A SUMMER TREAT TO HAINAN

Summer was coming to town that time. I was so excited because our spring term is about to end. Vacation was ruling all over my mind. I was thinking of going around China that time with my friends after my classes. As it was coming, my colleagues were asking me about my plans after the term. They were also asking whether I will go with them in their summer camp with students to Hainan – an island in south China. They added that it’s a school’s treat for me as I was about to leave the school that time – end of my contract. I absolutely didn’t expect that because my contract ends on June 30th and they’re going to the summer camp on the same date ‘til July 4th. I just humbly answered that it’s my pleasure and a great honor and that I would love to go with them. They were so elated upon hearing my answer.

When the time came for our trip, one of my colleagues phoned me for I was already in the city where the airport is (the capital of the province – for our branch school is about two and a half hours by bus away from the capital), I was staying at my friend’s that time, she told me that they are already at the airport and immediately took a taxi to the airport. There I met them with 17 students and we had a great conversation for it’s like two weeks that we didn’t see one another for I took my vacation ahead of time, right after our term ended. When we checked in, I was kinda surprised because we were having connecting flights (Hefei to Guangzhou – one hour and 45 minutes, then Guangzhou to Hainan – one hour and 15 minutes). Our flight was 6:45pm and I was thinking we would arrive too late at night which is not good for our students. They would be very tired. But we have no choice, the agency booked it for us.

Students were very happy as they saw me at the airport, I am going with them. I felt great honor for best was always offered to me, best seat on the plane, best room in the hotels we stayed and so on. I just thought I am a foreigner with them. But it’s a treat for me, they said.

I was really right. We were in truth so tired when we arrived at Hainan airport and we still had to travel for almost an hour to our hotel. Luckily we had a restful sleep in a marvelous hotel where we stayed for the first night. We started our day the next morning at 7am and began roaming around the island after our breakfast. I didn’t feel so strange for its weather is perfectly similar to that of the Philippines. But for them, they said it’s very hot. Every now and then it rains and later it shines.

We went to a lot of historical scenic spots in the island. We first went to the evergreen park and we were entertained by its beauty and grandness - indeed an evergreen park. The we continued circling the magnificent island for four days. We never stayed in one single hotel, we kept transferring from one place to another and stayed in the nearest hotel when darkness starts to cover the whole place. Despite we were very tired with our activities during the day time, still our students wanted us to go swimming with them at night after our great dinner. So we had to be with them and I did enjoy our time together.

As we pursued our stay there, we visited various tourist attractions. We went to a volcanic site turned into a scenic spot, botanical garden, famous native tribe, museums like butterfly museum, seashell museum, crocodile park, water world park, factories, beaches, famous female soldiers barrack and so on. It was really a fantastic experience. So, try not to forget including it as part of your vacation plans. Enjoy everyone and be happy every day.

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http://eternallyyours-tax.blogspot.com

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…mY jOuRnEy To ThE CaPiTaL, BeIjInG

One Sunday morning, we busily started our day for we have to travel to Beijing as what we’ve planned beforehand. We woke up so early ‘coz our tickets said it’s 7:12 am. We have to be there at least an hour before. We hastily prepared ourselves and walked out bringing our luggage.

Around 20 minutes after we arrived at the station, boarding started. I was so excited ‘coz it’s really my dream, to set foot to the huge and fantastic Great Wall. We happily looked for our seats and felt so relaxed after we found them. Elatedly, we were talking as we started moving. I felt so strange, I didn’t know why. Maybe because it’s a dream come true and also my first time to be on a fast train (bullet train as they call it), I told myself. I wanted to sleep yet I didn’t want to. I wanted to fully experience the pleasure of being on a vacation, traveling.

It is so nice to fulfill our dreams. We all know that everyone has his own dreams. We would be very happy if we achieve them. They’re what we are working hard for. Attaining them would elevate ourselves, and be proud of ourselves and be happy that we succeeded. These would only happen if we keep on keeping on, doing our best to make them come true. So friends, never give up in attaining success. Strive hard and move on every time you fall. Don’t be discouraged! Instead, be brave and confident. Life is like that. We all have our own sorrows and troubles. So, what I can say is, “Always keep on keeping on!” Good luck everyone!

note: you also check me out here;

http://neverfadestax.blogspot.com/

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…mR. dOuGhNuT

Hahhahaa. I was really happy to know there’s Mr. Doughnut here. I miss this place. I used to be in this place back home. I was so elated when my friend told me we’re gonna go to that place. I even asked whether they have it here. She proudly said, what else would you like to ask? We’ve got everything here! I just laughed! She added my place is so left behind. I even laughed the more. Yeah, but I like it there. Everything is cheap. But in big cities, of course, almost everything is expensive.

When we arrived at Mr. Doughnut, it was already almost 12:00 noon. Many people were there. We remembered t’was a holiday, May 1. We were just lucky we were able to find seats for us. After few minutes, people weren’t able to find even a single seat for them. We ordered and waited for a long time. We were really hungry for we didn’t eat breakfast.

