I'm back!!!

I'm writing this from the car service that just picked me up from Newark. It is also an official end to the blog. I really enjoyed blogging this experience. Until next time...

My flight

Really... Finally

After saying finally so many times, I am finally at the right airport, checked into the correct flight and waiting for boarding.

I can't leave China!!!

I went to the wrong airport in Shanghai!!! I missed my flight from Shanghai to Beijing. I won't make my Beijing to Newark flight!!! I can't believe it! Michelle immediately helped me booked onto the next day flight. I won't be back until Friday night.
I can't believe this. It has never happened to me. Never before. And it had better never again!!! I hate that they have different airports. Why can't some cities have just one big-ass airport?!?
I was hysterical at the terminal. Lucky that I wasn't on the Amazing Race. David Kilpatrick should just forget the idea about partnering with me for the audition.
It must be karma. Up above knows that I was eager to be home. A little joke to keep me here for another day.
When am I going to write the last blog posting?!?

Finally... Savory soy bean soup

I waited for this for 3 months. Finally on my last day...

Fabulous view from Vue bar at the top of Hyatt

I am a bit surprised. It's the best view of Shanghai, frankly. Good to end my long trip on a high note.

Shanghai

View from my hotel room.
Looking at this river, I realize I will miss the river view from my Tianjin's room.

My goodness... actually leaving

Last day

It is such a funny feeling. I almost cannot believe I'm leaving here. This must be how prisoners feel when they are released from the jail.
I still have a couple of hours before the scheduled pick up. I have no idea what to do!?! I guess I should go check in every drawers.

Farewell Dinner

Madame Gao took us out to a farewell dinner. We had traditional dumplings. In fact, it is custom to send someone off with dumplings and welcome someone home with noodles. So, it was appropriate. The dumplings were delicious. The crab filling and the sweet version with red bean are the best. But there were also a lot of other food. It was wonderful. Madame Gao also brought with her 2 precious bottles of Chinese white wine. Think Vodka shots. And lot of them. Thanks to my well training. I didn't embarrass myself.

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Progress photos of the project

According to what Marlon and I saw today, they will be luck if the project can finish by the end of 2010. It will be an unnatural phenomenon if the building is ready for it's scheduled opening in May 2010. 

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To prove that I haven't sold Marlon for a Gucci handbag

It costs more for a small scope of ice cream than our lunch today.

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Some pictures from the final weekend.

It is awful of me to spend almost every weekend in Beijing. But there is NOTHING in Tianjin.

I had a savory crepe from the sidewalk vendor. It's delicious. A picture here is the bar at Maison Boulud. I was quite impressed with the simplicity of the design. The walls are white washed brick walls, and artist's hand drawing of figures and images with Sharpie (!), then a layer of wood frame. How simple, but very effective. Well the high ceiling of the old US embassy building doesn't hurt.

Oh... I also went to check out Capital M. It's lovely. But Shanghai's M and Glamour Bar is nicer. Capital M does have some fireplaces to boost their design.

The other pictures are from the Gallery district 798.

Yeah... just a few more days and I will be back in NYC! Very exciting!

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Final weekend

I spent the very last weekend to drink at Maison Boulud, dinner at Aqua, art gallery hopping at 798, and last minute shopping in Beijing.
2 more work days and out of this project. Thank god. The project is a mess. I can only wish them luck. It's shocking to think that there is such experienced developer running projects like they are still in 20 years ago. The country still needs some major overhaul to go beyond the facade. What can I help?

Only a few days left...

Counting only the work days, there are 4 more days left on this project. Marlon and I still haven't stopped talking about how messed up the project is. I truly doubt if they can get the building in shape. But yet, you never know what can happen in China. Overnight, they can fix the building and open in time.

It has been a great insightful experience. I am glad I spent time in Beijing in addition to Tianjin. That's where you can see the speed of development. Combining news, speaking to people, and just walking around the 3 cities (Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai), I really get a true sense of what's beneath the facade of the country, and what's beyond the apparent consumerism.

One night in Shanghai, I sat next to a table of visitor and expats. The American visitor is obviously first time visitor from New York. He, as a senior level professional in finance, was making excited discussion of what he saw in China. It was painful to hear first time visitor excitement and their dissertation on the country. It was hard to keep myself from jumping up and contradicting him with some negativism.

