Wah, already thinking about my next life. Woody Allen here sure makes it sound good!



I have been quite the busy bee this week. After moving to my new and *hopefully* permanent desk at my office, and moving from a PC to a MAC platform again, everything's working out well. I am busy. So that's always good!

I know I still have Hanoi. I promise Day 2 report by weekend. :)

Meanwhile, you guys have great fun. This is the weekend baby!

I frequent the Carrefour at Plaza Singapura at the late hours where the bread goes for $1 and the sushi is at 30-50% off.

And every single time, I get "teased" by the Durian Men. Yes. Men - more than 1 of them.

Why, just yesterday, I was given 2 extras mangoes from this guy who claimed that he is the one who treats me the best in the world.

Hey, I'm not complaining about the 2 mangoes (which are quite nice lol) but, how come I attract men like that?

The one before that? He claimed that he will not force me to buy Durians from him - he just wanted my number.

DUH!

I have no idea what's the objective of this post. I guess I just wanted to ask WHY out loud. Not expecting an answer.

Description: I bought a tub of kaya 1 month ago. I only consumed less than 1/6 of it. 1 month later, I find my kaya with only 1/4 left.

Suspect: Housemates. #&$(#*$)#$*%$^$&)#$!!!

Just wait till I hunt you down!
I will have you buy me ten tubs back!!! MY KAYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *wails*

Can you tell me why I am so down on luck recently? What have I done wrong? Have I been a bad girl?

I lost my Msia credit card in Carrefour @ Subang a month back and the fucker who picked it up went to happily spend RM2000 on it. Now I filed a dispute, cross my fingers and hope, *sigh*, and hope that I don't have to be responsible for that amount.

I curse that fucker to hell and back. Haiz why?

I lost my SGD90 bicycle last night. Usually I don't but this time, I remember very clearly where I packed it yesterday morning. Right at the exit of Hougang MRT's sheltered area opposite Hougang Bus Interchange, second slot from the left.

This time, I curse the whole bloody gang (assuming is a gang) to grow like loads of pimples, moles and big growths all over their bodies. All of them who keep hunting around the Hougang area and stealing bikes like their fucking lives depended on it. My bike is not even BRANDED!! And I consciously chose the ugliest, and most discreet colour in view of how possible this day could be! AND STILL.

Sigh. Why?

First my credit card, then my kaya and now................... my beloved bike who went through so much with me. :( Barely 4 months old. Barely!

I am so sad. Will someone buy me a new bike? I will take a $70 one... or cheaper if you can find. :(

Traveling has always been my first love. One of my dreams is to set foot in all 195 countries (if you consider Taiwan as an independent country) at least once in my lifetime. I strongly believe that experience can only be gained but not told. Reading books, magazines or watching documentaries will never come anywhere close to experiencing it personally.

So don't bother telling me that China, Russia and Mongolia are all neighbours. I really won't remember it.

And don't bother laughing at me if I think the United States is next to India, I really won't be offended.

Once I step on local soil, I will know and remember. Like I remember now that UK is on an "island" of it's own and is separated from the rest of Europe. And that Italy and France are neighbours.

Like I remember that Vietnam is neighbour to China and Cambodia, Singapore to Malaysia to Thailand (DUH).

When will I go Middle East and United States?

Spotted @ Carrefour (Plaza Singapura), Singapore





Erm, it looks suspiciously like a watermelon doesn't it? Like the familiar, red-fleshed, yummy watermelon hor?

It surely must have some divine properties in there if it can cost SGD9.90 for ONE.

Let me eliminate that it is not big enough to justify it being SGD9.90. And eliminate that it is in any currency other than Singapore dollar. And eliminate it as any high end store disgusied as Carrefour - it really is just the hypermarket we all know.

SHEESH. SGD9.90!

There's really an economic crisis going on if I find myself unable to afford eating watermelon!!!

On a somewhat related note, please see this article!

$239 for 8 tiger prawns @ Newton Circus *Fuiyohhh*

NAMECARD!

YES!

