Shanghai-Jiangnan Tour: Part 2

2. Aunties, Amahs and My Fave Aunty Ah Zhu
About 85% of my tour group mates are aunties and uncles, including my ma of cos! And 1 distinct pattern of the aunties – they carry brolly with them everywhere, rain or shine.



And me being the rare none-aunty in the group got concerned aunties asking me if I need a brolly. No Way unless it rains!!! Anyway, I'm very pleased with this bunch of amahs cos they all were very very surprised to learn that I'm turning 28 when they thought I was only 21 or 22. Heh!

And here's presenting you my favouritest aunty of the trip:


Quick snap while Aunty Ah Zhu's not looking

She talks non-stop, is kind at heart and very forward-thinking too. Very cheery woman considering she fought cancer just 2 - 3 years back. We took the same cab back one evening and she bombarded me with soooo much comments that I burst out laffing non-stop, in awe of her talkaholism. This pix's for her (she told me how she loves this display found at 万松书院 in Hangzhou:


Display at Wansong Shuyuan, where that kayu Liang Shanbo studied with Zhu Yingtai

Aunty Ah Zhu got us really worried once when we were in Shanghai's Tong Ren Tang (同仁堂, the famous Chinese medical hall that's really out to ketok money promote Chinese medicine). We were treated to a free foot massage at the hall. All of us ended our session within 1 hour but hers took exceptionally long. We waited 45 minutes for her in the coach and when she finally came up, everybody cheered. Her husband got an earful from her though. I attempt to do a transcript of what she complained to us -

Ah Zhu (in distinct Ipoh accent): 啊哟!真不容易才摆脱那个医生! 他们一直按摸我的脚,不肯放我走! 说我很多问题,需要买药进补. 我跟他们讲我没钱了,又没工作,没儿女养很残的,他们还是不放过我!这个死老的(refering to her hubby)又不合作,笨到要命, 我讲到这样辛苦说我没钱,他竟然插嘴说我们有新币!

She managed to get off only after buying S$50 worth of tonic. And she sent me rolling in laughter so pain that my tears flowed.

By the way, I can do a re-enactment, complete with the fantastic accent + expression of what she said upon request.