GSS shopping Pt 2 May 30, 2008

Ok ok… i know in my previous email I wrote saying that I am not contributing to the GSS this year anymore.. But looks like that did not happen, as today I clear my off-in-lieu to compensate me for working on Labour day. Accompanied my aunt to Sengkang and Hougang to do some of her errands. Ended up, I did somemore shopping again…

Got myself a small bag to put my phones, purse and card folder into my big bag since that bag has no compartment, therefore I have to create my own for me to easily find my things. Sometimes carry such a big bag is not such a good idea if you have a lot of small small things, as looking for the things is a huge headache.

Other than that, I got myself 2 pairs of slippers. They are very nice and very light. So I am going to keep one for travelling as it will come in handy especially if I go to places with beach. Other than that, I got a some dvd korean series and some things for my laptop – a mini vaccum and a screen protector and some hair accessories..  

Ok .. hope I will stop there, there should be nothing else I require anymore… Don’t tempt me, please… urgh..

Shopping.. May 30, 2008

Now you will fnd that many tourist are flocking into Singapore. This is an annual affair where this is the time where all retailers, hotels, restaurants are taking advantages of. It is usually happens at the end of May up till end of June… Well.. it is the Great Singapore Sales! Eventhough has been said this year might not be a good year, but nevertheless, Singaporeans will always give their continuous support to their economy. No matter how bad is their economy, their citizen still spends!

Well normally I don’t play a part in the contribution in the success of GSS but this year, when the GSS starts on the 23 May 2008, I am one of the first to contribute. This is because I have some insider news that there will be an offer during GSS for this particular product, which makes me wait for GSS to purchase it..   It is the CooperVision ProClear daily contact lens. Apparently, this is much better than the Johnson & Johnson Acuvue Moist, which I personally have not tried it yet. The one that I have been wearing are just the normal daily lens. The offer is buy 3 packets and get one free, which makes it about $45 a box for 30 lens in each.

Hmm.. shall finish my old stock first before give this new brand a try. Other than that, because the normal bag that I use for work is torn at the sides and is very unsightly to bring it out to meet client, don’t want to give the impression that I am so cheapscate, I manage to get one from G2000, which looks formal and big enough to put my documents as well as to dump all my barang barang inside.

And.. not forgeting my books!  Borders had a discount of 3 books for the price of 2. Bought a novel from my favourite author and 02 more investment books: 1) Guide to Investing by Robert T.Kiyosaki 2) why we want you to be rich by David J. Trump and Robert T. Kiyosaki. I haven’t even finish his 2nd book of Cashflow Quadrant and I have already bought 2 more. Really like i got the money to invest like that.. haha.. Just my way of trying  to be rich!

If comparing to other people, what I bought is not much, but to me.. my quota is filled, I have bought what I need and even bough a couple that I want. So I shall not be tempted by GSS this year and if anthing else that I require, I shall wait for the sale next year! Can’t spend it all, can I? Control… hmm… hei.. that thing looks interesting.. haha.. just kidding..

Vietnam Trip – Tour 2 May 25, 2008

That evening we started on our 2nd tour with an overnight train. The berth that we were assigned is the top bed opposite each other.  We were expecting to be top and bottom. After about 08 hours journey we reach a town called Sa Pa. It is located at the northern part of Vietnam and is located on a hill. So the weather there is quite cooling and was quite a relieve after the first 3 days under the sun!

After checking into the hotel, we hunted up a cafe to have our breakfast before proceeding us to our first day of hiking. It was a 3 hours hike through the paddy field, the hill, river and some of their villages. From the start of the hike, there were 2 of their village children that followed us all the way till their village as they are hoping we will purchase some souvenirs from them. We have another 2 more younger guide with us. They are quite helpful when we reach slippery or wet areas. However, there is also one 4-year old boy, very cute, he can’t even form a word, but apparently their parents have taught him to follow the tourist and not to come back until we buy something from him or give him some money. It so sad to see him following us, walking on his bare feet until at the end our guide gave him some money then only he return back to his village.

After that short hike we return back to the little town where we still have several hours before dinner. We had another pampering session at the spa then we went out to explore the city. As we had use up some of our energy during the hike we went into a small cafe for some light snacks and stroll down their evening market.

