五一日  1 May  

五一日当天, 在家待了整天, 后两天该怎么过呢? 知道有个朋友将驾车去天津, 就发个短信, 要求跟去.  朋友起初有点担忧,在我的坚持呼吁自己骑摩托的能力和经验下, 朋友答应了.

Having spent the whole of 1 May itself at home, I wondered how to spend the next 2 days.  Heard that a friend will be driving up to Tianjin with his family, so I smsed him and requested to follow him on my motorcycle (Qi Qi).  He reluctantly agreed after I had assured him that I am an experienced rider and will ride safely.
  五二日2 May

早上九点, 在嘉里中心集合,加满车油,上了京通高速.  京通高速车多,苗条的奇奇跑得较快, 但俺不知道路线, 所以只好断续等候朋友的银色奥迪A4.  跑了京通高速,东五环路, 到了京津高速的收费站.   关于俺摩托上高速, 收费员打了个电话, 俺拿了收费卡, 就向一百公里处的天津,出发了! 此路,只有两百 排量的奇奇就不如奥迪A4了, 紧跟着的俺, 注意到朋友多次放慢速度等候.  不知, 是因为北方的风较大还是较轻摩托车的原因, 骑着奇奇最快100公里的速度, 感觉不如俺在马来西亚高速”飘扬”的痛快(但还是很高兴的).  为了不过度影响朋友的驾驶经验, 只好集中俺100%的注意力和体力, 奇奇的能力, 尽咱所能.  超越或被超越卡车时, 就需要付出101%了!在大约五十公里的路途, 咱们超越了一辆警车/高速管理车.  过后此车追上并吩咐俺停车. 此时, 心情有点担忧(不知道会发生啥事), 有点安慰(不必继续拼命).  一位小伙子从车里出来, 问俺怎么上了此高速并训俺一顿”你知道你有多危险吗!看(指着路过的车辆)它们都跑140-150, 你还用了中间道!”. “对,对, 我知道”, 非常感谢哥的指导, ”俺从北京,拿了收费卡, 上高速的啊.”愤怒的司机已从车里出来, 拿了俺的收费卡, 并为卡拍了照片. 跟朋友报平安, 和把头盔的面罩装好后 (当时俺非常紧张,把头盔掉了)就在右边的路慢慢的跟着警车/高速管理车,骑着奇奇向天津走.其实在70-80的速度, 俺才能够享受这路程,看那广阔的中国.  当时也很担忧当哥们带俺出了高速, 俺怎样去天津呢? 走着, 走着, 警车/高速管理车一直没打信号出高速, 在俺不注意下, 咱们已跑了50公里,哥们送俺到了进天津的收费站! 换了人民币25元的过路费, 向警员/高速管理员积极的摆手和点头(戴着全盔,他们没看到俺的脸上表情)表达俺深沉的谢仪.
We met at the Kerry Center at 9 am, went to pump up and headed up Jingtong expressway towards the East 5th ring road.  I followed his Silver Audi A4 and had to wait for him a few times as I weaved through the traffic.  The 5th ring road is connected by Jing (as in Beijing) Jin (as in Tianjin) expressway (京津高速公路) and we had to take a card (ticket) from the toll booth.  The toll both attendant told me that he needed to make a call regarding my motorcycle heading up the Jingjin expressway.  100km to Tianjin it says and the Audi A4 sped away, Qi Qi only has only 200cc on it and I was trying hard to follow at maximum speed of about 100km/hr.  This was different from riding in Malaysia expressway, perhaps due to the strong wind or the lighter and lower capacity of Qi Qi.  I hanged on with full concentration, not knowing when the next gust of wind may hit again.  It was another story with the occasional passing or passed by container trucks, which requires 101%.  Noted that the silver Audi was taking it easy and slowed for me at times to catch up.  We passed by what looks like the traffic police or perhaps expressway warden at about 50km mark.  After a short while, the car overtook me and waived for me to stop.  With a mixed feeling of anxiety and relief, I slowed and stopped behind the car.  A young man came out, asked how I had come up to the Jingjin expressway and gave me a lecture on how dangerous it was.  “Do you know how dangerous it is for you to ride on the motorcycle?  Furthermore, you took the center lane, look (pointed at cars passing by) how fast the cars are travelling, at least 140-150km/hr” he said.  “Yes, yes I agree”, I replied with thanks.  I told him that I came from Beijing and had taken a ticket from the toll booth.  The driver who had also come out of the car seemed rather furious and requested to take a picture of the ticket.  After having fixed up my helmet’s visor which broke when it fell in my panic and called my friend to go ahead and I will meet him up in Tianjin, I followed the car as instructed, this time using the border lane on the right.  It is so much more comfortable riding at 70-80km/hr, which allowed me to enjoy the view of the vast land of China, whilst worrying about how will I go to Tianjin by the rural route after exiting the expressway as told by the young men.  Unknowingly to me, the car did not indicate for me to exit and had escorted me for the whole of the next 50km to the toll booth entering Tianjin!  I toke out my ticket and Renmibi for payment of RMB 25 and waved “Thank you” with a big smile (of course they cannot see it with my full face helmet) as I passed by the Good Young Lads after the toll booth.

