Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Dream Marathon
I've found THE dream marathon.
The Marathon du Medoc, in Bordeaux France.
42.195km winding between Chateaus, vineyards and rose bushes; interspersed with 22 WINE stands and some of which serve STEAKS and SAUSAGES! A tradition of fancy dress, a party the night before, during, after and the day after!
I'm breathless for having just typed those descriptions.
While I plan out the logistics, work up the courage and save up the moolah, here's a beautiful account of 1 who participated.
The Marathon du Medoc, in Bordeaux France.
42.195km winding between Chateaus, vineyards and rose bushes; interspersed with 22 WINE stands and some of which serve STEAKS and SAUSAGES! A tradition of fancy dress, a party the night before, during, after and the day after!
I'm breathless for having just typed those descriptions.
While I plan out the logistics, work up the courage and save up the moolah, here's a beautiful account of 1 who participated.
Monday, October 13, 2008
MRT
was telling my nanny that i was going on another work trip yet again, and she shook her head.
"Wah, you fly so much, like 空中飞人, taking aeroplane like MRT"
I was a little sheepish, cos actually I take aeroplane MORE than MRT.
:p
"Wah, you fly so much, like 空中飞人, taking aeroplane like MRT"
I was a little sheepish, cos actually I take aeroplane MORE than MRT.
:p
Labels: to Travel
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
New York, New York
(More revisions 24-9-08)
29-Aug-08 (Friday)
Met up with E and we drove (ok, HE drove while I gave food, drink and repeated GPS instructions) 299 miles from York, PA to New York City, NY.
We arrived just over 4hr 30min later. Checked in to hotel with little hassle and returned the car.
The first thing that struck us was strong stench of urine EVERYWHERE. I kept reminding E that there are a lot of homeless people and there arent many public toilets available to them, so just deal with it. He wasnt pacified and I could only tell him that Midtown is not representative of the whole NYC (keeping my fingers crossed).
It was almost 11pm on a Friday night and we were too tired to try anything fancy, and settled for a cafe across the hotel after walking several blocks for suitable dining (the only one we really liked, a Thai Restaurant was closed for last order).
Is this a sign for our stay in New York City, the fashion and beauty capital of the world? gulp*
30-Aug-08 (Sat)
We woke up early and started exploring, walking through Central Park to Metropolitan Museum of Art. The entry fee was on donation basis but we paid the recommended price of USD20 per pax. It was not as huge The Lourve, but the interior was build like a maze, designed to enhance the experience of the wondering and meandering goer. But we were there with a mission and limited time, and found ourselves lost more than once.
In the end we covered the Egyptian exhibition (a small consolation to sooth over my distraught for having missed that in The Lourve), Superheroes and Fashion, Arms and Armoury, and ... ... some other stuff. We also had brunch at the cafeteria at the basement level, and saved on tips since it was self-service. :p
Did you know that the bus stops and subway stations in NY was the MOST SUBTLE in such a huge city? There was almost no way to find a subway station unless you were almost right upon it, since they were underground (DUH) and the entrance were only marked with green globe lamp posts and signages below chest level. OR if you had a map and knew EXACTLY where to go (exactly being defined as knowing the intersection of both Street and Avenue).
We wondered around and couldnt find one and needed a break. Decided to walk back to the Museum and try a NY hotdog and it was there that we discovered the topping called Relish (kinda a chopped pickle dip), nice.
We sat at the steps munching dispiritedly while arguing if we should catch a cab. E was too hot to walk but I hazarded a guess that it might cost us US$30+ to get to Greenwich no way I was going to spend that kind of money to ride. I studied the maps that I brought and with luck there was a metro just to the edge of one of them! Annnnd we're off!
After fumbling slightly with the self service ticketing machine, we bought 2 tickets costing US$7 but loaded with 4 trips worth of value (all single trips within NY is US$2 each). We took a copy of the Metro map, and made our way to Greenwich Village.
Now, Greenwich Village is sorta district in NYC and also the site of an open campus of New York Univeristy, with no boundaries or gate saying it so, and we didnt knew that we were in it until we were studying the red brick buildings and tree lined streets. It was time for a break in Dean and Deluca where E pronounced the coffee to be more acceptable than the rest of American so-called-coffee he had been drinking.
We wondered around, stayed for a tap dance and band performance at a local park, looked at wares on display on street carts along the streets, and went to Mary's Fish Camp. OMG, it was before 6pm and there was already a queue of 30pax at the front door. The restaurant starts at 630pm. Thankfully, the seating started 15min into the wait, and we were the 3rd couple in line for the 2nd seating which may be in an hour's time.
So we took the chance to wonder around some more and checked out the stores, including staring at stuff on display in the window of an adult store. There were STUFF!!! But i was too shy to actually walk into one, not to mention BUYING something... :0 I did walk into stores for Juicy Coulture, Marc Jacab but didnt buy anything except small souvenirs for friends and family.
We went back to Mary's Fish Camp and nursed a beer while waiting for our seating. We studied the menu and apparently they are famous for the lobster knuckles and many people also ordered the Lobster roll (essentially lobster in a hotdog roll) with fries... HUH? sheesh... surely you can treat a lobster with more respect...?
At about 8pm we sat down at the counter (no choice available, you take the seat other people has vacanted or be moved down the queue) and ordered raw Malpeque oysters, grilled octopus, a grilled fish and a pan fried trout fillet, plus more beer and wine.
The oysters were fresh but small, I supposed those were local ones (or from nearby). But the octopus was OUT OF THE WORLD! Just the way I liked it in an ideal world, smoky, tender with a bite for chewing. YUM. And true love is when you've finished your share of the dish, your spouse offer you his last bite (without you having to demand/ blatantly hint so) since you enjoyed yours so much. :)
The fish werent spectacular since my Dad fishes, and I've had some really good stuff growing up. But the dish come together fabulously between side, source and fish (no fries anywhere, heh heh). YUM.
We were full and the night is still young by NYC standards, so we decided to drop by Times Square and soak in the atmosphere. The first thing that hits you is the BILLBOARDS, the LIGHTS and then it really hits you (if you are standing still) THE CROWDS!!!
Dropped by Hard Rock Cafe and some stores, but it was overwhelming, to seem to be fighting the stream of crowds coming through from everywhichway. It was time for some snooze in the city that never sleeps.
31-Aug-08 (Sun)
We started with a breakfast near our hotel and took the subway to WhiteHall Ferry Terminal, arriving there before 10am to take the ferry to Staten Island and gaze upon the Statue of Liberty from the ferry, like 95% of the other people in the terminal that day.
Some might feel great emotions upon seeing the Statue, seeing that she is the embodiment of the American dream and promise. Being a Singapore product, I had none of those feelings . But I imagine the millions who traveled long dark weary distance by ship (in those days), and how they may have felt seeing the light (literally a torch) at the end of the tunnel renewing their hopes of a better future for themselves and their family who may follow.
So it was a quick turnaround on Staten Island terminal and back to New York Island.
We walked towards Wall Street and saw the big flag that graced the front of NYSE (knowing little of the turmoil that will befall it with the collaspe of the oldest bank in mere weeks) and other landmarks.
Then E being a great fan of stories and documentaries on the 911, we went to the Tribute Center. It was a small intimate exhibition hall with various parts: the Community (a video presentation), the Passage Through Time (picture time line and artefacts display), Rescue and Recovery (a wall of MISSING PERSON posters, and this was where it hit me hardest. The despair of the family looking for their loved ones, father/ mother/ son/ daughter drove straight into my heart, and i teared many times and could not linger), and Tribute (Photo wall of the victims), and the rebuilding.
E told me that the first time he was there, there were only pictures on the fence surrounding Ground Zero giving the timeline of the day the Twin Towers fell, and the starkness of that display moved him greatly, whilst the Tribute Center seem to him sanitized. I explained to him that the objective of the Tribute Center was above moving on, and helping the people affected to come to closure and have hope again, which in a way was healthier and forward looking. Though I had hope that there would have been more of a coming together of EVERYBODY (instead of just the Americans, whilst the most affected, there were many other nationalities who had suffered together on that fateful day) to condemn the act of violence, be enlighten and vow that they will fight terrorism together.
