Alternative housing!

A few months back, we bought on impulse, a 6-men tent from Carrefour. Upon reaching home, we tried it out enthusiastically. To avoid being labeled as nutcases, we closed all the living room windows.

The way we were rolling about in it, we say it can surely be more than 6.

Camping anyone? Hehe.

TATA!

Re-so-flect-lu-tion.

It’s the time of the year. Judging from the way my resolutions turn out every year, I guess I’ll give it a miss this time round. Let’s just go for reflections instead.

If I had to use just one word to sum up 2007, I’ll choose hectic..

26 trips, 60 over flights.
2 trips per month, once every 2 weeks.
Practically 1 flight every 6 days - my skin bears testimony,so sad..

130 days out of Singapore and what was there..?

The witnessing of the once-in-5-years mega flood in Jakarta was an eye-opener – specifically to that in the heart, Just the way things in the world work, it was simply a matter of checking into a hotel for the well-to-do. For the poor – and I meant the really povertised – there was a mother carrying a baby on her back and a toddler in front, braving through waters threatening to reach her chest level and covering her beloved. Innocent children were wading through the waters on plastic basins – the ones Singaporean mums use to bathe the unknowing fortunate infants of Singapore – oblivious to reality and apparently enjoying themselves, the way all children of the world deserve to. And then the occasional kids braving the cold waters and knocking on your car windows asking for however meagre an amount available for them – forever wearing that smile even when one waves them away. Heart-wrenching. There were the opportunistic bapaks peddling their floats, wherever they got them from, at the traffic junctions. Inspiring. With the new law banning such display of entrepreneurship, whatever’s going to happen to them is anybody’s guess. Mercy on them.

A occasional complaint to a local counterpart on the Bluebird charging 40000 rupiah – 6000 by honest metering - for the total journey of Domestic Terminal to International Terminal, brought to light the justification of the 2-3 hours of queuing they have endured. I admit I had that tinge of shame at complaining unreasonably..or not?

Corrupt lady immigration officers of that communist country certainly pissed me off big time. A total image-spoiler for the ENTIRE country. I am so amazed at how my own gender has the audacity to do things so out of order! Ok call me a stick-in-the-mud, but aint these the prerogatives of our male counterparts? Never judge.

Was so excited to fly BKK for the 3rd time this year that I made up my mind way before the trip to have my shirts tailored – even though it was a crushing mad 3 days in-and-out trip. The result was a total wastage of 120 bucks for 3 pieces of lousily made shirts of chino resto-waitress FEELalike fabric. The old wives’ tale turned out true. I promise to wait patiently for a shirt.

It was barely 1 month since my foot left Myanmar that the political unrests occurred. It’ll be wise to say minimum here, but I still wish to swear at the extreme difficulty in getting a dial tone or an email reply from my agents. My applications were all running late! I wish to take the chance to thank a certain Agency, for the alarmingly fast rate of approvals. I’m starting to believe they can work efficiently. Yes I do…

The wads of CASH Myanmese carry around made me so thankful of the stability I enjoy over here in the Little Red Dot. Also, one’ll be so tickled if one sees the thick stack wrapped in plastic bags. You’ll think it was toilet-paper carried around for convenience.

My feelings of the way Koreans fight and push to get on/off/in/out of the crowded subways/crowded malls/crowded streets/crowded toilets must have resembled that of a Bungee Jumper – you are so afraid of dying for something you shldnt have. My mirage of handsome Korean princes leading me to a happily-ever-after life seems to have disappeared.. So depressing.

Constant travel with a tight schedule on unbearingly uncomfortable flights thin one’s patience. I’ve grown intolerant. A mere extra second taken in bringing up my room slippers earns you my undesirable snide remarks. A refusal to grant that discount I so think you are capable of giving earns you a complaint letter. A request for me to return the food vouchers you have given mistakenly earns you my punk rejection and ‘I want to see your manager’ ( it worked, I got to keep them ).

Another 2 weeks before the cycle begins again. Grumble grumble grumble.

What’s that again? Reflections?

MAGIC STRAW

Somehow, someday, someone got somebody to buy this wonderful straw back from the US of A.
Instant strawberry (Eeee…) milk!

I LOVE this concept!
Where’s my brown straw?!

