Ramadhan 2011

It's round the corner. Time of the year to fast and be thankful of what we have.

But what's different this time is that there are two attention seekers who may make things abit more complicated during breaking of fast. Let's hope they'll be understanding and leave the hungry parents alone and not make them angry! ;p

My plans -
- if I wake up extremely early before sahur, I'll go for a spin. Then have sahur and then some weights.
- if I wake up just in time for sahur, I'll have sahur then spin/weights after
- try to slot in a 20-30min run before going to tapau food for breaking of fast/fetch the kids

And I sure hope this materializes.

But wait...I've got some travelling to do on the 2nd week. Vietnam, I maybe going there again. Part of me excited, part of me feel really bad for leaving hub & the kids. But hub doesn't want to come along...Oh well, 1 week left to decide. Let's hope all goes well...

Work in Penang

Three days of work back in Penang, with mum & dad helping take care of the kids was bliss. Bliss because it took less time to travel from home to site and back, hence more time with the kids and also for me to run!

Bliss also because the kids were somewhat more well-behaved? kind-of...perhaps earlier in the day they already bullied their 'ah kong' and 'ah ma' ;p and

Bliss because housework just seemed so much less!!

hahahahaha

How lazy can I get? Once in a while I suppose is alright, right? ;p

Crazy end-July

I've been travelling quite a bit for work and neglecting this blog.

So much to write, but when I wait till I have time, I'm already drained.

Kids sleep close to 11pm (or sometimes even later) and by then I'm half asleep, especially days when hub comes back late too. Then, the early cycle the next morning starts all over again.

It's amazing how 5 days can change a lot of things. AIR1 greeted me by being extremely chatty on the day I returned from Pattaya. He had a larger vocab and started to summarize the 5 days into 5 mins. Adorable.

AIR2 was still groggy from sleep and took a while to adjust. Then, she got chatty too.

And this week, am back in Penang. AIR1 was the most excited when he saw Ah Ma and Ah Kong from afar. Almost jumping out from his seat in the car. Its been a great but hectic week. I wonder what AIR1 would think when we return to KL tomorrow? I already miss Penang.

Pattaya

the path leading to my sea-fronting room

the 'pavillion' and view of the sea from the entrance to my room

one of the 3 pools, this is with jacuzzi

some random singage, but I wonder what was before that 'papaya' previously

This is where I am since July 17, 2011. And I will only be leaving on the 21st.

Superb hotel, pampered in luxury, but its abit far off from the city and the beach. Yes, this hotel has no beach. Only a short stretch for lounging around and sun bathing and its not even 200m long. From this 'beach' there are rocks and then the sea. No swimming possible from here. (photo in camera but not able to d/load)

Where am I? Sheraton Pattaya!! :)

Long way from the road which is also known as 'Beach Road' which leads to the town, running along the Pattaya Beach. The hotel is nestled between Jomiten and Pattaya beach, which is right at the protrusion into the Gulf of Thailand.

And I was looking forward to a beach run. NOw, I have time to run in the gym only. To run out and back would've been superb, but kinda dangerous in the quiet and semi-bright 530am morning. So off to the gym I go instead. I miss beach runs. Evenings are just in time for dinner with the group hence, no time again, although there are many keen joggers/runners along the way.

oh well....

SHopping's not superb either. Same reason as above - hotel kinda out of the way, so no time either. Save the moolah, I guess :)

2 days to go. Time flies.

Wanted badly to bring the family here, but hub's time wasn't convenient. Another time, perhaps. I hope :)

Hong Kong it was!

Winds during 'Strong Wind Signal No. 3' was in place

View of the mixed development (including hills) from Gold Coast Hotel

The other side of the 'development' - Golden Beach & across the lagoon


Last weekend (23-26June), this was where I was - Mainland Hong Kong. Gold Coast Hotel, along Golden Beach, which connects to Kadorie Beach and subsequently Peak Beach.

Very quaint area and this was supposed to be a newly developed area, I guess it meant the hotel and entertainment spots, but I noticed the houses here are not exceptionally new.

What I liked about this place was - it felt safe and at 6am, it felt like on the East Malaysia - yes bright skies awaits! And everyone else who's local seems to be awake too. ANd they head to the beach. :)

OK right now you must be thinking of the hot bodies in skimpy suit or speedos which I would have oogled while out for a run, but nooooo.... hahaha you'd be surprised! I am talking about senior citizens who throng the beach and the sea for a morning swim. Yes, no taichi, waitankung whatsoever, but they go for a dip in the sea! I was surprised too. And they are regulars. They have their groups. And at each of those beaches I mentioned, there's adequate shower 'cube' (its half open and male & female share it, and separate changing rooms (not shared ;p) and these are not charged and well maintained!

