On Friday I got one of those crazy-never-stops-walking days.

I went from Alexandra Terrace to Buona Vista, but of course, the short way would have been too easy, so I did it via Chinatown :nuts:

I started from this building:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_the_comtech01.jpg

Since you may never have seen it, it is near the NOL building at the junction of Alexandra Road and Pasir Panjang Road.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_nol_building01.jpg

Then I decided to go have a look wether Reflections At Keppel Bay broke ground or not.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_reflections_at_keppel_bay03.jpg
Apparently not.

So I walked to Vivo.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_super_star_virgo_harbourfront02.jpg
Didn't stay there, just passed by the roof.

I had some business to do in Chinatown so I made my way to there along the harbour...
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_harbour04.jpg

I passed by Cantonment Road and looked back where I was coming from (PSA building visible).
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_west_view_from_blk13_cantonment_road01.jpg

Then on to Chinatown.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_chinatown01.jpg

I took a bus to Redhill where I also had things to do, ate there and then I thought I would go meet Chatelain on Clementi Road and after all that didn't seem so far so I walked to Commonwealth, making a visit at the 40-floors HDB blocks.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_commonwealth_hdb03.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_skyline_from_commonwealth01.jpg

Then I thought I remembered Buona Vista was quite close to Commonwealth and that's quite right. So I walked there.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/pano_071116_one_north02.jpg

Then I was not so sure which way to Clementi Road and I was afraid to be late so I took a bus ;-)

Total walked: 15+km. That was nice :-)

I saw this Robinson-kind of guy today at East Coast:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071117_east_coast17.jpg

^^wow! u r crazy! not hot? :nuts:btw..vivo has 2 good looking gals:lol:

^^ wats that guy doin on a piece of cardboard in the middle of the ocean? :nuts:

It's probably plywood, SEED ... otherwise the guy would long be sunk. :yes:

@Pengui: what an enormous urban hike you undertook there! :eek: Charming narrative and great photos. :okay: I like this one in particular: http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_chinatown01.jpg :applause:

And I just absolutely can't figure out this place: http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_commonwealth_hdb03.jpg

Looks like a prison. And how do you access the 2nd floor? :nuts:

And I just absolutely can't figure out this place: http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071116_commonwealth_hdb03.jpg

Looks like a prison. And how do you access the 2nd floor? :nuts:

This pic is taken from the 40th floor looking down... Does it help you to figure out? Interesting comment of yours, since I didn't realize that the perspective could also be interpreted as horizontal ;-)

Ah, merci, Pengui! :)

Now I see ... you're looking down, not straight ahead--just the opposite of what I had assumed when looking at that photo. The vertical perspective hadn't even occurred to me. And now that you mention it the picture makes perfect sense of course.

This pic is taken from the 40th floor looking down... Does it help you to figure out? Interesting comment of yours, since I didn't realize that the perspective could also be interpreted as horizontal ;-)

Very nice shot and it reminded me of Star Wars looking down that long endless pit where Luke Sky Walker fell from... Thanks!

OMG the second picture. Thats my school you are taking!!

Wow... I didn't realise there were other people who went on and enjoyed crazy-never-stops-walking adventures. I used to do it all the time during my breaks serving the nation. Hmm, i think I've gone from Kallang to Novena, Chin atown to Orchard, Holland V to Orchard, SGH to East Coast..

I should bring a camera next time :)

^^ An excellent idea, found! :okay:

Some pics from my trip in Yunnan...

Kunming:

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071125_kunming_new_era_hotel_view01.jpg
View from the hotel (New Era Hotel, not bad)

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071125_kunming_streetscape02.jpg
Some really cool, biomech-looking stuff that I would have liked to try but no time :-)

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071125_kunming_streetscape03.jpg
Kunming is quite pedestrian friendly for a Chinese city

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071125_kunming_streetscape08.jpg
Quite a mix of old and new down there... And fake-old too...

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071125_kunming_streetscape12.jpg
That's real-old... But can you see the demons of modernization lurking behind? ^ ^;

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071125_kunming_streetscape13.jpg
I believe this is currently Kunming's tallest. No info available on the english-speaking web, though, so I'm not sure.

