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Hi All, firstly I would like to apologise for the late post on my trip. The reason been I had been down with a bad bout of flu since last saturday. So here is a breakdown of my trip to Hainan.



24th Aug 2007



The flight was at 1220 hrs but had to check in 2 hrs earlier. I took a cab from home to the budget terminal and check in. After which I had an early lunch and check into the DFS waiting area for the gate to open. At 1150 hrs, proceed to the gate and wait. I called Zhu but she did not picked up the call so sms her. She replied and told me she will be waiting for me at the airport. I am very excited and was looking forward to see her again.


The flight was delayed by 30 mins due to a fueling problem. Managed to get on the plane and find my seat rather easily. Am I glad that they remove the free seating thing and I got a window seat as requested. The plane was almost full for the flight, mostly at senior citizens, uncles and aunties as well as some Chings. Most which I believe is going to visit their relatives in Hainan. So off we go, a 3 hrs and 30 mins journey. I plugged on to my Zen Stone and dozed through almost the whole journey, waking up occassionally to check the time and view the scenery outside. As it get closer to the destination, I feel more excited.


Finally, amid all the delays, I reach Hainan Mei-Lan airport at about 1700 hrs and checked out with my baggage. I was afraid I might not be able to recognise Zhu after not seeing her for almost a year but there she was. We exchanged greetings and I commented on how skinny she looks. She booked a cab which will take us to Qionghai where I will spend the next few days. During the journey to Qionghai, we only talk about Singapore and also some of our life and work stuff, nothing too personal. I asked her how much to book the cab but she said nevermind the cost.


We reached a popular 4 star hotel in Qionghai and tried to book a room but it was fully occupied so we waited for her friend who drove us to another hotel or rather an inn called Sentosa Inn. It only cost $80(SGD$16) yuan a day compared to the $150(SGD$30) yuan for the hotel. Emm, check into the room, not too bad and put down my things before proceeding to a seafood dinner with her friend and her hubby.


The seafood dinner was great, everything is alive and fresh instead of eating dead seafood like what we had mostly in Singapore. I had all types of shellfish and clams (yes, i dun eat clams but what the heck). Basically they had a pot of boiling water and you just throw in some clams, cabbages and flower crabs to cook up a pot of soup. It taste real good. Also had some dishes of clams, fish and prawns, emm, I really enjoyed myself. I offered to pay but again Zhu paid for the meal.


After the meal, we had a walk at a park nearby before her friend drove me round the Qionghai city and we stopped by a park where the locals were doing their evening walk or doing some dancing. It was very much like tap-dancing in Singapore except that this was more folk music. There were also tikam-tikam and battery operated toy cars (those we used to ride when we were small kids). Nice environment and atmosphere. I can feel that the pace of life is more slow pace and relaxed compared to Singapore.


Next we proceed to a roadside stall, where it was really crowded to have some desserts. I ordered a local dessert which looks and tasted very much like bo bo cha cha in Singapore. Had the dessert and chat for a while before they send me back to the hotel to rest. Zhu asked me to call her from my hotel room when I got back but the line wasn't working properly so called her on my mobile. I was surprised when she called my room a few minutes later, she had got the room phone number from the reception. We had a short chat before proceeding to call it a night. Great day...


25th Aug 2007

Zhu and her friend picked me up at the hotel at about 1000 hrs and we proceed to a cafeteria or what they call in Cantonese (sorry dunno how to spell), anyway, it is those that sell tim sum and all sort of bao. I tried several kind of bao including one with coconut filling, also had the porridge and chee cheong fun. Good breakfast. For Zhu, she was chewing away the chicken leg or what they called "phoenix claw" in Cantonese. I was surprised by how much the ladies can eat without growing fat.

After breakfast, I was told that we will be driving to Boao to visit the holiday resort there. It was about 30 mins ride before we reach. The holiday resort is located on an island and is accessible through a bridge link. At the entrance, we told the guards that we are viewing the hotel rooms before deciding if we wanna book a room. The guard told us that there will be a charge of $40 yuan if we did not book any room in the hotel. There was actually nothing much to view except for the decoration and the nice big building they had. I was told that the venue was used to held several important conference. Zhu asked me to take some photos but I asked her to take with me, she refused.

If the photo is badly taken, pls pardon it, I am not that photogenic. Eh, take some effort and courage to post the photo.

Anyway, we spent about 2 hrs there before proceeding to drive to a ferry terminal. Zhu friend waited at the ferry terminal while we board the ferry to visit a beach which is named the best kept beach where sea and freshwater meet (dunno what you call that). Nothing too interesting, just nice beach and lots of people. The weather was really hot and Zhu despite having her umbrella was red all over. Pity her. The visit lasted for 45 mins before we proceed back to the terminal.

The afternoon was spent at their favorite cafeteria where both Zhu and her friend just chattered away the time while I was left wondering what they were saying (they were speaking in Hainanese). We spent about 3 hrs plus there before proceeding to have "Goose" meat as requested by me. When we reach the restaurant at about 1830 hrs, it was already packed with people. The place was really run-down, and it looks more like a shop front rather than a restaurant. There were bones scattered all over the floor and the person that wipes the table for us did not make it much better. In the end, we had to clean up the table with tissue paper. When the goose meat comes, I observed that there wasn't much meat on the dish. Zhu told me it is because we were late. The meat wasn't that tasty also, in fact, it was rather tough and spongy and difficult to swallow. So much for goose meat.. When we had finished the dinner, Zhu asked me if I would like to visit their night life or night spot and I said no problem, as it was still early, I suggested them to bring me to the KTV thay alway patronised.

Post will be updated gradually. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.