Exploring.. July 26, 2009

I have been in this country nearly to half a year, but shamefully, I have not really explore this country. Even though there are trips to local islands before but I have not thought of joining any of these trips.

Last Sunday, there was a trip to a local island – Ihavandhoo and since it was during my off day I decided to do some exploring. Eventhough one of my staffs told me that its not so nice and its very smelly, so I thought that I will be able to see the local cultures. So after getting signatures for my exit pass.. yes.. to leave this stupid resort I need security, HR and the GM signatures.. Really like a jail.. and after getting all these signatures.. and off I went.

The speedboat ride is about 15 minutes. Its a very short boat ride comparing to the one that I took from Harimadhoo to the resort which takes 45 – 50 minutes! Prior to the trip the image that I had in my mind for this shopping trip was like a street with some shops along the street.. But when I reach there, the first thing I saw was a big mosque. Ok.. acceptable la.. since this is a Muslim country.. but then followed with residential area, schools! So where is the shops?

I walked around for 30 minutes.. and guess what.. I’m Bored!!! nothing to do.. ayo.. I saw a grocery shop, went in bought some potato chip, a bottle of coke and some wafer and then scout for a place to sit down and guess what I found, some swings.. Gleefully.. like a small child sneeking into someone’s property.. looking around for any owner who is going to shout at me for trespassing, slowly foot by foot i approached the swing. Since it was rather peaceful, I lowered myself at the swing. It was real fun. The swing was tied on a coconut tree, feel real pitiful on the tree but that does not deem my excitements .. 1,2,3 yippee!! there I go.. (Photos below)

While on the swing, I am able to enjoy the view and relax with the sea breeze (with the salted fish smells) My staff was right, this island is really stinko.. This is where the salted fish comes from. Nearby to where I was I notice there are a lot of crows (a common bird in Maldives.. I think its their national bird.. Its a no wonder why they choose this bird .. coz its everywhere!). After a while, my curiosity beats me, I went to investigate.. There are so many fishes being “sun tanned” there with a layer of salt. There are even baby reef sharks in there. Who say only Chinese eat shark fin.. These people eat them as well! (Photos below)

Imagine, I have to wait for the boat at 1700 hours and I reached there at 1315 hour, so I have to be there for 3 hours and 45 minutes! After an hour, I notice the speedboat start to dock at the jetty. Hoping that I am able to spend the rest of the afternoon waiting in the boat was dashed by the captain as he is scared that I will get sea sick due to when the boat stops, it start to sway right and left.

So luckily one of the crew is kind enough to bring me around the island. So I walked the island again with him, but which is pretty cool, as I have someone to talk to and to ask him questions bout the island. I found out that in this island, there are about 4k local people and they have 6 mosques! wow.. are they so religious or what.. Apparently the local are very furious with one of the political party that won the election last year, as the party promised the people that they will build a very nice jetty for them, but till now, nothing was done, its a real wonder why they are angry. As what the crew member told me, the jetty is like the public toilet. (pic below).

With him, I get to see the boat yard, and one old man approached us to see if I want a shell or salted fish, I told him no for both but because I do not really understand what he meant by shell, he brought us to his home to show me the shell (pics below). It was a huge sea shell. Very nice.. but how to bring it home? and where am I going to put it… hmm.. nah.. thanks but no thanks..

Finally, the time to go back to resort finally came, it was a very good experience for me, but I have get to see how does the local people live. I have put up some photos of the kids going to school, their main road, their houses and how they earn their living. Most of the people here are fisherman, some you see some nettings next to their home where they cook the tuna fish and they sell it to the public..

Its real amazing! Now I am planning to visit another island also quite nearby but different than this island on the 27th July – 1 day after their Independence Day! Not sure if they have any fireworks, apparently there will be some celebration on the 27th so I might be able to see some cultural shows.. The only one that I saw was Bodu Beru.. the Maldivian dance… my almost last few weeks in Maldives!