This time round, my name card has an illustration of me on the front! How cool is that! You know I can't show you everything on the namecard but here's the illustration!!

So so, look like me a not? :P

I got to say my dear colleague made a very good drawing of my hair! :D!

Speaking of which, I am proud and amazed to announce that this is my 2nd week at work and I have operated an entire week without a dustbin, a calculator, plastic folders (or folders of any form) and stationery (that means no stapler or highlighter or.... *panic*).

I never thought there would come such a day. On the 5th day of work, I gave in to pressure and asked for a calendar. 4 days without a calendar! Call me freak but I really really need a calendar. How do I note down the deadlines, the meetings and so on as it amounts and I only have meself as reminder?

On day 1, I was given a notebook and 30 minutes into the job, I stole a pen from my colleague. (I will return it some day when I get my own pen! I promise!)

On day 2, I was given a lamp (thank god). I thought I was forever going to work in darkness.

On day 3, I begged for a plastic folder to bring my documents to a meeting. (I still consider myself handicapped at work cos 1 plastic folder isn't enough to satisfy the needs of a organised freak.)

As with all new jobs, you go in thinking you know what you're in for and that you're good for this job, just as this job is good for you and then, just like how it's always like for both the employer and employee, you start to realise that things are not all that they seem.

The insecurity sets in. But I'll manage it and emerge a better person.

At my last job, I was convinced I was going to be a tree in my next life. After the mountains of one-sided printing, the rows and rows of filed documents and (even) watching my other colleagues do the same (my wastage X many times), I could hardly expect to lead a better next life.

At this new job, I was expecting people to dump files and foldes and notes onto me. I was expecting them to bring me to a tall cupboard and open it grandly to show me the "history" of all previous jobs carefully labelled, filed and logged. I learned this way of doing things in my professional career. But, erm, everything here is the way, mother nature would approve. Everything is digitized. Thankful I am. I just need to get used to it. It feels sinful that I don't need to participate in filing. LOL.

P.s.: I'm getting a new seat in the office next Monday! Hopefully it comes with a dustbin! :D

P.p.s.: Oh yes, I read something today that I'll like to share with you. It's a long read but it's reaches in and touches your heart. Read about Cheleinkal's journey of how motherhood was for her.

Ok, this is like a super belated post. So please do not ask me when it actually took place. You can see that it was when I STILL had long hair (before I went Hanoi, I chopped it off and looked idiotic for awhile).

Janice is a poly school friend and I did quite a lot of projects with her. She is a low-profile kinda person which also means she might kill me for this post if not for the fact that I love her . I'm so lucky to still keep in contact with so many of my poly school friends. :)

So it was Janice's birthday (I actually don't call her Janice. So it feels a bit uncomfortable trying to contact Janice with her chinese name) and a bunch of us went to Double O to celebrate.

Double O. The last time I went there was what.... 3 years ago? Man I feel old.

Here's Yannie (right) and Janice (left) before I go any further.



I hope she enjoyed herself. Pity the rest couldn't make it. Double O was kind to sponsor us a champagne, and shots to go round for the night. How not to be doubly happy about it?

The party begins!


I haven't gone dancing in such a long while. I must say it has gone pretty weird! When we were on the dance floor, as a group of girls, the guys just surrounded us! Maybe it's because the number of guys sorely outnumber the girls but hey, they were like facing our backs (we were dancing in a protective circle - LOL, much like casting a spell) and dancing and occasionally bumping on us and then sometimes, they tap on our shoulder and say hi, can we dance with you?
But, er, if you are asking for permission to dance with us, then what were you doing for the last 15 minutes behind me? Figeting? SO LC (low-class) leh!

So then, we started the drinks and then the photo-taking begun!


Happy (belated) Birthday Janice!




Janice and if you don't know who's on the right, I will take a smelly dead salmon and fish slap you 10 times.





I am happy Angeline's making friends! :P


Laalaalaaa, Janice got pretty high that night - the drinks were gone and the lights were on before we each made our ways home. How fun. I nearly forgot how fun it is to have a girl's night out at a club.

