Clipped Wings

The heat has not only gotten into me physically, but also mentally. I've manage to pissed off almost everyone in my path like a steamroller. I've quarrelled with Jessica over her ambitions to publish a book on Chinese online vocabulary, translated to Thai. I mean what the hell am I thinking about? It's some other person's ambition, not mine! What am I so worked up about? It's not my life that she's living anyway. To put it behind me, blamed it on the soaring mercury!

Issue number 2, job. I need a freaking job right now! I'm flying off to Shenzhen/Hk in a month or so and yet I'm jobless, money woes I tell you. I've unofficially withdrew from Republic polytechnic and currently awaiting the start of term at Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) taking a Diploma in management studies. I'm hopeless in the field of design and arts, even talking about it bores me out. 

But I'm not the only one feeling under the blues I guess? My ex collegue and friend JY, she needs a job too. OK, make it both of us need a job. Hopefully I can get something that lasts me 6 months till the start of school. I'll count my lucky stars if I can start work by this week, and the economic recession isn't really helping. Never taken me so long to find employment, factories and their odd hours, whatever! But if I get employed by Friday, sweet! 

Rain rain come again, I miss stormy and windy nights here in Singapore! Goodnight!

I want to have some form of earning power, and for that I need to attain a certain level of education to fulfill my earthly desires. 

Will be calling them tomorrow to check out the courses and application. If need be head down to find out. With that info, I can safely withdraw from Republic Polytechnic with no worries about having no school to attend. 

Best of luck to myself. 

So, apparently my school requires a notebook which I already have, my Hp Pavilion dv1000. However, Republic Poly also requires windows vista enterprise to be able to run on our notebooks. Now that is an issue for me, my notebook claims to be Windows Vista capable. 

Now here's the catch, it has been tested that in order for Vista to run smoothly even without all the nitty gritty features like aero, a computer must have at least 2GB or RAM (random access memory) and at least a duo core processor. So technically speaking, my current notebook isn't able to run it without all the latencies. 

I went down to school for enrollment, and god please transfer me into school of business or engineering, I don't want to stay in arts and design. 

The current notebooks offered by the school vendors didn't go down to well with me. There is Lenovo, Acer and Fujitsu. However being a fussy computer user I am, my requirements are something much higher end which the school vendors unfortunately did not have.

1) It must have at least a Core 2 processor with a min of 2,4GHz

2) A dedicated GPU with 256MB of memory

3) Minimum 14 inches of screen and maximum 16 inches, anything above is too big

4) Be of good and solid built with no flex or whatsoever during common usage

5) Portability is not an issue but the specifications of the notebook should be worth its weight

I wanted to get the Lenovo T400 from school. However, reviews from experts concluded the notebook has lots of flex in it, and the built is not as good as the old IBM series. For A

cer, I was kind of worried about issues of overheating and BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death), I don't really want that to happen when I'm in a middle of an exam. And finally Fujitsu hasn't really convince me to go over to their side with their fancy models but user impracticality. But of course all these are my personal opinions, and I believed if I'm going to spend about 2000 bucks on something, I should have a say.

Then, came the IT Fair 2009 at Suntec City, on the very day of my enrollment at school. So I headed down to the fair after my enrollment to do some walking around and

 reconnaissance for my notebook. I collected many brouchers and 

walked around the booths of the many different vendors. 

Initially, I decided on this particular Asus notebook, $1799, with a P8600 processor 2.4GHz, with a ATI Radeon HD 4570 512mb GPU and 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 13.3 inch screen. Sounded good enough, until I saw how small a 13.3 inch screen was. I thought to myself, what good is a dedicated graphic card when I could barely read the words on the screen. And for the love of god, many of Asus models are currently not available locally, due to shipping issues. And the earliest I can get my hands on my notebook would be at least a month from now. That sucks, I didn't have a month. 

So I didn't get anything on the first day of the IT fair, and the crowd was killing me though, I left with the brochures and whatever information I could remember in my head. I decided to narrow down my choices to a few notebooks from HP, Toshiba and Dell.