They arranged our dinner a quite a nice restaurant and we kind of have a 3-course meal. After dinner we went back to our resort and checked our emails. Over here, all the hotels are very internet savvy, they include free internet usage for all their guests even the backpacker hotel that we stayed as well! pretty cool huh… Hopefully other hotels will do so as well..

After that SP & I played a game of pool before calling it a night to rest for another day of hiking tomorrow. The next day we have to check out from the hotel as we will be taking the overnight train back to Hanoi

 They bought us to their morning market where all their local people meet up to sell their harvest. After a short introduction, we were brought to another venue where we will start the hike. The hike was joined with another 2 ladies and a guy from their Hanoi Sales office. It was a FAM trip for them. The hike was even more tedious than the previous day. It has a lot of ascending up the hills and way down was quite steep in some areas. The scenery is very scenic with the corn fields that cover the mountains, but the journey was quite tiring. I told SP, my year quota of exercise is done. After about 3.5 hours of hike when our legs starting to cry for help.. we reached to a place where we take a motocycle taxi to the next destination for our lunch. Whew! finally it was over.. But the short ride in the motocycle is a really trilling experience. This is the first time I took a motocycle with a stranger and mind you.. not wearing a Helmut! We have to go through 2 small streams and twice when a lorry pass us, all the dust just cover your vision! I can’t see the road in front of us.. geez.. which during that time i just closed my eyes and hold my breath!

After a simple home-stay lunch we took a boat back to the main road which they will transport us to the train station. Prior before that they stop at the border of Vietnam and China. So cool, that the 2 countries are just separated by a river. There is a chinese temple over at the Vietnamese side which we went in to see and we guess that it will be the same temple that we have back in BP - ”Ma Zhor Keng”

We get to take a quick shower in another backpacker motel which is very near to the train station, just to use the facilities coz bout US$2 per person. After the much needed refreshment, we went hunting again for food, especially an establishment with aircon!

 When the time comes, we boarded our train that will bring us back to the noisy city. All the train rides were being shared with other 2 local persons, since we have a slight language barrier we did not really chat with them and after the long day, we slept quite soundly on the train.

Back to the city, we had 2 days for us to explore the attraction, first we went to the lake where we see the turtle island and the temple there, after taking some time there we took one of the trishaw that cost us US$10 for 1 and half hours which suppose to cover a few places, but he can’t make it that far.. Boasting that he is young with energy and able to cycle very fast. It doesn’t seems that way! He brought us to buy the water puppet show for that night, temple of literature – where they worship Confusious then lastly to a pagoda near the West lake.

From then on, we went on foot to the rest of the attraction but due to the lateness of time, we did not manage to see the moussoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and his resident place, which we went again the next day. But the trip was not so bad, we get to eat some cakes at an Italian cafe and lunch at KFC! (After so much of vietnamese food, we started craving for the normal western fast food)

 The next day after breakfast we made our way to the attraction, to our horror, we found there is a very long queue. Thinking that it is to the museum, we decided to join the queue. Thinking that we might be able to do some picnic somewhere, I brought along my chocolates and snacks. But, not knowing that the queue is to the mousseluem where they kept Ho Chi Minh body being preserved in the structure, we have to go through x-ray check and my chocolates were being confiscated. There goes our lunch. After about 1 hour we are finally out from the queue and just to view the body only takes less than 1 minute! After that somehow we were being led to his old residence place. These are the 2 attractions that we were thinking to skip. When we finally went to the museum, to our dissappointment, it was close for lunch and will only reopen at 2pm. While waiting, we had our lunch and just enjoying their aircon. But the museum wasn’t what I expected. I would have though that the museum will tells you about the history of Vietnam, but the museum really live up to its name.. It is all about President Ho Chi Minh!.. Oh boy.. Yes I know he is a remarkable guy.. but the entire museum? .. Hmm.. just wondering how come Malaysia don’t do one for our 1st PM – Tengku Abdul Rahman..