When it was served to us, more than 30 minutes after we ordered, we immediately bask the pizza we ordered. We were like hungry lions devouring the food served to us. We did enjoy them a lot. After, we left and went sightseeing and window shopping, one shop after the other. We were really tired because of the hot weather and many people around. Yet, the enjoyment we had could never be substituted by any means.

…UnBeLiEvAbLy MaNy

As we were wandering around, after our lunch at Mr. Doughnut, we started moving out. I was just wondering where these people come from. The streets were so populous. The sidewalks are covered with umbrellas, for the day was very hot. I really couldn’t believe the crowd in just an ordinary holiday. I imagined back home, it only happens during a big festivity in a big city. But here, just a holiday, May day holiday. The place is really densely populated.

It was very hard to move from one place to the other. You would really feel very exhausted, for aside from the people, the weather, too is very hot. It’s very hard to find a good location where only few people go. Everywhere is thickly covered by people. So, we didn’t stay that long outside. We went to a shopping mall, yet the situation is still the same. But at least it’s not so hot. If you buy something, it would take a lot of time, you’ve got to make a long queue to the counter. We immediately went home after we bought some goods. We then slept at around 5:30 pm when we arrived home. We woke up at about 8:00 pm and ate dinner. We in truth were bloody tired. Yet we did enjoy. What about you, how’s your holiday?

…WoNdErFuLLy DeSiGnEd PaRk (hEfEi)

After we had our shopping, time to come home, I told her. I wanna sleep ‘coz I would be traveling tonight, I added. So we went home. She said we would just walk home for it is just pretty near, that we can talk for quite a long time. Then we walked. We ate ice cream along the way. Then we passed a beautiful park. We stopped for sometime and sat down and talked.

I was really fascinated by the great view of the park. It looks like an old one, yet so fabulous. It must have been built for years, but its beauty still remains the same. Such a deluxe park in the middle of the city. It has little oval, where people could go around and jog. It is well decorated by beautiful and colorful flowers. There’s some kinda tower where people could see what’s beyond the lake for it surrounds it, the park has bar designs at one side that look like they were there years and years past. Really a fab place to go when you are around the city. We walked around it, took pictures and tackle something about our experiences. We were like little children as we were sitting at one side, talking and laughing together. Thanks Lanz for that nice talk and walk around. See you soon and have a nice holiday.

…tHe DaY I wAs WaItInG

I kept thinking of the days I would be off from work. Kinda very excited about my trips around. I didn’t have a very sound sleep for days imagining my forthcoming travel. And the days have come now! I do enjoy being with my all time colleagues and friends back home.

I excitingly went to the bus station to Hefei early Monday morning. I took the bus at 6:40am going there. At around 10:00am, I was already there waiting for a taxi. It took me a long time to find one. My friend was worried about me, she called me up to find out. When I came to her apartment, we were like little kids seeing each other for a long time. We were shouting for happiness for we didn’t see each other for quite sometime now. We had a great lunch and dinner together. T’was really a memorable one.

After we had our lunch, we went out ‘coz we only had a short time. I had to go to Wuhan that night. We bought my train ticket first so that it would be easier, knowing that the holiday is approaching, many people would travel. We went to the ticket outlet near her school. Then we proceeded to different shops, we did a little shopping together. I bought shoes and summer t-shirts. We had a great time together. Yet she was a little sad ‘coz I have to leave that night. She wanted me to stay for a night.

When we arrived at the train station, after our wonderful dinner, we were shocked. A lot of people were making a large queue outside the station. I really thought it was a perfect idea buying the ticket ahead of time. So they went in with me and we searched for my waiting place. What i can say is, "Thanks for your company pals. I highly appreciate it." So, I left Hefei at 9:27pm to Wuhan, to see another friend. Have a good holiday people! Enjoy and have a good time.

…a FrIeNd’S bIrThDaY

I was astonished when my phone rang in the mid of my discussion. I switched it off immediately. My students said I have to answer the phone. But I insisted not. They added it might be emergency, but I said, it can wait. I should not answer because we are having classes, I told them. Then, they shut up their mouths.

Right after I dismissed them for a five-minute break, I looked at my phone to know who called me up. A friend of mine here, and I phoned him. He was just telling me to go to the KTV after my class, same place where we had on my birthday. I said sorry ‘coz I had a class. Only to find out, it’s a friends birthday celebration. So, after I ended up my last class, 8:35 in the evening, I hurried to the place. They were already somehow in the mid of the celebration.

We were having like showdown, we were dancing and singing like wild animals. We had a great birthday celebration. Thanks for the great night pals. I did enjoy even to the point of losing my voice, to think I am going to have many classes the day after. But still, as if nothing is going on. I was even tired ‘coz I was from 11 classes that day. With my friends, I see to it I would be very happy and make them happy, too. I like everybody to be happy every now and then. Thanks for the invitation! Happy birthday once again, Flora. Wish you the best and have a good time.