A Trip to ShenZhen

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Hello everyone!!

Early this month, I have set out on a sorta business trip to Shen Zhen....

....seeking for traces of 'hidden gemstones & treasures'!!!

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Day 0

The trip started right in Dhoby Ghaut, SG as we settle our lunch and a few other things

before we fly off to ShenZhen on our flight that is scheduled late evening at 7 pm.

Passerby, *Where do these people come from? Dragging luggage around Town is crazy~~*

Thanks Audrey for my makeshift name cards if I ever need to give them away =)

and also, we spotted Audrey's 'Twin' just right when we are about to leave....

Cutting through Bencoolen Street.....

Blending in as tourists....

We don't really know if ShenZhen's food suits our taste buds......
So better have a satisfying dessert @ Blackball & also instagram a photo before taking off~
as I haven't been taking any flights for almost 2 years which happens to be the period with quite a few plane incidents & we never know if anything bad will happen to us.
For memories' sake!

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While in the Boarding Area, I was really exhilarated picturing myself....

returning back to my hometown to play with many gadgets & electronics.

While on the plane, I was still pretty hyped about my window seat by the emergency exit

and went on taking photos & flipped through those back-seat pamphlet like a ritual.

While rolling to our runway, my excitement was dying off as it took a century to get there...

Night lights are always amazing as they are.

4 hours flight. Landed safe & sound without any hiccups =p

Looking good eh?
We only got literally 48 hours in ShenZhen & it starts NOW!!
It is about 16° / 17°, but with the chilling winds blowing at 10+ km/hr.
A very refreshing feeling indeed when the outside is colder than the indoors's temperature
Lucky me, I have stock up every HeatTech item I can find from Uniqlo for this trip
as Audrey keeps on going about how cold it could be in ShenZhen.

Took a cab & went up to the expressway~
However, there's always Fear in my head thinking....
....if we will be robbed, dropped off at some wilderness & etc.

Nope~ Everything went fine!
Apart from stopping by the roadside trying to confirm our location,
without knowing that we are already right in front the building hahah
*a little hard to spot as the hotel is on the 3rd floor*

Don't be deceived by my photos!!!!
TBH, the hotel is probably the worst that I have stayed in.
The door opening space is also the walking space / packing space for my luggage.
NO wardrobe (not that I need 1), NO safe to keep my valuables,
NO window for view / sunlight, NO door for my toilet / bathroom & also a leaking pipe!!
It is smaller than my room back in SG & the bed is somewhat stone hard rock solid!!

Also, I found out there is NO access to Facebook / Instagram in China after linking up WIFI.
How can I not remember that!? It totally slipped out of my mind.
I know I haven't been using FB / IG much in the past year,
but having to realize that they are being taken away in a snap of a finger.....
NOT COOL MAN~ I couldn't post any photos at all =X

I know I'm not looking for a nice hotel & just a place to stay-over for 2 nights.
That's why I didn't request for them to fix the pipe & faster went out to grab some dinner~

#Supperda with China's version of Lok Lok (Malaysia)
Walked around the area before it started to drizzle & we went with the nearest choice.
It tastes really amazing to have some charcoal-ed BBQ under such cold atmosphere.

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Day 1

Rise & Shine, Everybody~ Time now is about 9.15 am!

Welcome to 华强北, the heart of ShenZhen!!

Seeing the scale of the buildings, really can't wait to shop in all of them~

But first.... Let's eat our breakfast!!!

Tastes different from SG's dim sum, but still acceptable...

In these 2 photos, it is only showing cluster 1* of the malls of the following map.

Mountains of electronics lie within the squared outline & each with its own purpose,

but my aim is basically cover the 2 rows of buildings depicted by cluster 2*.

The plan was to head in the furthest building & clear each of them on the way back.

Guess what? I was too focused with hunting stuff that I totally forgot to take any photos...

Actually, I was rather disappointed as there wasn't much that catch my eye.

HP / accessories & hardware shops were a dime a dozen, but none were up to my standards.

There weren't much fashion apparels / accessories, but it was enough to cheer me up.

It is just sad coz' my inner thoughts were like, *Take my money, PLZ*

I really got nothing to buy!!! ='(

After much dismay, I needed to break for lunch though not having much appetite.
Audrey didn't fail to amaze me with her choice of 麻辣香锅 & 加多宝!

