There was not my first time to China, but it’s first time to Suzhou. I have made friend with one Chinese girl through CS, she is so kind, we have known each other once I was her host in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This time was my turn to visit her in Suzhou, I was looking for flight via Chinese airlines in here, but price was so expensive then, I decided to ask my friend booking from her side, price was better.
There was always a story to tell whenever I traveled, it was funny story ever in my life, the plane was ready to take off and everyone was ready to flight, after half an hour we did not see the plane moved, so the passengers started to question what was wrong here, the crews walked out and pay apologizes to the passengers, then the whole plane started annoying, I was sitting and listening to the arguments without saying a word. The passengers were complaining and seeking for compensate for wasting their times and errors, but you know what was happening during this? Because the plane has forgotten filling the fuel tank, that was what I heard from the crews, pardon me ?? are you kidding here?? This was the true story I have seen with my eyes the aircraft was fueling the tank at the airport.
The flight was delayed more than one hour, I was not on business trip at that time, so it was fine for me, but other was not same, that’s why they complained a lot. The plane was landed on Shanghai, Pudong international airport I was waiting for my friend to pick me up to her apartment. The weather in March was about 2-3c degree, was freezing me that I could not stand for.
Arrived to Suzhou, China we had dinner as hot pot (super-spicy) for my first day, we had a lot conversations, much better that I could speak Mandarin. Suzhou is a city west of Shanghai, belonging to Jiangsu province. Suzhou is highly developed economic region city but still keeping the natural site alive in heart, I was really amazed and appreciated with their water town, old structures with original Chinese’s architect. Suzhou city is pretty fantastic, tall building, lust skyscrapers where the sky is not belonging to you anymore. It is amazing that they can keep natural and developing city at the same time.
Next day, my friend and I were on road to water town, where is the pretty old town and also located to the tourist site, spent a half day for our own touring, at day time weather was so warm and shiny much better for wandering. I love street foods wherever I go, we went to small stores on the street side tried to sample the ethnic dishes. In China, there was cashless every purchasing with [Wepay QR code] from Wechat, so you can go anywhere without cash. About 40 us dollars for one T-shirt in Suzhou, where I could get only 3 us dollars in Cambodia, because Suzhou is the next door to Shanghai, one of the super expensive city, I got one T-shirt for my own.
My friend invited me for visiting her school, where I could play with kids, sharing and exchanging the cultures, languages there, was so proud to be a part of them, sharing our history and some women topics on women’s day, 8th March 2019. The school has paid for make-up tutor to show us how to use cosmetics in the proper way, was thankful for this program. She was driving me to see the Suzhou city night life, and finally, participating the last program of women’s day, was folding the flowers.
That’s awesome I could see the whole city from her apartment, the apartment was cozy and warm. She has meeting in the next day, so I was on my own took speed train to Shanghai, the crowded and super busy city in the world. I had spent a half day tour there, the first plan was visiting the Shanghai tower, financial and trade building. But unfortunately, I was so weary and decided to get back to Suzhou, I found that I do not like the super busy and noising city anymore.
I Personally, love Suzhou whatever they have developing but still keeping the natural site, that what I love the most, and the city is not too much busy. Thanks Jane for your precious times.
