What happen to you, Joy?

My wound taken when at the local clinc


Local clinic changing my next day wound, Infected already


At hospital waiting for the drip to finished (2.5hrs)

I really wondered what on earth is happening to me, today while happily cycling in Yang Shou to a mountain cave to have a dip, but before I reached the destination, I got off balance and had a real bad fall from the bicycle. Initially, I thought it was not much of an issue (somemore think of still proceed with the clear water and mud dip), as I had bad falls before but this time, it was really different, I bleed profusely and my skin was being torn, revealing only the flesh. I don't really feel the pain till I reached the local clinic to have my wound treated. When the practioner treated my wound with antiseptic, I really screamed out loud like nobody buisness, it was really unbearable and I almost fainted.
I asked myself, within 3 days in China, already I had 2 very bad experience (what is the lesson for me to learn) Well, one of tke lesson I learnt from the fall is really not to take myself too lightly. I actually asked Sharon should we proceed to go for our dip, instead of going to the clinic; thinking that the wound will be washed clean with the clear water (what a joke!!! It could really get worse). Shaz comments that, "Joy will only learn from her own experience and not others" her point is I have been forwarned about safety many times but I seem to take it very lightly. Hmmm, I wonder is this really true (maybe yes, maybe no)

Hey friends, I don't seem to be able to open my blog in China, so I will only publish and not able to see any comments you leave in the right hand column box. But if you leave comments at the bottom of my article, it is link to my email.

Having said all of the above, I love Yang Shou, this is a very scenic and beautiful place surrounded by many friendly and green mountain. The place has it's own character, with unique buildings and very friendly people. Given time I would choose to chill out in this place longer.

Talk to you soon, please remember me in prayer for safety and health.

my email: joydive@gmail.com

Lost my Nikon 5200 in Guang Zhou

C





People crossing the brigde near train station At the police station

you believe it, I left Hong Kong on 13th June morning excited about my China Leg to go to Guang Zhou. And only for about 1/2 hour after we had our lunch with a new found friend Mary from Florida, USA (she is a student and traveling alone in China for a month, how brave) but am really amazed by her baggage (just a small hapsack, really put me to my embrassment for bring so much things for my trip);
I was being pickpocketed and it happen so fast that you could hardly realise it. I was really panick and I ran back to the resturant where we had our lunch to check if I had left the camera behind - but fat hope :( Having lost my camera - means that I will had one less fun thing to do in this trip (no able to take lots of picture).
Myself and Sharon ran around looking for the police station to lodge a theft report. When we were at the station, funny people were seating around and the bench. A girl crying and behaved pathetically, claiming she was being cheated for about Y10000 (all her savings). And a man who acted kindly towards her telling her not to worry and gave her Y400 to clam her down. She even approached us for some cash, but being forewarned of such crooked stories, we just ignored her and soon she will have to stop her acting and leave the scene. My question is, this is happening at the police station (how come? ah?)
My own side of story is also the same, I tried to get my report done soonest, as I got to catch my 5.30pm train to Gulin. But having called back to Singapore and realised that in order to have my claim settlement done smoothly, the insurance company will need an actual police report and just the reference slip (given by the police).
I tried to enrol the officer to expediate my report and give my a photocopy of my report, but they simply refused, stating it is not their policy to give away police report. Time is ticking real fast and already at 5pm, I was still at the Police station, insisting on getting a copy of any kind to help me state that I had lodge a police report for my lost item. Praise God, at last she gave in to my persistency and wrote another report with the police station stamp on it.
Atherwhich, we just ran as fast as we could, so as not to miss our train and we did make it, we were on time for our train. Sharon said, she felt as if we were doing the Amazing Race (having some fun time in the midst of lost). We were actually panting very hard (trying to catch our breath)
This was my first time experience to lose any items while traveling oversea. For sure, now that I have learnt my lesson well, I become very cautious and careful with my procession and stuffs. Once is enough for me to learn my lesson and not to be too lax with my procession.
To me it is not so much of the items lost, but the fun I will miss in taking lots of beautiful picture
:( and keeping them for memories sake.

Below is the letter to my insurance company (please pray that my claim will be able to settle fast and without much hassle).

Thank you all and realy covet for all your prayers.



14th June 2005

AXA Insurance Singapore Pte Ltd
143 Cecil Street, #01-01
GB Building
Singapore 069542

Attn: To Claim Officer

RE: POLICY NO. STB/P0213382 TRAVEL INSURANCE

Dear Sir,

Refering the above policy, I would like to make a lost claim to my lost possession while traveling in China, Guang Zhou.
On 13th June 2005, I was around Guang Zhou train station crossing the bridge, it was crowded with people and I was with 2 other of my friends chatting, but suddenly, I feel something wrong and a movement around my arm, and the next moment I realised that my Nikon 5200 camera was being pickpocketed, together with the camera is my 1 GB SD card and a Nikon battery. I caught hold of a guy in front of me thinking he might be the one, but he denied having taken any things from me.