We walked over to Ground Zero and looked at the construction of the memorial and the new building.
Then wondered along to Century21, which I can only describe as a Mega-Pieces (a shopping outlet of factory overruns in Singapore's Chinatown). There were literally thousands of merchandise, and we were immobilised by the choices. I wanted to get a pair of sun glasses but beat a hasty retreat when confronted by no less than 20 turning shelves crammed with with them. We looked at working shirts for E, but again overwhelming choices paralyzed us and we didnt get anything.
Thirsty and hungry and beaten, we trout out of the mammonth store and headed straight to the first fastfood outlet we saw, Burger Kings. I am ashamed to say we succumbed.
We had enough of downtown New York and wanted to head back to the hotel, but alas! We missed the subway station that we were looking for, and some other stations weren't open on a public holiday. In the end, we took another break at another Dean and Deluca in Borders and went back to the metro at Whitehall terminal.
After refreshing ourselves at the hotel and dressed smartly in casual evening wear, we were ready for one of the highlights of our trip. A broadway show!!!
But we were still very early so we strolled along 5th Avenue, but not into any shops. There was a huge Brazil Day party on 6th Ave/46th Street and we had to detour a long way before getting to Golden Theatre for Avenue Q. By the time we got into the line to get into the theatre, we were hot and thirsty. E was in a souring mood and felt that we were overdressed seeing that there were people who came in polo-shirts and bermudas. Had to calm him down by pointing that there were many well dressed people, and those who were dressed down were not aware of the etiquette.
Thankfully, Ave Q (many thanks to Ting who recommended the show!), a multiple-media musical with actors and muppets soon took our breathes away and had us laughing out loud at its politically incorrect insights to human and monster nature. By the time we left I had a small crush on the lead actor Howie Michael Smith who played Princeton and Rod. (It will be coming to Singapore and you MUST watch it!)
We were immensely satisfied with the show, and wondered around Broadway looking at the theatres and billboards showing MamaMia, Phantom of the Opera, Lion King etc etc, but I was soon tired and hungry, and I wanted to have authenic piece of NY pizza before we left, and we chanced upon World-Famous Original Ray's Pizza, and had 3 slices between the 2 of us. YUM.
We walked back to the hotel to rest, and the crowds didnt look like they needed any.
1-Sept-08 (Mon)
Labour Day Holiday!
We woke up early, changed into our jogging gear and started a slow jog to Central Park with silly grins on our faces, feeling very much like (fake) New Yorkers. Heh.
Starting from Artists' Gate, E was roaring to go as he had missed his work outs over the last 2-3 weeks from work. But unfit as I was, he had to shuffle at my speed which he declared to be a stroll. pout*
But Central Park was glorious in the early morning, there was smell of green and earth, and lots of people running, cycling and roller-blading. There were also horse carriage rides available at US$30 but it would have been ridiculous riding one in our jogging gear.
I was hoping to come across the Alice in Wonderland Sculpture but instead we came upon the Strawberry Fields (a tribute to John Lennon), Belverdere Castle, Delacorte Theatre, Heckscher's Ballfield and Playground, The Mall, some memorial to the soldiers who had fallen in the World War 1, the Childrens zoo and benches with names of people who had donated money to restore the park. I thought about how wonderful it would have been to have a bench to claim as our own for when we visit in our old age or our children...
About 1.5 hours and about 6-8km later, the sun was coming up we had enough of the meandering park, had breakfast and checked out of the hotel.
(i know what some of my friends would think, you spent your New York holiday jogging in a park instead of cramming 5th Ave and Madison Ave and more shopping? AND you didnt even go to Woodsburry, the mecca of shopping ? uhmm, in my defense, the shops dont open that early i think, and Woodsburry was too far, really.)
Good Bye New York, it was fun while it lasted. ;)
Another long 264mile drive to Maryland.
29-Aug-08 (Friday)
Met up with E and we drove (ok, HE drove while I gave food, drink and repeated GPS instructions) 299 miles from York, PA to New York City, NY.
We arrived just over 4hr 30min later. Checked in to hotel with little hassle and returned the car.
The first thing that struck us was strong stench of urine EVERYWHERE. I kept reminding E that there are a lot of homeless people and there arent many public toilets available to them, so just deal with it. He wasnt pacified and I could only tell him that Midtown is not representative of the whole NYC (keeping my fingers crossed).
It was almost 11pm on a Friday night and we were too tired to try anything fancy, and settled for a cafe across the hotel after walking several blocks for suitable dining (the only one we really liked, a Thai Restaurant was closed for last order).
Is this a sign for our stay in New York City, the fashion and beauty capital of the world? gulp*
30-Aug-08 (Sat)
We woke up early and started exploring, walking through Central Park to Metropolitan Museum of Art. The entry fee was on donation basis but we paid the recommended price of USD20 per pax. It was not as huge The Lourve, but the interior was build like a maze, designed to enhance the experience of the wondering and meandering goer. But we were there with a mission and limited time, and found ourselves lost more than once.
In the end we covered the Egyptian exhibition (a small consolation to sooth over my distraught for having missed that in The Lourve), Superheroes and Fashion, Arms and Armoury, and ... ... some other stuff. We also had brunch at the cafeteria at the basement level, and saved on tips since it was self-service. :p
Did you know that the bus stops and subway stations in NY was the MOST SUBTLE in such a huge city? There was almost no way to find a subway station unless you were almost right upon it, since they were underground (DUH) and the entrance were only marked with green globe lamp posts and signages below chest level. OR if you had a map and knew EXACTLY where to go (exactly being defined as knowing the intersection of both Street and Avenue).
We wondered around and couldnt find one and needed a break. Decided to walk back to the Museum and try a NY hotdog and it was there that we discovered the topping called Relish (kinda a chopped pickle dip), nice.
We sat at the steps munching dispiritedly while arguing if we should catch a cab. E was too hot to walk but I hazarded a guess that it might cost us US$30+ to get to Greenwich no way I was going to spend that kind of money to ride. I studied the maps that I brought and with luck there was a metro just to the edge of one of them! Annnnd we're off!
After fumbling slightly with the self service ticketing machine, we bought 2 tickets costing US$7 but loaded with 4 trips worth of value (all single trips within NY is US$2 each). We took a copy of the Metro map, and made our way to Greenwich Village.
Now, Greenwich Village is sorta district in NYC and also the site of an open campus of New York Univeristy, with no boundaries or gate saying it so, and we didnt knew that we were in it until we were studying the red brick buildings and tree lined streets. It was time for a break in Dean and Deluca where E pronounced the coffee to be more acceptable than the rest of American so-called-coffee he had been drinking.
We wondered around, stayed for a tap dance and band performance at a local park, looked at wares on display on street carts along the streets, and went to Mary's Fish Camp. OMG, it was before 6pm and there was already a queue of 30pax at the front door. The restaurant starts at 630pm. Thankfully, the seating started 15min into the wait, and we were the 3rd couple in line for the 2nd seating which may be in an hour's time.
So we took the chance to wonder around some more and checked out the stores, including staring at stuff on display in the window of an adult store. There were STUFF!!! But i was too shy to actually walk into one, not to mention BUYING something... :0 I did walk into stores for Juicy Coulture, Marc Jacab but didnt buy anything except small souvenirs for friends and family.
We went back to Mary's Fish Camp and nursed a beer while waiting for our seating. We studied the menu and apparently they are famous for the lobster knuckles and many people also ordered the Lobster roll (essentially lobster in a hotdog roll) with fries... HUH? sheesh... surely you can treat a lobster with more respect...?
At about 8pm we sat down at the counter (no choice available, you take the seat other people has vacanted or be moved down the queue) and ordered raw Malpeque oysters, grilled octopus, a grilled fish and a pan fried trout fillet, plus more beer and wine.
