Traveling DIY style requires a lot of decision making. Hell, it requires more research than a final year project!

I guess life in general does requires a lot of decision making as well, but at home a lot of your daily decisions are already made. You have to wake up at a certain time, showering is pretty much required, you pretty much know what the weather is like so you can dress appropriately, you eat whatever is handy, have a cup of coffee, and then you have to go to work.

These are pretty much givens. And these don't exist on the road. Everyday is literally a blank slate. This can be exciting or overwhelming, depending on your mood and the options at hand.

Me? I find it both exhilirating and extremely frustrating. Missed trains, sudden cold weather, pickpocketed...

The constant battle is: How much money can we spend? USD or DONG? How much time do we have in this city? What are the must sees? Do we rough it or take the comfortable option? It's a million little decisions. Some are difficult and some are quite simple.

And I, I shall be braving this all come tomorrow, for 8 days. I can't wait! I do hope the my other travel companions read up and come prepared!

:D So Hanoi, here I come!

... but these people here are way out of your league man!

Today's my last day with my current company. I've only been here less than a year and I'm moving on again. It it with a mixture of regret and relief. This is why I quit.

Take This Job And Shove It.

I'm not as close as I would have liked to be with my current batch of colleagues. That is a pity. A regret. Sure we scream, and bitch and plan on doing a mass order of guns to shoot clients (Oops! Not all I promise. Just the stupid ones.) but there's a but. I wish there was more.

When I started here, there was this batch of colleagues who slowly one by one phased out and before I got to know them any better, they all, well, left. One by one. The goodbyes, the farewells... then this new batch came in and it's been only slightly more than half a year before I bid goodbye.

I want to tell them I miss them. That I will really miss the laughter, the jokes, the camaraderie... but will it sound insincere since they may only see our relationship as superficial? As perhaps, only a means to getting through the days?

They gave me a card. It is such a sweet gesture. I'll miss them. I'll make new friends at my new playground but the ones I made at this playground have taught me a lot and I'm glad to have crossed paths with them. C'est La Vie

I am looking forward to a better paying job with better opportunities making it better all round. So I guess, its farewell for now but with MSN, I'm no more than a click away.

Today's my last day and come next Monday, I no longer wake at 8am everyday for 2 weeks. :D

Watch this!



Do you think this is just funny? And unimaginable? And doesn't really happen in real life?

My friends, it is with a mix of regret and amusement that I share this with you.

I have received an UMBRELLA (I don't even use umbrellas) and a card reader as romantic gifts before about 2 years back.

No. I am not joking. And yes you heard them BOTH right. UMBRELLA AND CARD READER.

It's not so bad but he should know me enough to know that I don't use umbrellas. Not even if it rains!

I looked at the umbrella he gave me then and I only had 1 question. WHY? He said it was the latest craze in Taiwan. The lady who sold this to him said it was from some Korean drama. Just because I like Korean dramas and there was a bit of lace around the edges, he decided I'll like it.

Well it is nice but I just HATE bringing umbrellas round. I told my mom and my mom said, "What? Umbrella? But you..." Then I said, EXACTLY! See my mom didn't spend the first 15 years nagging me to bring umbrella for nothing! If anything, it made me hate umbrellas!! Hahaha I got it ingrained into her that I don't carry umbrellas. Simply, because.

The person who gave me the card reader will be quick to add that it is not JUST a card reader, it is a SD card reader, micro SD card reader, and a thumb drive rather enthusiastically. And will also be estactic to point out that my camera uses a SD memory card.

I cannot help but mention as well that when he gave it to me as my birthday present, he had this eager look on his face as he asked me sincerely if I liked it.

I................ well, let's just say I tried very hard just take the gift at face value and erm, erm... erm....

I just said, "Well, I guess it'll come in useful..."

Luckily there were other stuff to make up for it and that this was just a side-gift on top of the treat.

And you thought men sincerely giving thoughtless gifts was a myth!

I hope you didn't get something as ridiculous as a vacuum cleaner for Valentine's Day! :)

I was thinking of going KL next week. I have a week between jobs. Yes, I am changing job! :) I'm mighty excited about my new company. I will be dealing with the online medium as a platform for advertising. 

