For the first time in Shanghai, I woke up late today!

I was supposed to wake up at 7am but maybe I forgot to set my alarm clock or didn’t hear it ring so I woke up when YJ’s alarm clock rang which was at like 7.40pm.

Rushed like mad and in the end we left our house at like 8.30am and didn’t head to the MRT station straight. Instead, YJ went to collect her coat from the laundry first.

The actual plan was to meet YH at Shanghai Stadium MRT station at 9am.

That train station was super duper complicated because there were 2 stations- Shanghai Indoor Stadium and Shanghai Stadium. And both stations are at different MRT lines!

We had a hard time figuring out which station it was but in the end we alighted at Shanghai Indoor Stadium and went out.

We were supposed to head to this place beside Shanghai Stadium to buy tickets for a coach to Tong Li. In the end, we found out that Shanghai Indoor Stadium is just next to Shanghai Stadium so we walked all the way and found the place.

However, we reached at 9.30am and there were no more coaches to Tong Li already.

Wasted trip? Nah. Instead, we bought tickets to go to Zhou Zhuang and the coach was to leave at 9.40am. Perfect timing (:

A 2 way coach trip and admission fee into Zhou Zhuang cost RMB140 per person. Quite reasonable I guess, for traveling out of Shanghai.

The bus ride took about 1 hour 45 mins.

When we reached, it was free and easy so we bought a map to navigate ourselves.

The first thing we did was to look for a toilet because we were so urgent! BUT, the female toilet stank like nobody’s business and we couldn’t take it. Left with no choice, the 3 of us went to the MALE toilet instead and YH locked the main door. Yeah, it was my first time going into a Male toilet that openly. Hahaha.

The weather was FREEZING but still bearable if there wasn’t any wind.

We were told that it was gonna be crowded because it was a Sunday but the streets were empty when we reached! It was like we were in the wrong place of Zhou Zhuang.

Since it was already near lunchtime, we decided to find food instead! We just followed a signboard which led us to this restaurant.

We ordered Mapo Toufu, Gong Bao Chicken, Noodles and 2 plates of Fried Rice. The servings were just enough for 4 of us and the total bill came up to RMB80.

After eating, we tried navigating ourselves to where the crowd was. I think we were at the newly renovated area and some places were still under construction and there were no shops.

In the end, we had to walk back to where the coach dropped us off and headed the other direction and finally found the entrance into Zhou Zhuang.

We were like rushing for time because we had to gather back at the coach at 4.20pm.

So, armed with YH’s DSLR, tripod and remote, we went around snapping photos everywhere we went!

Being a tourist is super tiring. Haha. But taking photos was such a breeze today (:

We also had time to stop and buy snacks like Malt Candy, Dragon Beard Candy and some other stuff.

While walking into some ally, we heard familiar voices- the Singaporean accent. We were like “I hear Singaporeans!” and there was this whole bunch of Singaporeans that was on tour there.

Despite the weather being so damn cold, the 4 of us were crazy enough to buy ICE CREAM and ate it in the cold weather. :D

And just when we got to our peak of cam-whoring, YH’s camera battery DIED. Yes, both batteries died. Wonderful. Good thing it was already the end of the day.

We waited for the coach to set off and slept on the ride back. It was so cold outside that the windows had mist.

We reached Shanghai Stadium at around 6.30pm. DINNER TIME! On our way there, I saw “Hao Xiang Lai”, this place where I ate when I went to YH’s house the other time.

So we decided to dine there. I had steak + pasta for RMB20 (:

After filling our stomachs, it was still early and we didn’t wanna go home.

Guess what we saw. That familiar blue and yellow sign- IKEA!!

It was walking distance from where we were so we decided to head there!

Upon arriving, we were greeted by the usual IKEA smell and sight. Everything was exactly the same as Singapore’s.

The first stop was to the food section where YJ and JY went to grab hotdogs and a drink for RMB5.

We then started roaming around the whole place (2 levels full of stuff) and threw some stuff into our shopping cart.

In the end, we bought a new toilet rug and warm blankets.

And, I also found my WEIGHING SCALE! Stepped on it without missing a beat and *phew I still weigh the same! But seriously, I looked like I gained weight? Hmmm.

Too bad I was already full from Hao Xiang Lai otherwise I’d eat at Ikea! I miss the food there. Even the café’s similar to Singapore’s!

We were so lazy to take the MRT home because we had to change lines so since there were 4 people, we CABBED.

Reached home at like 10pm. Settled money and headed to bed.

The loads of photos will be up on Friendster soon; once I get hold of them from YH!