I didn't bump into any runners in the morning but saw 1-2 at night. Only if I stayed longer and had a chance to explore more by foot. The strong wind signal was actually good, every morning it was cool and breezy and it made running feel easy! kekeke

The Asia Young Leadership Conference was good (yes, still young what! ;p) but it didn't leave us with much time to walk/shop/explore. I guess that means another reason to go back to HK? hehehe

But then again, with that short span of time I had, I went crazy shopping too. Bought stuff for the kids and some sports-related attire. Cheap. Cheaper than home. Oh well, if more time, then it would've been more ;p In a way, thank God I didn't have much time. and I don't bring alot of cash along. Cards? These, I have better control off. The thought of the month-end surprises are enough to scare me along the way! :)

Perhaps when the kids are slightly older, Disneyland HK can be planned. With the exchange rates (compared to Singapore), I think its perhaps wiser to just go to HK. At least you get 4 seasons there ;p erm, what kind of logic is that?

We'll see which is more economical when the time is right.

Telekom Tower and it's twin

7am along Federal Highway (sorrylah, blur photo but note Menara Telekom)

6am Ho Chi Minh city...do you notice the similarity in the two buildings?

The 'dish' on the 2nd photo is actually a lookout point. Tickets can be bought at approx. USD 15 per adult (wait a sec, or was it USD10?) to go up to the lookout point. It's the newest addition to the city and I was impressed. But didn't take many photos. It has 'water' surrounding the whole bottom of the building. It's called Bicotex or was it Bittomex (something to that effect lah, which I searched on the WWW but can't seem to find, must be my spelling). Very nicely lit at night, but didn't get a good photo.

Traffic, traffic everywhere

It's strange because after many days here, I am not able to even load the Facebook page. I think it is banned here, just like in China. Oh well...Thank goodness blogging and my emails are still accessible :) Otherwise I'd be so disconnected!!

5 days gone, time to leave tomorrow. Thank God, flight's on a Sunday and there's no mad traffic rush. I would've thought my daily battle with traffic in KL was bad. Traffic in Saigon is worse. It takes between 1 to 1.5hr to get from the city to the industrial area, and that is if you leave at 630 or 7am. Any later, and it'll be worse. It took me 2+ hours to get back one day when I left the site at 5pm. On the day I left at 7pm, it took me 1+ hr too. Bear in mind, I wasn't even driving!! And motorcylists take almost 1 hr to travel 30km to work, according to my subcontractor, and that is because motorcylists get caught in horrible jams too!

rather old photo as now everyone wears helmet

To a certain extend, it makes me appreciate the KL traffic in a way :)


And one morning I witnessed a group of cyclists. My hats off to them. I wonder how the 'battle' with the traffic during their training sessions.


The amazing thing is - no one seems to be involved in any accidents. Intersections spanning 4-5 lanes each direction turns into a messy pool of motorcyclists and loud honking whenever the traffic light changes. I feel for the toddlers who ride with their parents. Some so young. But that's the quality of life there. Everyone dons face/dust masks.

Typical scene. Poor kid. I've seen a toddler sleeping on the bike. Building behind is the famous Cho Ben Thanh (Ben Thanh Market) - taken from stophavingaboringlife.com

I haven't had the chance to ask/see, I wonder how much petrol costs here.

Rain, rain go away, mummy wants to go and play. :) Its raining and I wanna do my final shopping. It has rained twice today. I brought the first rain for the 'rainy season' when I first arrived - so says my Vietnam colleague. Then it was dry for 3 days. Short spurt yesterday and earlier today and now.

All packed and ready but with some space left for last minute buys tonight :)

TATA!!

Ramblings of Saigon

The first time I met my colleague from the Vietnam office, I thought he resembled my ex-GM. Almost the same height and size and even style.

At site, when I met the supervisor of my sub contractor, he had an uncanny resemblance to someone I knew, but at that point of time, I just couldn't pinpoint. 2 days later, I recalled....he's an exact replica of my ex-bf. ;p Only thing, he's a wee bit shorter than I am (my ex was slightly taller than I am), and is Vietnamese ;p even the way he talks kinda resembles him.

Speaking of short, Vietnamese men are kinda short. Well, not all, but from the 15 people I have worked with during my stay here, only 3 are taller than I am and the rest, are either about my height or shorter. Oh well....

And since my site in within a manufacturing company, there are female and male production workers, most of them perhaps in the below 30 age group. either that, or they have young-looking genes. And ALL, with exception of the cleaners and slightly older women, wear their pants really really really low waist-style. Most are slim :) But I expected more...hehehe maybe modenization played its part in fattening them up ;p Genetics!!