 

Hei.. mum… what is that.. June 13, 2009

Each of us will have one thing that we are most fearful of… whether its snakes, insects – cockroaches, dogs or just anything that is furry.. It may seems harmless to one but dreadful to other people even though logically thinking they are actually harmless but they just find them yucky, creepy, slimmy or whatever the animal is. Of coz in Maldives, when you ask any locals here, they will tell you that they do not have any animal or insects that are harmful… Well, first thing you would think of is are there any sharks here.. the answer is yes.. they have reef sharks and apparently quite harmless.. (so far no incidents yet)

Well.. when I came over to this new island, the same thought of no harmful animals around, so did not really care less.. Don’t need to beware of where to step or whatever.. However, a week later, one of my staffs got bitten by a snake.. So happen I have an evening dinner to go to.. have to entertain some China travel journalist. I did not give much thought on it and the Operational manager keep insisting that there is no snake in the island and if there are, then its not poisonous. .. but hei.. snake is a snake.. no matter if they are poisonous or not, you still have 2 puncture holes when they bit you!.  After the dinner,  the thought start to comes in, oh so there are snakes around and some of my staff- team members (got to call staff as team member – hilton std) told me thay had caught a few already for the last 8 months that they were here! Oh boy.. that it.. I started be careful where my feet going to land on next.

After 3 weeks, we started to place a team member at the entrance of the spa where we have a kind of a booth where we display the spa products initially and we had now place 2 sofas, a coffee table, working table and a chair with some pots with flowers so that it will look welcoming for the guests when they come to spa. So there was one night one of my team member kept calling me to go over.. As from the welcoming booth to go to the reception, there is a path with pebbles and with water and fishes at each side, so while I was half way then only she say there is a snake in the welcoming booth.. At that moment, I just felt the excitement and not the fear of encountering to a snake. But just felt the curiousity to find out if its a small or big snake. Our Spa Ayurveda doctor and one of the spa attendent bravely went into the booth with 2 sticks. When they found the snake, its a small thin snake. They hit the snake but luckily they did not kill it and we put the snake in the bottle (pics below). One of team member was so scared that she even scream when the snake is safely in the bottle. Lucky at that point of commotions, there were no guest in the spa, if not, the guest will be thinking that the spa is not safe and having all these creatures sliding around. We, finally manage to pass the evidence to the security – to show them that there are indeed snakes in the island and they are not able to deny the fact anymore!

Yesterday we have our weekly island cleaning day – gotong royong (in malay) and they decided to clean up the carpentry area. So all the department heads to show the team spirit, were there to give a hand in the clean up. Unfortunately, I happen to be the only female around, so as usual, I get bullied.. they start startling me by throwing a string of carpet and just yell.. Kelly snake… a normal reaction, I “siam” – hokkien for avoid. and they did that a couple of times.. and then they just throw me a block of white stuff and yell at me rat.. again I jumped. Then he – Operational Director told me that didn’t he tell me that there is no rat in the island and only “rabbit” .. yeah right man.. geez.. like hell I will believe that.. hmm..But I know they are just trying to tease me, that’s all.. sigh.. but these activities are quite fun actually and able to get to know them better.  Sure hope I will be able to stay with Hilton for the next 2 years! Wish me luck yar!

A nomad .. May 24, 2009

Sorry for the long long silence.. Has been quite busy adapting to another island. I know i know.. such a short while I migrate to another island.. and hei sorry to inform you that I am not island hopping ok… Just within 3 months I have been to 2 islands.. Hopefully I don’t need to move again.. but then in this resort.. we will never know as this resort has been taken over by Hilton and hope that I am able to stay here to work with them for the remaining of 2 years at least then my resume will be much better as I will be under an International chain hotel.

There has been a lot of changes over here and being a resort that has just being taken over, there are many tensions and anxiety in the resort. Whether their job is safe or whether they will be asked to go. Hilton took over the resort from the 1st May but for the spa will be from July onwards, which means I am being kept in between my current company and Hilton as from 1st May onwards, they are providing trainings to all the staffs as to prepare them when Hilton raise their flag on the 1st July. The dilemma of whether I can flow the informations that I have (which my boss aspect me to) from Hilton to my current company or not since the trainings that was provided by Hilton are based on their standard and its their corporate identity is one that I have yet to solve, which I think I will just give my boss a copy and hope she will keep it a secret.

