Yoga + Pilates = Yogalates.. September 29, 2007

Today is another half day for me.. Have been working most of all the saturdays for this month but the thought of the whole of next month, all the saturdays I don’t need to work.. at least that’s something to look forward for..

Actually this morning, I am still contemplating if I should go for the classes that I had booked the previous day. After a late night on Friday, I was deciding that I might not go for the classes.. However upon leaving the office, I made an spur-a-moment decision, without any second thought, I just grab my yoga bag and off I go.

Instead of just going for just 1 class, I had decided to go for 2 instead. The first class is called yogalates which is a combination of pilates and yoga. The second class is essential dance something like a modern dance.

Since this is the first time I do goalates, I enter the class without any clue on what to expect. This class really require a lot .. and I do mean a lot of endurance especially for someone who has not been exercising regularly. It really serves me right for not been going for my classes, if I had I would like to think I can do better than I had today. But it is also because I am tired after 1 week of busy week… Ok Ok..excuses… I admit it…

After just 15 minutes break, I started on my second class. After the past experience of learning Salsa and after attended the sexy belly class, I discover that as much I like to learn how to dance, but after looking at myself at the mirror today, I have to accept that I am not a ballerina! What a dissappointment! I look like a robot moving around the studio… Which is also why I purposely chose to stand right at the back of the class so that I don’t be a disgrace… so no more dance classes for me..

Even after the half day work and the 2 classes, Me and my friend had a short Karaoke session at AMK. Evenso we spend half of the time there listening to songs.. with some background music coming form the next door.. They think they own the entire Karaoke center and every patrons there have to listen to them! Geez..

Imagine when you are listening to English songs, and out of the sudden you hear “YAMMMM SEENG!” Out of the sudden you would think, am I now in a wedding? Then when you sing half way.. suddenly a “BYE” mix into the song! Imagine that, saying goodbyes also have to use the microphones.. really think they are super VIP loh.. Really “Buay tahan” them these “un-educated” people

Goodbyes… September 27, 2007

Today is such a wet and miserable gloomy day. The weather seems to understand that this is sad day for our department. We have another colleague who is leaving us today. Eventhough we are happy for her as she is quitting to continue her studies.. but it is still sad to see her go.

It is such an emotional end of the day.. By the time she left, most of the people starts getting teary especially those that are very close to her. Eventhough we no longer work together but staying in a small island (Singapore) there might have the possibilities of us end up being colleague again in another organization. We can still keep in touch and meeting up easily for dinners or even lunch!

She is a pretty young lady who dress up very nicely, and always like to look forward in life. She is always worring bout future and her future goals. I guess now she is more or less know her path in life. Still remembering the time we went to BKK and stayed in The Sukhothai,our sister hotel. It was a fun trip.. the massage session where we kept on talking throughout the whole session, the window shopping.. Gonna miss her.. Known her when she was still a trainee which is bout 3 years ago? Time really flies..

Anyhow.. All the best to her and hope that everything she plan will turn out well..

Customer services.. September 26, 2007

Now services plays an important part in the society here.. it has branch out from just being in a tourism or hotel industries. Now it is becoming a necessity for all industries as long as you need customers! It does not matter if you are in fashion, retails, banking, real estate or electric and electronics and many more, the customer services plays a very important role in order to generate more sales for the company which also means more profit and good bonus for their staffs.

Being in Asia, nearby to places like Thailand, where they are known for their hospitality. It put a pressure to us to try to offer the same or almost to that level of services. All our industries partners in other counterparts always says that Asians spoilt the market by giving so many flexibility over here, however the locals here will never realize that they are getting the best! Typical..

Even so, at least you would expect a certain level of services in the society now. Maybe because I am in a service line, we tend to me more critical on the services other people bestowed to us. But hei.. at work we give services to our clients.. sometimes being shouted, cursed at and many more things that we had to endured.. and when we were off work or on holidays, we tend to look for or expect either the same level of services we rendered or even better.. (we can vent our frustration from our guests to the other party..cool eh?) Many says, the worst people to service are those that are in the same industries as we will be watching out for a certain aspect in the services.

So since Singapore being known as the cultured, warm and very hospitable, I never aspect to receive such poor service from a boutique in Orchard. I bought a dress from this lady… lets name her C, a few weeks back and was sent to do some minor alteration. Now finally the dress is ready. When I finally made it down to try it on, I realize that there is a fold that shows the end of the cloth (Please refer to the photo below). When I just politely ask if they are able to help to stitch up the fold slightly higher to help to cover the line, all I am expecting is just a yes or no. But another sales person named M came over to assist with me.

