OMG OMG OMG OMG

How can I wait an entire month before I head off to Japan with the Zhao???

And let's just say the planning experience has been... different.

Usually, I'm the one who does all the detailing, the sorting out of day-to-day activities...

But the Zhao was not having any of it. He planned our entire 2-week trip!!! Buses and stations and all!

We're heading to Tokyo, Nikko and Aomori. And at Nikko, we are staying at this AMAZING ryokan, with an outdoor bathtub facing the nature wonderland.

I THINK I'M GOING TO DIE OF ANTICIPATION. The experience promises to blow our minds away: onsen, japanese-style room, and elegant, elaborate dining.

Unfortunately, it's so bloody expensive we're only staying 1 night. But still!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG.

Today's Funny, courtesy of my mum

I'm heading off to Batam for the weekend, with the girls and ZW.

Massage haven, here I come to get kneaded and pounded!

Speaking of ZW, my family keeps calling him that, ZW. They say his name is difficult to pronounce. Huh.

Anyway, my mum has the habit of taking down the handphone numbers of the people I'm travelling with (yes friends, my mum can stalk you guys).

So I have her ZW's number. And it's a pretty sweet number. Plenty of eights and easy as pie to remember.

My mum, immediately impressed, starts counting the numbers and plotting her next 4-D bets.

Sigh.

New Year Resolutions... Who Gives A Fuck?

I know, I know, it's not like me to get so angsty.

But it's that time of the year where a standard sweep of blogs will reward you with entry after entry of pointless new year resolutions (seriously: 20 new goals for 1 year??) that will most likely never be kept.

I gave up trying to set new targets circa... I can't even remember.

I suppose the feeling of helplessness and the futility of it all was heightened this year, thanks to having to work on New Year's Eve AND New Year's Day.

I bid farewell to 2009 in the office. Too exhausted to go out, I simply went home because all I could think about was sleep.

Think I managed to put in one message to Fadz before blacking out.

And before I knew it, it was dawn and time for me to get to work.

I spent the first half of 2010 alone in the whole goddamn office as other people gradually stumbled in after 12pm.

As the pond scum in my organisation, I was assigned the morning shift to "hold the fort".

Not that I was REALLY complaining. Because I'd take peace and quiet over having to face a stupid monkey ANY day.

As a sidetrack, it's completely farcical and ridiculous for a 34-year-old grown man to pass notes back and forth with another colleague behind my back, because he wanted to bitch about me.

I was so sorely tempted to shoot an email welcoming him to the Age of Technology, and suggesting that email or msn might be a better platform for office bitching.

At least you look like you are working.

Plus, you save trees.

Anyway, it's hard to think about 2010 as a new beginning, when it seems so similar to the old year, doesn't it?

To top it all off, I think the stress at work caused me to have a mild panic attack over the weekend, when I finally got to get some rest.

I called it a quarter-life crisis, but thinking back, it sure felt like a panic attack.

The sudden panic that there was something wrong with my life. The nonstop questioning within me.

Like I've accomplished nothing in my 2 years of work, and there was nothing to look forward to. And the saddest part was, I felt like I couldn't muster enough energy to GIVE A DAMN.

At first I couldn't pinpoint the source of the discontent growing in me, and even began to question if I was unsatisfied with my relationship with Fadz. Luckily, he bore it with good humour and faith (as usual) and talked me out of my hysteria.

But honestly, I wake up now with dread in my heart whenever I think of work.

Oh god, how long more can this continue?

If there is one thing that I want to do this year, is to travel more.

Once I've gotten the wanderlust out of my system, then I'd decide what to do with my life, career wise.

In case you are mistaken, I'm not looking to climb the corporate ladder or be some high-powered executive.

Hell no. All I'm asking for is a job that pays me fair wages, working hours that do not tear me up from the inside, and an environment that actually cultivates learning instead of pure stumbling along.

For now, I'm just trying to channel happy thoughts.

And the travel year is shaping up!

Jan: A highly-anticipated spa getaway to Batam with the KB girls. Nothing like cheap labour and A&W! to rub some tension out of me.
Feb: Heading to the Big Apple and Boston to meet the sister. Can't wait to run my fingers through snow, breathe in intoxicating crisp, cold air and be amazed by the sights, sounds and smells of New York even in winter.
June: Fadz is finally, finally graduating! (no longer dating a student! double income!) Am persuading him that it's worth spending money on a grad trip. Maybe Istanbul. or Bangkok. Maybe Australia. Haven't really decided.
Dec: Maybe finally get to take that long awaited Europe trip with Sylvia, Kristin and Uncle Shawn! Eh Kris, if you reading this.... can still go or not, Mrs Han-t0-be?

