Winter trip to Beijing and Shanghai Day 4

Day 4 : Beijing

This is our 4th day in Beijing  . Today we feel very fresh . Last night we really have very nice sleep after very hectic and tiring  schedule yesterday . The feeling of excited and awesome plus looking forward for exploring a new places are always there which make us more active ! The most exciting agenda today is visiting the GREAT WALL of CHINA .

Today our activities :
1.  Visit  the Silk Show Room . Something to share , if you like silk things , I think it is worth it to buy especially the silk comforter and the silk clothes for " baju kurung ". The price is reasonable and you can   bargin .

2. Visit Great Wall of China . This is one of the seven wonders in the world . And most of us feel very  excited and can't believe that we are at the Great Wall and climbing on it . You can see the great view from the top . We really have a great  wonderful time at this place ! For your info ,  the temperature  is the most cooler -10 Degree C and it is really feezing especially when the winds is blowing .

3. Visit to Summer Palace ( afternoon ). This is a  special palace for the emperor to stay during summer      season since during this seasons the  temperature in Beijing  is  extremely hot ie  40 Degree C , so special man made  lake was made inorder  that the temperature around this area is  always cooler and can be maintained around 20 Degree C . During winter , this area  become more cooler compared to another palaces in Beijing and during our visit  , the lake water  become frozen  and even we can walk on it . The palace is located at the Longevity Hill  and the  lake known  as Kunming Lake.  Amin ,our tourist guide , told us to be more careful with the hawker at this area because they are more  " naughty" and there are a lot of fake money in the air , and if we not interested to buy , they will ask to change  some  small  money  ...And it is  true ,  on one occasion , one of the hawker asked us to changed " yuan " but we didn't bother as we remember the advice by Amin .   Thanks Amin !

4.  We went for our lunch at the big muslim restaurant and performed our solat at the prayer room ( surau )

  available . We can find a lot of Malaysian tourist over here where we have a chance to say hai @ hello         and greets each other . This shows that nowadays , Malaysian like to travel abroad !

5. Visit Jade Centre . I think those who already read from the posting of other blogger on their experienced can predict what will happen over here . Yes ! , exactly ! they are really a great actor @ strategy how to make a good sale  ! The script is the same ...he  claimed as a son of the owner and start telling stories on his father jade business ...at the end , he gave a free gift  of pearl ring  to each one of us as a token for the friendship and showing the hospitality ... Ultimately  he try to sell the pearl necklace  which he  give special discount from 4800 yuan to 300 yuan ONLY !.. and the salesgirl look  surprise and  unbelievable that her boss give a BIG discount...  !! .. but none of us  believed it and then we just quickly move OUT !  From my observation after that , our Amin look a little bit upset , maybe he will get less commission from that store.....

6. Shopping at the Yashow Market . Actually this is a 5th floor of shopping complex . This is the place where you can shops until you drops and most of things , made in China  ! There are a lot of things you can purchased over here  and the price really cheap but of course after your " fierceful"  and 'powerful" bargin . For example like me , 3 pairs of POLO collar grade A T shirt , the price I bought  300  yuan from original price mentioned 1,500 yuan   The trick , if they didn't agreed with your bargain ,  then try to go out and left their shop , believe me , they will call you back for a close deal !  Nearby there are a big shopping complex which sells branded things like Adidas and UNIQLO outlet . We bought some shirts from this UNIQLO outlet . The price tags , after conversion , almost the same with the brands in Malaysian outlets..

Tips :

1. At Yashow market . Please bargain min 80 % discount from mentioned price and firm with your figure , they will call you back ! but  remember , start bargain if you really want to buy it , IF NOT they will become very aggressive , angry and start shouting at you .