As of the accommodations here, its pretty much quite basic but without hot water. The water are slightly warm but not enough. Now its the raining season, everyday it will rain either in the day or the night, so you can imagine how cold is the water in the morning? How I wish I have a big basin that I am able to fill with cold water and mix with the hot water from a kettle it for shower..the traditional way.. sigh.. I can’t even do that.. For the moment, I have the room all by myself.. but apparently either someone will move in or I might be moving to another room and to share it with another person (Female of course!) to save energy and cost! Geez.. really wonder who will be my room-mate..

I have 2 twin bed in the room, a woredrop, own toilet and shower area – which the door is a little bit loose, therefore I’m not able to close tightly, whenever there is strong wind, the door will open and slap shut – by itself! .. if I were to watch an eerie movie, this is will be a good sound effect! Being me, who keep on asking for things, I requested for a table for my laptop and guess what.. I got a dining table! haha.. like I am able to cook! My recent acquisition, I got some money plant and placed it in there.. pretty  nice.. and of coz.. with the idea from my boss.. I got my dustbin and my laundry basket from the spa ..hehe.. shhh…. Oh I have also attached a picture of my current room.

Now the spa that I am managing is much larger than the previous one. Here we have 20 treatment rooms – 10 rooms with aircondition, 05 rooms without and 05 rooms specially for Ayurveda (Indian) treatments and I have 2 receptionist cum therapist, 09 therapist, 04 spa attendent – 03 Nepalese & 01 Indian and 01 Ayurvedic Doctor. A larger family over here which also means I have more headache. After being here for 1 month, now I only managed to settled down and have some time updating this blog. Sorry yar for the delay..

The best thing that ever happen here.. is when my dad pay me a visit for 5 days, that was the best thing that ever happen to me.. It is so nice to be able to speak, talk and discuss things with him . Even though I am still quite busy with work then, coping with the changes, I try as much as possible to spend some time with him. Its pretty good that he is able to explore the island himself and he is able to relax in the villa and enjoy the beach! – Even though his visit actually burnt a huge hole in my pocket but its all worth it – no complaint.. and Dad? I am still not telling you the exact amount hehe.. ! Another thing is by coming to this resort I get to experience taking a seaplane. It was awesome! The view is fantastic even though its quite hot in the plane as its a very small plane but the experience is one that I will always remember! I have attached some photos below.

First Birthday in Paradise Island.. April 10, 2009

Before I arrive to this country, to take up this career path, I know at certain occasions I will have to celebrate my own and one of the occasions was my birthday. It is quite a pathetic situation to celebrate it alone.. But I thought it should be ok.. no big deal..

However, on the day itself, I was so touch that I received sms from my staff, other spa mangers, colleagues, my relative, family wishing me and FB (facebook) messages from friends… It helps me to get through my days.. to know that I was not forgotten.. eventhough I am no longer in Singapore.

Somehow also we organized our staff party on that day. So I passed the food duty to my staff to get it arranged. Little did I know that they also got me a cake – a love shape one somemore! so sweet (of coz that goes into the spa allowance + the 3 pizzas that they ordered, which makes it no more money for drinks). So what to do, no party without drinks right? So I put the drinks into my tab. So we got some beers and soft drinks for the party. (pics as below)

We setup the party behind the spa near to the jacuzzi. While waiting for one or two staff, and to avoid the beer from getting warm, we put all the beers in the chill pool to keep it cool. (Guess who has that brilliant idea? me of coz!) Me with my crazy ideas.. haha..

We used one laptop to provide the songs and we just chill and chat, playing with cameras – god knows, how many cameras we have that night.. one photo taking has so many flashes.. When the party kicked off with me blowing the candles and distributing the cake, we had fun eating, joking, drinking. I am not sure for the last 10 years did i ever celebrate my birthday with so many people? .. well except for my 21st birthday of course!

Once the clock hit 12 midnight, we started to pack up, left over pizza and cake are being put away into the fridge for next day snacks and the guys put away the tables and clear off all the beer bottles and cigeratte butts.. (not mine, mum!.. I swear! I don’t smoke..hehe.. but I drink.. occassionally..)

So even though I am currently far away from my friends and family, at least I was not lonely on my birthday! One my staff even went to buy me a birthday present, isn’t she sweet.. and the best present I ever receive other than the party was the next day when I received a present from my boss.. a STARBUCKS CUP!!! It was one of the thing I asked her to help me buy from Singapore when she was back for a week holiday in early March and I thought she did not have the time to get it for me and I actually got it for my birthday present.. It was so unexpected and I was so happy with my mug! So kind of contented with it and how it turn out to be my first birthday here.!

