Impressions of China

I always didn’t have a good impression of the places in China, especially after my trip to 北京, 成都 and 天津 in 1993. Always felt that the culture there was odd and the environment not cosy nor authentic enough. Well in 深圳, you get to visit some 7 storey shopping mall with only 50% of the 1st floor shops still operational, barely. The rest have closed down. Seems like the shopping business here is difficult.

This place has newly lined up buildings and classy subways; yet with ladies eating food(rice) from rubbish bin. I saw her at 3p.m. and again at 8p.m. Wondering if it’s just a sympathy show.

Reasons why I should consider carefully before stepping foot onto 深圳 ever again.

1. People spit while walking
2. Hospitable people are hard to find
3. Irritating marketing techniques, inclusive of Sim Lim Square style showering of paper flyers and "follow you all the way" nagging/pestering
4. Roads don't have road signs/names, difficult to navigate
5. A booked car ride for 600 bucks for 3 eventually ends up squeezing party of 7.
6. Nothing to shop
7. Movie tickets are twice as expensive as Singapore's during weekends
8. Begging along roads
9. Queue-ing for food purchase is not in their education system
10. Polluted air

Just yesterday night, Seng Kiat suggested to us about going for a trip together next June, Alvin remarked that his perference is 北京. Gosh... Hopefully not, please. I wouldn't mind India even.