The oysters were fresh but small, I supposed those were local ones (or from nearby). But the octopus was OUT OF THE WORLD! Just the way I liked it in an ideal world, smoky, tender with a bite for chewing. YUM. And true love is when you've finished your share of the dish, your spouse offer you his last bite (without you having to demand/ blatantly hint so) since you enjoyed yours so much. :)
The fish werent spectacular since my Dad fishes, and I've had some really good stuff growing up. But the dish come together fabulously between side, source and fish (no fries anywhere, heh heh). YUM.
We were full and the night is still young by NYC standards, so we decided to drop by Times Square and soak in the atmosphere. The first thing that hits you is the BILLBOARDS, the LIGHTS and then it really hits you (if you are standing still) THE CROWDS!!!
Dropped by Hard Rock Cafe and some stores, but it was overwhelming, to seem to be fighting the stream of crowds coming through from everywhichway. It was time for some snooze in the city that never sleeps.
31-Aug-08 (Sun)
We started with a breakfast near our hotel and took the subway to WhiteHall Ferry Terminal, arriving there before 10am to take the ferry to Staten Island and gaze upon the Statue of Liberty from the ferry, like 95% of the other people in the terminal that day.
Some might feel great emotions upon seeing the Statue, seeing that she is the embodiment of the American dream and promise. Being a Singapore product, I had none of those feelings . But I imagine the millions who traveled long dark weary distance by ship (in those days), and how they may have felt seeing the light (literally a torch) at the end of the tunnel renewing their hopes of a better future for themselves and their family who may follow.
So it was a quick turnaround on Staten Island terminal and back to New York Island.
We walked towards Wall Street and saw the big flag that graced the front of NYSE (knowing little of the turmoil that will befall it with the collaspe of the oldest bank in mere weeks) and other landmarks.
Then E being a great fan of stories and documentaries on the 911, we went to the Tribute Center. It was a small intimate exhibition hall with various parts: the Community (a video presentation), the Passage Through Time (picture time line and artefacts display), Rescue and Recovery (a wall of MISSING PERSON posters, and this was where it hit me hardest. The despair of the family looking for their loved ones, father/ mother/ son/ daughter drove straight into my heart, and i teared many times and could not linger), and Tribute (Photo wall of the victims), and the rebuilding.
E told me that the first time he was there, there were only pictures on the fence surrounding Ground Zero giving the timeline of the day the Twin Towers fell, and the starkness of that display moved him greatly, whilst the Tribute Center seem to him sanitized. I explained to him that the objective of the Tribute Center was above moving on, and helping the people affected to come to closure and have hope again, which in a way was healthier and forward looking. Though I had hope that there would have been more of a coming together of EVERYBODY (instead of just the Americans, whilst the most affected, there were many other nationalities who had suffered together on that fateful day) to condemn the act of violence, be enlighten and vow that they will fight terrorism together.
We walked over to Ground Zero and looked at the construction of the memorial and the new building.
Then wondered along to Century21, which I can only describe as a Mega-Pieces (a shopping outlet of factory overruns in Singapore's Chinatown). There were literally thousands of merchandise, and we were immobilised by the choices. I wanted to get a pair of sun glasses but beat a hasty retreat when confronted by no less than 20 turning shelves crammed with with them. We looked at working shirts for E, but again overwhelming choices paralyzed us and we didnt get anything.
Thirsty and hungry and beaten, we trout out of the mammonth store and headed straight to the first fastfood outlet we saw, Burger Kings. I am ashamed to say we succumbed.
We had enough of downtown New York and wanted to head back to the hotel, but alas! We missed the subway station that we were looking for, and some other stations weren't open on a public holiday. In the end, we took another break at another Dean and Deluca in Borders and went back to the metro at Whitehall terminal.
After refreshing ourselves at the hotel and dressed smartly in casual evening wear, we were ready for one of the highlights of our trip. A broadway show!!!
But we were still very early so we strolled along 5th Avenue, but not into any shops. There was a huge Brazil Day party on 6th Ave/46th Street and we had to detour a long way before getting to Golden Theatre for Avenue Q. By the time we got into the line to get into the theatre, we were hot and thirsty. E was in a souring mood and felt that we were overdressed seeing that there were people who came in polo-shirts and bermudas. Had to calm him down by pointing that there were many well dressed people, and those who were dressed down were not aware of the etiquette.
Thankfully, Ave Q (many thanks to Ting who recommended the show!), a multiple-media musical with actors and muppets soon took our breathes away and had us laughing out loud at its politically incorrect insights to human and monster nature. By the time we left I had a small crush on the lead actor Howie Michael Smith who played Princeton and Rod. (It will be coming to Singapore and you MUST watch it!)
We were immensely satisfied with the show, and wondered around Broadway looking at the theatres and billboards showing MamaMia, Phantom of the Opera, Lion King etc etc, but I was soon tired and hungry, and I wanted to have authenic piece of NY pizza before we left, and we chanced upon World-Famous Original Ray's Pizza, and had 3 slices between the 2 of us. YUM.
We walked back to the hotel to rest, and the crowds didnt look like they needed any.
1-Sept-08 (Mon)
Labour Day Holiday!
We woke up early, changed into our jogging gear and started a slow jog to Central Park with silly grins on our faces, feeling very much like (fake) New Yorkers. Heh.
Starting from Artists' Gate, E was roaring to go as he had missed his work outs over the last 2-3 weeks from work. But unfit as I was, he had to shuffle at my speed which he declared to be a stroll. pout*
But Central Park was glorious in the early morning, there was smell of green and earth, and lots of people running, cycling and roller-blading. There were also horse carriage rides available at US$30 but it would have been ridiculous riding one in our jogging gear.
I was hoping to come across the Alice in Wonderland Sculpture but instead we came upon the Strawberry Fields (a tribute to John Lennon), Belverdere Castle, Delacorte Theatre, Heckscher's Ballfield and Playground, The Mall, some memorial to the soldiers who had fallen in the World War 1, the Childrens zoo and benches with names of people who had donated money to restore the park. I thought about how wonderful it would have been to have a bench to claim as our own for when we visit in our old age or our children...
About 1.5 hours and about 6-8km later, the sun was coming up we had enough of the meandering park, had breakfast and checked out of the hotel.
(i know what some of my friends would think, you spent your New York holiday jogging in a park instead of cramming 5th Ave and Madison Ave and more shopping? AND you didnt even go to Woodsburry, the mecca of shopping ? uhmm, in my defense, the shops dont open that early i think, and Woodsburry was too far, really.)
Good Bye New York, it was fun while it lasted. ;)
Another long 264mile drive to Maryland.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Still flying
lots of people got out at Moscow and not many checkin from Moscow to Houston. I choped an empty row and took the middle seat in case somebody wants to share.
Ahhhh... to stretch out over three seats, 3 pillows and 3 blankets to make myself comfortable. Well, as comfortable as sleeping coach class over a row of air plane seats is possible.
I have watched so many movies this trip, even some that i didnt want to watch...
The Queen
Los Managers (Spanish)
The Clown and the King (Korean)
The Taste of Fish (Japanese)
Playboy Cops (Cantonese)
I can only pray that my return trip in Sept will see NEW movie list.
Failing that, I will just get drunk.
Ahhhh... to stretch out over three seats, 3 pillows and 3 blankets to make myself comfortable. Well, as comfortable as sleeping coach class over a row of air plane seats is possible.
I have watched so many movies this trip, even some that i didnt want to watch...
The Queen
Los Managers (Spanish)
The Clown and the King (Korean)
The Taste of Fish (Japanese)
Playboy Cops (Cantonese)
I can only pray that my return trip in Sept will see NEW movie list.
Failing that, I will just get drunk.
Labels: to Travel
Friday, August 29, 2008
Transit at Moscow
Retyped from written notes dated 28-8-08 2pm Singapore Time
After over 12 hours of butt numbing flight from Singapore, I am now in the transit lounge in Moscow.
The mobile network on my phone says MTS-RUS.