On the second day of the fair, After doing intensive research online and asking for opinions on what would be a bang for the buck, I decided on the newly released Dell XPS 16 notebook at $2199 SGD. 

On top of that I bought a Logitech MX518 Gaming mouse at a pretty cheap price tag of 38 bucks. And lastly new Sony ear pieces with deep bass for my music, 25 bucks.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600 2.40GHz

Windows Vista Home Premium (Doesn't matter, I'll be getting Vista Enterprise from school)

4GB DDR 3 SDRAM

500GB Hard Disk

16" WXGA RGB LED Display with Anti Glare

512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 Graphics Card

5.1 Surround Sound with sub woofer

Back lit Keyboard

Free 4GB thumb drive 

Free McAfee 15 months (15 months?! I'll be better off using my free AVG anti virus)

The one unique feature of this notebook would be its 16' LED Display. Traditional notebooks have had LCD screens but not LED ones. The XPS 16 would be one of its first to implement a LED screen into the notebook, this translates to brighter and well defined colours. And with this technology, whatever colours you see in real life is what you get on screen. 

There was an option for the high definition 1080p display at an additional 200 bucks, but I opted for the 720p which comes with my basic set since i'm fine with it.

I'm pretty happy with the fact that it came with the DDR 3 memory instead of the current mainstream DDR 2 memory sticks. DDR 3 performs way much faster and consumes 30% less energy than the DDR 2, this means faster performance and a longer battery life. 

And yes, the back lit keyboard is definately cool. Not many brands carry notebooks with that kind of keyboards. 

Reviewers have noted the XPS 16 being very glossy on the outside as well as the inside, and i'm not looking forward to that fact though. I have a slight bit of sweaty palms and that means, lots of fingerprints during usage. And the 9 cell battery option hasn't arrive in Singapore yet, but its currently available in the US. With the 6 cell, current tests done by users shows a battery life of under 2 hours. Needless to say, that really sucks. I'll try to get my hands on a 9 cell battery once its available locally.

Well having said so much, I'm pretty excited and waiting for it. I haven't received my notebook yet, pre-ordered mine from Dell's booth at the fair, as its a new release, there are not many sets around in Singapore. Mine's due next week when the new shipment arrives, and I shall do up a review here when it comes.

After knowing a little more about her, I realised what a total loser I was. She's no where near your typical PRC, speaks and carries herself very very well. Currently having her university attachment at the Thai royal consulate in Guangzhou, she works as a translator there. Did I even mention she isn't even a Chinese citizen? She has dual citizenship from Thailand and Hongkong, born to a Thai Indian mother and Chinese father. Basically the kind of girl where you can bring home to meet your parents. 

For some weird reason, she find me cute, and I find that revolting. I mean, goodness! If that is meant to be a joke, it's no where close to being funny at all. She did told me she likes me, and wanted to be with me. but I didn't gave her a definative reply yet. Hell, am I even good enough for her? I might even be the person to ruin her future if she stick around with me. She's such a nice and caring girl, a rare find I would say, I do like her alot though but long distance relationships are hard to maintain. And who knows, she might meet someone who hits on her. I'm a guy and I know our modus operandi when it comes to hitting on girls. With experience, it seldom fails. 

If there's one flaw I can find in her, it would be her lack of humour, too serious! Haha

Would be flying off on June 2nd and coming back on the 8th. I've yet to book my hotel yet because I'm waiting to see who else is coming along with me and Mr muggles. It cheaper if we could share the cost of the lodging. 

Anyway I'm hoping to meet up with her for lunch on the 2nd day of my arrival, since my flight arrives at 23.35. By the time i've checked in, probably head for supper and then to bed. 

Can't wait for June!

I met her 4 months ago online while looking for travel information for my trip to Hongkong and Shenzhen. She's a Chinese national I guess, and shes a Chindian, of Chinese and Indian parentage. She told me she was about 1 or 2 years older than me but even for her age, she conversed with maturity and thoughtfulness, and that really pushed my buttons!! 

