And Going Home. The next day, we had breakfast downstairs and discussed our plans for the day. I was interested in two places: Shunfengshan Park and OCT Harbour Plus. Shunfengshan Park is renowned for its beauty, featuring a large gateway and a substantial lake. However, having visited many parks and gardens already, I opted to explore the other option instead. OCT Harbour Plus is a free-entry theme park that includes shops, restaurants, and rides, located by a river. Although theme parks aren’t our usual preference, it was said to be enjoyable, so we booked a DiDi and headed out.
Throughout our holiday, we had endured various weather issues: heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. This time, however, it was the heat that was overwhelming. The actual temperature was around 33 degrees, but it felt like 43 degrees, making it extremely uncomfortable. We exited the DiDi near a large model of a Chinese woman and a dragon, where we paused to take some photos.
The first area we visited was primarily composed of shopping malls and dining establishments, some designed to resemble traditional old Chinese architecture. There were various photo spots, including a grand archway and a golden horse surrounded by flowers. Down by the waterfront, we spotted the large Ferris wheel known as the Shunde Eye.
I initially planned to take Peter across the water, but the bridge was quite steep. He suggested that I explore the area first and then bring him along later. I promised to find a cool spot for him, but he insisted he was okay. There were boats on the water and what appeared to be a viewing tower nearby. One of the bridges featured a Lego statue.
The amusement park across the bridge was extensive, but due to the heat, I wasn’t able to explore everything, nor could I leave Peter for too long. Some amusingly painted buildings caught my eye, and even though there was much to see, the heat was becoming unbearable. I received a notification on my phone indicating that it was overheating and would shut down—this was a serious concern as my phone was crucial for making purchases and ordering a DiDi home. So, I powered it off and returned to Peter, who looked as though he was melting. I hurried us to the air-conditioned shopping mall.
It was then that I realized visiting OCT Harbour Plus was indeed a better idea than going to the park, as there were cool indoor spaces. Peter sat in his chair while I collapsed onto a seat to recover. Once I was cooled down enough to move, we strolled around the mall and came across a statue of Bruce Lee. Shunde is Bruce Lee’s ancestral home, and there is a place here named Bruce Lee Paradise dedicated to him.
I found an ice cream shop and bought us each a cone. While we were starting to feel better, we still weren't ready to venture outside again. It seemed OCT Harbour Plus is better suited for nighttime when it’s all lit up.
As we sat down trying to cool off, two people dressed as Labubu and a mascot appeared nearby, attracting a crowd of children. I joined in the photo-taking with my now functioning phone.
Later, I called for a DiDi, having discovered that my phone had cooled down. I noticed another statue outside the mall.
Back at the hotel, we took a well-deserved break before heading to the lounge for dinner. We are quite predictable—I ordered chicken fillet and French fries again, while Peter opted for French fries and salad. However, when the waiter returned with our drinks, he shocked us by saying they were out of French fries. I quickly changed my order to spaghetti since there would be nothing to accompany my chicken, and Peter decided to just have salad.
After a moment, I realized that many dishes on the menu came with French fries, and I questioned what the alternatives were. The waiter, who had been the same each night—pleasant, calm, yet intensely focused—seemed to struggle with my point, so he brought out his translation app. He typed something, showing me the words “potato wedges.” I replied through gritted teeth, "Then give us potato wedges. I’ll have chicken fillet with potato wedges, and my husband will have potato wedges and salad. Please cancel the spaghetti." He nodded, and I returned to my seat.
When our food arrived, I noted to Peter that the potato wedges were quite small, and we wouldn’t have noticed the difference if not for the waiter’s comment. As we were finishing up, an unexpected plate of spaghetti was brought out for me. I insisted I had canceled it, but the waiter insisted I could keep it. Despite our food and drink being complimentary, we disliked waste. Yet, in this instance, some waste was unavoidable due to communication challenges.
The band had been singing in Chinese every night, but for some reason, this time they performed in English, and we even joined in. It turned out
Several days in Shunde.
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And Returning Home.
And Returning Home.