2. The ideas of holding national flag and China flag are very good especially while having a group photo . The ideas come from  Hj Damanhuri . He did mentioned that people are watching us . Yes ! we did see some people start staring at us and asking where we come from ? Infact some of them took our picture for their own safe keeping .... or maybe appeared in their tourism magazine ........

as usual , we have breakfast at the hotel restaurant

infront of the Jade Center ... bought some fruits over here

Groups photo ... infront of the Great Wall

start climbing up the Great Wall

a family photo ... wonderful experienced

brother and sister

daughter with one member of the group ... LOVE from China ... with Hanis Muslimah Iskandar

kids with another members of tour .... son & daughter with Farhan , Azmir , Qisya and her sister

great moments

sweet and lovely couple

Infront of the big Muslim Restaurant  ... Its' consist of shopping arcade and surau  for praying .

they have Beijing ( Peking ) roast duck menu , son with En Miskandar family 

our menu .... mostly vegetables 

At the summer palace .. the lake already frozen

we are on the frozen lake !... with Tn Hj Damanhuri , Aiman K  and Athirah Roy Fadil

we have a good opportunity by  walking on the surface of the frozen water

family phote .. on the bridge with the background of  the palace situated at the Longevity Hill

another sweet moments

Addidas store and UNIQLO outlet

Yashow Market ... Beijing famous Shopping complex for tourist

Dinner : waiting for our foods ... at food court level 5 ... then went back to our hotel

   >>>>>>>  Tomorrow will be our last day in Beijing before we  proceed to Shanghai

Winter trip to Beijing and Shanghai Day 3...

Day 3 : Beijing

As usual we wake up early  in the morning ( around 5 am ) and then performed solat suboh . For info the time in Beijing  is same  with Malaysia , so we don't need to adjust our watches . But solat time much more earlier compared to Malaysia . We feel really excited to have our tour activity  today in Beijing . Last night our tourist guide informed us to be ready at 08:00 hrs in order to kick off our day . At 06:00 hrs , we already have our breakfast and then waiting for the bus to arrive . The temp today is  -10 Degree C but  there is still no snowing in Beijing . From what I read from other bloggers that from their previous experienced  it's already snowing during this period of time and the worst was in year 2010 .

Everybody in the group very punctual ! Most of them ready before 8 am , and this shows that Malaysian can be punctual and I feel glad and proud of that . For info , our hotel located at Minzuyuan  area which is a new developed area and very near to the Bird nest museum , the most expensive Dragon hotel ( USD 1 million per night ) , the Cube  and many others interesting previous Olympic venues . There are also a  24 hours convenient store sharing with the same hotel building .

Our toady activities :

1. Visit Tian An Men Square . During our visit there was an official function took place ,  so we cannot entered the square . As a result , we just took photo from some distant . This square is the biggest square in the world .
2. Visit Forbidden city . This area also very huge and divided to several section . There are a lot of tourist too and you can easy get lost if you didn't follow your group properly . We really have our nice time walking inside this forbidden city even though the temperature was very chilling and freezing  !
3. Have our lunch at Muslim restaurant . They are easier to be identify by the green signboard . The way they cooking the foods ..  nice taste !
4. Solat at the Mosque . Here I meet with other fellow from Malaysia who was tourist too .
5. Vist Chinese Medicine Centre where you can try for free feet reflextology . They will try to pursuade you to buy the medicine after they diagnosis your health , but the decision is yours !! Be firm on your decision , !
6. Watching the Acrobatics show ! The best show  is  the 10 motorcycles riding  together in one cage  .
7. Visit the Bird Nest Stadium and The Cube . The location is near to our hotel .
8. Evening , shopping at the small store near the Bird Nest stadium . Recommended to buy your sorvenier over here  since the price is reasonable but as usual please bargain for some discount .
9. Please take note that , some fee need to be pay for the entrance to the Forbidden City and The acrobatic show, but for us , it is already included inside our tour package so I don't know the real cost  for the fee  !


Our activity in the bus , our tourist guide , Amin telling the interesting stories on the places that we visit , the history behind  and  with some tips ,  do and don't . Our tour leader , Hj Damansuri have his own interesting ways in order for us to be more comfortable and get to know each other more closer . There is a time where there is a "breaking ice" session . At the end we become more friendly and closer to each other . Tuan Haji , you have done a very good job ! So POTO Travel & tours , please assigned him for our next  visit in future .....

