Day 1- Kuching-KL, KL-Bangkok, Bangkok to Chengdu

We had to meet up with the rest of the tour group members at KLIA at 6.30a.m. To be on the safe side, we took a flight the night before from Kuching to KL, and spent the night (yeah you got it right) at KLIA. Considering the time factor (we arrived at KL midnight) it was not necessary to stay in a hotel. Wouldn't be worth it anyway. If you see my entry below, Jamalluddin Hassan, the host of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" was on the same flight as us.

So how does it feel to sleep at the airport? Well... I saw quite a number of lone travellers doing the same thing, although personally I don't think its a good idea. You should ideally have someone to take turns looking after your luggage.

The flight to Bangkok was uneventful. Coincidentally, I also did a stopover at Bangkok in 1996 when I was travelling to Wuxi. Dejavu indeed.

It takes three hours from Bangkok to Chengdu. A lot better compared to the 11 hour journey I had to make from KL to London. Well... Chengdu is nearer anyway :P

Upon arrival at Chengdu airport, all international travellers are required to fill in a health declaration form. The health screening officers will scrutinize your form and if you are unsure of what to fill, its better to check with your tour guide. Rest assured that the forms are bilingual and it should not cause too much of a problem.

Only when the health officers are satisfied that you are fit and healthy then you can proceed further to immigration clearance. Again, fill in your form clearly to avoid hassle.

Right... there were local tour guides carrying huge signboards waiting for us. Two lovely girls dressed in Tibetan costumes held the banner welcoming us to Chengdu.

About Chengdu:

1)Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and houses more than 80% of the different tribes of China, including the Yi, Zang, Kang Ding, etc. etc. Sichuan is located at the Southwest of China and is the door to Tibet.  

2) Chengdu is home to the world's rarest animal-the panda. There are only about a thousand surviving pandas in the world and Sichuan is home to almost 80% of these gentle creatures. Pandas existed during the Jurassic period together with dinasours and are therefore considered the longest surviving animal on earth.

3) Chengdu is the second city after Beijing where civilians own the most number of private cars. Surprisingly, we did not experience massive traffic jams.

4) The famous Chinese director Zhang YiMou said this about Chengdu:" Chengdu is a city which one would not wish to leave upon arrival."

5) During ancient China, Sichuan was known as "Shu", and houses the Wu Hou Shrine in memory of Zhu Ge Liang.

6) Famous poets like Du Fu, Li Bai and Su Dong Po were amazed by the beauty of Sichuan and have written beautiful poems of the scenery of Sichuan.

7) Sichuan is rich in culture heritage. The famous Chuan opera (similar to the Peking opera), the "Bian Lian" show (i.e. changing masks on the face swiftly), shadow play (like our wayang kulit, only in this case, the hands are used to depict different animals) etc. are but to name a few of the cultural performances unique to Sichuan.

8) The famous E-mei mountain and LeShan Gian Buddha are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List since the 1980s and have therefore gained international recognition.

9) Whilst Beijing has Tiananmen Square, where the late Chairman Mao's picture overlooks Beijing, in Chengdu you have the Tian Fu Square with a statute of the late Chairman Mao in his signature waving pose.

10) Many people within China choose Chengdu as a place of retirement because of its beautiful surroundings and the relaxing atmosphere.

11) Chengdu can be divided into the Northern area (the poorest parts of Chengdu), the East (the area under development), the West (the well to do people) and the South (people of high ranking). To reside in the South Western area is akin to being either rich or powerful.

12) Chengdu has four ring roads. My brother observed that if you look at the street maps, the four ring roads are shaped exactly like the Pa Kua (a Feng Shui symbol).

13) The river Jing Jiang (translated as Silk River) runs through the city of Chengdu and is clean and clear.

14) And one more important thing-the currency used is Ren Ming Bi and the exchange rate is RM1 to RMB2 approx. Good news for us.

15) Chengdu is located in a basin area. This means that it rains more frequently in Chengdu compared to other parts of China. This is apparent during spring time.

Ok, the next important thing is of course, the food.

1)Generally, Sichuan is famous for their spicy food. The most famous being the "Ma La Huo Guo" which translates into literally "Numb and Spicy Hot Pot." The tour agency did not arrange for us to try out the hot pot because if they did, my stomach would go on strike. I can't take too much of spicy food. One of my housemates from Sichuan cooked the Ma La hot pot once in KL, and my tongue was numb for two days.

2)Secondly, you must also try their Dan Dan Mian (dan dan noodles). The noodles are served in a spicy gravy with pork mince and vegetables.

3)Thirdly, one also must not miss the Ma Po Tou Fu (Ma Po Tauhu). Again, this is a spicy dish which smells absolutely delicious.

4)One of my favourites (albeit a tad too spicy) dish is the La Tzi Ji (Spicy Chicken). The chicken meat is diced into small cubes and stir fried with a local chilli (tastes like chilli padi but looks like dried chilli). The chillies have a unique fragrant smell to it which adds flavour to the chicken.

5)And of course, the different varieties of fresh vegetables which taste absolutely superb stir-fried and salted. Divine.

Part II: Dinner at Qin Shan Zai and night shopping