Don't get be wrong, I understand the excitement. I just have developed a layer of skepticism. If I were stationed in Beijing or Shanghai, instead of Tianjin, I probably will have a tough time prying myself away from this country now. The food, the cheaper stuff, the shops... it's exciting. I need to be back in New York, where is the one few places on earth that is still exciting and have better cultural outlets. If I were going back to Melbourne, I would take the next flight straight to Shanghai and never go back. Sorry Australia.

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Big Christmas decoration in Tianjin

More about Shanghais

Shanghai was nice. I didn't do much though. I enjoyed my hotels and did some simple walking around.

I saw the ugliest building on earth in Pudong. I almost vomited when I saw the site. Thank god I didn't have breakfast that morning. It is so awful that I can't stop myself from taking photos. I have to attach one here to share.

I stopped by the Peninsula to check out our BBG grand project. It was a very nice job. That's a project I wish I had the chance to work on.

I had a couple of nights checking out the Pavilion, Glamor Bar and danced at Club D2. It was nice. Yet, I really rather be home. I'm done being away for so long.

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Some pictures of Park Hyatt

Some of the detail is truly lovely. I learnt a few details. But at the same time, some spaces were just not right.

I finally had some lovely relaxing time at the hotel. It was wonderful.

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And...

Upgraded to a bigger room with the view to the Bund. Finally!

PH sent me a chocolate thing to apologize.

Now I feel better.

Shanghai

It's still a lovely city. It is exciting here.
I had a nice stay at Jia Shanghai. Cute room, fabulous breakfast and perfect location. I highly recommend it.
Park Hyatt is gorgeous. Some of the design detail is quite fabulous. But I'm having the worst hotel stay I've ever experienced! First up, when I arrived, they told me the pool and the gym is closed for a function... for hours!!! Considering they have been emailing me regularly since my booking, they should have emailed the guests ahead of time and let us know. They should also made arrangement to compensate for the inconvenience. And of course, it's some French hair stylist having a show there. Otherwise, who would have an event at the spa level?!
Then, at 2am, I was woken up from the noise of fancoil unit pipes pounding, because of air in the pipes!!! 2am!!! I called guest service several times; and I emailed the hotel immediately with my complains. I marched down to the front desk and asked for a room to just sleep in. I don't want to be packing and all that in the middle of the night. Of course they gave me a double-double room to start. Then I marched back down for a King room. Of course the only one left is a smoking room! I managed to calm myself down and got 5 hours of sleep. Back to my old room in the morning, and the pounding noise is still there. I tried to use my ipod with the docking station to relax a bit. OMG!!! The docking station is only playing through the TV. No separate speakers. Appalling!!! I can't watch TV on mute while I have the music on. Who approve this system??!!? The Opposite House in Beijing has subwoofer for every room!!! My AV consultant in BJ will be so appalled by this when I email him on Monday about this.
I can't recommend the hotel to anyone! This is sad! They spoke to me this morning and said they won't charge my last night. Still! It's not just about the money. I could have enjoyed myself at the Peninsula instead! This is a Christmas and Birthday gift to myself. :-( I want the perfect experience!
BTW, the gym is small too. Not acceptable.
Yes, I'm such a princess. But this is supposedly the best hotel these days. It's the Park Hyatt for goodness sake.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

2 working weeks left

Almost there...

Some pictures from the pop concert I attended last Friday. This is a pop group from Hong Kong. I practically grew up dancing to their music. They can still dance... and they are older than me. The costume were quite campy. It's fabulous.

Really nothing much to report. I'm heading to Shanghai for Thanksgiving. I'll be staying at the new Park Hyatt for a night, and Jai Shanghai for a couple of nights. Very exciting!

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Beijing subway

...it's great. I just love seeing all these people.

I can see the finish line.

Seeing the finish line is not that easy either. Trying to wrap up, planning air tickets, checking if I need to buy another luggage, making up excuses to client why I have to leave a day early so that she doesn't know that I'm going to another client's meeting...
The work is alright lately. I've been busy this week just dealing with regular stuff. It's also scary to think that they are going to continue the project with the way they are now. I just hope they will eventually have a building that is structurally sound, livable and meet the schedule. The last one is really the true challenge.

Some links to The Hidden City-1949 project

I mentioned the compound that George and Nick worked on. Some pictures from their website. 