I met you through the most unlikely circumstances, we've conversed for 4 months and I know not your name. The first time we actually saw each other was through a video link, you were wearing a woollen sweater and had your hair tied up, you looked Chinese but had a pair of beautiful Indian eyes and thick lips. I wasn't looking at the camera but at the screen, you were so pretty, I couldn't stop staring hahaha. Something must be bothering you, I know for sure. You've probably been through alot for your replies tell me so. You are intelligent, studying Chinese culture, something that I'll probably never touch. If there's one thing we have in common, its probably good music that touches the soul. The one thing that bothered me, we've never met. When I visited your city, you were away in Beijing attending university. So near yet so far, words alone can't describe. If there's someone that I really want to meet this year, its has to be you. Funny how after 4 months, I've yet to know your name. I've called you Cinderella, you're a night owl only coming online mostly at night. Wherever you are now, be safe, be happy till I see you again. 

I can't believe I've penned this must cheesy stuff. The big question is, have I falling for her? If I did, how could that happen? We're like two people standing in the shadows talking, we barely know each other. I'm weird

Highlights of the trip

Dongmen Buxing Jie

The luohu district version of orchard road. There are hundreds or at least a thousand shops there. And on top of that I counted about 7 or 8 shopping malls jammed with shops selling clothes mainly, tattoo parlors, restraunts, KFC, Pizza Hut and of course Macdonalds (China's first Macdonalds was there). You can literally get anything you want there. However, there was one I would say BIG problem. They sell mainly seasonal clothing, which meant winter wear. It was quite a turn off really. I bought socks (2 pairs for 10 yuan = 2 sgd) for myself and lots of rubbish stuff to give away as christmas presents, hehehe. If it was in season, I would have taken 3 days to finish up my shopping there. 

Huaqiangbei in Futian district

WARNING! One place where you would not want to bring any female along. There's several shopping malls selling female stuff only. Lingerie, cosmetics, perfumes, clothes, need I say more? Oh and the hagen daz ice cream there was good. I remember trying to drag shang ming out of 女人世界 shopping mall. We spent 2 hours walking just 6 floors of the building trying to find something to buy for the usual, moms, sisters, girlfriends. But most importantly, we didn't buy anything because 90% of the time we spent it rating how hot the girls are inside. 

Clubbing in Shenzhen

One look at the both of us and locals would know we ain't locals. No one would wear just shirt and jeans when it was freezing and windy outside. But its clubbing! And you're suppose to work up a sweat and alcohol is suppose to do the rest. The first club i can't remember the name, was okay. There is no entrance fee and girls are darn darn darn HOT! Prices for poisons are about the same as SG, but the tequila was twice the amount. Beers are cheaper than SG though. I remember RICHIE as the happening one as it was more roomie, and it was jammed with people. But i didn't like the ratio of guys to girls, quite disproportional. I'll go back to the other one, when I head back in august 2009. 

HK

We were suppose to go hongkong. But half the time we weren't sober and didnt wake up early enough to make the 30min trip across the border to kowloon. So there was no HK this time round... Suxs. This coming August i'm heading back again during my poly vacation, this time I'm going HK, try the clubbing and wanton mee there.

Xiao Fei Yang Hotpot 

In China, or at least in shenzhen. The average hot pot restaraunts market just one type of meat. For our case, it would be lamb meat, brains, ear, stomach, liver, hoofs and etc. Yes lamb hoofs, you read it right! Again we gave away our identity, since arriving we tried really hard to blend in as local chinese in order not to get ripped off. But still, we ordered all our food spicy, and the manager came up to us telling us we can really take spicy food, and he asked us where we were from. What to do.. Singaporeans mah, we like it spicy for our food, girls too. 

Taxi

Its really cheap if you're Singaporean. From our hotel to Dongmen the flag down rate is about 12.5 yuan (2.50 sgd) and the total fare was 12.5 yuan. I'm not sure how the meter works cos it didn't jump at all, but I like it. Just a little info it took us about 20 to 30 mins to walk from our hotel to Dongmen, so imagined the distance the taxi had to travel, and the meter didn't changed.