Next time we do more catching up ok? This time around, the music and my heart was beating louder than anything esle.

Hello guys, I am back from my trip! I can't wait to share about my trip but first I need rest. I arrived back in Singapore at 2am on Monday and had to work at 9am. I still need more sleep to recover! :/

Anyway, here's a little entry about my short day #1 in Hanoi.

I hate Tiger Airways. Their prices change everyday, their seats suck, their air stewardesses suck, the additional charges on baggage check in are quite misleading as well. Why don't they just show me nett price?! Not as if without the baggage charges, their fare is much lower than competitors also!

I checked in at Budget Terminal (the warehouse) with little fuss. There was this tour group checking in as well. Surprised that the plane might be full.

Ah stupid me. I left USD 900 (!!!!) in my luggage unlocked!! It will be okay, I reassure myself hesitantly.

Boarding time! Omg cute guy alert! He looks like this Shawn Chen actor from Singapore. Short but cute. How coincidental that he's on the same flight and Vietnamese! Nah, I didn't talk to him lah. Ok maybe a tiny part of me hoped I might be allocated a seat next to him. But no, that didn't happen as well.

3 long hours. It really felt like 3 eternities. I know 1 eternity is not supposed to end but, figure of speech, you understand.

Since I checked in after the tour group, I was subjected to ear bruisingly loud, incessant spews of non-stop hokkien. I tried sleeping. I tried reading. And then, I tried to see if I can aim some dirty looks over to the source of my frustration, but I saw an old (but very energetic) guy wearing the Vietnam flag on his cap laughing, flirting and talking at the top of his voice - I knew I was doomed.

There has to be a reason why I didn't become a tour guide. Today I see why.

We arrive in Hanoi in one piece. This trip, I am with Derek (aka Ah Long San), Kerk and Roman. ALS sat beside a Viet and talked about everything (including finding a wife for himself) except reccomendations on where to eat. -_- ALS............ *shakes head*

We were looking forward to the hotel rep holding up a signboard with "Mr Ah Long San from Singapore" on it but were sorely disappointed to see my name instead.

Changed SGD to Dong at the airport. IMPT! Change your local currency to USD first before using that USD to change to Dong in the airport. Why you ask? The money changers there will take your SGD or MYR and change it to USD at a shitty rate (local rates are WAY better) and then change the USD amt into Dong. Their rates from USD to Dong is much better than in Singapore.

And we, we were instant millionaires! *grins*

The ride to Hanoi Lucky Hotel II at the Old Quarter took us 45 mins. It was freaking cold. 15 degrees. Weather reports in SG said that Hanoi wil be 22 to 27 degrees ok. Shit. Underdressed.

I got this taxi ride free because I booked everything (tours, hotel stays, etc) with the hotel. Negotiation's in my blood I think! The other licensed taxis were at USD 15 for 5 persons.

I kept waiting for the driver to scam me. Like ask me for toll money and so on but he didn't.

We arrived at the hotel and for USD 25 a night, it was great!

Hot water (limited), in-room PC & internet, good clean blanket, cable TV, what more can I ask for? :) I was pleased.

Our flight stretched over dinner and by the time we checked in and all, it was 930pm. We were STARVING!

We then walked too much. Most shops were closed. Dong Xuan weekend night market was still opened though most were closing up.

Between the 4 of us, we have 4 bowls of Wan Ton Mee (30,000 Dong), a Bia Hoi (25,000 Dong), a Lamb Kebab (15,000 Dong) and 4 bowls of Pho (20,000 Dong each).

I hate to disappoint but I think I was overly hungry and so the Wan Tan Mee was delicious. But the Phos were no good. MSG-laced soup that had a overtly strong taste of pig. The noodle was nice though! :) The first stall we stopped at to order Pork Pho was no good. The second stall we stopped at, we had Chicken Pho which was much better!

I guess it's a matter of luck - which you choose to dine at!

It was 12 mn by the time we got back. Sleep we did.

Day 2.... Halong Bay! :) Stay tuned!