All airports look the same: Duty free liquor cosmestics and perfume, F&B of undeterminable quality with either generic names (Ah Yeung's Oriental) or some fast food chain at inflated prices.
Wanted to buy russian dolls (those with smaller ones hidden one and another) for the kids, but the ones they have hide chocolate instead. DUH
The Russian script brought back memories of somebody a long time ago...
We are boarding.
Another 11hours to Houston, and then 2 domestic flights.
I'm not looking forward to it.
Thank goodness for Krisworld. How fortunate the air crew of today to have an electronic nanny to keep their passengers docile and undemanding...
After over 12 hours of butt numbing flight from Singapore, I am now in the transit lounge in Moscow.
The mobile network on my phone says MTS-RUS.
All airports look the same: Duty free liquor cosmestics and perfume, F&B of undeterminable quality with either generic names (Ah Yeung's Oriental) or some fast food chain at inflated prices.
Wanted to buy russian dolls (those with smaller ones hidden one and another) for the kids, but the ones they have hide chocolate instead. DUH
The Russian script brought back memories of somebody a long time ago...
We are boarding.
Another 11hours to Houston, and then 2 domestic flights.
I'm not looking forward to it.
Thank goodness for Krisworld. How fortunate the air crew of today to have an electronic nanny to keep their passengers docile and undemanding...
Labels: to Travel
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Blogging at Changi Airport
It is now 12:15am.
I have arrived at the airport and checked in more than 2 hours before my flight time.
Uncharacteristically if I may add, having since developed the very efficient habit of arriving at the airport JIT for check-in and to gate from many years of business travel. (what romance of travel?)
BUT I am on holiday now, plus I wanted to beat the 50% midnight surcharge.
T2 is quiet and all the shops at the public access areas are closed. There is no queue anywhere, even SQ check-in counters at row 9 is closed. There is no queue at the free internet kiosks too.
Some of the things I'm looking forward to are:
New York : A run in Central Park, Avenue Q Broadway Show, Times Square, Greenwich, Metropolitan Musuem, Ground Zero
San Francisco : Alcartraz, Fisherman's wharf, China Town, Good Food
I've come prepared, surviving on little sleep over the last few nights (so that maybe, just maybe, I'll catch some on the plane), and little food so that I will adjust to the new time zone by eating well there.
Dear Friends, wish me safe and fun travel. And you take care till my next blog.
I have arrived at the airport and checked in more than 2 hours before my flight time.
Uncharacteristically if I may add, having since developed the very efficient habit of arriving at the airport JIT for check-in and to gate from many years of business travel. (what romance of travel?)
BUT I am on holiday now, plus I wanted to beat the 50% midnight surcharge.
T2 is quiet and all the shops at the public access areas are closed. There is no queue anywhere, even SQ check-in counters at row 9 is closed. There is no queue at the free internet kiosks too.
I will be joining E in USA to visit New York and San Francisco.
Some of the things I'm looking forward to are:
New York : A run in Central Park, Avenue Q Broadway Show, Times Square, Greenwich, Metropolitan Musuem, Ground Zero
San Francisco : Alcartraz, Fisherman's wharf, China Town, Good Food
And most of all, time with E. :o
But I'm not relishing the 1st leg of my travel which will take me 35 hours and 5 airports to get to the first destination. GULP*I've come prepared, surviving on little sleep over the last few nights (so that maybe, just maybe, I'll catch some on the plane), and little food so that I will adjust to the new time zone by eating well there.
Dear Friends, wish me safe and fun travel. And you take care till my next blog.
Labels: to Travel
Friday, August 15, 2008
not a happy blogger
Sorry for the lack of posts...
Will be going to New York and San Francisco at the end of the month.
so apart from compulsively solving every Sudoku puzzle i've come across since the first, AND
Doing tons of research, buying tickets, booking hotel, checking route for itinerary re NY and SF etc AND
working and traveling for business at the same time AND
watching too much Olympics action on TV (is Michael Phelps human? Oh NO! Federer crashed out? China dominates in Diving & Gymnastics. Korea dominance in Archery. Tao Li being the first Singaporean to swim in an Olympic final. Singapore Women Team table tennis guaranteed a Silver, the first medal for the country in 48 years. And the Track & Field has just started) AND
nursing a bad back (too much hunching over the keyboard)
does not a happy blogger make.
To make things worst, the stock market has nosedived and the last time i took a peek, i've lost quite a few (more than a couple) of LV bags' worth, so no shopping for me this trip.
BUT i will be planning a run in Central Park (free), walking around Times Square, Chelsea, Soho, a Broadway show (discounted tickets), China Town and a evening tour to Alcatraz (no discount but no choice).
gotta chin-up and cheer-up.
Will be going to New York and San Francisco at the end of the month.
so apart from compulsively solving every Sudoku puzzle i've come across since the first, AND
Doing tons of research, buying tickets, booking hotel, checking route for itinerary re NY and SF etc AND
working and traveling for business at the same time AND
watching too much Olympics action on TV (is Michael Phelps human? Oh NO! Federer crashed out? China dominates in Diving & Gymnastics. Korea dominance in Archery. Tao Li being the first Singaporean to swim in an Olympic final. Singapore Women Team table tennis guaranteed a Silver, the first medal for the country in 48 years. And the Track & Field has just started) AND
nursing a bad back (too much hunching over the keyboard)
does not a happy blogger make.
To make things worst, the stock market has nosedived and the last time i took a peek, i've lost quite a few (more than a couple) of LV bags' worth, so no shopping for me this trip.
BUT i will be planning a run in Central Park (free), walking around Times Square, Chelsea, Soho, a Broadway show (discounted tickets), China Town and a evening tour to Alcatraz (no discount but no choice).
gotta chin-up and cheer-up.
Labels: to Travel
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
The worst travelling day
The worst travel itinery ever:
SINGAPORE CHANG SQ 0102 Y 03APR 0710 KUALA LUMPUR 0805
KLIA 0830 KL OFFICE 0930
KL OFFICE 1500 KLIA 1545
KUALA LUMPUR SQ 0113 Y 03APR 1655 SINGAPORE 1750
SINGAPORE CHANG SQ 0626 Y 03APR 1935 BKK SUVARNABHUM ARRIVAL TIME: 2100
BKK AIRPORT 2130 HOTEL 2230
yup, allllll in the same day 3 Apr 08
i'm so glad it's over, but my body has broken down too.
SINGAPORE CHANG SQ 0102 Y 03APR 0710 KUALA LUMPUR 0805
KLIA 0830 KL OFFICE 0930
KL OFFICE 1500 KLIA 1545
KUALA LUMPUR SQ 0113 Y 03APR 1655 SINGAPORE 1750
SINGAPORE CHANG SQ 0626 Y 03APR 1935 BKK SUVARNABHUM ARRIVAL TIME: 2100
BKK AIRPORT 2130 HOTEL 2230
yup, allllll in the same day 3 Apr 08
i'm so glad it's over, but my body has broken down too.
Labels: to Travel
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Lights out in the city
Was out for a 2 days 1 night work trip to KL, and had to put up at the hotel where Hard Rock is located.
After an early morning 4 hours drive from Singapore to KL (my colleague the F1 aspirant), full day of meeting and salted egg yolk crab dinner, I checked in to the executive suite at 930pm. I relaxed for awhile watching TV, and then decided to take a shower before working on the next day's meeting.
I took off my clothes to head to the shower stall, but decided to go to the toilet first. Just as I sat down, I heard a loud boom and then it was BLACKOUT!
I was in the inner-most part of my room, with no windows, doors closed and it was PITCH BLACK! ARGHHHH!!!
I could only pray it WAS a black out.
I hurriedly stretched out my hands to touch and open the glass door to the toilet stall, then gather my clothes from the floor and wore the oversized t-shirt top before proceeding to open the wooden door into the main room, but ARGHHH!!! I touched something soft! YEEKS!
ok, ok, it is soft and fluffy, it's alright. it was the bath robe that i've hung behind the door. OK, wear it.