Something to be highlighted ... most of public toilet is dirty and have a bad smell , so as friendly reminder  : if you want to do something "big " , please do it in your hotel !! . Last but not least , don't forget to  bring an empty bottle especially for ladies .

our 4 star hotel .... Holiday Inn Express , Beijing MInzuyuan ,,, very comfortable !

hotel restaurant for breakfast ... we only choose vegetarian !

the building near our hotel

1st visit .... The Tian An Men Square ... the biggest square in the world

Infront of the Forbidden City

have some rest after exploring the huge area  ... everybody shivering due to the low temp

inside the Forbidden City

we have our lunch and dinner at this Chinese Muslim Restaurant ... Green Color code indicate " Muslim "

pray at this mosque ... forgot his name

watch the acrobatics show

Group photo at the Bird Nest Stadium ... with the wind blow and low-ve  temp  , we feel more chilly and cold !!

... really macho action in freezing weather  , unbutton  the shirt !

wife , daughter and youbgest son .. view of the beautiful bird nest  stadium

back to our hotel room 

>>>>>>>     end of day 3 , see you on the next post !

Winter Trip to Beijing and Shanghai Day 2

Day 2 : KLIA - Hong Kong - Beijing

Wake up early  in the morning and performed solat . We check out from our  YouniQ hotel and then transfer to the airport at 07:00 hrs by their shuttle van  . We reached  KLIA   after 20 min journey   . Before we meet our tour leader , we went for breakfast at the KLIA 's Food Garden at 2nd floor .

After breakfast , we went to the Departure hall which is located at the 5th floor and meet our tour leader , POTO Travel representative and members of the group for this trip . Then the representative help us to do  the flight and luggage check in . Alhamdulillah , the process runs very smoothly . At 10:00 hrs our tour leader call us for the briefing on the tours itenaries  plus get to know another families that going for the same tour . There was in total of 25 person which consists of 7 family , Miskandar family , Jasmi family , Roy Fadzil family ,  Tengku Yv with her daughter & son , Aiman with his sister and a couple , Farhan with his wife  . We greets each other and we feel very great and nice to know each others  . Our tour leader , tuan haji Damanhuri is surprisingly 61 years old but he seems like just in his 50"s . He is very fit veteran man and in good health term . Another good point , he is very friendly and very jovial man . Salam silaratulrahim ! Soon after that we have a group photo session before we disembarked to KLIA satellite building to boarding Cathay Pacific for Hong Kong .

For info , this is my 1st experienced boarding Cathay Pacific and  going to Hong Kong . The flight attendant  really friendly but for me Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines flight attendant are more warmer and friendlier . But as a normal norm , there always a hospitality in flight business ! They do served a muslim meals and the flight duration to Hong Kong is 3 hours ... thanks POTO Travel for such arrangement !

We arrived Hong Kong International airport at 15:00 hrs . The ground temperature is around 5- 8  Degree C . We will transit here for 2 hours . We performed our solat Jamak & Qasa' at the prayer room located between  gate # 40 and # 42 . I would like to give thumb up to the airport authority for the facility special for the muslim to performed their solat . Hong Kong airport looks like very busy and full of multiracial people either to visit the country or just for transit like us .From Hong Kong , we took Dragon Airlines to Beijing which took us another 3 hours flight .

Alhamdulillah , we arrived Beijing International airport at 10:00 hours . It is a very big airport and there was so many crowds at the airport . Once outside the airport , we can feel very cold and the temperature was -8 degree C . It is much  more cooler compared to the South Korea , Incheon Airport during our previous winter holiday over there  .... Our group was greeted and make a warm welcome by a young chinese tourist guide , Han De Amin at the arrival gate . We just called him Amin and he can speak Bahasa Indonesia very well . Then we proceed to our bus which going to take us for 30 min drive  . Along our journey to our hotel , Holiday Inn Express , Amin told us a  little bit more about himself and our program in Beijing start from tomorrow  ... the do and don't ...  That night we have very good night rest especially during the cool weather ... it makes you to sleep more better !! See you tomorrow at 8:00 hrs for more exciting agenda for our holiday ....

Good Night !


Tips from our tourist guide  :

1. Wear suitable clothes due to the cold temperature ( now it is a winter season ) . Is there anybody would    like to buy winter clothes ? Response ; everybody already in full gear ! Amin did mentioned that winter          clothes much more cheaper compared to Malaysia !