走了一小段, 就停下来休息(抽梗烟)再次跟朋友报平安,约在酒店见.  在此,看到能够跑330公里速度的北京-天津动车在不远处经过.  可惜, 俺当时没心情素质把那景色拍下来.再走了一会儿, 就到了天津郊区的北城区了.  曾经跟同一个朋友来过此地, 俺就停下来, 找杯水解渴.  但那儿的麦当劳人多服务太慢了, 俺就去找辆出租车带俺进天津市区.  第一个出租车师傅由于不熟悉和平区,就拒绝俺了. 当俺告诉第二个师傅俺将骑摩托跟他进天津市区,他也拒绝俺了,原因是天津市区不容许摩托车行走.  不服, 俺再找了第三个师傅, 但也被拒绝了!  当时才记得曾经听说摩托车是能在北京高速随意行走但这制度不一定在别的省实行 .  好吧… 俺就把奇奇锁在北城区,乘坐了第二个师傅的出租车进天津市区.  时间已中午12.30了, 通常一个半小时能够到达的天津,俺却骑了三个半小时啊!

 
   
  After a short ride, I stopped for a smoke and reported to my friend about my safety.  Sadly I was not in the state of mind to take photographs as I saw the Beijing-Tianjin bullet train which can travel up to 330km passed me by, from a distance.  (The photograph of the train was taken much earlier at the Beijing South Train Station) After another short ride on the connecting expressway into Tianjin city, I reached the city outskirt, Beicheng District (北城区) where there is a supermarket and other shops which I was familiar with from an earlier trip in the car with the same friend.  I stopped to look for drinks (sadly the queue in McDonalds was too slow) and I decided to look for a cab to escort me to the hotel in Tianjin city.  The first cab driver did not want to take me there as he was not familiar with the Heping District (和平区), the second agreed then refused when I told him to be an escort as motorcycle was not allowed into the city area.  Not convinced I decided to look for another cab who told me the same.  Damn! As my memory now recalled that I had once overheard about being able to ride on Beijing’s expressway with no guarantee that the same rule applies for other provinces as each has its own rule.  After I have locked up my bike, I approached the second cab to bring me to the hotel instead.  Time was about 12:30 a.m. which meant that I have taken 3 ½ hours for a ride which can be done in 1 ½ hours as many would know.  (The photograph of the Tianjin Church was also taken earlier) 