More hand stretching to the wooden sliding door to the bedroom.
ah. finally i can see faint outlines. there were no tall buildings across my room to throw lights in.
I bumped into the bed, where i stretched for my handphone. SAVED! switch handphone to lights mode.
There is a light at the main door, must be the emergency light. where is the torch light that should be near the main door (of most major hotels that i've been to)? ARGH, no torch light.
I took a peek into the corridor, the lifts were still working, and only alternate lights at the corridor ceiling were on.
Called the housekeeper.
"Hello, this is J calling from Room # 17**"
" Yes, Ms. J"
"The power in my room is out!"
" Yes, Ms. J, we are checking on it"
"Is it just me, or the whole floor?"
"No, Ms. J, it is the WHOLE HOTEL"
pause.
"In fact, it is the whole road"
"Even the Hard Rock Cafe?"
" Yes, mdm"
"How long is it going to be? an hour?"
"We hope not, but we don't know, we are still checking"
"errr... ok."
"Good night mdm" Wah, damn steady.
10 minutes later, I was cradling my handphone and staring at the battery indicator, DING-DONG. A hotel staff brought me a torchlight.
No aircon, no hot water, no shower, no internet, nada.
I crept to bed and tried to sleep.
BOOM!
1:30am. it was lights on again, blowing out the 2 light bulbs at the bedside in the process. But I was too tired to turn out the remaining lights before falling asleep again. Besides, there was no guarantee that they will come on again after I turned them off, right?
At least the toilet lights were on the next morning.
I checked out in haste and tried to wrangle a discount from the hotel staff. Fat chance.
No more Concorde KL for me next time. First and last.
After an early morning 4 hours drive from Singapore to KL (my colleague the F1 aspirant), full day of meeting and salted egg yolk crab dinner, I checked in to the executive suite at 930pm. I relaxed for awhile watching TV, and then decided to take a shower before working on the next day's meeting.
I took off my clothes to head to the shower stall, but decided to go to the toilet first. Just as I sat down, I heard a loud boom and then it was BLACKOUT!I was in the inner-most part of my room, with no windows, doors closed and it was PITCH BLACK! ARGHHHH!!!
I could only pray it WAS a black out.
I hurriedly stretched out my hands to touch and open the glass door to the toilet stall, then gather my clothes from the floor and wore the oversized t-shirt top before proceeding to open the wooden door into the main room, but ARGHHH!!! I touched something soft! YEEKS!
ok, ok, it is soft and fluffy, it's alright. it was the bath robe that i've hung behind the door. OK, wear it.
More hand stretching to the wooden sliding door to the bedroom.
ah. finally i can see faint outlines. there were no tall buildings across my room to throw lights in.
I bumped into the bed, where i stretched for my handphone. SAVED! switch handphone to lights mode.
There is a light at the main door, must be the emergency light. where is the torch light that should be near the main door (of most major hotels that i've been to)? ARGH, no torch light.
I took a peek into the corridor, the lifts were still working, and only alternate lights at the corridor ceiling were on.
Called the housekeeper.
"Hello, this is J calling from Room # 17**"
" Yes, Ms. J"
"The power in my room is out!"
" Yes, Ms. J, we are checking on it"
"Is it just me, or the whole floor?"
"No, Ms. J, it is the WHOLE HOTEL"
pause.
"In fact, it is the whole road"
"Even the Hard Rock Cafe?"
" Yes, mdm"
"How long is it going to be? an hour?"
"We hope not, but we don't know, we are still checking"
"errr... ok."
"Good night mdm" Wah, damn steady.
10 minutes later, I was cradling my handphone and staring at the battery indicator, DING-DONG. A hotel staff brought me a torchlight.
No aircon, no hot water, no shower, no internet, nada.
I crept to bed and tried to sleep.
BOOM!
1:30am. it was lights on again, blowing out the 2 light bulbs at the bedside in the process. But I was too tired to turn out the remaining lights before falling asleep again. Besides, there was no guarantee that they will come on again after I turned them off, right?
At least the toilet lights were on the next morning.
I checked out in haste and tried to wrangle a discount from the hotel staff. Fat chance.
No more Concorde KL for me next time. First and last.
Labels: to Travel
Friday, December 28, 2007
Korea 13 ~ 20 Dec 2007 itinery (1st draft)
13 Dec 07 Singapore - Incheon - Ski Resort
Arrival in Seoul
Everland
Lunch at Everland
Muju Ski Resort
Rent Ski clothings and googles
Steamboat Dinner
Snow flakes!
14 Dec 07 - Ski Resort
Gondola Ride
Ski lessons
Managed to walk uphill and ski down
It is harder than it looks, and I can't get up after falling down
It is more tiring than it looks, what are all these parts that are hurting?
Snow fight
Another Steamboat Dinner
15 Dec 07 - Daegu
SNOW! not just snow flakes, white billowy snow falling from the sky!
Sangsoo's Herbland
eccentric president... funny ha-ha and funny hmmm
Flower lunch
Jungangro Street shopping center.
Daegu Spa Valley
Outdoor spa area, body scrub, doctor fish
16 Dec 07 - Daegu -Jeju Island
Donghwa Temple
Jeju Folk Village where Da Chang Jin was filmed
Mysterous Road
Things and Car (in neutral gear) rolling UPWARDS? illusions my friend.
Ginseng Chicken dinner.
Do you know how to eat it correctly?
17 Dec 07 - Jeju Island - Seoul
Sungsan Ilchulbong peak
BBQ pork lunch
Tangerine Farm
Pick and eat all you want!
ATV ride
i can't really hold the handle and reach the acceleration at the same time, the helmet was too big, the gloves had holes in them, but what a ride! woo-hoo!
BBQ Pork dinner, same but different
18 Dec 07 - Seoul
Ginseng show room
Amethyst Factory
Kimchi Making
Changduk Palace
Nami Island where Winter Sonata was filmed.
Beautiful and arty honeymoon island
Coex mall
Lotteworld Adventure
all the rides shut down for "that" laser show? sheesh
19 Dec 07 Seoul - Incheon - Singapore
冬虫夏草
Duty free shopping. Korea GST 10% hor!
US$5 per picture
4000 won per day per person for guide
S$2 per day per person for tour leader
20 Dec 07
Arrived home to taxi fare increase... bleah...
Arrival in Seoul
Everland
Lunch at Everland
Muju Ski Resort
Rent Ski clothings and googles
Steamboat Dinner
Snow flakes!
14 Dec 07 - Ski Resort
Gondola Ride
Ski lessons
Managed to walk uphill and ski down
It is harder than it looks, and I can't get up after falling down
It is more tiring than it looks, what are all these parts that are hurting?
Snow fight
Another Steamboat Dinner
15 Dec 07 - Daegu
SNOW! not just snow flakes, white billowy snow falling from the sky!
Sangsoo's Herbland
eccentric president... funny ha-ha and funny hmmm
Flower lunch
Jungangro Street shopping center.
Daegu Spa Valley
Outdoor spa area, body scrub, doctor fish
16 Dec 07 - Daegu -Jeju Island
Donghwa Temple
Jeju Folk Village where Da Chang Jin was filmed
Mysterous Road
Things and Car (in neutral gear) rolling UPWARDS? illusions my friend.
Ginseng Chicken dinner.
Do you know how to eat it correctly?
17 Dec 07 - Jeju Island - Seoul
Sungsan Ilchulbong peak
BBQ pork lunch
Tangerine Farm
Pick and eat all you want!
ATV ride
i can't really hold the handle and reach the acceleration at the same time, the helmet was too big, the gloves had holes in them, but what a ride! woo-hoo!
BBQ Pork dinner, same but different
18 Dec 07 - Seoul
Ginseng show room
Amethyst Factory
Kimchi Making
Changduk Palace
Nami Island where Winter Sonata was filmed.
Beautiful and arty honeymoon island
Coex mall
Lotteworld Adventure
all the rides shut down for "that" laser show? sheesh
19 Dec 07 Seoul - Incheon - Singapore
冬虫夏草
Duty free shopping. Korea GST 10% hor!