Erm just to follow things up - if you read below, there was a post mentioning that i was supposed to tell u guys something.

i forgot what it was.

hehe.

HANOI VIETNAM AUGUST 2007 - w Suami n Ms Feng

I've totally forgotten that i had long downloaded these photos into my thumbdrive that i carry around EVERYDAY, for easy copying into a CD whenever possible. Kept thinking these were still in Pumpkin's comp! anyhow, to demonstrate my apologies (for this SLIGHTLY longer than usual delay..:P), here are some for e 2 SUPER CHIOBUs first! ;)


i didnt know Recaro does airplane fittings.

mani/pedi was dirt cheap.

The famous Hoan Kiem Lake. Legend has it that a giant turtle delivered a much-needed sword during an intense battle with the Chinese. Battle was won, sword returned (hence Hoan Kiem - huan2 jian4 in mandarin), turtle commemorated. People says that its descendants are apparently still lurking around in this lake and can sometimes be spotted floating up to the surface.

a clash of the wrong expressions apparently. ha.

the best thing about attending exhibitions in Vietnam is not actually having a lunchtime, but the chance to go OUTSIDE for lunch! Viet treasure their lunchtime lots, hence are ultra reluctant to come for any event during that timeslot. ha. tot the above rice 'urn' at this restaurant we were at digs. those arent chopsticks, they are the rice 'scoops'.

The not-to-be-missed Water Puppet Show. best part of the show was not the skilled puppeteers, but the lady musicians at the side of the stage - she looked so bored she must have performed for a zillion times. She was actually digging her ears in between!

some traditional rice cake which was tastily sweet.

brought them to this supposedly fine dining French (or was it Italian?) restaurant. very meaningful meal cos the waiters used to be delinquents off the streets of Vietnam but was fortunate to be given the chance by this establishment.

Went to this pub.. heard it used to be the most happening in Hanoi. no prize for guessing the keywords'

Ahmm. there was this drink called "1 night, 5 times". And it smelt ultra herbal. no i wasnt the one who ordered. wondering whether it atually works.. hm.

Went to this The Stone/Rock restaurant and had the steak on stone! yummy! e table beside us had korean guests who EACH had 2 servings! we had one for the THREE of us.

This work trip was ultra fun with the 2 darlings. Come again! ;)

How to Chalk Up a Series of Unfortunate Events?

1. Heavy Rain - CHECK
2. Traffic Jam - CHECK
3. Missed the boat, literally - CHECK
4. Got the ferry 20-min later..- UNCHECK
5. ..albeit a different destination - CHECK
6. No Rupiah - CHECK
7. Ten puny Sing bucks left - CHECK
8. Counter taxi - CHECK
9. Passenger Departure Tax 3 Sing bucks - CHECK
10. 3.8 Sing bucks dug out of wallet - UNCHECK
11. Police Coast Guard's inpromptu inspection, yours midst the hundred boats out there - CHECK
12. Last minute scheduled meeting 30 min after arrival - CHECK

All-Clear. Winner. Hands-Down.

Right at this moment in time, I want to laugh.
Right at this moment in time, I want to tell you a story.
Right at this moment in time, I got a msg asking to return earlier to office.
So, I will find another right moment.

haha.

Vietnam August 07

It had been ultra long since the trip. Am on leave at home today so let's see how much i can come up with.. Happened to spend my bd during trip not sure to be sad or happy but the guys were real sweet to celebrate with me!

Friendly Competitors. the true meaning of it. ha.


Had a surprise bouquet of flowers @ the fair too! Sweet!
I unabashedly showed off my Cocktail Mixing skills after jus 1 hour of crash course b4 the trip

the ball like thing is fried dough.. very tasty

Lunch stop along the way from Cantho was good!

e majestic Mekong Delta we passed along the way to n fro Cantho

had to take a boat/ship ride to Cantho from HCMC. e motorbikes onboard were suffocating.
There was this big restaurant boat just in front of our hotel. It takes an hour ride along the lake - terrible thing was the singing onboard so damn loud it was noise pollution. we just cant appreciate it....
.. at least the food was good!

PCheck Chub.

Just found out about a friend's mum's demise via his blog... i feel so sorry to not make it for the funeral..

spurred some revelations..Is this one of the few modern ways that one can communicate and get updated about others' life now?