M insisted that it is the original style and make it sound like I am very troublesome and she is not able to help me with it. I angrily told her that in this case I will do it myself and vowing to myself that I will not come back to this retail shop to buy any dresses anymore. After changing back to my normal clothes I asked to see C, who is attending to another customer at their other outlet next door.

C being kind, and helpful, she agreed to help me to stitch up the fold. Am I expecting too much? This is just a small request and you can inform your customer politely if you re able to do it or not. But M became so defensive and make it looks like the error falls at the customers. If not for C, they would have lost a customer and as many says that bad things will goes around faster than the good stuff.

One person will only tell 5 person on the good experiences, however should he/she had a bad experience, he/she will tell 50 persons on the lousy experiences. Mouth to mouth advertisement has been here since century ago and it is a very important element that all marketing managers have to put more attention to such ads.. as it can either boost up the image of the company or flush the company image down to the drain…

So no matter how much they put in the effort to whitewash the reputation, and due to such cases, it will definately put soiled the company image and will never be able to erase off easily… So give the customer a good services and go for the extra mile to please them, they will be always remember the good service and will be back for more!

Childhood.. September 25, 2007

Everyone has their own childhood, whether its happy, boring, exciting, sad and some might even be painful.. or even sometimes.. its a mixture of all.

Due to, we were in a girls school since primary till secondary, our childhood were not as exciting as those of my friends in co-ed schools. Of course regardless of that we had our share of mischevious moments..

One of the most memorable incident was on our last day of our primary school. Me and a couple of friends was really up to mischief.. We had a public phone installed in our cafeteria… we just dial “101″ for the operator since it is a free call.

We just pick up the receiver and dial.. once answered all of us shouted ” You are crazy” (In Malay – Awak Gila) and we did that a few times.. on that day… We figured if the call got traced it will lead to the school but we will not be around anymore! Real cool.. however sometimes do wonder at that time got any CCTV camera being installed? hmm…

Marriage… September 23, 2007

Marriage is an institution where most people is either waiting for or feared for or shun away from. Different people has different perspective or views on this. Many people always says ladies are always looking for marriage.

Hmm.. how true is that? In ancient days yes its probably true during our parents generations. But as time goes by, in the current generations, the needs changes. Marriage is not the main goal for ladies in the society now. Careers are now becoming the main focus for most ladies now. Nowadays, ladies does not need to depend on guys to survive.. right gals?

On the other hand, not saying that all ladies does not wish to get married. Of course when we meet our Mr Right, we will wish to settle down then. It goes the same for me…

However, today my aunt told me that they are trying to marry me off.. All the alarm bells started ringing.. I went what?! Just imagine, my parents wants to introduce some of their friends sons who is in Singapore to me.. ayoh.. I wanted to let them know hei.. I am not desperate ok.. I was taken aback as this is the first time I hear that my own parents wants to marry me off.. geez…

I am surviving just fine over here.. going out with friends and colleagues, going holiday with friends… basically on these aspect of life I have no complaints.

Of course, should the day comes when or if I do find my Mr Right will be good as well.. Someone that I can depends on occasionally, someone to share things with, or just with someone.. but then.. that will only happen if I ever find him..

However, now I am just concentrating on my career, meet more people make new friends.. going for holidays.. explore new places and experiencing new stuffs..

Books.. September 22, 2007

Many people who saw me will always see that there is always a book with me. Many colleagues always says.. still reading your book ah? Yup.. that’s my passion.. haha.. wah.. Its something that I enjoy doing… whether I am on the road or back home relaxing. But of course I don’t read all types of books. Non-fiction are those that I shun away from (Always makes me zzz without fail). For Fiction, not all I read as well.. horror stories like Stephen King is one that you will never see me reading it. .. Ok OK.. I am choosy I know..

The books that I always reads are all the romance novels.. As mention in my previous post, those with happily ever after endings.. haha.. My first novel was written by Judith McNaught – Perfect. I bought the book when I was in Secondary Four. It is about an actor was being allegedly caught for murdering his wife and had escaped with a hostage. Well.. as the stories goes, the ex-actor and the hostage got involved and with the police trying bring the actor back to the jail. Well.. of course.. you all can guess the ending without me saying so..

And thats my start point. I read and had the author’s whole collections of books and my ex-colleague introduced me to another author, Nora Roberts. Here starts another collection as this author also wrote another type of series by JD. Robb which is more about detective stories with a mixture of romance.

But I have a lucky star, my boss also reads the same type of books as me! So she will buy and when she finish reading the books, she will pass it over to me.. So I have free books to read! Isn’t it good? get to save some money.. however of coz there will be some that I will buy myself, can’t always get her to buy the books rite?

