Returning to Shanghai
Lacking sleep over night flight due to stomach flu and frequent visit to toilet, and arriving at the airport and coming out of the maglev station and subway station later in the early morning heat, I was worn out. It was a well worth work out badly needed: dragging the 22kg (2 kg in excess the allowable) luggage home for a short walking distance to home, hauling or carrying the luggage up four flights before my heart yelled "Home sweet home!" Feeling great!
I like the rigorous physical exercise when carrying and hauling luggage. I have been dying to need that. I need some good work out. The whole winter nearly incapacitated me physically and ultimately chewed into my mental momentum.
Speedily, I hit for a quick shower and took off to work on time by 9 am. I could not sustain, however, and left the office right before 11 am for home to sleep until 1 pm, and skipping lunch all the way. The nap was helpful for me to go on in office. Still, nothing was achieved since my buzzing mind was tired. I generally whipped up some work planning, following up on matter from before the trip and surfing online for news to read...for the rest of that office afternoon.
The trip back was good for me although I could have been going back in October. First, it was a wishful break away from the monotonous office routine; second, it was to replenish my need for tropical sun in Malaysia and Indonesia while returning to work fresh with meaning but again into the gloomy sky and still chilly spring of Shanghai; third, I need to get away from the Cabin Fever built up over the winter.
To usher in World Expo opening on April 30, Shanghai city was given two extra holidays over the May Day holiday. Seizing the hard to come by opportunity, and nearly crazy over flip-flopping schedules for the trip wishing to complete several tasks and meeting as many friends, I topped the holidays with all my annual leaves front and back of the given holidays to stretch the trip up to 10 days total.
The trip to Bandung, Indonesia was first proposed by a friend before I took off from Shanghai. After done with things to do in KL, we impromptu decided again to fly off to Bandung, with air ticket price just a little higher than the offer earlier on.
I hope by now you have received parts of the uploaded photo albums about the 4-day, 3-night trip. Another big batch of the trip photos is on the way; this batch will be more about buildings.
This first weekend after the trip, I was unpacking the luggage, putting things away in their respective places and order. I did laundry nearly all day on Saturday yesterday. Washing winter and summer clothes to keep and use respectively. It was gloomy out but the light wind all day helped to dry the 4-round laundry.
Today on Sunday, it has been raining over night. This keeps me indoor; however, I shall be out despite the seemingly chilly and wet weather. I need to send clothes to a laundry service nearby home for them to iron. I am also running some chores such as paying utilities bills, picking up fresh produce, dairy product, bakery item and others at a neighbor wet market. All will be done to get ready for this upcoming week.
I guess I want to go out to enjoy the rain while it is still around. When intense hot summer is around, similar to Florida or Deep South weather, and nearly without rainfall, it will again keep me indoor with inevitable air conditioning on.
Jeremy
Shanghai upon the Sea
May 9, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Water Lilies: Summer in the City
When seeing water lilies, it signals the official arrival of summer. Water lilies blooms during summer.
Within the People’s Park, year after year, they are grown in the small ponds. This occasion, also displayed in small and huge planters, the water lily cultural festival is celebrated throughout
It’s always so exhilarating to see these charming beauties blooming ever silently in the middle of the ponds. They seem to regally stand tall amongst the large leaves, if not swaying along altogether when the wind starts blowing or the rain pounding on them.
Water lilies are especially more so the hot subject of Chinese arts, in paintings, poetry, dramas, religions and many others. At differently selected strategic locations, many professional or non-professional photographers or tourist passersby were aiming their cameras at their individual central focal points in search of their best of momentary memories.
Shown here, these are a few quick shots taken after visiting the Shanghai Gallery of Art, and when cutting through the People’s Park while on the way to see another art show at The Bund. These are a few glimpses of the very captivating beauties; they, I think, generally sum up the oozing beauty of water lilies. In days to come and before turning cooler and cold, they will bloom ever more. They are so beautiful.
Jeremy
Shanghai upon the Sea
July 18, 2010
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