Wedding gift still in office yet to give too.. time to sit back and do some reflections Chubby.

The PRACTICAL

Exam was actually long ago in July and results were supposed to be out this month! haven't had the time to check at all. Anyhow here r the happenings that day...


machiam the real thing hor.. woo.. teacher says to use a pretty model i'm glad i took her advice.. ;)


ok gown looks hanging on Suami coz was borrowed.. ke.






<- i thought i look like a butch















there was the Night Makeup too..

Yangon July 07

Ok so it's gonna be random coz i'm lazy to rearrange.

My agent's car. so cute! he re-fitted the insides with sports car seats. vintage.
Shwe Dagon Pagoda - the outside. It was a longlong staircase inside..wld have been a perfect visit if not for the door boy overcharging me 2 US bucks for foreigner entrance fee. n i only realised it later. TMD.
woo. majestic.
the PURE GOLD pagodas were sights to behold.

these are Birthdays pagodas. u are supposed to pray accordingly to the DAY (mon, tues.. ) u are born on. i dun rem mine. so i go to the GENERAL temple. :P
cant see here but there's supposed to be flask held by the buddha that continues to have water trickling down. My agents explained that there are absolutely no fittings to cause this. divine..

gonna be a lil scary: this buddha has REAL human eyes. They were donated by someone upon his own death. cant see tt clearly here but was REALLY REAL eyes when i saw. woo. was said that certain days the eyes will close. *cold wind blowing*

Kong Kong...played with it 3 times. rang thruout the premise. hehe. was supposed to make u cry like angel singing upon your next reincarnation as a human. hm no way to certify tho.
For Pa, Ma, PBS, Pumpkin, PLS, Chubby. And Ling.

This was displayed in my agent's office. see the No 'Urining' ? hehe.

yes, this is the official money changer at the Yangon airport.

taxis there are notorious. trails of ants. dirty. n rust rust everywhere! no, it's NOT red paint u are looking at.

there are certain questions which you just gotta remind yourself to be prudent on asking.

when u thought all's at a comfortable enough level, it seems otherwise. The explanation may come in but U just feel like trusting the first feelings.

don ask for it Chub.

Happy Hatchday. =)

Life's been crazy. so up to HERE on the trips PLS says i seem to fly more than taking the buses.

Which is true. Coz i take MRTs.

And taxis. Atas right. Yeah, except i din pay for it.

Anyhow. had wanted to finally pick up my ass to post my Makeup Exam photos with the ultra babe in it, but it has to be that server's not found after several attempts. this post had better not suffer the same fate coz i'm damn annoyed now and as Siaosiaoputs it : " An Annoyed Man is a Dangerous Man ". Ok. she really said a HUNGRY man's an ANGRY man..

I always loved my Thai trips. Since the last one was 5 mths ago, i grabbed the opportunity this time to squeeze out whatever time i had for the massage and hair. Still didnt have The Pink i wanted, but i think it's enough for now.

Recently, I suffered the very first extortion in HCMC. In summary, the 3 Immigration ladies wanted so kindly to help me clear customs for the 80kg of (un)taxable load, but plans had to abort as I insisted on a receipt for my company claims after handing out 100 bucks sing. They claimed "We help you k. you can go". Thank you VERY MUCH.

A small imperfection on an otherwise good trip, since Pumpkin joined me with her friend and we had a wonderful time sipping Vietnamese Coffee on the veranda of a cafe. The view outside could be better than honking cars and bikes, though.

Rag's yesterday and we actually won the Chancellor's Shield. And Best Float Design. And Best Presentation. Congrats! Pity i simply walked past it to Marina and missed my much-coveted Best Presentation. had always wanted this for myself. shit.

Thank you Dumbledore for the lovely prez!

damn. card error. lost all photos of The Afternoon.

sigh.

Different Location. Different View. Different Person. Different Time.

What an interesting afternoon. Aint it? ;)

coming up: Yangon, Vietnam, Exam, The Afternoon photos. Stay tuned.

What a wretched life!

such a bitchy batchy walchy wisy witchy lucky wretch!

the friend. the family. the man. the job.

how easily satisfied.

*grin*