Yangzhou Posting (6)

Most flowers bloom another round during the colder weather of autumn.

It's around the same time when the leaves start to fall or turn yellowish brown.

Slender Westlake took the chance to have a Flower Festival,

and we went there to enjoy the view and weather.

Anyway, this time of the autumn is when it's hot when the sun is out,

but if you get under the shade or the wind blows,

it can get you shivering.

Clothing advice from the local is to dress in layers,

so to easy dress up or dress down when we are travelling indoors and outdoors,

especially travelling one whole day when day and night temperature changes drastically.

After a few weeks, we were at the last two weeks of our posting.

We had a farewell meal together,

and a few of us planned a trip to Shanghai together.

And after the trip, I'll be packing my stuff and go to Nanjing earlier,

to have a vacation with my then-boyfriend there before we fly back to Malaysia.

Yangzhou Posting (5)

Summer is a new experience of hot for me.

I knew it would be hot but I thought it is just another Malaysia kind of hot.

The past records of temperature was normally between 30degree Celsius to 40degreee Celsuis.

It seems like just another hot sunny day in Malaysia.

But IT IS NOT!!!

Summer kind of hot is like hot with steams.

The suitable describe would be you feel like you are in a steamer.

And although there's typhoon or thunderstorm time to time,

to the point where some low area will be flooded,

it is still hot, just when after rain it's hot and sticky.

There isn't much to do in summer.

The weather is too hot for outdoor activities, not to mention travelling.

And a lot of unpredictable rainfalls makes travelling planning hard.

We just wanna stay indoor, in air-conditioning room.

And then slowly when the weather feel less "steamy" or stuffy hot,

Autumn is creeping near.

I would say the transition between autumn and summer is much more like Malaysia hot weather.

It's still hot but not steamy/stuffy/sticky.

It's more of a dry hot weather with time to time comfortable breezing.

And then one day I got the news of being accepted as one of the apprentice of a prestigious experienced Chinese Medicine doctor.

I'm more than surprised.

At some point I doubt myself to be worthy enough or not.

But I decided to just do my best.

A group photo with my master(middle), senior apprentice(left and right of master), and all of us new apprentice

 This event is sort of good closure/ending of my posting at Yangzhou.

We are only left with a few more weeks to end our posting.

And I got lucky with my posting round timetable

because my arrangement was to have all the hard, long, stressful department done early.

Towards the ending of my rounds, my timetable was very relaxing.

And as the weather slowly got more and more comfortable,

we planned and went to the Slender Westlake again at the conjunction of their flower festival.

YangZhou Posting (4)

Mid-spring, feels like the morning of Malaysia. The highest temperature hits only at around 25 degree Celsius.
It's a very comfortable temperature for us Malaysians, but for locals it's still a little cold.
We start wearing short sleeves which always getting nag from locals especially the elders.
All the pretty fluttery flowers are passed their blooming.
This is the time for canola flower to bloom.

It's a bright yellow.
I thought it would be dull for seeing just one color flower bloom, but I was so wrong.
The field of yellow canola flower, WOW!

And it's a popular time for outing. We visited a few big shopping malls that are slightly further than our common travelling area.
We went more to karaoke and some wheel skating.
My mom and aunt came visit me. I brought them to the famous ShouXiHu and DongGuan Street.
I introduced them some local food and local way of living.
DongGuan Street is an popular tourist street that combine both souvenir stalls and historical building.
I was so occupied that I forgot to take photos of it.

Then, we went to HangZhou. My impression of HangZhou is a more Chinese cultural style of Kuala Lumpur.
As our trip was more of a bagpack trip, we make decision as we go around.
So after seeing a tour promotion, we decided to go to WuZhen.
It's a typical scene of JiangNan(South of Yangtze River) Water Town.
It's very poetic and full of the old historical feels to it.

Entering the town of WuZhen

WuZhen Water Town ticketing booth rooftop logo

People used to live next to the river

Bridge connecting both sides of the river, it is believes to bring prosperity

Remodeling of traditional herbs shop

Boat tour on the river

WuZhen trip is a one-day trip, we got back to HangZhou and loiter around the streets.
The rain comes unexpectedly in the evening when we are still outside loitering.
We got trapped in the rain for around 1 hour.
And as it got smaller, we decided to run back to hostel.
Of course we got soaked wet, and super tired.
We sleep pass breakfast the next day, and we move to homestay near West Lake tourism district.
Our days are simple after that, we basically just enjoy the view, tried out local food, and relax.

A roadside path that looks like walking in the forest

And then we found the famous General YueFei museum.
The building was his home as well, and it was modified a bit to become a museum of his history.

A picture showing the famous story of General YueFei's mother using needle to prick/tattoo "精忠报国" on his back to remind him to be loyal his country

Spring goes, Summer comes.
And it's hot, very hot!
the weather forecast always show 39 degree Celsius, but some rumors say it sometimes hit 40 degree Celsius in the noon.
No sleeves shirt and short pants do not feel enough, I might as well go naked.
Summer and typhoon are friends, thunderstorm always show up suddenly when minutes ago is just sunny sky.
It is too hot to go outside, we basically just stay indoor.
Watermelon is very popular and can been selling abundantly along the streets.
In such a hot weather, you can never have enough of watermelons.

Yangzhou Posting (3)

So, it got warmer. My friends and I decided to visit ShouXiHu again.
I mean, it's spring! The season of flowers! So, why not go again?
Hahahahahahaha

The scene, is very breathtaking. Although you see the same greenery and flower all the time in Malaysia, but in a seasonal country, it's totally different story.
Imagine all you see is white and dark brown branches, bare trees, and then suddenly the plants decided to all waken up one day, and one day you wake up to see the fields are green, and everywhere you see flowers, small or big.
It's like the nature was holding in the energy, all pent up inside, then she just blows up and everything grows.

First, let me show you ShouXiHu. They have themed gardens all year round, and it's specially grand in spring.

It's just flower everywhere!
And then slowly you realize, even the roadside plants are blooming with flowers, a tree that you never thought can bloom, surprise you as well!

Treasure at a corner in hospital

Roadside tree that looks dead start blooming (it bears fruit in the late spring)

Roadside plants "wake up"

Flower at hospital herb garden

My hostel garden starts the fountain

The field in front my hostel becomes green

March, the month of Sakura flowers 😁

Sakura petals

Branches full of sakura flowers

At around end of March, mid-spring, my boyfriend-now-husband came visit me.
And of course I brought him to visit ShouXiHu, and we are lucky to see their "Hundred Flower Garden"
Though he did miss the sakura season

The lake's boats start operating

Flower bridge