Truth about Advertising # 1

Like what I did for my Halong Bay trip, I am sharing my Sapa tour research results with you all.

Prices are as published on the site but you should email them to see if its still valid and if you book more tours with them they may also give you a better price.

A) Hoang Nam Services and Trading Co., Ltd.
http://www.goldenlandtours.com/trekking2.html
- USD 90/pax (Sapa Summit Hotel, Ratraco Train)

B) AN PHU HA NOI TRAVEL SERVICE TRADING COMPANY LIMITED
http://www.anphutour.com/anphu/?module=tours&action=view&tourid=75&catid=38 - USD 85/pax (Sapa Summit Hotel, Ratraco Train)

C) VIETNAM OPENTOUR CO., LTD
http://www.vietnamopentour.com.vn/vietnam-tour/sapa-tours/sapa-by-train--easy-.htmll - USD 95/pax (2* hotel, Royal/Ratraco Train)

D) RISING DRAGON HOTEL
USD 96/pax (Sapa Summit Hotel, Hara Train)

E) SINH CAFE
USD 85/pax (Queen hotel or Golden Sea hotel, Friendly Train)

F) DIY (book train tickets from http://www.vietnamimpressive.com/service/trains-and-fares.html, tour and hotel to book direct from Thai Binh hotel)
USD 107/pax (Thai Binh Hotel, Any USD 60 (2 way) Train)

After the 100 hours I spent on researching on prices for Halong Bay, I spent another 100 on Sapa. LOL. So I hope you guys benefit from this and save the 100 I slogged for.

The one I finally went with is with the hotel I am to stay with in Hanoi - Hanoi Lucky Hotel.

Here are the tour details:
http://www.hanoiluckyhotel.com/Hotel1/Default.aspx?f=Content&p=35&id=11 (A 2 star hotel which I have not decided, King's Express Train)

I booked this tour because I felt the guy on the email was very nice and the price is reasonable as well. You should check with your hotel to see if they will give you a discount for booking everything through them. :)

As for whether this tour that I book with Hanoi Lucky Hotel is good or not, I will come back here to post my review when I am done with my trip.

My trip is 01- 08 March 2009. Wait for me! :D

Here were some of the many cruises we considered going with. Prices are as published on the site but you should email them to see if its still valid and if you book more tours with them they may also give you a better price.

My budget I was looking for is USD80-USD100 for a 3D2N Halong Bay-Catba Island Cruise.

The similarities across each of the below are as follows:

- 1 night in Holiday View Resort (Catba Island)
- 1 night on Junk (do ask for pictures of the junk if possible! there are apparently lots of imperial junks on HLB!)

HERE GOES!!

A) KHOAVIET TRAVEL CO.,LTD
http://www.khoaviettravel.com/english/Tours_in_Vietnam_Tour_operator_in_Vietnam/detail_tour/Cruises_Tours/2/0/435/.html - USD 89/pax (Imperial Junk)

B) AN PHU HA NOI TRAVEL SERVICE TRADING COMPANY LIMITED
http://www.anphutour.com/anphu/?module=tours&action=view&tourid=32&catid=37 - USD 95/pax (Imperial Junk)

*Gaaassssppp*!!

It's 3.30pm now on my clock and I just realised it's Friday the THIRTEETH!

I wait one whole year for this day to come only to forget when it does!

Gosh!

I went to read up one why this day is so named and I found one that said:

"It is a modern amalgamation of two older superstitions: that thirteen is an unlucky number and that Friday is an unlucky day."

Bullshit. Friday is never an unlucky day! Fridays are always the best day! Anyhow, today's a very busy day at work for me. That also means I will make this post short. I am supposed to be doing up a damn timeline and put together some company credentials but I disgress as a whole. Will get back to work soon.

I always get very excited when this day comes. I wanted to see how (un)lucky I can get. I mean I know its irrational. It's just another day. Bad luck? What bad luck?? Nothing starting with "scientic" supports it. But hey, I love living dangerously! :P

In fact, I was quite happy about my nails seeing how I just got myself a manicure yesterday.



Yup nothing fancy. Stupid photo does it no justice. I have to do household chores one. So glitter, and other fancy whatnots are out-of-the-questions and very impractical.

Yes. I'm still peeking at them.

