If you wanna get drunk the whole day, do it legally and have someone pay for it, go to Penglai on a business trip.
Penglai or Penglai City is a port or a town in Shandong, a coastal province in the East Region of China. Known as the "Fairy Tale City", it is considered as one of the main tourist spots by the Chinese government attracting two million tourists annually.
At least, perhaps, among Chinese people. If one goes to China, Beijing or Shanghai would definitely be the top picks as Penglai is a good one-day travel from Manila. We left Manila at 6am, bound for a two-hour flight to Hongkong. From Hongkong, we took Dragon Air's three-hour flight to Qin Dao. And just when I thought that we'll be arriving in China without any real meal in our stomachs, the carrier served a filling lunch capped off with this delectable dessert.
Yum, yum!!! (Surprises are really sweeter!!!) It took us another 3.5 to 4 hours of drive (depending on the driver) to reach Penglai.
And here's where I got acquainted with the distinct culture of the place.
The welcome dinner was a starter. I am not sure if such generosity is due to a customer-supplier relationship or a genuine host etiquette.
We were asked to take one seat apart so that each one of us will be served by the duly appointed host. A welcome drink is normal. But to be served three glasses of wine during the first dinner, that is what is normal in Penglai!
We have to order blueberry juice to camouflage as wine. (Penglai, by the way, is known number one in tourism and second, in wines. Their wines contain a good 12% alcohol in contrast to the 5-6% of the normal table wine.) But we were caught. During the last dinner, we girls, weren't able to get away with that strategy.
As I was forewarned, that was just a preview. Because only in Penglai, will you be served soymilk and beer during lunch time. And yes, in the middle of a normal working day.
But good thing, I survived the alcohol. They gave us a botlle of a balsamic vinegar-tasting, anti-hangover liquid which had been effective after all.
Figuratively, one will not only get drunk with alcohol in Penglai. Also with fresh fruits which they serve during meetings.
And of course, with the "enchanting" scenic spots that the place has to offer. After all, it was the land of fairy tales as they say. (see next blog...)
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| Three Divine Mountains Scenic Spot |
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| Eight Immortals Passing Across the Sea Touring Area |
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| Ocean Aquarium of Penglai |
Overall, except for the toilets and the weird smell of the hotel room, my Penglai experience is just weirdly awesome. In Penglai, I do feel that I belong. :)