US$5 per picture
4000 won per day per person for guide
S$2 per day per person for tour leader
20 Dec 07
Arrived home to taxi fare increase... bleah...
Labels: to Travel
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Korea 13 ~ 20 Dec 2007
It was THE MOST TIRING trip I have ever taking in my life.
Hubby, me, 2 girls + parents.
In WINTER...
Just bringing the girls to toilet required the patience of a saint:
1. Squeeze all 3 of us into a tiny toilet stall. (i kid you not, there is NO CLEARANCE SPACE between the toilet bowl and the door, you have to side-step somewhere else when inside the toilet stall before attempting to close the door, or risk the door sweeping someone into the toilet bowl.)
2. Remove my gloves.
2. Wipe clean toilet bowl.
3. Remove mittens, stuff them into parka shell pockets, unzip parka shell, unzip fleece jacket, hold up long-sleeve sweater, hold up long john top, unzip and pull down pants, pull down long john bottom, pull down undie
4. Hoist kid up toilet bowl and wait for her to complete business (what? you thought i was talking about myself? LOL)
5. Clean kid's bottom
6. Hoist kid off toilet bowl
7. Pull up undie, pull up long john bottom, pull down long long top, stuff long john top into long john bottom, pull down long-sleeve sweater, pull up pants and zip, zip fleece jacket, zip parka shell.
8. Repeat 3-7 for Kid number 2
9. Repeat 4,5 & 7 for myself since i'm tall enough for the toilet bowl. TQ very much.
9. flush toilet
10. Hoist Kid #1 to washing basin to wash hands with soap in freezing cold water
11. Repeat 10 for Kid # 2
12. Wash my own hands with soap.
13. Dry all hands with paper towel or hand dryer
14. Wear mittens for Kid # 1
15. Repeat 14 for Kid # 2
16. Wear my own gloves.
And that only for sitting toilet bowls in the more modern facilities... Imaging the acrobatic requirements for a squatting toilet required to maneouvre a kid over... and i did, several times, and once for the biggie.
There are AT LEAST 5 rest stops per day.
over officially 6 days of full itinery.
I'm seriously tired.
Trip report later.
if i sufficiently recover.
Hubby, me, 2 girls + parents.
In WINTER...
Just bringing the girls to toilet required the patience of a saint:
1. Squeeze all 3 of us into a tiny toilet stall. (i kid you not, there is NO CLEARANCE SPACE between the toilet bowl and the door, you have to side-step somewhere else when inside the toilet stall before attempting to close the door, or risk the door sweeping someone into the toilet bowl.)
2. Remove my gloves.
2. Wipe clean toilet bowl.
3. Remove mittens, stuff them into parka shell pockets, unzip parka shell, unzip fleece jacket, hold up long-sleeve sweater, hold up long john top, unzip and pull down pants, pull down long john bottom, pull down undie
4. Hoist kid up toilet bowl and wait for her to complete business (what? you thought i was talking about myself? LOL)
5. Clean kid's bottom
6. Hoist kid off toilet bowl
7. Pull up undie, pull up long john bottom, pull down long long top, stuff long john top into long john bottom, pull down long-sleeve sweater, pull up pants and zip, zip fleece jacket, zip parka shell.
8. Repeat 3-7 for Kid number 2
9. Repeat 4,5 & 7 for myself since i'm tall enough for the toilet bowl. TQ very much.
9. flush toilet
10. Hoist Kid #1 to washing basin to wash hands with soap in freezing cold water
11. Repeat 10 for Kid # 2
12. Wash my own hands with soap.
13. Dry all hands with paper towel or hand dryer
14. Wear mittens for Kid # 1
15. Repeat 14 for Kid # 2
16. Wear my own gloves.
And that only for sitting toilet bowls in the more modern facilities... Imaging the acrobatic requirements for a squatting toilet required to maneouvre a kid over... and i did, several times, and once for the biggie.
There are AT LEAST 5 rest stops per day.
over officially 6 days of full itinery.
I'm seriously tired.
Trip report later.
if i sufficiently recover.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Ghostly encounters
OK, it is just past Mid-Autumn festival, so it is definitely not 7th lunar month now for ghost stories.
But 2 encounters from people i know and trust is too much.
.......................................................................................................
1. BB's account
Location : New World Hotel HCM Vietnam (yup, the one that has the Ipanima store)
Date : smack in the middle of 7th lunar month
Had 1 beer during dinner and 1 wine at after dinner chit-chat. Showered and per habits left the bar of soap on floor of bath tub. Switched off all lights before sleep. (no master control, all switches manual)
Woken up by slamming noises in toilet at 5am.
Slamming noises too loud to be from next rooms, sat up on bed to realise that the lights in the toilet is ON?!
Multiple flushing sound in the toilet.
Too scared to go into the toilet to check, but after about 10 mins the noises stopped and the lights went off!
When the sun was up, finally went to the toilet to check. There is no way to on/off the light except by flicking the manual switch up/ down... and the bar of soap is placed nicely in the soap dish.
ARGH.
Changed room. Different floor, different unit number.
The next night in the new room was all right, mostly because had heavy drinking session with customers and knocked out from both exhaustion and effects of alcohol.
The 3rd night light drinking during dinner. Busy conference call till late and slept only at 2am.
Again woke up by flushing sounds in the toilet at 5am+
Foolhardy courage led to rush into toilet to check.
No lights.
No water moving the toilet bowl.
Removed cistern cover to check, the water tank is empty and water is FILLING UP!
ARGH!!!
................................................................................................
2. Viny's Account
Location : new Jurong HDB flat that he's lived in a couple of years
Date : recent
Alone in the flat watching DVDs. Windows closed with aircon on.
Without warning, the STEEL Door of bomb shelter started swaying back and forth.
ARGH!!!
...............................................................................................
whilst it is true that 平日不做亏心事, 半夜敲门也不惊
I'll rather not have any unexplained phenomenons / paranormal activities occur to me
Once is really quite enough.
ARRGGHHH!
But 2 encounters from people i know and trust is too much.
.......................................................................................................
1. BB's account
Location : New World Hotel HCM Vietnam (yup, the one that has the Ipanima store)
Date : smack in the middle of 7th lunar month
Had 1 beer during dinner and 1 wine at after dinner chit-chat. Showered and per habits left the bar of soap on floor of bath tub. Switched off all lights before sleep. (no master control, all switches manual)
Woken up by slamming noises in toilet at 5am.
Slamming noises too loud to be from next rooms, sat up on bed to realise that the lights in the toilet is ON?!
Multiple flushing sound in the toilet.
Too scared to go into the toilet to check, but after about 10 mins the noises stopped and the lights went off!
When the sun was up, finally went to the toilet to check. There is no way to on/off the light except by flicking the manual switch up/ down... and the bar of soap is placed nicely in the soap dish.
ARGH.
Changed room. Different floor, different unit number.
The next night in the new room was all right, mostly because had heavy drinking session with customers and knocked out from both exhaustion and effects of alcohol.
The 3rd night light drinking during dinner. Busy conference call till late and slept only at 2am.
Again woke up by flushing sounds in the toilet at 5am+
Foolhardy courage led to rush into toilet to check.
No lights.
No water moving the toilet bowl.
Removed cistern cover to check, the water tank is empty and water is FILLING UP!
ARGH!!!
................................................................................................
2. Viny's Account
Location : new Jurong HDB flat that he's lived in a couple of years
Date : recent
Alone in the flat watching DVDs. Windows closed with aircon on.
Without warning, the STEEL Door of bomb shelter started swaying back and forth.
ARGH!!!
...............................................................................................
whilst it is true that 平日不做亏心事, 半夜敲门也不惊
I'll rather not have any unexplained phenomenons / paranormal activities occur to me
Once is really quite enough.
ARRGGHHH!
Labels: to Read Think, to Travel
Monday, August 13, 2007
More travelling - Aug 07
It feels like I have barely recovered from Jul 07 and I am now going away for more days.
