Mumsie Chu: FLYING INTO JIUZHAIGOU

Today we were supposed to fly to Jiuzhaigou...and were told that our flight will be @ 4pm.... Mumsie was a bit furious....the highlight of our tour is Jiuzhaigou...why should our flight be soooo late in the afternoon...And there was no coach to take us around as its driver , tour leader, and the coach is on its way to Jiuzhaigou...We were given a temporary tour leader who took us to Jinli street...a short walk from our hotel....

Jinli - An Ancient Street in Chengdu, used to be a busy trading street with a history stretching back to the Qin Dynasty around two thousand years ago.

Today, a new Jinli Street has been built on the site of the ancient lane. It has become a tourist attraction, featuring aged buildings and folk customs from the area.

Entrance gate to Jinli with its security guards

Two big laterns at the entrance to the street

Once inside the street you can see the slabstone-paved street with ancient-style buidings lining on both sides. Strolling down the narrow street, you will find yourself surrounded by old-world stores selling all types of things..like souvenirs. Most of the specia local products can be found here

Despite the traditional atmosphere in Jinli Street, you can also sense something fashionable. There are many cafes here - including Starbucks.

They blend modern elements into the old town harmoniously.

This is how the inside of Srarbucks looks like - would have taken more photos...but the waiter shouted at mumsie..."no photos please"

It's true that vistors can experience a particular cultural refreshment at Jinli. Showcased handcrafts such as this store selling paint brushes

All of these stores have their unique style...

This guy is literaly blowing 'candy figurines'

Don't think mumsie will like to lick one of these candies..with all his breath in it...eeear! But mumsie did see some kids licking them during our stroll on the street.

A chicken or cock candy anybody??? This guy brings back vivid memories from mumsie's and dadda's childhood...We used to see a fella who can make beautiful figurines with 'colourful' flour.

Some traditional arts such as paper-cut made by skilled craftsmen are sold here.

This guy is cutting candy into small strips and joining them up to make little figurines...

He is making 'wu-lohs'

From these artworks you will get a taste of the true life of the local people and find some reminders of China's past in the modern city.

In the middle of the street, (behind mumsie & dadda) there is a wooden stage which looks like an ancient pavilion. It is ued from time to time for performing classic Sichuan Operas.

The sculpturer. Side walk artist will also do likeness of paying customers

Recognise any body here??

Here too parents brought their children to do paintings

Shadow play, shows is a traditional Chinese folk art with over one thousand years of history. The "actors" are brightly painted puppets. It's a pity mumsie did not catch them performing

These antique shops here are of classic beauty and primitive simpilicity

Apart from traditional entertainment, modern venues to have fun can also be found at Jinli, such as this internet cafe...The perfect blend of modernism and tradition . Carved doors and windows contain classic elegance.

See this "East meet West" cafe.

Outside the pubs wooden desks and chairs of simple styles are placed and I supposed it's enjoyable to sit here with a cup of delicious coffee.....

Does this remind you of our Malaysian 'Kopitiam?'

Calligraphies and paintings of celebrities

Here she is drawing one of her customers

Believe or not when you sit down here for your cuppa you can also have your ears cleaned!!!!!!!!!! With a cup of coffee, you can choose to spend an afternoon here, relaxing with a view of the stream of passersby or have your ears 'dug'

When you reach the end of the street, you'll be tempted by the aroma of delicious local snacks. We were told that the citizens of Chengdu are born epicures and they are particularly fond of dining. Here there are many restaurants as well as sidewalk booths offering local snaks that will make your (I suppose the locals) mouth water...

BUT they were unable to tempt mumsie at all!!!!! The place doesn't look clean.....eeeeee.....One look at the hawkers (their uniforms looks as if they haven't been washed for a MONTH!!!)

This is something like S'pore's Clarkquaye .. chairs outside the pubs.. The red laterns all along the street are beautiful and make you feel

warm

Not very good with the Chinese characters written on top of this store. According to Linny....there are some rabbits on this menu

After walking thru here none of the 'Chus' bought any food.....Should have taken some photos of Liny's and mumsie's expressions as we walked through here!!!

Then came this procession dunno what's it about...

