When In Suzhou

August 3, 2013 --- Ahoy mates! Good morning from Balintawak, Quezon City. I have been home from China for four months now. Let's rewind to 4 months ago!

We woke up early in our honeymoon suite. The bathroom provided no privacy from the bedroom, hence the conclusion. The toilet stink was definitely shared between the two areas. Moving on, we were slowly wandering off to the Hangzhou train station, when shite! Where's my blimey unused tripod? Taxis in China are not so expensive. I must say, even cheap in a city nearest Shanghai. Run back to the hostel, taxi back to the station. And with little time left, run and board the train!! Nah, we still had the luxury to eat, sit and drink. Such was our punctuality in Shanghai, no time for that now. 

Door #1 leads to Door #2, which leads to Door #3. Not really. It's just my door series. The lady is getting irritated with doors. 

I planned to revisit some of Suzhou's renowned classical gardens. In ancient China, these were considered the one of the luxuries of emperors and that similar class. And that revisitation indeed was worth it, it was everything in a box. China in-a-nutshell would be a more encompassing phrase. 

We decided to go with a tour group, maybe out of curiosity, maybe out of convenience. The biggest flaw was having us visit those tourist traps selling silk, and another jewelry store. I don't think I am ever to buy from such promotions saying buy now cause there's 50% off for you.  

Enter the Venice of the East. The waterways and canals of Suzhou have been dubbed as such with its preserved classic Chinese architecture and real-life gondolas of China. 

 

At night, the city still boasts of its lighted tilted pagodas. We do like taking advantage of them cheap efficient non-cheating taxis. Hear, hear Philippines!

Those three characters below literally translate to Suzhou station. This is not an airport terminal; it is a mere reflection of the gargantuan progress of great mother China in the past 10 years. The station beats the ass out of our beloved worst airport in the world, NAIA. Hear hear again!

We sit back, relax and enjoy the high speed train ride back to the Paris of the East. Godspeed Suzhou, we'll be coming back for you someday. My abrupt attention span forbids me...