Bangkok 14-16 Aug 07
Ho Chi Minh - 21-24 Aug 07
Bangkok 14-16 Aug 07
Ho Chi Minh - 21-24 Aug 07
Labels: to Travel
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Paris 20 ~ 24 Jul 07 - Itinerary
Ok, been struggling to come out with a linear blog about my trip to Paris, but realised that the whole thing is way too complicated to blog that way.
I mean, the many places we visited, the sights, the people, the sounds, the fear (of having to speak french, meeting THE rude parisian, and being pick-pocketed), the smells (mostly of urine), the ART, the old buildingssss.
and i'm not one who posts picture-blogs. First of all, we didnt take thaaat many, and even less with none of us in them, and mostly because, I suck at photoshop. hehe.
SO, what i'm going to do, is blog in instalments. The first:
THE ITINERARY (if you are interested with the linear travels, sights/ places in orange)
Day 0 – 19th July 2007, Saturday
Dinner and said good-byes to kiddies
Departed from Changi 11pm
Day 1 – 20th July 2007, Friday. Windy and Sunny
Arrived CDG 640am (!)
Met E almost 9am coming from Nantes via domestic at CDG
Information Counter not equals Tourist Information Counter
RER B line was down due to “accident” (and I thought it was another infamous strike in Paris…)
Caught a cab at T1 which cost E47.30 for less than 30min ride to Hotel des Tricollege
Checked in no fuss
Notre Dame
Went to Ile Saint Louis Berthillon for lunch and apricot ice cream
Pont Saint-Louis
Center Pompidou
Ed’s mini-supermarket
Notre Dame Tower
Nutella Banana Crepe along river Seine
The Lourve : Mona Lisa!
Seine River Cruise
Day 2 - 21st July 2007, Saturday. Windy and Sunny
St Supice (one tower under renovation)
Orsay Musuem
Lunch in Orsay Musuem Café
Tulille Garden
Orangee Museum
Bought Metro Carnet tickets. E11.10 for 10 instead of E1.50 each
Arch De Triumph
Eiffel Tower 2 hour wait to get buy tickets! Queue Cutting!
Line closed for the night
Bus
Salad dinner from Quality Burger
Day 3 – 22nd July 2007, Sunday. Windy and Sunny
Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basilique du Sacré-Cœur)
Artist square of Montmartre
Dali Museum
Brunch near Jewish Quarter
?? Hotel, nice garden but to use the toilet mostly
Jewish Quarter
Moulin Rouge
Forum des Halles
L'église Saint-Eustache
My first and as it turned out, ONLY Kir Royale
Dinner from Quality Burger again, but we were too tired to eat and had the food for breakfast the next day
Day 4 – 23rd July 2007, Monday. Cloudy and Light Showers
Chinatown for lunch
Champ Elysees
LV main store
Monoprix
Galary Lafayette
Dinner Le Cosi- Foie Gras!
Day 5 – 24th July 2007, Tuesday, Cloudy and Light Showers
Shuttle pickup right on time
游车河 as we traipse across town to pick up another 2 fares
VAT refund is for cash refund only
Customs office is the right place for the chop
Mail box slot (95)
Flight back at 12 noon
Day 6 – 25th July 2007, Wednesday, Cloudy
Arrived Singapore 7am having stayed awake the whole return flight for movies
Knocked out till 3:00pm. boy are we going to be so jetlagged tonight.
Went for Harry Potter 5 at 4:40pm.
End of holidays.
I mean, the many places we visited, the sights, the people, the sounds, the fear (of having to speak french, meeting THE rude parisian, and being pick-pocketed), the smells (mostly of urine), the ART, the old buildingssss.
and i'm not one who posts picture-blogs. First of all, we didnt take thaaat many, and even less with none of us in them, and mostly because, I suck at photoshop. hehe.
SO, what i'm going to do, is blog in instalments. The first:
THE ITINERARY (if you are interested with the linear travels, sights/ places in orange)
Day 0 – 19th July 2007, Saturday
Dinner and said good-byes to kiddies
Departed from Changi 11pm
Day 1 – 20th July 2007, Friday. Windy and Sunny
Arrived CDG 640am (!)
Met E almost 9am coming from Nantes via domestic at CDG
Information Counter not equals Tourist Information Counter
RER B line was down due to “accident” (and I thought it was another infamous strike in Paris…)
Caught a cab at T1 which cost E47.30 for less than 30min ride to Hotel des Tricollege
Checked in no fuss
Notre Dame
Went to Ile Saint Louis Berthillon for lunch and apricot ice cream
Pont Saint-Louis
Center Pompidou
Ed’s mini-supermarket
Notre Dame Tower
Nutella Banana Crepe along river Seine
The Lourve : Mona Lisa!
Seine River Cruise
Day 2 - 21st July 2007, Saturday. Windy and Sunny
St Supice (one tower under renovation)
Orsay Musuem
Lunch in Orsay Musuem Café
Tulille Garden
Orangee Museum
Bought Metro Carnet tickets. E11.10 for 10 instead of E1.50 each
Arch De Triumph
Eiffel Tower 2 hour wait to get buy tickets! Queue Cutting!
Line closed for the night
Bus
Salad dinner from Quality Burger
Day 3 – 22nd July 2007, Sunday. Windy and Sunny
Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basilique du Sacré-Cœur)
Artist square of Montmartre
Dali Museum
Brunch near Jewish Quarter
?? Hotel, nice garden but to use the toilet mostly
Jewish Quarter
Moulin Rouge
Forum des Halles
L'église Saint-Eustache
My first and as it turned out, ONLY Kir Royale
Dinner from Quality Burger again, but we were too tired to eat and had the food for breakfast the next day
Day 4 – 23rd July 2007, Monday. Cloudy and Light Showers
Chinatown for lunch
Champ Elysees
LV main store
Monoprix
Galary Lafayette
Dinner Le Cosi- Foie Gras!
Day 5 – 24th July 2007, Tuesday, Cloudy and Light Showers
Shuttle pickup right on time
游车河 as we traipse across town to pick up another 2 fares
VAT refund is for cash refund only
Customs office is the right place for the chop
Mail box slot (95)
Flight back at 12 noon
Day 6 – 25th July 2007, Wednesday, Cloudy
Arrived Singapore 7am having stayed awake the whole return flight for movies
Knocked out till 3:00pm. boy are we going to be so jetlagged tonight.
Went for Harry Potter 5 at 4:40pm.
End of holidays.
Labels: to Travel
Friday, July 27, 2007
i'm back!
(thank you for the well wishes, CB and DK...)
Pah-ree was interesting, but a very tiring trip.
Mentally :- speaking french, the cultural difference, the worrying about pickpockets, the "queueing" system, the planning of the itinery (while E just asked now go where?)
Physically :- A lot of walking, we estimate 14km on the first, 12km, 10km and 6km over the 4 days. Not to mention the STAIRS!
it was mostly fun over the 4 days
an learning experience.
Though i suspect we'll not return.
Loooong posts coming up. :)
Pah-ree was interesting, but a very tiring trip.
Mentally :- speaking french, the cultural difference, the worrying about pickpockets, the "queueing" system, the planning of the itinery (while E just asked now go where?)
Physically :- A lot of walking, we estimate 14km on the first, 12km, 10km and 6km over the 4 days. Not to mention the STAIRS!
it was mostly fun over the 4 days
an learning experience.
Though i suspect we'll not return.
Loooong posts coming up. :)
Labels: to Travel
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Paris 19 ~ 25 Jul 07
Okay, am off tonight to Paris 11pm flight, arriving 7am 20-jul
leaving 12noon flight on 24-jul, touch down changi 25-jul
giving me about 4 full days and nights in Paris.
am excited. very much so.
very different from the jaded work-related travel, repeat visits to the same country, or short getaways to the region.
wish me luck and safe journey.
and wait for my report and whatever photos i might upload (though you really dont read this blog for my pictures, do you? if you do... ahh... ermmm.... LOL)
leaving 12noon flight on 24-jul, touch down changi 25-jul
giving me about 4 full days and nights in Paris.
am excited. very much so.
very different from the jaded work-related travel, repeat visits to the same country, or short getaways to the region.
wish me luck and safe journey.
and wait for my report and whatever photos i might upload (though you really dont read this blog for my pictures, do you? if you do... ahh... ermmm.... LOL)
Labels: to Travel
Friday, July 13, 2007
Paris 20 ~ 24 Jul 07
Tickets issued.