After viewing all these, we had decided to head back to the motel to take a shower and to get ready for check out. Since we still have some time, we decided to try some of the french pasty that we found selling near to our motel. In the evening, we catch the 2115 hours plane back to Singapore! There ends our trip.. 

The Impromtu Models for tourists!

Vietnam Trip! ~ pt 1 May 25, 2008

Hi .. I am back.. So sorry.. was suppose to write about my trip the next day.. unfortunately, i caught the remaining flu virus when I got back to office… seems it is still going around..

Our trip is a 07 days and 07 nights. We flew a budget airline to Hanoi straight from Singapore. Due to a change of dates we have to pay a much higher tickets with no food provided. We reach there at night, and as the motel that we reserved, Classic 2) was overbooked, they transfered us to their sister hotel, Classic 1. They have the basic amenities. (Refer to the pic below) But the bed is so hard, even though we know that firm mattress is good for the back but this is really stiff! But then what you aspect from a US$28 per night. Normally passport will be given to them upon arrival for them to fill up their form.. but no.. not in Hanoi, they kept our passport overnight!.. to do what.. to key it into their system.. is that slow or what! Geez..

The next morning, we check out from our backpacker motel and made our way to the travel agent to start our exciting tour. The first tour that we took was the Halong Bay Tour with a night at a cruise and one night in a 4-star resort. In our group we have a couple from UK and a family from Australia. In total including us, there are 07 persons. It is a small quiet group.

We started of in the coach with many people but only 07 of us are taking the same tour. Well, the condition of our cabin in the cruise surprised us. Not expecting star cruise standard of course! Therefore was expecting a more back to basic type of room but it turn out to be alright. The room was clean and the thing that gave us the surprise was the shower! It has the jets and we were really impressed.. WOW! See the pics below.

Once the cruise kicks off, we had a lot of time to rest and relax. We are able to go up to the deck where they have 08 deck chairs.. just nice for the group of us! We took our book and we changed to shorts and T-shirt of course, not forgeting our camera. After applying our sunblock we made our way up to the deck. After taking some photos of the surrounding scenery and find the sun is too strong, we decided to relax in the dining room instead and took a short nap.

After a short journey, we were to embark and visit the Amazing Cave. The cave was brightly lit and was cooling eventhough we have to climb a lot of stairs to reach the top.

When we reach back to the cruise, they brought us to a place where we can go down for a swim in the sea! Eventhough the idea was too trilling.. I began to worried as I do not know how to thread water! Before coming down to a depression for not able to go into the nice cooling water.. an idea strike me!… LIFE JACKET and I manage to borrow a life jacket from the boat.. and YIPPEE!! Cold green salty sea water.. here I come!

After a satisfying dip and feeling refresh, we took turn taking a shower and got ready for dinner. As the lunch and dinner on the day is being covered in the boat, we have not much choice in that matter.. each meals on the boat will have fried prawn (Ok.. i broke my rule, I took 1 or 2 prawn in this trip), cucumber with garlic and ginger – which is very yummy .. oh.. they love to serve cucumber, sotong ball, a couple of vegetable dishes – kangkung, bean sprout, cabbages. These are some simple dishes that they cooked for us in the boat.

Since we have a more or less a free and easy schedule, most of us, went up to the deck and just lazed around.. looking up the sky with a few stars, surrounding us with water and other nearby cruises. Me and SP chatted, catching up with each other.. when the night turns dark and after the entire day of activities, we went back to our cabin to rest.

The next morning started with a relaxing breakfast and we were transfered to another boat where they will bring us for our kayak excursion. The kayak was slightly different than those that we used to do back in Malaysia or Batam. They have pedals! for navigating the kayak.. how cool can it be!

We spend the half day kayak to a hidden lagoon.. which by then.. my both arms have no more strength and started to ache. The water at the lagoon was so clear that you are able to see the base. After returning back to the boat for lunch, our guide told her we have another session of kayak in the afternoon!! Oh boy! .. How am I going to survive! Somehow.. I did! The afternoon we stop at one of the deserted beach for our kayak excursion. By the time we finish, my both arms are paining.. crying for help!