Rushing off to meet someone special~~

Meet Audrey's Uni friend, Larry & wife from GuangZhou;

they happened to be on a business trip as well & coordinated with Audrey for this meetup.

Gotta thank them for driving to 老街 & the wonderful time at E-TREE.

It was very nice getting to catch up with friends from different parts of the world =)

Let's go shopping at 东门町！

We spent time from 6.30 to 9 pm in only 1 mall similar to our Bugis Street

& didn't even have time to walk the rest of the shopping district.

Tabulation of Loots

Ming: 1 x pullover, 1 x jacket & 1 x blazer; SGD $100

Audrey: 1 x super wide angle lens, 1 x bag & 1 x top; SGD $23

Audrey with Ming: 1 x Couple Shoe; SGD $50

Total Damage = around SGD $173

we spend next hour looking at some snacks that we might need to get through the night.

Simply can't resist the variety of the exotic flavors that is available on the shelves

and we easily filled up a basket full of nonsense that we worry how to carry them home.

BTW, I swear that I saw a RAT running right smack in the middle of the groceries section!!!

OH MY GOSH~~ I was seriously stunned for a moment,

and looked up at nearest fellow shopper in disbelief.

The reaction was PRICELESS hahahah~~~~

Before we can get to the train station, we gotta scan our bags like how it is in the airports.

Problem: train tickets for 2 pax x 3 stops = Ұ8 / SGD 90cents ,

affordable transportation, BUT they only accept Ұ1 or Ұ5 COINS.

This calls for a #FACEPALM, gotta go around asking for small change.

and all happened while I barely managed to carry all my loots, snacks & belongings~

Okay, Great! We have finally done with a day's worth of #EPICNESS~!!

Throw all the snacks onto the bed & be awed by what we bought once again.

Showered out & played with super wide angle lens~
Trust me, this is definitely very useful for taking #groufies / #wefies

definitely a well deserved Harbin beer before we end the night

Not gona miss out on some local flavor instant noodles
& 加料 with roasted shredded cuttlefish!
SINFUL, but YUMMY~~

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Day 2

The plan was to look for some local breakfast,

head towards the border to look at HongKong from afar

and any last min gadget shopping in 华强北 .

After check-out, contemplating if we should drag our luggage to tourist attractions

We have already covered the top part in Day 1,

so the plan was to head in the direction of the green arrow as showed in the map.

This is about mid way & this looks more like a night street as many shops weren't open.

Wait a min, could it be that #Mario retired from his daily adventures
and decided to take a break by making some prata? haha

After crossing the overhead bridge, we came across one of their neighborhood wet market.

What a variety of meat, vegetables & fruits.
They have more or less everything one would need for their daily lives.

and also a cutie little toasted sandwich ahhh~~

*We should eat here coz this is probably the only eatery around the area*

simple 云吞面 & 酸菜面线 for breakfast

*Many locals are having their breakfast there, we should try it!!*

Freshly steamed 肉饼加蛋肠

I gotta say that it is quite a big serving even for myself & the sauce is similar to meat broth.

Verdict: Smooth texture & exotic sauce, Pass!

Passing by their somewhat Seniors' Corner.

~ BAD NEWS ~

We've reached the end of the walkway, but unable to look at HongKong from afar

as the Coast Guard Station prevents the public from entering.

Guess we have to make our way back & last min gadget shopping in 华强北 ~

Tech Tip:小米小盒子

Xiaomi is a China affordable online brand offering phones, tablets, chargers & routers.
However, China resellers used this point to their advantage by marking up every products.
小米小盒子 cost only Ұ199 / SGD $43, but is selling Ұ400 on the streets of 华强北.
This point really disgusts me to the core, but what can we do to change it?
After 2 days of sourcing, I purchased one even if it costs more at Ұ290 / SGD $63
as it may cost more buying in SG with the international shipping / from any SG stores.
Lesson learnt: Buy through overseas shipping services
such as vPost / Borderlinx / comGateway

After we check-out, we roamed the streets for quite awhile & spotted a place for lunch....

万岁寿司

This plate of sashimi was at an off-peak discount of 50% at SGD $10.
Come to think of it, this is first restaurant we been to in Shenzhen...
and it stroke our minds that there is no GST and it is really worth it.
Should have eaten more if we didn't order so much food hahah =p