Foreign Exchange Certificate (China)

Many people might not know about these foreign exchange certificates or what are they used for. When China first open their doors to foreigners, they issued these certificates to them when they visited China. It was issued from 1979 to 1994. Issued by the Bank of China, they sold at a premium of about 20% more than the actual value of the Yuan. So you can see my copies of the certificates are dated 1979 (in chinese).

I first visited China in 1986 and I needed to use these certificates to purchased any luxury goods in Friendship Stores and Hotels in China. Back then things are so cheap in China. Their locals are not allowed to use these certificates so they could only purchase their own local products.

These certificates are no longer issued or used in China. China has already catch up with the rest of the world.

Most of the sources are taken from here.

China-Guilin (1986)

OK, you guess it..... these are old photos from my past travels photo album. I was afraid to post it at first cause they looked so faded and old but trotter encouraged me...hehehe.

Between 1949 and 1974, the People's Republic was closed to all but selected foreign visitors. Beginning in the late 1970s, when the leadership decided to promote tourism vigorously as a means of earning foreign exchange, China quickly developed its own tourist industry. (Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_China)

So Singapore allowed only those above 35 years of age to travel to China in the 70s but then China relaxed their rules in mid 80s and open to all tourists regardless of age. Yayyy, so I was fortunate to visit China in 1986 with my late mother and all my siblings.

It really was an eye opening for me. When I first stepped into China in 1986, it was like stepping into a time machine that transported us back to the olden times. The people wore clothes that looked so different from us and everything is so backward. Their salary were so low back then. I remembered the tour guide in china earned only S$50 per month (which is considered very good salary for tour guide).

The above is a bird eye view of Guilin from a hilltop.

Guilin is famous for their odd shaped hills. The above hill looked like an elephant trunk and so was called elephant trunk hill.

We took a long boat to view the beautiful scenery of Guilin along Lijiang River. I remembered we had a sumptous seafood lunch on the boat. They simply caught the seafood fresh from the river and cooked them onboard the boat. Very interesting.

The below are postcard photos showing the inside of Ludi (Reed-Flute) Cave.

This rock formation looked like a lion.

Changi Airport Terminal 3 opening 9th January 2008

Yesterday, I visited the new Changi Airport terminal 3 ( it would be officially open and operating on 9th January 2008). It is so big and we walked so much and we were so tired.

Our existing Changi Aiport Terminal 1 and 2 are already very good and now with terminal 3 , we really are very spoilt with good shopping, dining and travelling facilities....lol. It really looked like a big shopping Mall with 140 retail shops and F&B outlets with the most desired lifestyle brands and well loved dining establishments.

This is the only one portion of the departure hall, it is actually very very big.

Viewing the interior of transit area from the main hall. Majority of the walls are made of glass. So we can view the interior of the transist area from the departure and arrival hall and vice versa.

From the main hall, one can even view the immigration hall, where arriving passengers queue to get their passport stamped.

Testing luggage bags all ready for the testing before the new terminal 3 open.

For more photos: Click here

MACAU TRIP 9 (ZHUHAI-SOUTH CHINA)

Am glad, we make a trip to Zhuhai, South China. It was so easy. We took a free shuttle bus from the front of the hotel and it took us only 15 minutes to reach the Macau/Gongbei Border. We were so excited and although it was the first time we were going to Zhuhai, it looked although we are seasoned traveller there. Everything is going so smoothly for us. We just followed the crowd. (lol)

We just passed the Macau Border and just followed the crowd and walked to Zhuhai Immigration Arrival Hall. Zhuhai is so modern with so many tall buildings coming up.

After going through the zhuhai immigration arrival hall, just step out and wow, the big Gongbei underground shopping mall is right in front of us. There are many restaurants in the underground shopping mall with very reasonable prices and many shops.

I bought so many stuff here...........yipeee.

After spending almost the whole day at the underground shopping centre, we decided to be more adventurous and head out to more department stores. Not sure where to go, the signboard say market turned right and plaza turned left. So we just turned left. Hahaha...we did the right thing.

We just walked out of the underground shopping centre.

We went to Wang Jia Department store. It is an eye opening. The departmental store was huge and I loved to watch the things and food the local bought. Too bad, they dont allow cameras in the departmental store.

Looked how clean the streets are.

Time to head back to the hotel. Walking towards Zhuhai departure hall.

MACAU TRIP 8 (STATUE OF GODDESS OF MERCY AND MACAU OBSERVATION TOWER)

We managed to find the Statue of Goddess of Mercy and Macau Observatory on the last day on our Macau trip. Was about 30 minutes walk from our hotel. Statue of Goddess of Mercy

Closer View of Macau Observatory Tower. It was a cloudy day as well as the bad pollution which explained the misty look of the photo.

That was the bridge that linked Macau Peninsula with Taipa.

MACAU TRIP 7 (RUINS OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH)

The Ruins of St Pauls. In 1835 a fire erupted and destroyed the church and almost all the complex. Only the front facade was left.

History of Ruins of St Paul's Church

The facade is like an altar piece .

This is the back of the church.

MACAU TRIP 6 (RUA DO CUNHA-FOOD STREET, TAIPA)

This one of the food street in taipa village. It is known as Rua Do Cunha.

The famous Kok Kei Pastry Shop selling all kinds of cookies.

Rows of BBQ pork for sale.

Chef demonstrating on how to make almond cookies.

The famous crab porridge in Taipa.

Rows of shops and restaurants in Taipa Village.