In Singapore the meters were jumping every time the wheels complete a revolution.

Well first of all, budget airlines sucks, but as the name suggested, i'm on a budget. So i've gotta eat my own words. But i do have my rights to whine a little about it. Cramp seats, horrible chinese passengers who refuse to shut up, and a middle age lady who was yelling and quarrelling on the phone just prior to the plane taking off. I swear i'm never flying budget once i've started on my career path. 

So first stop was shang ming's house since we're like travelling buddies, he's like my travelling buddy, we've accumulated 2 trips so far counting this, the previous one was bangkok.

Okay so we were at T3 to have a decent meal since hot meals on Tiger Airways cost a bomb. And we saw javier poon working at dfs at T3. Then on to the budget terminal to check in and do some dfs shopping once we've cleared immigration, the usual alcohol and dunhill. And did i mentioned for Tiger airways you've gotta pay 10sgd to check in your luggage, and you can't choose your seats now, since seats with additional leg room cost like an additional 40 bucks. Blame the recession, airlines are cutting costs and trying to source for extra income. And yes Singapore airlines is the doing the same too. 

We arrived at Baoan international airport at shenzhen around 11.45pm local time which so happens, singapore is in the same timezone as shenzhen. Just before disembarking the aircraft, i notice locals putting on jackets and sweaters. While i am aware it would be cold, i thought it might just be air conditioning temperature since i've checked and it was suppose to be around 17 degrees. So it was just my shirt and khaki pants on. Well what the hell, it doesn't feel anywhere near 17, more like 14 or 15. The first thing I immediately noticed was how foul the air smelt, i assumed it was the pollution. It really stank!

We took the cab to holiday inn hotel at guiyuan bei lu which is some street in the luohu district, the district alone is probably the size of half of singapore. Took the cab about 30mins via highway to reach our hotel and by then it was way passed midnight. There was one thing i find it surprising. From my travelling experience, I was expecting somewhat of a bargaining to take place once we board the cab. But in shenzhen, turning on the fare meter is the norm, so well.. I'm okay with that, and taxi fares are really cheap, I mean really cheap.

We checked in, went for a macdonalds around 1am, walked around baoan nan lu and returned to our hotel since we're quite sleepy already. 

The next day after washing up, i remember opening the windows, and again that same smelly air hit me hard. Trust me, the air there really polluted and stinks. Time to head out and explore the city.

A little background history, if theres one city i would call a melting pot, it would be shenzhen. 

Shenzhen is just one city in the Guangdong province, there are other cities inside the province itself, like changping, dongguan just to name a few, and numerous other towns and villages. Deng Xiaoping the ex premier of china, recognised shenzhen as a potential commercial hub for its proximity to then british held hongkong and portugese held Macao. The chinese government drew up plans and created the so called "SEZ" or Special Economic Zone to industralised and attract foreign investments to the area. 

Obviously It was a success, the rags to riches stories that came from shenzhen outnumbered those from other parts of China. Shenzhen was a giant magnet for both the mainland chinese, hongkong residents and taiwanese. People from all over China would fight tooth and nail just to get the special permit issued by the government to work and reside in the SEZ. I've seen throngs of hongkongers shopping there, and chinese (mostly from farming families) from all over PRC flood there trying to earn their first 1 million yuan. MNCs setting up shop to tap into the cheap labour market, low production costs and numerous tax incentives dangled by the chinese government. The pollution is a good example of how developed the area is. 

Of course with the entire chinese population flooding there from all over, shenzhen has one of the highest crime rates in china. Daylight mugging, drugs, prostitution, gangs etc etc. You name it they've got it. The government though tried really hard to clean up the city but other than the main commercial district of luohu, which felt relatively safe. The other districts of shenzhen felt as safe as chicago in the 1920s. Corruption is rampant as usual, I've seen a local police just taking stuff from a street vendor and walking away without paying. But behind all that crap, i still enjoyed shenzhen for its lack of law enforcement and the fact that I can litter and not get fined. Don't blame me though, I'm from clean and green Singapore!