After such a tedious exercise, we rested for a while and we reached our 4-star resort! Staying in a backpacker, staying in a cabin and staying in a 4-star resort is a great change of experience! The resort that we stayed is called the Cat Pa Sunrise Resort, they have a nice swimming pool with 2 jacuzzi pools and their own private beach! That night we have a sumptious dinner at the restaurant and after that we had 2 hours of body massage.. that was an absolute heaven!

Unfortunately we only get to stay at the lovely resort for 1 night, the next day, after breakfast, we relax a little at the beach we started to get ready for check out. From a tranquil atmosphere of the sea and being drop back to the hussle and bussle of the Hanoi city.. is not something I look forward to.

The whole population of Hanoi city is about 4 million people and they have 2.5 million motocycles on the road! You can hardly imagine the air and noise pollution they generated! Just that couple of hours on the road, makes my head spin and I was so irritated by the noice the worse.. as for them, whether there is a reason or no reason, they use the horn very freely.. can just imagine how annoying they are.. and something is just next to you. When you are walking along the street, looking at the shops, there will surely people ask you whether you want to take the trishow or the motocycle taxi or even the taxi!

We will continue the 2nd tour another day.. before I bore you guys further.

Impromtu Holiday.. May 19, 2008

Normally, when I go for holiday, i will plan much in advance. But last week, me and my friend plan at a last minute to Vietnam. We only took 1 week to plan for this trip but mostly my friend did the job.. It is the most impromtu trip

The entire trip is about 7 days, we took 2 short local tours from there even though we arrange it from Singapore thru internet. We touch down early this morning around 1am. Will write more about the trip tomorrow.. Basically today is unpacking, washing all the dirty laundries and to rest before starting of work tomorrow..

Un-decisive.. May 7, 2008

Every day, every second, we actually are making decision in our life. Whether it has a small or big effect in our life. Do you ever come such times, when you are unsure which direction you should go, which decision to make and once you make a decision, you start to wonder if you have done the right thing. There are also times where after you make the decision you start to regret it.

Sometimes is very important to think very carefully before making decision. Recently, I kind of made some decision, but now still pondering if I have made the correct decision and to really go thru with the decision.

I am known as an impulsive person, sometimes, I don’t really think too hard before making my decision. I know i know, this is no good.. but then.. unless it is a big matter, then I will take more time analyzing it, if not.. I will still think but not too deeply.

I am not those people who can just test the water, I am more like just step in the whole feet in. If that feels ok then only i will wade in or to walk back to dry land. I know some will test the water using their toes to test the water if its cold or not and think whether should they go into the water or not.

What I feel like life is not for you to just test waters.. Life is made in such a way that once in a while, you have to take the chance and jump right into it and go with the flow. It can be a turbulence or it can be just a smooth sailing ride, that will be up to you how you make life be. Life is to be lively, happy, exciting and trilling and not loosing any second in fear and regrets.

Labour Day… May 1, 2008

There are so many occasion to celebrate all types of people – secretaries week, boss day, woman’s day, children’s day, mother’s day, father’s day and of course Labour day! But out of all these celebration, only Labour day – May 1 is being classified as a public holidays in certain countries. This is suppose to be one day for all employees do not require to work. Of course they do come to such situation or certain industries that require to work on this day. Industries like Travel, Hotels, Retails, Transportation and also Food & Beverages, therefore for those that have to give their services on this day, they are normally are either being paid double or will be compensated with another off day in another day.

Normally, my office do not work on public holidays however, since now everyone is trying upgrade all their system, my management decided to do the same. Therefore, today is the day when they transfer all the old datas to the new systems. So all of us are to go back to clear up all the “rubbish” in the new system.

I tell you, it is really rubbish.. and it is so tedious.. Earlier we thought that today we only work a few hours but ended up we work from 10am – 6pm! It is nearly the entire working day.. In our normal days, we go out to meet client and travel but today, we were desk bout for all 07 hours.. By the time we call off the day, our eyes are all crossed with  company names,  and we might even get nightmare tonight!! (Hope not!) and the best part… IT IS NOT FINISH YET!!! It is even more tedious than our normal work.. geez.. Well looks like we have to do it gradually and have to do it on daily basis.. Wish us luck!