Hotel booked and confirmed.
practicing French word and phrases
planning musuem - monuments - dining itiniery
cant wait.
Hotel booked and confirmed.
practicing French word and phrases
planning musuem - monuments - dining itiniery
cant wait.
Labels: to Travel
Tomorrow in Thai
Arrived on the first night to a letter slipped under the hotel room door which read:
Dear Guest:
In our constant efforts to improve guest services we are currently
upgrading our in-house entertainment to 34 TV channels for your better viewing
pleasure.
Due to some unexpected technical challenges we regret to inform you that
only a few Thai channels will be available from now until tomorrow
afternoon.
We regret any inconveniences this may cause and sincerely apologise for
that.
Sincerely,
Hotel Management
Note that:
1. There is no date on the letter
2. It mentions only a few Thai Channels until TOMORROW AFTERNOON
- i am still undecided if they imply things will change after tomorrow afternoon with more channels available, or it is meant to be vague and therefore hopeful?
3. The letter is signed off by the Hotel Management, NO NAME, NO POSITION
- Nobody will be taking responsibility for the accuracy of the letter or have a loss of face due to it.
So what actually happened in the 5 days we were there:
- The TV set in my room had a few Thai Channels, including 1 with movies dubbed in Thai, and also 2 English channels in my room, 1 was ESPN and the other happily a cabled Movie channel!
- One colleague had the Thai Channels and only the ESPN
- Another colleague had only snowy Thai Channels
.
.
.
.
We found out belatedly that the letter was made into a huge laminated signboard of A0 size and displayed in a corner of the hotel lobby
傻眼
Bangkok 2~6 Jul 07
The most depressing work trip so far.
Day 1
Second flight out on Monday morn (only becos we couldnt get confirmed seats on the first flight)
Airplane meal
straight to office
meeting
work
tarpao lunch
work
tarpao dinner
1030pm, checkin to hotel
Day 2
Breakfast in hotel
office
work
tarpao lunch
work
tarpao dinner
10pm left office
Day 3
Breakfast in hotel
office
work
tarpao lunch
work
Dinner at seafood place near office - finally something decent and ONLY becos BOSS is finally in town:
- fried squid coated in salted egg yolk;
- pre-peeled crabs with just enough shell for holding onto the piece, including the legs
- oyster egg
- very spicy tom yam soup (both the clear version and more traditional version with coconut milk)
- Otah in square banana-leaf containers
- very crispy deep fried local fish
- very fresh coconut juice
back to office for work (ah... the price we pay for not tarpao'ing dinner)
1130pm back to hotel
Day 4
Breakfast in hotel complete with meeting with BOSS
Meeting with Sales Dept
Lunch at MK Gold (the more upscale version of MK the steamboat place) Esplanade (the newest shopping center near office)
More Meeting
Dinner at Ping Sharksfin Restaurant, my first!
- Sharksfin in claypot (so-so, perhaps because we ordered the smallest and cheapest at THB500 per pax)
- VERY GOOD fried fish maw with prawn, HEAVENLY
- GOOD goose web with kway teow
- VERY GOOD Abalone rice (half a piece of braised abalone on rice)
- FANTASTIC coconut jelly (made with coconut juice) in coconut fruit
- GOOD sesame dumpling in ginger tea
I suppose this dinner is worth allllll the disappointment of the tarpao food we had over the last 3 days. The meal for 6 pp came up to THB10,000 before VIP 10% discount. VERY expensive in BKK standards
Heavy drinking session at KTV... 'nuff said.
Day 5
Breakfast at hotel
BOSS down with food poisoning, left to hold the fort in meeting
tarpao lunch
check out
rush to airport
used the diplomatic lane for immigration with my TLM silver card and saved at least 20min
rushed for a 45min shoulder massage which was half pien-jiat by the therapist. But no fish prawn also good.
Made it just in time for the flight
Airplane meal
Reached home 11pm.
Day 1
Second flight out on Monday morn (only becos we couldnt get confirmed seats on the first flight)
Airplane meal
straight to office
meeting
work
tarpao lunch
work
tarpao dinner
1030pm, checkin to hotel
Day 2
Breakfast in hotel
office
work
tarpao lunch
work
tarpao dinner
10pm left office
Day 3
Breakfast in hotel
office
work
tarpao lunch
work
Dinner at seafood place near office - finally something decent and ONLY becos BOSS is finally in town:
- fried squid coated in salted egg yolk;
- pre-peeled crabs with just enough shell for holding onto the piece, including the legs
- oyster egg
- very spicy tom yam soup (both the clear version and more traditional version with coconut milk)
- Otah in square banana-leaf containers
- very crispy deep fried local fish
- very fresh coconut juice
back to office for work (ah... the price we pay for not tarpao'ing dinner)
1130pm back to hotel
Day 4
Breakfast in hotel complete with meeting with BOSS
Meeting with Sales Dept
Lunch at MK Gold (the more upscale version of MK the steamboat place) Esplanade (the newest shopping center near office)
More Meeting
Dinner at Ping Sharksfin Restaurant, my first!
- Sharksfin in claypot (so-so, perhaps because we ordered the smallest and cheapest at THB500 per pax)
- VERY GOOD fried fish maw with prawn, HEAVENLY
- GOOD goose web with kway teow
- VERY GOOD Abalone rice (half a piece of braised abalone on rice)
- FANTASTIC coconut jelly (made with coconut juice) in coconut fruit
- GOOD sesame dumpling in ginger tea
I suppose this dinner is worth allllll the disappointment of the tarpao food we had over the last 3 days. The meal for 6 pp came up to THB10,000 before VIP 10% discount. VERY expensive in BKK standards
Heavy drinking session at KTV... 'nuff said.
Day 5
Breakfast at hotel
BOSS down with food poisoning, left to hold the fort in meeting
tarpao lunch
check out
rush to airport
used the diplomatic lane for immigration with my TLM silver card and saved at least 20min
rushed for a 45min shoulder massage which was half pien-jiat by the therapist. But no fish prawn also good.
Made it just in time for the flight
Airplane meal
Reached home 11pm.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Bangkok 2-7-07 ~ ???
Possibly one of my longest posting in recent years if things dot move much faster from here...
Tasked to get all the reports out, and to physically do it FOR THEM if they cant, and THEN to stay and ensure all the banking, legal, and whatnots are executed before I can go back is just DUH.
It is going to take easily a week (and my poor accountant who is with me shall have to spend her birthday having tom-yam soup instead of cake with her family), and likely to stretch till 2 weeks where i'll have to put my foot down and go home regardless, i mean such is the pace of life here...
Let me not waste my time longer than necessary... I promise I will come back in another 2-3 weeks to make sure that things are done by then, ok?
....................................
p/s. just received an email that VVIP from principal will be in Singapore for meeting on 11-July, meaning the latest i will return must surely be 10-July night? i mean, they cant have their meeing without me, can they?
Tasked to get all the reports out, and to physically do it FOR THEM if they cant, and THEN to stay and ensure all the banking, legal, and whatnots are executed before I can go back is just DUH.
It is going to take easily a week (and my poor accountant who is with me shall have to spend her birthday having tom-yam soup instead of cake with her family), and likely to stretch till 2 weeks where i'll have to put my foot down and go home regardless, i mean such is the pace of life here...
Let me not waste my time longer than necessary... I promise I will come back in another 2-3 weeks to make sure that things are done by then, ok?
....................................
p/s. just received an email that VVIP from principal will be in Singapore for meeting on 11-July, meaning the latest i will return must surely be 10-July night? i mean, they cant have their meeing without me, can they?