没想到, 俺跟朋友同一时间到了河平区的滨江万丽酒店. 朋友在天津市里转了几圈才找到酒店.  酒店注册后, 咱们回房休息了一会儿就在酒店大厅集合去找吃的. 在酒店附近走了一圈, 终于决定在酒店对面的狗不里包子用餐, 并没选酒店旁边1902街的西餐. 饭后, 俺很高兴的要求带朋友三口(夫妇和女儿)去天下民宿好友zhh2zhh介绍的银河广场放风灯.到了银河广场, 很兴奋的看到了巨大的场地, 还有那巨大的电视银幕.  向广场里头走着, 聊中国巨大的资源(土地和人口), 人们在屏幕下溜干冰, 有时穿过咱们.  广场内有许多卖各种各样东西的摊位, 有些就在地上摆摊, 有的用了汽车后箱来卖, 那儿也有各种游戏摊位, 还有让您在露天下唱卡拉OK呢.  咱们停在了一个游戏摊位, 并开始用藤圈丢向陶瓷碗, 杯和其他摆设品, 朋友的妻子和女儿还赢了几项东西.  走着走着, 我和朋友一家分开了, 我来到了卖食物的摊位区.  有卖麻辣烫, 烧烤, 饮料等摊位.  俺还没饿, 所以就卖了棉花糖和一瓶饮料, 继续走走看看.  又有个游戏摊位吸引了俺, 在本国当过兵的俺就拿起M16的假枪向在木板上绑着汽球, 需要打破18粒就能赢大将.  太自信的俺, 很快的就失望了, 这游戏还不容易.  可能是假枪不准或汽球有些皮太因硬吧, 俺自我安慰.  能够回旧, 还是很开心的.  越近天津博物馆就越被它的灯光吸引, 拍的照片也越多了. 虽然没在此找到风灯, 但银河广场的热闹真令人难忘.  听说, 这里的灯光只有在节日才开, 但摊位从奥运其间一直开着的.
   Surprisingly, as I reached the Renaissance Hotel (滨江万丽酒店)in Heping District, my friend had also just arrived.  He was lost in Tianjin city whilst trying to locate the hotel.  We met up for lunch/dinner after checking in with a short rest.  After a short round about walk the nearby vicinity, we chose to have Gou Bu Li Bao (狗不里包子) a famous traditional bao which had opened a fast food style stall near the hotel as we decided not to have western style food along the new 1902 street next to the hotel.  After food, I excitedly told my friends that I would like to bring them including their young daughter to Yinhe Guang Chang(银河广场) where I believed we can enjoy lighting up a Fengdeng (风灯) which is a kind of lantern that float up into the sky.  As we reached Yinhe Guang Chang, we were amazed to see a huge open space with a huge screen broadcasting a soccer match.  As we lamented about China’s vast resources (land and people), people on roller blades went whistling about under the big screen open area.  We continued to walk into the park and there were paddlers for all kinds of stuff, garments, socks, chairs, etc.  It appeared that there was also a karaoke where you pay to sing along a TV screen in the open for all to hear.  Some paddlers had their goods on the ground whilst other used their car boot (like a flee market) to sell things.  We had a go at a game stall where you throw rattan rings to porcelain made cups and other decorative and the wife and the young girl got something in return .   Further down the “lane” of paddlers, we reached, rather I reached (as we have walked at different pace looking at things) an area where food is sold.  A few stalls sold the Chinese much favoured Ma La Tang (麻辣烫), barbecued food, drink stalls and there were really low stools and tables around for one to sit to eat and drink.  I did not have any real food though, but bought candy floss and drink, to have in my hands as I continued to walk around and enjoy the night market.  I had a go at another game stall, this time using a M16 pallet gun to shoot at balloons, needed all 18 shots to get the grand prize of a big stuffed toy.  I thought I have a chance because of the training during the army days, but was unsuccessful, believed partly due to the weakness of the gun and/or some balloons were made too tough to break (just excuses).   Had good fun nonetheless .  As I approached the Tianjin Museum, I was fascinated by the bright light up of this peacock tail like structure.  Whilst I have taken some photographs during the walk, many more were taken of this wonderfully lit place.  After more walk and photographs, we headed back for the night.  Sadly we did not find the intended Fengdeng which I was told that they were sold by students previously to earn some pocket money but had been banned due to the potential danger.  I also later understand that the lights were on only during special days but the festivity-liked night market had been there every day since the Olympic period.