Anyway, that's the plan for now.

How am I financing it? Through sheer positive thinking, sucking it up at work for now... and eh, I dunno, praying for money to fall from the sky.

Chilling and 'Laxing in Laos

Have been in Laos for 5 days so far.. and I think I'm finally getting into the pace of things.

By pace, I mean, a super slow and relaxed pace.

Everything starts in the morning but Fadz and I are rarely awake.

So by the time we do wake up, the town is usually on its way to lunch, shutting down for an hour(or five) for a quick siesta.

The sun is surprisingly hot for winter, with even the dogs too lazy and hot to bark at people.

My mum told me to watch my food intake, cos according to her, Laos is a FOURTH world country.

Oh well, broke all the rules on the first day. Iced shakes, back alley eating, not to mention all the roadside foodstalls...

Hah. Am in Vang Vieng right now. Kayaked around some amazing limestone karsts on amazingly clear and blue Nam Song River.

Or like Fadz says it, I pretend to paddle for a couple of metres, then stop to admire the scenary as he labours behind me. HAH!

Speaking of Fadz, if I have to hear one more 'wat' or 'Buddha' joke, I may come back a solo traveller.

Yes, he's that sacrilegious.

Off to Luang Prabang tomorrow!

Off To Laos!

Title says it all.

Backpacking through Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang with Fadz on a shoestring budget cos, ya know, he's a poor student, and I'm... always poor.

Will be gone from the 12th to 22nd.

CANNOT.WAIT.

Oh, and I managed to paint my room pink before I left!

I so love NOT working.

Ciao! Catchups when I come back!

*kisses and hugs all around*

Well I'm off to KL tomorrow with the Fadz and Mr US-educated Alan Yu, to visit our thoroughly Malaysian JC friend, Ben Chin.

As luck would have it, some accommodation plans didn't quite pan out. Seeing how I'm perpetually broke and cheap, all of us are bunking into Ben's bedroom.

That's right, 4 people in a room.

I can already imagine it! Slumber parties, and we'd stay up to talk, and paint our nails, and braid each other's hair...

Yeah right, it'd probably smell so...... male.

Just a completely random trip sparked by Alan, who wanted a getaway before returning to Alabama? Oklahoma? Mississippi? (some redneck state that I can't remember).

Becky (another JC friend) was supposed to join us, but last minute H1N1 came knocking on her door.

It never fails to amaze me how easier we fall back into a rhythm, reminiscent of the good ol' days.

Seeing how we technically don't keep in touch (no calls, no sms-es, no emails), the chemistry is still there when we meet up.

I speak purely from my own point of view. Alan never fails to meet me and Fadz when he comes back to Singapore for the holidays, and there's always so much to catch up on.

The easy bantering, teasing and just plain hanging out isn't contrite, isn't forced... which is really nice.

I'm not sure if I can say the same for some people whom I haven't seem for a long time.

Anyway, this excursion is just a sorry excuse to eat our brains out.

A purely food trip, from the likes of it. So far, the itinerary is looking like : eat, eat, eat, sleep, eat, eat, eat...

Gaaahhh, I so need to detox once I come back.

But my saliva glands are already salivating at the thought of Ramly burgers, chilli crabs, maggi goreng, teh tarik, Nandos and who knows what else!

Oh yeah, and it's also smack in the middle of the mega Malaysia sale! :)

Fab Fullerton

To celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary, the crazy parents, bless their hearts, whisked the whole family off to Fullerton for a weekend getaway.

And to borrow a word from Kimora Lee Simmons, the stay was pure decadence and "fabulosity" from start to finish.

Nothing like a good pair of shades to get the party started!

Ahh, home sweet home for 2 days

Cheryl getting into the spirit of letting it all loose

$16 evian water! are you kidding me??

The crazy huge bathroom... love love love the marble finishing, giant ass tub rainforest showerhead

Awww, the parents. How sweet

Getting ready to chill out by the pool

The Fullerton infinity pool is directly across the Asian Civilisation Museum, and provides a fabulous view of the Raffles skyline

The Maybank building looks over the pool... so to those who had to work while I lapped in sheer decadence.... sucks to you!