Enclosed is my claim report, copy of the police report, copy of my passport (indicating date I arrive China), boarding pass to Auckland (indicating date I left Singapore)

As I am on a year round the world traveling trip and will not be back to Singapore till next year May 2006. Thus I hope to have the claim settlement correspondence be done either via my agent June Seet or email me at joydive@gmail.com.

Thank you very much for your attention into this matter.

Yours Sincerely,



_______________
Joy Chu Mei Leng
my email: joydive@gmail.com

Hurray am in Hong Kong with Shaz now

Yes, am in my 2nd leg of the year travel, met Shaz in Hong Kong at the airport, she arrived eariler. My whole plane journey was about 11 hours, but it was a good one, cos the plane was not full and I managed to get one of the whole centre row to myself ;) Watched 2 movies and Air New Zealand serves us great food.
Shaz got a flu when she left Singapore so thus for the 2 days we did not do much (she is really lucky got flu, mense, fever all at the same tyime), basically we just walk around the town area we stayed in. We stayed in Lee Garden Guest House, a good reasonable and clean place in the Central town of TsimshaTsui.
My luggage was really heavy (almost 20kg) and I could hardly carry it, yesterday I went down to the post office and mailed almost about 6-7 kgs of stuffs to my Sister Josey in the USA (cos I will not be needing them for this leg) Really glad that I mailed those stuffs to her, cos I realy can't imagine myself having to carry those extra weights - hey, come to think of it, we actually do not really need alot of stuffs in life (basic and simplicity is good enough)
Today, we met up with Sis Constance for Dim Sum lunch and had a great time getting to know her more. She is a wonderful woman with so much love and care for people, am really glad to get aquanited with her.
Tomorrow, we will be going to attend her church and then down to the beach with the church member to witness 37 souls baptism. Great.
Well, we will then leave Hong Kong on Monday morning to take the 2hr train ride straight to Guang Zhou and start of our China leg. (This is going to be the exciting one, do covet your prayers for our health and journey safety)
Till then, I will try to find internet accessiblity as and when I could in China to communicate more.
Love ya.

my email: joydive@gmail.com

Relaxing time at New Plymouth

Midla and Suhag




Dinner at this special place




Spectacular view of NP




Mt Tanaraki




Hiking by the beach


Hey there, everyone who visit my blog regularly, pardon me for not being able to update my blog so frequently becos, either I am too busy traveling or not accessible to computer. Well, here's my latest update:

After a 8 days of hectic traveling down South Island, it was good to travel up to New Plymouth to relax and literally do nothing (watch DVD, chill out with friends there, sleep, take a walk by the beach and mountain). As many of you who know me (am a person who must do something and cannot do nothing ;) I must admit that some days I really do feel bored here, esp. when my friends had to go to work, and when the weather sucks (constant rain and extremly cold) so all I could do was to coope myself beside the heater and watch DVD or sleep :(

For the past 10 days here, the weather was a "yo-yo" and cloudy, so I was not able to see the famous Mt Taranaki. But on 7thJune (2 days before I leave) the weather was fantastic, for the first time since my arrival, it is clear bright and sunny. Finally, I am able to see the full view of the magnificant Mt Taranaki, and I took my friend Suhag's car for a ride to the mountain, it was a great fun adventure ride (driving alone for the first time in a foreign land).

New Plymouth is not a big city, it's a town of about 49000 population. But is a lovely town to live in, situated near the coastal line and surround with beautiful mountain. My friend's house just had that fantastic day and night view, overlooking the city and coast (how envy). People here are also wonderful. I have met many wonderful and friendly people here. It's really great to travel and make new friends along the way. Suhag is a great and hospitable host and cook, he cooked for us his special indian curry and make us feel really at home in his comfortable apartment. I this trip, I also meet up and get to know Midla better - a real chatty, helpful, energetic gal, born in Ireland, studied in UK and now work in New Zealand, and Shana Allan - an adventurous, fun loving and friendly gal. And many more of Suhag's colleague and friends.
They are all a bunch of great and nice people, what I see in them is that they live such carefree and peaceful lifestyle here. Take life and things easy, no need to rush from place to place or be urgent. To me is just a great place to retire and relax.

I was a wonderful 2 weeks in New Plymouth and now my next leg of the journey is to go to Hong Kong and China, Tibet and Mongolia for another 46 days. Hurray!

my email: joydive@gmail.com