  五三日3 May

早晨大约六点俺已起身, 朋友可能还在睡眠中吧, 俺就拿着天津地图独自出门.  在酒店对面麦当劳吃了早餐, 就在河平区的高楼大厦中走向海河.大约七点半, 俺到了金阜桥, 就沿着海河向上流走.  经过了好几个大桥, 八点到了赤峰桥, 由于那儿的建筑工作, 俺就过了赤峰桥继续向上流走.  八点半, 俺到了天津火车站.  天津火车站, 解放桥和世纪钟是在同一个地点的.在周围拍了几个照片就继续向上流走.  由于看到此地有很多的游览船而对岸有个坐船的出发点, 俺过了大沽桥并换了人民币30元, 在船上继续上流的路程 (船上的旅游有大约30-40分钟).  在船一边忙着拍照片,一边听导游对每个桥的讲解.  经过古文化街时, 俺注意到那儿有更多的游览船出发点.  咱们到了天津眼就掉头回去大沽桥了.  大约十点半, 俺感谢了船长和导游, 就上岸了.  在海河坐船游览有点像在悉尼 达令 维港, 虽然河没那么宽阔但感觉还是很棒的.  过后俺付了人民币10元, 并坐了”狗骑兔子”车回酒店.  吃午餐的时间到了, 为了方便俺就在1902街吃了西餐.  如有时间, 而俺是在下个天津游时找到的, 俺推荐在鞍山道和河北路交接口的友鹏海鲜馆. 这应该是天津地道的海鲜馆, 价格也很实惠.  十二点多, 跟朋友告别(他们还住多一天)和把行李弄好后, 就去前台付了一夜的酒店费, 假期打折后人民币300元(平时要600-900).  上了一个女师傅驾的出租车 (天津很像有较多的女师傅) 并向北城区取回奇奇. 在车上女师傅告诉俺”狗骑兔子”的名称, “10元给多了, 3元就够了”并劝告它的危险性 (或许也因为是她的竞争者吧).
  Woke up early at about 6ish, thought perhaps friend would be still asleep and decided to walk about with my Tianjin map in hand.  After a McDonald’s breakfast at the nearby subway station, I began my walk around the tall buildings of Heping District heading towards the Haihe (海河).   At about 7.30 a.m. I was at the nearby  Jinfu Bridge(金阜桥), one of the many bridges along Haihe e.g. Daguangming Bridge(大光明桥) was still under renovation and another was being built.   At 8 a.m., due to some constructed on my side of the river, I had to cross the Chifeng Bridge (赤峰桥) and continued on the other bank.  At 8.30 a.m. I reached Tianjin’s railway station with historical Jiefang Bridge(解放桥)and Shiji  Clock(世纪钟)next to it. Later I crossed the Dagu Bride(大沽桥) bridge which is one bridge upstream from Jiefang Bridge as I noted some ferries (various kinds) in this part of the river, whilst there were more people fishing from the downstream where I began my walk.   Having paid RMB 30 for a 30-40 minutes ferry ride, I was fascinated with more bridges and learnt that other ferries start from the river bank next to the famous Guwenhua Street(古文化街).    It was a wonderful ride as the ferry turnabout at the Tianjin’s Eye back to where we began.  At about 10.30 a.m. before I disembarked the ferry,  I praised the tour guide for providing great introductions to the various bridges and gave my compliments to the Haihe which I believed was comparable to the Sydney Darling Harbour, perhaps not as wide but definitely as pleasant and enjoyable.  I decide to take the motorized trishaw, locally called dog ride rabbit (狗骑兔子) at RMB 10 back to the hotel.  I had a spaghetti set lunch in one of the western style restaurant on 1902 street, called the friend to say thanks and good bye, then went up to pack.  (It is not that I don’t like Chinese food, but just that I am not familiar with this place and due to time constraint as well as for the convenience that I did not take Chinese food.  In another trip to Tianjin, I found Youpeng Seafood Restaurant(友鹏海鲜) at the junction of Anshan Avenue(鞍山道) and Hebei Road (河北路), a very local and reasonably priced restaurant also in Heping District which I would like to recommend).  At 12ish, I checked out the hotel and paid a discounted price of about RMB 300 for the night stay (a good price due to the promotion for the labour holiday as compared to a list price of RMB 600-900 as adviced by the hotel staff).  I then hopped on a cab driven by a lady (there appear to be more lady drivers in Tianjin) and we chatted on the way back to Beicheng District for my bike.  Was told that I could have paid RMB 3 for the trishaw ride and as usual the driver advised against taking those trishaws for safety reason (or perhaps for competitive reason).