Traffic...

Have you ever gotten stuck in traffic on the freeway because bunch of people stopping/slowing down to see an accident? Well....here in China....it's 10 times worst. When something happens on the street, people immediately form a circle around it. When other sees this, they actually RUN towards it to see what happened. What's even worst is if this happened on a freeway or big streets, people actually stop in the middle of the road just to get off the car to look at what happened.

This happened a few weeks ago. I was on my way home from work and saw bunch of people just standing on the street. Police and rescue team from the fire department are all over the place.



A car was SMASHED by a big truck that tipped over.



Here is a pic of all the inconsiderate people that parked their car right in the middle of the street just to get off to "look".

Inconsiderate crowds are standing so close to the scene even inside of the police line. They don't even consider their action might get in the way of the rescue.



After the driver was rescued from the smashed car, it took two big cranes to flip the tipped over truck back on it's wheels.

Whats left of the car.......

The driver was lucky to be alive.....

Trip # 2 National Tresure.....

This past weekend was a fun and exciting weekend! I GOT TO SEE SOME GIANT PANDAS! They're the most adorable animal ever! I wish I owned one.....they're much better than having a dog or cat.... but they do eat a lot and needs extensive care....they each cost about $8000-$12000 a year just on food, not to mention all the other medical treatment and what not. If I was filthy rich then I would for sure like to own one!!!!! Anywayz, let me tell you about my exciting trip!

I woke up around 6:00AM although I only slept for like 3 hours but I was so excited that I didn't care much about the lack of sleep. After I got ready, I took the taxi to my c0-worker Rosalie's pad about 15 mins away. We met up around 8 and took of shortly after we picked up her car from her parent's place.

Here is Rosalie's cute little green mobile!

Since none of us been to this place before, Rosalie's husband busted out his GPS to lead the way....the sad thing is that we still got lost a few times.....lol! After an hour of searching, bunch of u-turns, and endless back tracking.....we finally arrived to the ChengDu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

This is a pic of the ticket!

It's a really nice Sunday morning with not a lot of people and great cool weather. These bamboo planted on the side of the road makes you fee like you're in a green tunnel and it really relaxes me.

Most of the people here came with a tour so they have a guide that takes them everywhere.....since we don't....we kinda just wondered around not knowing where to go....but as soon as we saw this sign, we were back in business!



The first kind of panda we saw were these Red Pandas, they are a special kind in the panda family. I think they look more like raccoons.....



After the red pandas, we went to the nursery where they take care of baby pandas.....but since this is barely the mating season, there won't be any baby pandas for another few months...... =(

I took a picture from a picture to show you what baby pandas look like....



Next stop, we saw the most adorable little panda cubs!



Most pandas are pretty lazy.....all they do is eat and sleep all day....this guy below reminds me of myself when I get lazy....



This little fella is my favorite! I named him Buba!



He was the only one that would move around to play while everyone else is asleep, but he's lonely caz he has not friends.....



He is sad caz he wanted to play on the swing but no one would push him.....

**I would if I could, but I can't so I won't....so stop saying I'm mean Isabel**



But he's a tough one, he was going to do it on his own.....but it still didn't really work.....



This guy just sits and watch Buba suffer....chewing on his bamboo like pop corn....



This sign sounds cute in Chinese but the translation sucks....

It should say "Don't feed me, I only like to eat the health meals provided by my mom"



This sign is right....you really don't want to feed these giant pandas....they eat a lot as the way it is....there is no need to feed them more......



Look at how much they eat!!!!



They are so lazy that they would put all the bamboo next to them so they can sit there the whole time when they're eating and never had to get up.....



Here is the whole familia grubbing breakfast together.......



When I saw the panda family, I thought of my puppy family....so I decided to take a picture with them next to the panda family....

Since I don't have PhotoShop on my computer.....this is a ghetto version of my puppy family portrait with the pandas.....maybe next time we'll take some real ones with the pandas.....



Here is the real pic I took with Rosalie's husband......



After the pandas are done eating.....it's time for a nap.....



Here is a funny sign I saw.....since pandas are endangered animals, they're consider one of China's most valuable National Treasure. Apparently....they hate noise....



Today at work....every time I look at this pic, it cracks me up.....it looks like someone is in a panda body suit!! LOL!!! I was giggling all day and I still can't get over it!



Some say I look like him....do you see the resemblances?



After all, this was a great trip and I really enjoyed seeing these adorable creatures. However, there was one thing that I really regraded not doing......I did not get to hold a panda cub or take a picture with one.....

We saw people taking pics with one but we didn't know where they bought the tickets from and they were with the tour, so we figure they wouldn't know caz it's probably included as a part of their tour. People were also mentioning that you could spend $1000RMB to hold a little panda cub and take picture with it. If I knew where, I probably would've done it.....

Since I didn't get to take a pic with one.....I had to use my ghetto PaintShop to make one for myself.....



One of my co-worker mention that she knew people from here and they will let me hold the panda cub for free !!! so I hope to go back again before I leave or come back some other time to visit....I will do it for sure this time....even if I have to pay, it's well worth it!!!

Cheap fast food.....NOT!

It's funny how our fast food are so cheap that everyone of them have it's own 99 cent menu. However, if you want some fast food in china, you better be ready to pay some big bucks....

I happened to walked around exploring random places here in the city and came across a KFC. I was sooo excited that I actually wanted to try what KFC tastes like here. After 30 second....I was out on the street again.....the price was outrageous! The cheapest meal was 4 times of a regular order of noodle soups. Not that I was being cheap, but I just rather have a regular Chinese meal then spending 4 times more on fast food I can find every few blocks in the US. Overall....it's still darn cheap compare to KFC in US...so I guess it's still worth it after all.....

To my dear friend Ricardo....

My friend Ricardo is back!!!!!!!!!! He's been living it up where all the big ballers are at! Good old State of Orange! Florida! I miss him sooooo much and I wish I was back in Cali. so I could go visit him =( too bad I won't be back until late July or early Aug. So I guess all I can do is dedicate this post to him and give him a little shout out from the People's Republic of China.

Heres my shout out to Ricardo,

I miss you very very much and I'm so glad you're back. Sorry I couldn't be there with you, but I'm there with you in my heart and in spirit.

Love,
Howard

********************************************

This is one of those picture that will always carck me up when I see it caz they both looked so serious and it really reminds me of all the good times we had.

**Ricardo, Left; Aaron, Right.**

Bossy Boss....

I just found out today that some people here at the office is actually afraid of me....am I really that scary? I don't think I'm mean or bossy at all....but for some reason I'm being seen as an authority figure..... Don't get me wrong, if the situation calls for it then I will use my authority but I haven't so far......I guess I'm just really not comfortable knowing that people are afraid of me.....I believe bosses and employees can still have good relationship without fear being a part of it. It's not easy being a boss....but I'm still learning.....give me time!

Since everyone need a badge here....I get a special VIP Badge!

Pandas....

One of my main goal here in China is to see the world famous Pandas....I'm running out of time! I've been here for more than half of my stay here and still not had the chance to visit them! I WANT TO SEEE THEM SOOOOO BAD!!!



** I found this pic from the website....not a real one taken by me


The closest I've came to seeing a Panda was these pandas made out of flowers during some flower fest they were having. It's actually pretty cool so I decided to take a picture of it and share with yall.



My passion for pandas started when I saw this movie when I first came to the states in 1995. The name of the movie is called "The Amazing Panda Adventure". It's such a great movie, if you have not seen this movie......put it on your need to see list for your next movie rental.