Suzhou | cold and hungry

After our Ou Garden tour, we went for our Suzhou dinner. Everyone was cold and tummies were rumbling. Tummies got hungry pretty fast in the winter. Lol. 

We took 2 tables in a room and soon our food were served on the table. 

The prawns were bigger and nicer here, compared to what we had in Wuxi. Cooked with black pepper, I had a lot of these prawns. 

Omelette was fine but the roasted pork was good. Probably we were hungry, everything tasted delicious. 

The deep fried nugget coated with white sesame seeds was a hit among the children. It was tasty, no oil smell or taste to it. 

We ate a lot of stir fried cabbages in China. Either cabbages or cauliflowers in almost every meals. 

This fish with salted mustard dish was good and everyone enjoyed it as we did not get to taste that in other places. So appetizing to go with white rice. 

On the other hand, this deep fried fish with sweet sauce was not a hit among us because it has so many small bones. Not easy to eat but the flesh was sweet and tasty. If only it did not have so many bones in it, bet everyone would enjoy it more. 

Other dishes on the table included vegetable soup and shredded cucumber. 

Another unusual dish was this. Stinky beans was our guess. Did not taste good. 

Lastly for noodle lovers, we got this noodle. Like stir fried kampua in soy sauce. 

Did we enjoy the food?? Yes we did. Probably we were cold and hungry. Lol. 

Shanghai | hot pot with different dining experience

For our final meal in Shanghai, we went to this well known hot pot restaurant for a warm meal with unique treatment and different dining experience. 

Hai Di Lao. It has many outlets all over Shanghai but we went to the one on 6th floor of a shopping mall. I don't remember the name of the mall now.

Once the lift to the restaurant opened up, we were warmingly greeted by friendly and smiling well-dressed staff at the lobby before being ushered to our tables.

We were served with warm face towel to wipe ourselves before another staff brought over the hot pot. One side was spicy Szechuan soup while another was mild mushroom based soup.

We were given aprons to wear (if you want to), they even has smaller sized aprons for children. For ladies, they would provide hair bands if you need to tie up your hair.

Soon the staff went to our table to serve us. They helped us to cook or inform us on the duration to wait for the food to be cooked.

I wasn't feeling well that day so hubby went to make me this beef porridge. So sweet of him.

For kids, they served this fried nuggets to them.

Not only that, they also gave out free toys to little kids. My boys got this car while girl got a doll.

More and more ingredients added to the hot pot.

And you could mix and match your own dipping sauce. This was made by my man.

They even served dessert like this mochi balls. I took one, not liking it. Lol.

I heard customers could get free manicure if they asked. I didn't. Should have but I wasn't well so no mood for any pampering that evening.

Our tour guide also mentioned that customers going to the restaurant would never dine alone. There was once when he went to eat by himself, a lady staff came and comfort him. Talking and making sure he had a good meal.

While we were there, we were treated to noodle making. A very young man would walk around the restaurant and do some noodle swinging on any tables that requested for handmade noodle.

And at one point, I spotted someone doing the face changing act. A short act to entertain the customers especially the foreigners.

A customer on one table was celebrating his birthday. And suddenly some of the Hai Di Lao staff went to that table, started to sing and cheer for the birthday person. That was very heart warming.

I had few glasses of this plum juice. Very refreshing although sweeter to my liking. But it went well after all the food consumption.

Did I enjoy this rather unusual dining experience?? Yes, it was kind of interesting and same time, rather good to be treated like a customer. As for the food, it was so so to me. Not many fresh ingredients, more processed food. We did not finished the whole course as we were full by then.

If you are curious, there are few Hai Di Lao chain outlets in Malaysia. Can give it a try for that exceptional and unique customer service experience.

Shanghai | 88th floor

I didn't expect to like Shanghai as much as I did. I guess the thrilling Disneyland adventure and view of the metropolitan city from a high point changed my impression of this busy concrete city.

Not for the fainted-heart, the travel all the way up to 88th floor of Jin Mao building, one of the tallest buildings in China.

Before we went to the observation deck, we challenged ourselves to take shot of the 3 tall buildings together. Trick?? Selfie mode looking up.