Sorry, I know you're probably sick and tired of seeing pink, naked rats but I assure you, when they grow up and start to have their own personalities, they will be more than just a hamster to you.

Especially this one hamster of mine who constantly stands on 2 feet and looks at me as if telling me "You are my everything. Gimme a treatie?"

Anyhoo, here's DAY 7 of me 7 baby syrians!! :D

That's their mother Sophie (sorry mom, I really didn't purposely name a hamster so similar to your name)! Fussing over them!



I have 5 of them with slightly blackish/greyish fur as you see above. I am guessing they will turn out to be either like their father (Brownie) or their mother (Sophie).

Brownie is a satin brown and Sophie is a silver grey. Both have greyish fur inside.





As seen above, there are 2 of the 7 babies who are completely still skin-colour! That means it's probably going to be a very light colour throughout! :)

*Rubs hands together* Can't wait! Can't wait! :D

This is always super fun to be part of.

I've been busy lately.

Or maybe I've been too lazy to blog.

Anyhow, one of the things I've been busy with everyday is doing HEADCOUNTS of my new hamsters!

I've been rearing my hamsters for awhile now and I felt it was time and that I am ready to care and love for new ones. Hence came the weeks of "match making". As Syrians are solitary animals, it was quite frustrating and nerve wrecking to have them mate. Female syrians are in "heat" every 4 days and if I guess the "hot" day wrongly, they end up in a bloodbath.

I finally got it right though! :)

The proud parents are Sophie and the very handsome Brownie!



This is them at Day 3. They have since grown bigger ears, and I saw the little makings of 2 white front teeth!

Oh so cute.....! :)

There were 8 of them but now there are 7 left. The 1 missing baby must have been eaten up. Mother hamsters usually eat the still borns, the weak and the babies she feel she cannot care for. They are gentle creatures and will not harm the baby unless there is a valid reason for it (e.g.: any of those I mentioned or if they feel threatened.)



Here's them again! :)

I can't wait for them to start going round the cage eating food!
I can't wait to see what's their fur colour!
I can't wait to see who they take after!
I can't wait for them to start being all grown up and getting to know me!

Ahoy! Hanoi! I am coming!

01 March to 08 March 2009 - 8D7N

It was initially a customised (by me) private group tour but after my dear friends (you know who you are!!) all put me aeroplane leaving me with less than ideal number of people travelling together, it is going to be a free & easy tour.

Hanoi, Vietnam's most interesting city, has a grand total of like 1 million and counting number of travel agents along with their equally massive number of motorcycles. The prices quoted online vary a lot and there are a WEALTH of well-meaning advice out there on what to do, what tours to join and which to avoid - all peppered with cleverly disguised travel agents not-so-subtly trying to promote their own tours.

I expected to put myself through hours and hours and hours of research online, but like many days of intensive research later, I still feel like there's more information to be found - so much so that I felt like I was going to be handicapped and nothing would be worth living for if there was no such thing as the internet.

I will share all that I found out in the coming posts but first I want to recommend the sales guy (I assume is guy) whom I've been working very closely with for the private group tour till last minute I have to drop him and go the free & easy way.

Here's a rough itinerary he proposed for me!



Day 1: Arrive Hanoi, Check in to Kim Tuc Hotel, F&E
Day 2: Be picked up early in the morning for drive to Halong dock for the 3D2N picturesque Halong Bay cruise! Kayak and explore Luon Cave. Overnight onboard the Superior Pheonix Cruiser.



Day 3: Cat ba Island and up the National Park and climb to the top to enjoy the amazing view
Day 4: Cruise around till noon before we disembark and drive back to Hanoi. Take overnight train to SAPA in A/C soft sleeper 4 person cabins

1) Happy (Not) Niu Year

The year of the ox. I wonder why I didn't predict in some sort of super damn big picture way that 2009 is the year of the bad. Of recessions, of retrenchments, of pay cuts, of everything bad. Even if the Singapore budget helps our employers in subsidizing 12% of the first $2,500 salary of every CPF-contributing employee, who wouldn't want to keep additional money from reduced operational cost for themselves instead of passing that on to employees? Especially those companies who retrench, force their employees to take unpaid leave or had their employees take a pay cut?