Dali:

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071126_bus_to_dali_in_kunming01.jpg
This is my coach in Kunming... Not exactly top of the line :-)

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071126_bus_trip_to_dali01.jpg
A cute village seen along the highway linking Kunming and Dali. There will be cuter ones ^ ^

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071126_dali_hostel02.jpg
My hostel in Dali. Neat and cheap. Liked it.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071126_dali_streetscape06.jpg
Dali is not a big place... That's a good thing because you won't go around looking for the real-old stuff for too long... Not like some other places... See later ;-)

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071126_dali_streetscape09.jpg
Dali is overlooking a very large lake and dominated by very large mountains. Very beautiful setting.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071126_dali_night_scene07.jpg
Taken without tripod of course :-p

WOW

Dali, Chong Sheng Temple:

Chong Sheng Temple is a large ensemble of buildings located about 20mn walk from Dali old town. It is home to Dali's most famous landmark, the Three Pagodas.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071127_dali_chong_sheng_temple02.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071127_dali_chong_sheng_temple12.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071127_dali_three_pagodas_lake01.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071127_dali_three_pagodas06.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071127_dali_three_pagodas13.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071127_dali_chong_sheng_temple14.jpg
This is Dali Old Town as seen from the temple's highest building on the mountain side. It's quite a walk if you want to explore the temple comprehensively :-) Lotsa steps too.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071127_dali_snake_bones_pagoda01.jpg
Another pagoda set into the mist. It is known as the Snake Bones Pagoda.

Dali, Erhai Lake

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_countryside02.jpg
Took the public bus from Dali to a small jetty north east of the town. Surroundings are quite rural.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_cruise_boat01.jpg
I toured Erhai Lake with one of those boats. I don't recommend you do that. Although there were beautiful sights, there's a lot I didn't have a chance to see. I understand there are better cruise tours starting from Dali New Town (otherwise a pretty uninteresting place).

Erhai lake undoubtedly has a very special atmosphere. Those pics can only capture a glimpse of it.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake07.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake12.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake14.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake22.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake25.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake27.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake33.jpg
A witch's manor or a refinery?

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake_pagoda09.jpg
This Mirrors pagoda is a tourist trap, but a very pleasant looking one. Should you ever visit it, just skip the annoying bobbles sellers and enjoy the scenery.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake_pagoda08.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake_panorama01.jpg
A Mediterranean feel? Yup, except it's thousand-metres high in the mountains.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake_panorama05.jpg
Dali old town, as seen from the Mirrors pagoda.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake30.jpg
A small village set on one of the lake's islands. DISCLAIMER: this is not a fishermen's village! This is another tourist trap! Heh, who cares? It looks cool.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071128_dali_erhai_lake_village04.jpg

Dali.. damn nice pics.. n such a beautiful place too

u were there for work / holidays?

Pengui, nice pics!! I have never been to the rural parts of China before so I think I should plan something for my next trip.

How did you get there? Just buy an air ticket to Yunnan for a free-and-easy tour or you followed a guided tour?

Nice tour with awesome pics , then had't been to Lijiang old town ? That scenery is fantastic !

Thanks all for the feedback. This is only a small bit of the trip. More to come soon :-)
I flew to Kunming with Silkair. From there, we just did as we pleased. Which I do not recommend you do if no one in your group can speak Chinese very fluently of course.

One thing: those are all super-touristy locations, so by not taking tour you risk paying LOTS of "agent fees". There are only few ways to avoid this:
1) speak local dialect
2) already know the place well/very thorough research before you go
3) have a car (preferably 4WD in this part of Yunnan), good maps and always go directly to the places

Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang is an amazing place. A huge, almost 100% fake-old, giant-party village. It's like a Las Vegas disco set in Ancient China theme. There are three kinds of shops in Lijiang: souvenir shops for tourists, restaurants/pubs/discos for tourists and hostels for tourists.
Not what I expected but nonetheless interesting. However, if you're longing for a taste of real Yunnan, you won't find it here. Contrary to Dali, Lijiang has not retained the aspects of a functionnal, not fully-tourism-dependent town, unless you go to the new town, but there's no tourist attraction there.
Mind you, there ARE some real old houses in Lijiang, but not many so good luck finding them in the maze!

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang01.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang04.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang07.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang_cat04.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang_panorama03.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang_panorama08.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang_rooftops01.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang_snow_mountain01.jpg
Believe it or not, EVERYTHING you have seen on the pics is less than 15 years old.
Except the mountain, that is.