Also, here is a link to the pencil drawings exhibition they are having at the gallery. As I mentioned before, it was fabulous. I would be so happy to have one of the drawing myself.

http://www.elite-concepts.com/Promotions/1949/Gallery49Exhibitions/Oasis.htm

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Beijing Linked Hybrid

Great building by Steven Holl! But bad detailing. If you have seen the MIT's dormitory, this is very much an enlarged version with some bridges linking them. The bridges are common spaces for the 400+ residential units. 

The apartments are very expensive. The model apartment I looked at is about 150SM for US$1.0M. The location is not really that great either. For RMB$46,000 per SM, it is definitely on the higher spectrum as most of the newer properties in Beijing are marketed at around RMB$30,000. 

Yes, I played the potential buyer part in order to check out the model apartment. I can't afford it.

The best and most interesting feature is the geothermal system for the heating and cooling of the building. There is actually no heating and cooling, and radiant floor system to maintain a 22C in summer and 25C in winter temperature in all units. Pretty impressive.

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Picture from a few days ago when it was snowing and I was stuffing myself with roasted chestnuts

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What a strange day...

I spent the day eating roasted chestnuts (Tianjin's specialty), listen to music and translate Marlon's redmark into Chinese. The only phone call from Madame Gao was a stupid, inconsequential, not-my-business type question. It's too good to be true... Strange!
The chestnuts were delicious. I ate about 1 pound of chestnut all by myself. I feel like a chestnut stuffing right now.

Celebration dinner

To celebrate our 2 month, we went to have curry giant prawns. Delicious.

1 month left

I didn't think the day will come. But our visa will expire in exactly 1 month. YEAH!!! It was a long couple of months. From hot and sticky late summer days to below 0 C winter, I felt as if I have been here forever. And if you are judging from the increasing number of shoes I have got in China, it certainly looks like I've been here forever. (Okay... 5 pairs. But 1 pair is free from the job site, 1 pair is for the job site. I have only really got 3 pairs. And I'm not done yet!)

Luxury in Tianjin is...

4 episodes of my favorite TV shows via iTune.

Just 1 more month to go.

Oh dear... it was certainly quite a 2 month experience. 

I'm glad to inform that last week was actually okay. Busy and worked very late during the week. But I shut off my phone on Friday, hopped on a train to Beijing immediately. I did simple stuff. I stayed away from the shopping (yes, you are reading that correctly!) I just walked around, check out neighborhood that I've not been to. I stop by a new art compound near the Lama temple and found a cool little hutong (side street) with several cool restaurants and shops. 

Oh wait... I did buy something. I got a nice linen pocket square. It only cost RMB$18. So, that's less than 3 bucks. It doesn't count.

I also went to the Ritan Park. It's absolutely beautiful there, and it has no tourist! Amazing.

One of the highlight was checking out a project George Wong and Nick Baratto did a couple of years ago. They did a fabulous job. The gallery building within that compound is having a really cool pencil drawing exhibition by a local artist. The drawings are exquisite. I so wanted a couple of them. I wanted to have dinner at the restaurant. But the pricey menu changed my mind.

The Lamborghini showroom was also having a ribbon cutting ceremony. They have on display on the sidewalk a couple of really super cool cars. One is in a matte black finish. It looks like a Batmobile. It's awesome.

The laugh of the day was seeing this awful dress in a wedding gown shop. It is so awful. I can't even imagine someone designing it. Michael Kors and Nina Garcia would rip their eyes out after seeing that. And have to share it with you. Also, Chinese cabbage must be in season. They are everywhere!

So, pictures on with this posting are all the things I saw this weekend. I really enjoy the relax tourist weekend.

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Nothing much to report, and yet...

It is a decent week. Even though there is a lot of actions going on at the site, Marlon and I actually have a manageable week. I dealt with a few big issues. But they all get resolved at the end.
The new site office is not bad, actually. They assigned offices based on smoking and non-smoking. This substantially improve the environment. And it's far from any plumbing. So, there is no more stinky smell. I can deal with the noise and the constant disruption from people asking me questions. Compare to that basement, this is heaven.
The biggest laughable issue today is that they discovered, finally, that the elevators in the older building will not be able to open into the proposed elevator lobby on the top floor, as it is already inside the existing roof space and an 150 year old beam is blocking its way. And they just found this out when the elevator is scheduled to be installed next month?!? What kind of architect and engineer did the client hired??? This is so ridiculous that I practically laughed out loud when they told me. Of course they came to ask me what to do. (Sigh!) Long story short, I was in the building after dark with flash light in my hand telling them that the proposal doesn't work. I'm sure, now, I'm dragged into this problem and they will chase after me for solution.

