower.

Some picture taken by the professional photographer during the sunset

and this is mine :(

Next, we headed to Shamian Island.

We decided to visit Shamian Island due to the descriptions -  'Historical building' left by the French. It is a sandbank island, so do not expect blue beach and breezy wind.

Well, nothing much I can say except it looks just like Penang. Most of the building refurbished and nothing really old over here. Rows of franchise cafe like Starbucks and Subway can be founded here.

some little girl imitating the statue pose

and this is rivalry pose by another little girl.

Why I felt like those statue is 'pervert' kind of statue?

On the bridge away from Shamian Island, there is a familiar sighting. Street sellers selling souvenirs and all.

I think he meant 'Muslim Local Flavor'

This, I couldn't help but stop by to try it. It is pure mandarin oranges old skool squeezed into a bottle and it taste so fresh and sweet like a first teenage love.

Love in a bottle. RMB 5. Once you tasted this, then you will find Peel Fresh or any drinks with no additive, no sugar self pro- claimed is BS.

 Shamian Island and its surrounding.

So we had our very late lunch at Pizza hut somewhere across Shamian Island and back to the airport.

That's the end of our stop over tour in Guangzhou.