Lijiang, Shuhe village

Tourist trap, avoid.
Basically a bunch of old houses with water heater and satellite dishes in the backyard, hidden behind a large a-la-disneyland fake-old village.
There are many, many much more picturesque villages around the place where tours won't bring you, but where you can get on your way to or from Lijiang.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071130_shuhe01.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071130_shuhe11.jpg

Upper Course of the Yangtze River

These pictures were taken on the bus trip between Lijiang and Luguhu. The road is very bad, bumpy and even dangerous. But it crosses the Yangtze River on its third turn. Sights are just magnificent and can hardly be described with words or even photographs. I apologize at the poor attempt since it is so far from describing the cheer beauty of these valleys that have survived centuries of modernization practically unspoiled.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071201_bus_trip_to_luguhu07.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071203_bus_trip_to_lijiang03.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071203_bus_trip_to_lijiang04.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071203_bus_trip_to_lijiang08.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071203_bus_trip_to_lijiang14.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071203_bus_trip_to_lijiang33.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071203_crossing_yangtze_river07.jpg

Lugu Lake

A beautiful lake but far from as spectacular as Erhai Lake. The villages are mostly intended as tourist attractions so nothing special if you've seen others. However, the place can be enjoyed for the journey from Lijiang is very beautiful (better if you can stop wherever you like on the way, though) and it is very, very remote, peaceful and isolated in the mountains.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071202_luguhu01.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071202_luguhu04.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071202_luguhu_birds05.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071202_luguhu_cat01.jpg

wow the pictures look like a real holiday! i want one like that!

Bonus pics

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071127_dali_bamboo_cafe02.jpg
Bamboo Cafe in Dali Foreigners Street. A highly recommended eating/drinking place.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071204_kunming03.jpg
A funny highrise office in Kunming.

On 30th of December 2007 I went on the Sheares Bridge together with Chatelain. The main aim was to try and get some picture updates of the foundation laying of Marina Bay Sands. The day has been beautiful so far, but as it happens, just as we stepped on the bridge some black clouds started looming over the Straits. We thought we would have enough time to go up and down anyway but we were (quite) wrong. Here's a picture of the Singapore Flyer I took seconds before the rain started pouring.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_singapore_flyer01.jpg

Since we were already more than halfway accross and there is no shelter on the eastern side, I thought we could hide under the far side, next to the construction site. I didn't know it had been all boarded up... Nevermind, we managed to squeeze through a narrow and muddy passageway. We then waited under the bridge for the rain to stop. While we waited for about one hour, I managed to take some nice pics ;-)

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_cloudy_skyline02.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_cloudy_skyline04.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_cloudy_skyline06.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_cloudy_skyline08.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_cloudy_skyline11.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_cloudy_skyline17.jpg

The rain clouds blown by south winds then seemed to get less dense, as shown on this pic... Visibility was improving.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_cloudy_skyline09.jpg

The muddy path out was getting submerged too, so we thought it would be a good idea to escape now instead of getting stuck under for some more hours. As luck had it, it started raining heavily again as soon as we were on the bridge. We tried to ignore it (not easy with the strong winds). It stopped at the minute when we got down the staircase next to Millenia Walk. Sigh ^ ^;

Thanks for the wonderful pics pengui. The Sail is going to complete soon i guess?

Nice pictures of the skyline, loved the one with the silhouette.

Thanks JoSin :-)
I don't think the Sail will be completed soon. The second tower still hasn't topped out and cladding is not complete. Which means interior works in the penthouses hasn't started yet. Maybe it can open somewhere third quarter 08?

While we waited for about one hour, I managed to take some nice pics ;-)

You sure did! :applause:

And thanks for all the China photos and comments as well! :okay:

Thanks JoSin :-)
I don't think the Sail will be completed soon. The second tower still hasn't topped out and cladding is not complete. Which means interior works in the penthouses hasn't started yet. Maybe it can open somewhere third quarter 08?

Probably the Sail would be built in time to look nearly completed during the F1 Grand Prix in September. Might not be TOP (no residents) by that time though.

It must be windy up there on the Benjamin Sheares Bridge? Hope your camera was not damaged by the heavy rain. Always bring an umbrella during the rainy season unless you are driving.

Probably the Sail would be built in time to look nearly completed during the F1 Grand Prix in September. Might not be TOP (no residents) by that time though.

That's my analysis as well :-)


It must be windy up there on the Benjamin Sheares Bridge? Hope your camera was not damaged by the heavy rain. Always bring an umbrella during the rainy season unless you are driving.

The camera got away fine, it has a water-resistant bag... But trust me, an umbrella wouldn't have helped AT ALL ^ ^; We sure got some funny looks from people once we got back to the civilized world in Marina Square, though ;-)

Here's the single pitiful photo I managed to get of Marina Bay Sands site before I felt obliged to shelf the camera away:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071230_marina_bay_sands01.jpg

Great pics Pengui, that sunset is beautiful. Would be quite a dash to get off the bridge though!

Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang is an amazing place. A huge, almost 100% fake-old, giant-party village. It's like a Las Vegas disco set in Ancient China theme. There are three kinds of shops in Lijiang: souvenir shops for tourists, restaurants/pubs/discos for tourists and hostels for tourists.
Not what I expected but nonetheless interesting. However, if you're longing for a taste of real Yunnan, you won't find it here. Contrary to Dali, Lijiang has not retained the aspects of a functionnal, not fully-tourism-dependent town, unless you go to the new town, but there's no tourist attraction there.
Mind you, there ARE some real old houses in Lijiang, but not many so good luck finding them in the maze!

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang01.jpg

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071129_lijiang_snow_mountain01.jpg
Believe it or not, EVERYTHING you have seen on the pics is less than 15 years old.
Except the mountain, that is.

Are those real old houses, but over commercialised like our Chinatown?

Are those real old houses, but over commercialised like our Chinatown?

No. 99% of them are fake. They are built with ancient construction techniques though, so they look older than, say, our Far East Square or Bugis Junction.
Some of them are regular housing, but many are either hostel, restaurant or tourist shop.

No. 99% of them are fake. They are built with ancient construction techniques though, so they look older than, say, our Far East Square or Bugis Junction.
Some of them are regular housing, but many are either hostel, restaurant or tourist shop.

that's new to me .... but i bet the cats are real.:lol:

No. 99% of them are fake. They are built with ancient construction techniques though, so they look older than, say, our Far East Square or Bugis Junction.
Some of them are regular housing, but many are either hostel, restaurant or tourist shop.

Wow, so what did the previous buildings look like?

Wow, so what did the previous buildings look like?

Like this, I suppose:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071130_shuhe01.jpg

A large part of Lijiang (old and new) was destroyed in a big earthquake in 1996. Since then the government has tried rebuilding the old town according to its former appearance. I don't know if it should be considered a success or a joke but it's certainly interesting. I would recommend visiting the place. Just for you to know that if you want to see buildings that are more than 10 years old, that's definitely not the best place (but there are many in Yunnan province so no worries :-) )

Interesting, looks just like what you see in ancient dramas from Hong Kong.

Interesting its a World Heritage Site! :eek:

So, the genuinely old houses were very rural-looking, and the fake-old houses were more ornate?

EDIT:

From Wiki it states that when Lijiang was destroyed by the earthquake, many of the buildings were actually reubuilt back in the traditional Chinese style? Reverse urban regeneration? :dizzy: =P

Selected pics from my second part of December travel:

Zhengzhou airport new terminal. Neat and sleek.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071225_zhengzhou_airport01.jpg
I would have taken A LOT more pics of Zhengzhou but the weather didn't allow for it.

This is the second time I visit Zhengzhou after two years. You have to see the evolution of the city with your own eyes to believe it. My comment on it two years ago was that it was a nice small city, just big enough not to be too boring and not stressful like big cities... Huh... Had I known...
Two years later, the single serious shopping mall has spawned two or three entire shopping STREETS with malls boasting international brands all over the place. Huge wastelands have been metamorphosed into a CBD complete with glistening new skyscrapers and luxury condominiums. It's huge. Zhengzhou pulled out a Dubai. You won't believe me, I know, well, too bad, I blame the weather.

wow...thats amazing progress.

Shenzhen:

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071226_shenzhen_streetscape01.jpg
Streetscape near my hotel (Petrel Hotel, a bit crappy but okay lah)

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071226_shung_hing_square06.jpg
The glorious Shung Hing Square (Diwang Building), an absolute must-visit for any self-respecting skyscraper fan. Forget about CITIC Plaza, this is Guangdong's real deal.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071226_shung_hing_square01.jpg
I didn't pay a visit to the observation deck this time but it's there so do try it if you never did before.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071226_shenzhen_streetscape04.jpg
Shung Hing Square's in there too (two)

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071226_shenzhen_stock_exchange02.jpg
I kinda liked the glossiness of the cladding of the Stock Exchange building but it doesn't really translate in picture.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071226_seg_plaza01.jpg
SEG Plaza, still Shenzhen's no.2 skyscraper.

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071226_shenzhen_nailhouse_kingkey_site01.jpg
This small stack of bricks is all what was left of the infamous Shenzhen Nailhouse (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=15838612&postcount=206). The site will be home to Shenzhen's new tallest.

A picture of the sky between Shenzhen and Zhengzhou. This is what I meant about the weather.
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/071225_sky_shenzhen_airlines01.jpg

Thank you for the continuing reportage, Pengui! :okay:

At least you were lucky with the weather in Shenzhen and therefore able to present us with these bright, shiny photos of all the bright, shiny new buildings. :)

wow.. Interesting and nice shots!

That's a great ending to the post, the last shot is way spectacular!!!