Singaporean Gal in Shenzhen

Perspective of China (Shenzhen) from a Singaporean

[sggalinsz]

Seen at the local mall. EXTREMELY interesting VM’s display.. (HORRORS)

[sggalinsz]

2 years since my last post

WOW! It’s been 2 years since I’ve abandoned this place! Things sort of became mundane as I settled into the way of life here. I think I should start putting more pictures here again to show you how it is in Shenzhen - that is totally safe and a good place to live in. :)

[sggalinsz]

Shenzhen tales: My PRC colleagues cannot imagine seeing a group of Chinese (Singaporeans) getting together and speaking in English. (Because we are all Chinese and "should be conversing in Mandarin".)

[sggalinsz]

Heard the summoning of all the powers from the lungs to the throat and out of the mouth by a very dignified looking lady. * horrors *

[sggalinsz]

Has a hard time trying not to laugh while conversing with different colleagues who speaks like Lulu everyday in the office.

[sggalinsz]

Seen @ Walmart 蛇口. New business opportunities, perhaps?

[sggalinsz]

If you can read and understand the words.. Haha..

[sggalinsz]

Clean Air Is Not Free

I love running outdoors. Having grown up in Singapore gave me the false sense of security that clean and fresh air should be available everywhere. Park connectors included.

In Singapore, I stay 5 minutes away from a stretch of the Ulu Pandan park connector which is about 2.4km, so doing 1 round means I’ll be doing 4.8km, almost 5km! I simply love running along the park connector, taking in sights of the greenery and if I’m adventurous enough, it leads me all the way to West Coast Park.

The sad thing is that I am not able to enjoy the same convenience here in Shenzhen. I have to take a bus to the nearest park which is about 20 minutes away and I’m not sure if I’m keen to run in the polluted air.

My current solution now is to sign up for a gym membership just to keep fit; or just to run. It does sound ridiculous to me, for someone who have never paid to run, except for marathons.

Which led to me concluding, Clean Air is really not free.

[sggalinsz]

The 发票 system

This 发票 system is flawed. As a foreigner working in China, our contracts usually have a portion that is allocated to housing allowance. These allowance are non taxable and would require you to produce  发票 to claim that allowance. And as such, when you rent apartments, landlords do not readily provide 发票 for you as this will also mean that they will be taxed.

  This means that a lot of people like us who do not want to spend all of our housing allowance have to find ways to get发票from everywhere; legally or illegally. And as I found out, almost all of my colleagues who are foreigners buy发票 from different sources. With this in mind, what is the real use of this 发票 system when people are buying fake ones?

  I think they should just scrape this system, allow the citizens to profit more and to raise up the living standards of the country. Don’t judge me on this, the suggestion is only based on a very simple look at this problem.

[sggalinsz]

Left Singapore at 33 degrees and reached Shenzhen at 6! HORRORS!

[sggalinsz]

So glad to be home and drinking Teh C Siu Dai. :)

[sggalinsz]

Home!!

The last of my friends working overseas to be home. Counting down to my flight tomorrow. :)

[sggalinsz]

Counterfeit cash: How to check if your RMB is the real deal

Ok. I just got a fake 20RMB note from a taxi driver. Blame it on myself for not being vigilant enough.

The easiest way is to rub the hair or the collar of Chairman Mao and you will be able to feel the grooves. If not, then you've got a fake!

I was pretty irritated at being cheated, even though it's only 20RMB. Oh well, just got to be more careful the next time.

[sggalinsz]

Extremely strong winds tonight and feels cold, even though the temperatures are up.

[sggalinsz]

CNY is here..

[sggalinsz]

13RMB for 20 pieces of this!

[sggalinsz]

Happy New Year from the cute minions! Seen @ CocoPark SZ.