 

 

Maldivian / Island Cultures.. April 3, 2009

After being here for 1 month and after my colleague and my boss  had informed me bout the culture in Maldives, now I am able to write briefly about the cultures here. One thing, they do things very slowly. They take their own sweet time to get things done. Therefore if you want things done swiftly, you would better of do it yourself! Seriously.. talk also have to talk slower and must have a huge level of tolerence!

Not only that, the thing that they do most of them are gossips! Gossip about management, gossip about departments, gossip even about their own colleagues! Looks like its their most favourite pass time their life, they practically has nothing to do but gossip about other people – regardless its true or not! Amazing!

Eventhough they seems to be very traditional, very conservatives, I tell you those are a pack of lies.. they are just a bunch of hyprocrite! They can have wifes and children in some parts and when they are at the resorts, they have scandals, girlfriends, mistress! This is the part that really totally disgust me. Call themselves religious, so upright, conservatives.. bla bla bla.. woman can’t wear revealing clothes – not even sleeveless! But the men can sleep around! Amazing huh! The men here is acting as though they are being sex deprived for a very very long time. Whenever they see a foreign ladies, they just look at them (even though they try to disguise it..)

Just one incident that happen when I went to Male about 2 weeks ago and I stayed over at my female colleague place, when we return to her apartment, there was a knock on the door, thinking that it was her neighbour, I just told her that there is someone at the door. She peeped thru the peeping hole and saw a man standing outside the door. She open the door slightly and the guy ask her if she stays there alone. Guess what she saw, his fly is open and he is holding his private parts on his other hand!! What a maniac! It is so totally disgusting and only after she threaten to call the police that he left the place.

Well.. that’s the negative side of the people here, but on the other positive side, hmm.. let me think.. in the resorts, most of the people here are quite friendly, but you will need to put some distance between or you will end up in the front page of the verbal gossip tabloids the next day. They like to play volleyball and crickets! (why that does not surprise me huh?) well.. I am sure I will be able to explore and to learn more of their culture here when I am here longer… since I am here for mere 2 months!

Eventhough every Saturday is our Maldivian night in the resort, where some staff – 08 – 10 men will gather around at night at the resort bar to sing and dance with 1 -2 person will play the drum and some ladies (apparently when they are being hired, they are asked to dance in such occasion as one of the criteria in the employment) will dance with the music.. But one thing that is lacking is a navigator to explain to the tourists bout their culture. So this event does not actually explain or show the real Maldivian culture… what a waste, rite? oh well.. one thing that I learn, don’t expect too much from them…

The first day to Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort March 7, 2009

The day we decided on the day we come over to the resort – my working place, I was so excited. Finally able to settle down, unpack my stuff and get things going. I was to check out from the hotel the next morning and one of the staff will come to assist me with my luggage. Yes he did come to assist me, however to my horror, we go to the ferry terminal by foot! so imagine.. we are lugging my luggages from the hotel to ferry in their rough roads? It is no wonder my luggages by the time I reach my room, the stand is broken and my bags with scratches..sigh..

We have to take a dhoni back to the airport island and from there (thank god I am a management staff) we transfered to a speedboat which will then take 45 – 50 minutes to reach our destination. Normal staff will have to take a dhoni from there and will take 2 – 3 hours to reach the resort!

Once we reach the resort, while waiting for our room to be ready, we went to the spa. I never expect to go to the spa on my first day to the resort. Wow.. its a bit too fast and too soon. But well.. that’s what happened. So at the end, my colleague, Tina who brought me here and who will guide me for the first 10 days, introduce me to the spa staff – who will be my staff.. oh boy… what a funny feeling.. to have your own team of staffs. So I have 3 attendents, 2 receptionists and 8 therapists. Its a weird feeling to have my own office where the staff will knock before coming in, where normally its the other way round and they keep calling madam! Ayo.. make me feel so old.. I am still trying to change that gradually..

Well for the 1st week I was there, we have to ask one of the staff to go and it was not a pleasant task.. even though my gm had spoken to him before I arrived there. For the first month or so, would be my observation period. It’s for me to see how they do things, and where to improve or what to be changed.