Free coat!

Since the weather turned cold suddenly on Sunday, the client bought down jackets for all of us. And it is actually a very good looking jacket. They are also ordering shoes for us. How wonderful!

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It was a beautiful day in Tianjin...

but it was also freezing cold!!!

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This is becoming a blog about Beijing...

But Beijing is just soooooooooooo much more exciting.

First up... fabulous Din Tai Fung's dumplings. Now, that's the lifestyle I must have if I have to live in Asia. I felt civilized. The dumplings were just so good.

Next, I joined the world of faux, and brought myself a Zegna and an Armani jacket from Silk Market (for those who know Beijing, you know where I am talking about.) I am so ashame of myself. I never was a big fan of using faux things. But the Zegna one is really pretty cute. And it is super warm for the unexpected snow and negative temperature. The tricky thing with shopping in Beijing is that once you try on something, those shop girls will not let you walk away empty handed.

And then it was a 100 minute foot massage. (Yes, it averages out 10 minutes per toe.) They did that suction bulbs thing on my foot. It was hilarious. I never thought I would show picture of my feet on a blog. But this deserve a laugh from everyone.

I went out to Destination for a few hours of dancing among the local trendy boys to celebrate Halloween. The place was mopped. I came out of the club in the early hour to find that it was pouring rain. But I found a cab and back to the hotel for a great night sleep. This (late) morning, when I looked out the window, the ground was covered in snow. I can't believe a November 1st snow day! I just spent the Sunday at malls and bookshops. Surprisingly, English books are not that expensive here. 

I visited my uncle in the afternoon before I came back. I love Beijing.

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Snowing in Beijing

On Beijing subway again

It becomes a weekly escape plan. I was going to stay in Tianjin this weekend. But an excuse come up (the Interior Designer is not issuing final drawings due to payment issue). Marlon agreed that I should run away for the weekend in case client calls and wants me to get sketches out to help pushing the construction forward. Hell no. And sorry Tianjin, it's not you are not beautiful. Beijing is just so much more exciting. And it's Halloween weekend. The clubs must be hopping.

Heading to Din Tai Fung for soup dumplings. Shopping for winter clothes this afternoon. (It is getting quite cold here.) And maybe staying at the Opposite House (I haven't even booked a room yet. I know it's a splurge, but I NEED to.)

Marlon and I are actually in better spirit. The first reason is that we realized our visa is expiring in 5 weeks instead of 6. The second reason is that we have been trying to remind ourselves how our situation is better than tons of people in the world. Marlon met some Filipino musicians. They are shipped to China to perform at bars and clubs. They are paid minimally, 5 or 6 people are cramped in 1 apartment, and some of them are here on 2 year contract!!! Passport confiscated by the owner, not speaking the language, and sing the same set of songs 6 times a week. I keep reminding myself that I can't sing "It's Raining Man" and "Last Dance" night after night.

Gosh, the subway is so crowded here.

This is a good laugh

I went to the gym after I finished work tonight. I was just about to shower and have dinner when I got a call from the client. She said that Chairman is coming over, and we must have Chairman approve a couple of the items we discussed today. It was already 8.30pm. I skipped dinner and went down (the site office if right next door to where I stayed.)  It's no big deal.

The Chairman finally arrived at 9 by the river boat as he was entertaining guests earlier in the evening. I sat next to him as we discussed the items. All of a sudden, he lifted himself slightly off the bench and let out a medium range fart. It was not loud. But audible by all 4 of us in the meeting. And in 2 seconds, a light smell came my way. I kept a straight face, so did the others in the room.

Is this what I signed up for?

But it was pretty damn funny. I laughed the whole night. At least I got all the approvals I wanted tonight. I'll put up with a fart or two if that's what it takes.

Site meeting

The celebrations of our half way mark has gone wild within minutes...

Karaoke is going on now. Yikes.