This lady is playing an ancient game

Artificial big big flowers

It's true that visitors can experience a particular cultural refreshment at Jinli. It is very popular among both tourists and locals.

As we were leaving Jinli Street Dadda managed to get a photo with this guy....Gotta fight with other tourists to get into this spot

I suppose Jinli street's success lies in the perfect combination of local culture and business. It has attracted thousands of tourists since its opening 2 years ago.

These type of flower arrangements are very popular in China Seems to see it every where

Then back to our hotel for lunch

Lunch wasn't that bad.... at least dishes look clean The only disappointment is throughout our tour none of the restaurants gave us disposable chopsticks....Mumsie should have brought along some from Malaysia...so those of you who are thinking of coming here...remember to bring disposable chopsticks...

Sweet and souf fish

Dunno what is this ...some deeeeep fried rice with mushrooms

Omelet

Some nuts with vegi..This is not bad

Afte lunch we still got some free time so roam around our hotel before we leave for the airport

Chengdu's airport ...This is the new part of the airport.....our plane is taking off from the older part of the airport...

This part of the air port is quite far away from our departure hall with Duty Free Shops mainly deals with tea, paintings and local specialities.

On the way to board the plane...pull Linny here to take a photo...The locals here seem to like Jackie CHAN

As we were about to land we saw this from our plane's window...

Jiuzhaigou's airport

Even Linny's crakers got 'puffed up"

Then we were taken straight to our hotel It is quite a loooong drive. Anyway we reached there a night

These fellows are COLD so gotta stand infront of the heater

This is where we will be staying for 2 nights We were not told the name of this hotel...But within its vicinity is Holiday Inn Hotel and was told that it is related. Its architecture is of Tibetan style

Rooms are clean and not bad

We were put into little buildings with about 10

guest rooms each buildings...(there are about 607 guest rooms altogether)

Outside our hotel rooms..Gotta walk quite a distance to the dining rooms ect ect

Night scene aound our hotel

Gosh it is cold....

We were told before we left Malaysia that weather is 10 - 25 degree C..But this is around 2 degrees

This is Holiday Inn ...wonder what is the difference staying inside this building and inside ours....

Those who stay inside this building have everything under one roof...restaurant ect ect

Our restaurant is in a separate building...no complaints it's quite a nice walk from our rooms to here...nice scenaries ect ect...BUT BUT

THE service is TERRIBLE!!!!! With so many guest rooms..you can immagine the crowd inside here and we were always reminded that we came at the PEAK SEASON!!! So you gotta to fight for a tabe then queue for food.....but before that you gotta to get yourself some 'presentable' cuttleries....bowls chopsticks plates and cups....All the bowls and cups are 'chipped' not just chipped but very very badly chipped....those that you would have thrown away at home!!!!

Chipped is better than none...there was a night we gotta used bowls to drink our coffee -no

cups....FOOD taste terrible.......!!!!!!! Mumsie and Linny preferred to go hungry...!!! You can see quite a few people bringing out their own 'Maggie Mee'

Night scene around our hotel

There were resturants, smal super-markets and karaoke lounges

Entrance to our hotel restaurants...where we fight for our breakfast and dinners!!

Some of the shops selling souveniers, clothings and some food

This place is quite big with many small alleys and

small shops

After dinner at the hotel we were taken to a

Tibetan village (optional tour)

Here we follow this guy who will take us to meet his family . Tody, despite the growting number of tourists, they still maintain their own customs and ways of life.

First we were taken to meet his dogs...

Then into his house

The Tibetan's houses are vey colourful

Tibetans are very religious...so their decorations will usually include auspious objects..guardian kings - guardians of homes, holy shrines ect

This guy dressed in his colourful costumes came in and sang for us

This is a typical Tibetan lamp -"tian-chu"

This is their front door

We were invited into their sitting room to have dinner.....but don't think mumsie like this dinner...cos mumsie doesn't like yak meat and yak oil. It is realy YAK! So that night both mumsie and Linny goes hungry again. They even serve yak butter tea..essential to the Tibetans. Living on the montains, they drink it everyday to combat the low temperatures...supposed to keep you warm the whole day.