3 buildings standing tall next to each other, Jin Mao was the one on the top

After all the photo taking, we were ushered into the Jin Mao tower to take the lift. Alas, the long queues to the lift was challenging and painful. Many people especially Chinese tourists. They either cut queues or kept pushing and squeezing you around.

Thankfully we did not endured the queue for so long as our tour group was given access to the lift even before our turn. Probably because our group was smaller so we were to grant access to the deck.

The view on top was worth all the queue. Of course we were warned first hand of invisibility.

The trip in the lift was a great experience itself. All the way up to 88th floor in less than a minute! That was one thing!! The pressure in the ears was another thing, felt like you were climbing up a very high mountain.

We didn't spent a long time on 88th floor as each group was given time for visitation.

Foggy view from the top, everything looked blurry. But the buildings along the river scene was spectacular, I thought.

Another tall building next to Jin Mao, I believe it was Shanghai World Financial Centre

Where you pay to go skywalking

Skywalk poster

Video on Jin Mao tower

Looking down into centre of the tower (Hotel Atrium) 

How high we were

Shanghai | A day in Disneyland

We have never been to any Disneyland so this was our very first. Shanghai Disneyland! The biggest in the world, Shanghai Disneyland was opened in 2016!!

The much anticipated programme  in our travel itinerary, the kids as much as the adults were looking forward to that morning when we were to visit Disneyland.

After breakfast, we reached Disneyland around 10am. It was a long walk from the entrance (where our bus dropped us) to the entrance of the park. Once we reached the entrance of the park, we were to queue up, had security check on our bags and face and ticket recognition scanning before we were allowed to enter. But it worths all the hassle and crowded queue once we entered Disneyland!

From far away, we could see the picturesque Enchanted Storybook Castle. It was so surreal to see the castle right in front of me!! This castle is Disney's biggest and tallest of all!!

Thank you, Mr Walt Disney for creating Mickey Mouse and many iconic cartoon characters. 

It may be winter but the park was still looked beautiful with flowers and green landscapes. Thank God it wasn't so cold that morning as the sun was shining on us.

We played few rides and our first ride together was in Pirates of the Caribbean. About 20 to 30 minutes wait but we patiently waiting for our turn. 

It was a fun water ride with smoke, sound effect and water splash in the dark tunnels.

Then we had a short tour in the pirate ship.

Together with Jan and Jay, I went to challenge my strenght in Adventure Isle. Jamie could not play as he was too short so hubby stayed behind with him while the 3 of us went to queue and play.

In the video, I (in white jacket) was urging Jay to move along the loose, hanging planks.  And miraculously he moved swiftly than me while I was still on one of the planks. I shouldn't worry too much about him. Lol.

By then everyone was hungry and it was almost 2pm. We ate in one of the Western restaurants in Disneytown, Wolfgang Puck Kitchen & Bar.

Pizza!! So so good. Other dishes included seafood carbonara and chicken sandwiches. Of course the food was good, a renowned international chef restaurant chain.

Then we checked in again and went to Tomorrowland to play the Tron. And again Jamie couldn't play as hasn't reach the height limit so the other 3 went for the ride. 45 minutes wait according to the app.

While waiting for them, Jamie and I went to see tge Avengers show. A new recruit training as it was called, there was special appearance of Captain Marvel and Black Panther. 

Even after we finished the show and went for toilet break, the others haven't finished their Tron ride.

330pm was the time that everyone was waiting for every day. The Disneyland parade called Mickey Storybook Express features most of the Disney cartoon characters. More than 10 minutes street parade. 

After that we went for few family rides such as Buzzlight planet rescue ride, Stitch Encounter and Toy Story's Slinky Dog ride.

It was getting dark soon and we settled our dinner in the food court in Tomorrowland. We were having burgers for dinner.

Then it was almost 8pm to catch the firework display so we walked pretty fast and headed back to the castle. 

Many crowds were already standing or sitting, patiently waiting for the show to start. We watched the firework and light show for a while and before it finished, we decided to head back to the car park. A long walk back. Worry of big crowds and jam so we went back earlier to the car park for our bus.

Hope you enjoy my photos of Disneyland snippets. As tomorrow is New Year, I would like to wish my friends and readers a 'Happy 2020!' Wishing you all a blessed, wonderful and happy New Year!!! See you guys in 2020!