Oriental Adventure, Day 3

Again, we were up early for day 3 and again we were brought to another useless factory, silk. I wouldn't mind if they have things that I could give as souvenirs but who would need an extremely overpriced bedsheet. Not satisfied that we didn't buy anything, our guide 'locked" us in and will only leave when we bought enough to cover the loss for not spending the day before. That causes everyone to explode and had a major complaint from Hakimbo and the American family. We wasted 2 hours in the factory till we managed to get out. The guide wasn't really pleased but we didn't care. It was not stated in the itinerary that we need to spent for the tour.

The next tour was actually the Summer Palace but it was closed due to preparation for the New Year. We had a change of itinerary and was brought to another factory, Pearl and Jadeite. This time, there was a disclaimer that we may not need to purchase as the prices were exuberant. Somehow, some of the group managed to purchase something.

Lunch was at the Olympic stadium and it was the one and only halal restaurant that we were brought to where they served Thai menu. However, they still served it as a Chinese infused dishes. Right after lunch was another optional tour to view the pandas. Again we opted out as we can just view them in the new attraction at Singapore Zoo. So we just sat in the bus as there wasn't any place to go out to and the time required was short.

Still yearning for that spa treatment, our guide brought us to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute for a free foot message by TCM students. There was also health screening but like I said in the previous post, there is no free lunch in China. After the screening, the doctors recommended traditional prescription but the prices were ridiculous. They can go up to SGD 200 for some prescription. My last visit to a TCM in Singapore (yup, I've been to one) only quoted me 1/4 of the price but I rejected due to an advise by my personal doctor.

Next, is yet another shopping venue but in a shopping center, Silk Street. Thought that it'll be great? Not really. It's very much like KL Petaling Street but in a mall version where they sell knock-off at yet another ridiculous prices. I found a collectors toyshop and was amazed that they managed to copy Neca Assassin's Creed and I was tempted to get it but didn't. I remembered that I'm trying to stop toys as much as I can. We were given 2 hours at Silk Street but we completed the mall within 45 minutes inclusive of a coffee break. We ventured out across the street and found nothing as the area was a business district but our savior was Starbucks.

The only worthy picture for the day.

After the group gathered, we were brought to a shopping district call The Place to see the second largest Skyscreen in the world. I was like what??? The shopping center was way better than Silk Street and I could actually shop for something there but we're being brought here to just see these huge screen in the sky for about 10 mins because the bus is not allowed to park more than that. Seriously?

Dinner was next and they were serving Peking Duck. We were scheduled earlier but we were late so the duck cutting demonstration did not happened and the duck were served sliced. By now, I've grown tired of Chinese food but I've managed any western food along the way such as Mcdonalds and Starbucks.

The last optional tour is the CBD light-up that cost SGD 10. We were tired and didn't mind the SGD 10 but after completing the 15 mins tour, we found it an unworthy tour. Yet another money making scheme but I would rather stay in the bus then waiting in the cold for them to pick us up.

Yet another late arrival in the hotel and no chance for the spa however we did managed to stay up till 00:00 to usher in the new year. We were hoping to see fireworks or someone playing firecrackers. Well, someone did play with fireworks right below the hotel but it was only at 11.15pm. We had no idea what was that occasion for. Once 2013 struck, we only managed to see 2 fireworks miles away and remembering that our hotel was in the outskirts.

We happy 2013 and *snore*.