2. Please don't buy things from street hawker . Make sure you pay with small yuan or else they may cheat   you with the balance either return you a fake money or Russia currency or the numbers of items given was not enough as what you buy e.g if you buy 10 items , they will give you only 9 items  .. so do counting properly ! Then be prepared to quarrel with them !

My family photo ...with banners ! Only 5 of us coz my eldest son busy with his study at university

Representative from POTO , Miey and our Tour leader , Hj Damanhuri gave some briefing ....

group photo .... an awesome families and friends

the skytrain towards KLIA 's satellite building ... together with Aiman and her sister . A really warm and friendly lady !

Cathay Pacific ... our flight to Hong Kong ( transit )

inside the plane ...  A330 

inflight magazine  ... Cathay Pacific

Alhamdulillah .. we arrived at Hong Kong international Airport after 3 hours flight .

Near Gate 40 n 42 .... the prayer room for muslim

awaiting for our next flight ..via Dragonair  Airlines to Beijing ( satellite building )

boarding to the Dragonair Airlines to Beijing

Inflight muslim meals ... B747

Beautiful sun set view from the sky

Inflight magazine ... Dragonair Airlines

After 3 hours flight ... we arrived at Beijing International Airport . It is a really huge airport

at the arrival hall ... we can feel the cold temperature ... - 8 Degree C

waiting for our tourist guide to greet us

Towards our Holiday Inn Express hotel

Our hotel room .. Holiday Inn Express ... we feel more warmer due to the heater !

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   SEE YOU FOR OUR INTERESTING VISIT  TOMORROW

Winter trip to Beijing and Shanghai Day 1

Day 1 : Flight from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur

We feel very excited today since the day had come for our holiday trip to Beijing and Shanghai . Not only that , we will  transit at Hong Kong International Airport . For info . it will be our 1st experienced for us to touch ground at Hong Kong , Beijing and Shanghai . As mentioned on my previous posting , I booked this holiday package through POTO Travel ...and this is our 1st experience going for holiday using travel agency . A lot of things " bubbling " in my mind .... .

Our flight from  Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur scheduled at 19:45 hrs but our flight a little bit delay where we start to depart at 20:00 hrs . Before that I drove my car with my family from Kemaman to Kuantan Airport for 45 min . We really surprised to get a call from our Tour Leader , Tn Hj Damanhuri ... introduced himself  and mentioning that there are total of 25 person in our group ....and looking forward to see us tomorrow at H Island , KLIA departure hall > > Well , we are looking forward to meet him too ... For info , for travelling in China you have to apply the VISA from the Chinnese Embassy and  in our case  , all done by our travel agency , POTO Travel ...

We  arrived at KLIA at 21:00 hrs and we wait for the shuttle bus until 23:00 hrs to our prebooked The Youniq Hotel via Agoda.com . For info we have to pay RM5 per person per trip ... very cheap ! but the fare just for the hotel guest only !  Eventhough it is a budget hotel  , the bedroom very comfortable and clean . We really have a good night rest .........

Kuantan Airport

walking towards the air plane .... when the government going to upgrade the airport ?

inside the plane B747-400 ... very colorful seats !

at the KLIA arrival hall ... awaiting for the shuttle van's driver to fetch us infront of Dunkin Donut stall !

at the Youniq Hotel Lobby

our room floor

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to be continue

New Year , 2014 , Message from AlbumofLife-wazaruha1 .......

Everything I need to know about life , I  Learnt from Noah's Ark :

1. Don't miss the boat
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat .
3. Plan ahead ! It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit . When you're 600 years old someone may ask you to do something big.
5. Don't listen to critics , Just goes on with  the job that needs to be done .
6. Built your future on high ground.


HAPPY NEW YEAR ..... 2014 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wish You All Happy New Year 2014 !!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014  !!

me , wfe , 2nd son , daughter and youngest son

eldest son

This year a lot of memories that happened in my life , among others !

1. 1st nephew got marrried and 1st time to be an uncle in Dec' 13 after the wife gave birth this month .
2. 3 of of my nieces getting married ......