When I got into my room on my first night, it wasn’t so bad. Clean and quite sparce, with a cupboard, bed, drawers, a mini fridge, a small tv – which later on we changed to a huge one yea! and a huge bathroom.  (room photo above). Eventually I got my table and chair which I kept pestering the HR manager for it!

But over all everyday is worrying on the revenue target, dealing with staff leaves and duty roster and their transfers and most of all have to think of how to get more sales and to be able to get along with the rest of the departments!

A New Soil.. February 18, 2009

 

A brand new year with a brand new challenges. So sorry for the long silence, it wasn’t intentional, but was pretty occupied with settling all my things before the start of my new biggest challenge and had just settled down slightly after 1 year of preparation and coming into a new country with different cultures and meeting all types of nationality people over here.

You must be wondering where am I, isn’t it? Well..I am at the Island of Paradise – Maldives. It consist of 1000 over islands which they called them atoll, located in Indian Ocean, south of India. It’s a muslim country and its a republic country. I am at South Male Atoll, which is about 45-minute ride in Speedboat from Male – capital city of Male. The resort that I am at is called Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort and the name of the spa that I will be working for is Sun Spa.

Here the logistic from one atoll to another can be quite confusing and the working days takes a while to get used to. In Singapore, our working days start on Monday but not in Maldives. Bank will close on Friday and Saturday. But Sunday, they will be practically work half day because they just return from their weekend and when it comes to Thursday, afternoon half is practically off as well – preparing for the weekend ahead. Therefore only Monday – Wednesday they are open full days. As for the rest of the companies, they start on casual Saturday and 1st day work starts on Sunday and off on Friday. It’s quite confusing in the start but now its getting better.

I will always remember my first day in Maldives. When I came out from the arrival hall and unable to find the one who suppose to hold up my name, I called my friend who is my new boss. She told me to go to counter no 17 and I was then being recognize then. What a relief! The airport was quite old fashion, not like Changi Airport – so technology savvy, clean and has the wow factor.. Male airport is very ordinary and you feel like you arrive at the Batam ferry terminal.

To my shock, I have to take a boat – local term dhoni, to Male! They are not in the same island. The Airport is in a man-made island. How wonderful can that be! So me with my overweight luggages, my ever faithful umbro bag and a sling bag followed the staff to the boat. Already been thinking how am I going to carry my big bag across and into the boat without falling off the boat. Luckily the boat men helped me with it. The journey was just 5 – 8 minutes ride. For those people who are prone to sea sickness, I would not recommend this  as it sway from side to side.. Once reach Male, I was being transfered to my hotel room called Host Palace by cab. All the cab had a fix price and they do not have a box on top of the car but they just print the word “taxi” at the side. So anywhere you go (point a to point b) is RF 20 and after midnight will be RF25.

My room was on the 2nd floor but i have to climb 2 flight of stairs. I stayed there for a couple of days. As I arrived here on Thursday, and Friday they were practically closed till 4pm, I practically do nothing on that day but to wait to 4pm in order for me to get a local mobile line. However, I decided to walk around in the morning to oriented myself on the surrounding and manage to find a local cafe opened for breakfast. Being the first time, I went in to give a try on the local food. But, I realised that I did not change any money in their local currency – Rufiyaa (Roughly the exchange is 1USD = 126RF) So I changed with them USD50 which gives me around 630Rf. From then i just ordered some dishes that they serve. Later I found out one of them is smashed tuna and another is some kind of vegetable – no idea what is that. These they come in small dishes and you eat together with a dough something like “capati”. It was quite nice, something different but was very full due to the capati as it was quite thick and made from flour.

In the evening, managed to meet up with my boss for dinner at a restaurant called - Chinese Garden. Apparently this is the closest restaurant to our local food. Food wasn’t that fantastic, and all the portion here are in huge quantity. I basically can’t finish my plate of fried noodle but lucky we are able packed it and my boss able to bring home for her breakfast the next day. She showed me around Male – the dock area, the garden, the mosque and we ended having coffee at one of her hang out place. One thing I found out their coffee at Maldives are super sweet and there isn’t any fast food, so no kfc, no mcdonald, no starbuck and no coffee bean! How boring..

It’s a truly an eye-opener for me and that was my first day in Maldives.