We ate at Jade during the first night. Pity the food and service were such letdowns. For the price we paid, we certainly had higher expectations that fell severely short. Tsk tsk. The best part was the complimentary cake when I informed them that it was a special occasion.

Haha, but the parents were so sweet...

Strolled over the One Fullerton, walked pass Butter Factory (whose queue appeared shorter than usual. H1N1 breeding ground, anyone?), and headed for the docks.

Geraldine thought it'd be fun to do paparazzi (or more like crazy lunatic) shots. Cheryl of course, acts too cool.

Day 2 by the pool

I never want to leave....

Nothing spells decadence like a pina colada and fried chicken at 4 in the afternoon by the pool

Dinner at Palm Beach. Infinitely better than Jade.

My, my, who's gonna be dinner tonight? *slurp*

A little Discovery Channel-esque humping action before dinner

My "act cute" face to match the "act cute" hair. Very retro, right?

G can't wait for dinner

Enjoying every aspect, including a rose petal bubble bath

Smile people! Enjoy life any way you can :)

I'M BACK!

Spent too much money... don't want to talk about it.

Large portion of it spent on food, transport and presents for other people.

Sadz... only can afford to buy pasam malam things for myself....

Just a short update.... haven't had time for the internet since arriving....

Legs have nearly fallen off from walking too much. We're practically walking everywhere in Kowloon. Only when close to collapse and exhuastion, do we deem to take a cab, where we end up getting fleeced anyway.

Went to Macau yesterday. A lot more depressing than expected. The hotels portion of the island are incredibly.... tacky and cheesy than expected. The older parts of Macau, where some Macanese still stay, are very run down, grey and sad-looking.

We paid for private transportation that took us around the island in a private car. Passing by plenty of shuttered shops, our guide told us that the high rent prices have driven the locals out.

Moreover, stuff is so expensive on Macau that the locals have to go to China to do their shopping. How sad is that.

Went to the casino at Venetian, but some of the crew not interested in gambling, and looked on dispassionately and with a face of death, as I played the slots machine. Talk about a killjoy. Any appetite for gambling rapidly dissipated.

Have spent quite a bit, and there's 2 more days to go. Time to break out the credit cards. Whoops, already done that. HAHAHA.

Things are pretty expensive here, the food, the stuff....

HK is pretty depressing to walk around actually. No wonder the streets are lined with shops and malls, so that people are distracted from their surroundings. Everyone is closeted inside.

Hellloooo from Hong Kong!

Finally made it here.... a lot greyer and dustier than expected, but the shopping is promising.

Perhaps not as cheap as I would like it, but yes, definitely wallet-busting potential.

Travelling with the KB gang... 5 girls, 5 decisions, madness.

Let's see how it pans out.

Haha, Pei Wen is looking over my shoulder, so I better not type anything too nasty.

:P

On a side note, our hotel is this dingy, budget hotel located in a residential area.

The room reminds me of the tiny hotel Pei Wen and I stayed in, in Taiwan.

geez, the things we do to save a couple of bucks.

London, London!

Helllooooooo dearies! A shout out from London to anyone who bothers to read my blog!! I'm in London and so far, it has proven to be absolutely WICKED. I love, love, love London. The streets are so pretty, everyone's accent is amazing, even the person making the announcement on the train isn't as grating as Singapore's MRT announcement system.

Only 1 grouse. Once again, I've been cheated by my very own mother. She told us it is summer. She said it is going to be hot. So being the dutiful daughters we are, Cheryl and I packed things suited for the Sahara desert, i.e. very small pieces of clothing. We touched down, the winds were up, and it cut straight through the pathetic cloth that we assumed would suffice.

Frozen, absolutely frozen. Meanwhile, my polar bear-built mother and Geraldine have been prancing about in practically NOTHING and saying it's HOT. This is utter madness.

But anywayz, beautiful city. The museums are breathtaking and I could spend hours wandering about. Pity all my mum wants to do is shop, shop and shop somemore. Sigh.

Everything is horribly expensive too. Damn the exchange rate. £1 is SGD$3.11!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will update when I can! XOXO

Later, People

My last hurrah before school starts.

I'm off to the land of tea, crumpets, Manchester United and Prince Williams, dearies.

FYI, that means London. Yup, the parents are in the mood for celebrating their bond again, hence we 3 freeloaders are milking them. Working adults be damned.

Plenty of entertaining posts when I return. Oh my god, so much to bitch about. But that would all have to wait. Cab coming in an hour.

Toodles! See you in a week!