Korean Dramas.. September 19, 2007

There used to be a time where the hong kong dramas is very popular in the society here.. People tries to go back on time to catch their favourite dramas..either police or gangsters.. But as time goes by, Taiwan market took over and followed by Japanese craze and the latest was the Korean.. real wonder how they move.. they are not even geographically lined up!

It all started from Winter Sonata that helps to boost up the popularity of Korean dramas into Singapore market. Most of the dramas are mostly love stories.. It is either 2 ladies with 1 guy or 2 guys and 1 lady.. one of them will be a rich man or lady and another came from a not so well to do family.. of course not to forget the ever famous drama that hit the entire Asia – Jewel in the Palace – Da Chang Jing. About a palace maid life and how she overcomes all her obsticles and hardship.

Well.. not trying to miss out I also one of the person who caught up in the craze. For someone who always thinking of her bed able to get caught up in a drama and kept changing the dvds (03 episode in each dvds) every night.. just to watch what happen next.. you might be thinking the drama must be a very exciting one.. well.. it is a good drama but the story line is basically quite similar.. just that the scenarios is in the palace.. when the crown prince marries a commener..

The show shows how the commoners deals with the different culture and formality and how she adapt to the live in the palace. Of course.. how she and the prince falls for each other with other parties trying to stir up the peace in the palace. Oh if i have not mention the title of the drama, it is “The Princess Hour or Goong”

There a couple of dramas that I like to watch which are “The Wedding” and “Lovers In Paris” . Ok ok.. I admit it.. I am a sucker for happily ever after.. so sue me.. I just don’t like those dramas that does not have a happy ending… same for my books.. I read romance novels with happily ever after ending.. oh man.. I am a hopeless I know..well.. if you read those pathetic sad stories or shows and make you feel blue.. then what’s the point?

Mahjong.. September 15, 2007

This used to be a game played by old folks..All originated from China.. Then its for those Tai Tai to occupy themselves.

However, the trend has changed. It is no longer a game catered only for ladies, now guys also plays mahjong. It is a brain stimulation. You have to think of the stategy, which card you need and which to throw by not giving the other oppornant to win and of course hope the lady luck is by yourside..

Many says mahjong is a very good for retirees to help them to exercise their mind so that they will not suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Now mahjong is not just a gambling mode, now its is made into a game to be played among friends during weekends or free time and it is also a session where friends get together, or can be a bonding session among friends or colleagues..

I had a mahjong session with my colleagues but that day the lady luck wasn’t really at my side on that day and lost 20 bucks on that day. Even though after that day I am short of 20 bucks.. but it is all worthwhile, able to spend some time to bond a little closer with them. I think relationship has to be built and it is not something that money can buy, isn’t it so?

Friends.. September 12, 2007

Good friends are hard to come by. Friends play an important part in our life. Sometimes you need your friends around you to share your worries, to share you joy and your sorrows. We just need 1 good friend and if you are lucky you will have a couple more.

I was lucky that I have one good friend. I have known her since my kindergarden and we were in the same class from Kindergarden till Secondary 1. Due to my poor results, we were in a different class and drifted apart. But we still keep in contact occationally till we both end up in this small little island advancing our career.

Some people can make friends very easily. People make friends from all types of methods. Some made friends thru internet, clubs, pubs, schools, companies, clients or through events. Now, with the modern internet, some people can even meet strangers, having fling with them or even finding their lifetime partner through the net. But how effective they are? How well can we trust these resources?

China Airlines… September 11, 2007

When we wish to visit or see a new country, there are only 2 way bout it. Is either we go on our own or we take up a tour package. Even saying that, there are some countries that it will be better to go by tour package, like Korea, China where language can be a barrier.

However, sometimes in order for the tour agent to package all the aspect (Accommodation, flights, activities) they will also try to make the package more attractive, and since they are unable to bring the prices too high, they tend to cut down on some of the aspect to bring the cost down. On such cases, sometimes they give a lower category accommodation or cheaper air flight.

For my parents and my aunts case, they took up a tour to Yunan, China. They got a “4-star” accommodation but they do not have a good airline. They flew to China by Eastern China Airline and their flight to and fro at a un-godly hour.

Just imagine, their departure flight is at 3am! and they brought the entire group from Malaysia at 7pm and reached Changi Airport around 12midnight. From the time that they arrive till their departure time, they had 3 hours to occupy themselves where they are unable to sleep but to walk around the airport like a wondering ghost till their flight at 3am.. Geez.. Not everyone is able to take such hour, for youngster is probably still ok, but for a group of matured group will be a little too taxing for them.

Instead of just looking at their profit and loss, shouldn’t the agent be more considerate in getting a better flight and lodgings for their guests and also to cater the package more suitable for their target market.