Greg Conquers China: Teambuilding Annual R&D Meeting 2007

We had a pretty rough morning on the second day, since we had to leave the hotel at 8 a.m. I got up a little late, since I’m not really used to being fresh after 1 hour of sleep :)
But I caught up with myself at the breakfast, since there was no food served for human being. Excuse me, there was one: fried egg. I went for that after looking and smelling through all the disgusting shit that was served (sorry for the language, but believe me I was very soft on this issue). So I took the line for the eggs, but I got really mad when some really asshole local guest jumped in front of me right before my egg was finished and took it. Since the stupid-ass service guy was smiling on this as well (the one that was making the eggs with not to clean bare hands and gave them away to everybody but me) so after the 3rd time I just threw my plate down and left. On the way I have tried to take a cup of the 0.05% orange juice, but they served it hot! It also had a pretty shity taste as well. I think this was my worst breakfast ever – so whoever picked this hotel can do me a favor…
After everybody has calmed down – I don’t have to tell that the others were shocked as well – we went to see the Linying Temple; the very famous Buddhist monastery in the mountains. The weather was very nice so I could take quite many pictures. Unfortunately we did not see everything – basically only the things we did not have to take the stairs for; I have no idea why. Anyway I have been here already, but I felt little bit sad about the others who came here from Europe and they barely saw 15% of the whole site.
After the temple we got the reason as well: the next stop was the local ‘silk museum’. Well, we have seen basically nothing of the museum part but we had to spend 3 hours in the shopping area: at least one hour with the local ‘tour’ guide explaining why should we buy their fuckin’ expensive stuff right away. Well, what can I say again… at least the locals enjoyed it. (Please somebody explain it to me: why it is more fun to stay in a goddamn store, looking over some expensive shit what you can buy anywhere for 1/3 of the price, than going out and see some real exciting monuments…or just the silk museum! – I don’t think that this couple hundred RMB helps the GDP that much. Like it needs help anyway…)
Finally we said that we had enough and we’d leave no matter if it is the plan or not. Than they said that we can go downstairs and sit in a room with fashion show going on. Of course we went down. Than waited another half hour. Nothing happened. Finally we found out that the performers already left for lunch. So did we.
Lunch – the same. Now everybody had enough of Chinese food – except Chinese of course, bat that is ok, because I cannot get enough of Hungarian kitchen either, so I understand :)
After lunch we had a really quick boat trip on the lake than came back to Shanghai. Since the way back was perfectly planned (by locals), I was the last one, who got home. (We went around the city first in order to end up quickly at the other end and drop the local part of the group. Than back to the hotel, which we have passed once already and, than I could go home. But at least I will have my Saturday on my own next weekend:).)
Anyway I think the whole trip was nice, but next time I will ask for detailed program planning and select the hotel by myself as well…

Anyway, here are some pictures of the second day:

Moooooornin’ (by Balazs)