They are nice people, though most of them can't really speak English. Even some of the hotel bellboys. Hope to snap some decent pics of the city tomorrow during my morning tour-on-foot :) most are night shots so far and not very nice.

Can't wait!

Something about Saigon

Vietnamese spring rolls

OK OK, it's not 'something about Mary' :)

Somehow, FB seems to be inaccessible from here. Lappy or phone both can't. I wonder why. Even Wifi from another location seems unsuccessful.

anyway, so I post up pics here instead.

A few days before I left for Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), another colleague of mine who just got back from a really really short trip to Hanoi complained she had nothing to eat. Yup, apparently Hanoi had halal food-drought. Well, I was more of the opinion that she wasn't as adventurous and she had a group of other colleagues (international, I must say) with her, so it made it harder for her to go food-hunting alone. So to be safe, although hubby has been here before, he told me to just pack 2 cans of canned food, just in case.

I'm staying right in the heart of town, right smack where all the branded shopping outlets are. And to my surprise, the street right across the hotel is the 'halal' street. Another street not too far away seemed to be the 'Japanese food street' complete with karaoke entertainment outlets.

2 of the 3 halal eateries are owned by Malaysian. But this one (Halal@Saigon) was my choice cos it had local fares.

The other, D'Nyonya was more of a Malaysian fare. I didn't come all the way to eat Malaysian food :)

My less than RM1 bottle of Coke...only if they had Vanilla Coke :)

Labour Day Weekend

Oh dear...the long awaited 3-day break came but it wasn't as fun as it was expected.

Kids down with flu and then now fever. And I'm due for a short trip out of the country :(

My oh my...pray that they get well soon and so Daddy can handle them... otherwise over-clingy!

Sibu, 5 years on

*photos from here

I only arrived here at almost 10pm (by the time I got to the hotel) and here I am, reminiscing memories 5 years ago when I first came here as part of the Explorace event which I took part in.

It was Explorace 3 (yea the 3rd season). So far, what I've seen from the ride from the airport to the hotel, most have not changed, only additional commercial development. Airport is also under renovation and the hotel (Tanahmas) has also been renovated. Rooms are much better, but crappy TV channels. All sports and news channel from all over the place...no movies!! Arrrgh!

I can't wait to explore it tomorrow morning...

One day out!

Guess where we're going?

Mummy, tak nak!! Keep the camera!

Erk, my son camera shy??

Muuaaahs!

F1 driver in training?

Ice cream truck driver for a start also can.

It was a fun-filled day for him. AIR2 was not featured on as many rides but I guess she somewhat enjoyed it too. The cool air (abit too cold for her as she wasn't 100% well), the new environment and all that excitement.

It was a loooong day for them and AIR1 almost fell asleep in the cable car ride back. He hung on, until we reached the car.

The adults? watch them have fun and go with AIR1 for his rides! Hubby managed to sneak a ride for himself while we waited. the moment he went on his ride, AIR1 screamed as he wanted to go along.

Kenyir is now off as I'm not prepared to race. Next year perhaps.

Next road trip? still planning, but this Sunday will be a movie outing for all! Rio premier screening....I hope AIR1 will sit and watch and AIR2 will not make a fuss.

Invasion of my personal space

KUL-BKI-LDU and the KUL-BKI sector saw a full flight.

Whenever I fly alone, aisle sit it shall be. After so many flights, my conclusion, never sit next to a 'makcik'. I'm not being racist here, but from my experience, it has been 100% true.

1. Usually this lady tends to be 'horizontally challenged'.

2. Always has a travelling buddy, i.e. another 'makcik'.

3. She thinks she paid for 1.5 seats instead of 1.

4. Arm will be on my arm rest and conveniently at times intrude into my personal space.

5. Carries large 'mature lady type' handbags, which will first be at the feet, somehow when plane takes off, it moves up to her lap and once in the air, somehow it will end up on the 'table', until meal is served, then she gets 'kelam kabut' not knowing where to put it.

6. Bag ends up on her lap and depending on how 'challenged' she is, it will tilt the table.

7. Half the time, while eating, due to space constraint, her elbow jabs me, almost her whole arm by now is within my personal space.

Once not enough, more than once her arm will keep coming. Unfortunately I had no where to run! :(

That annoys me sooooo much! Out of respect, I just bite my tongue and move closer to the aisle. Thank God I still have space to squirm away.

Boeing 737-800

On 18 Jan 2011, my KK-KL flight was onboard the new 737-800. On the outside, it looks like a normal 737, except that the distinction would be the new 'decals' (is that what its called even on a plane?) on the exterior of the plane. New 'lines' different from the usual MAS signature identification, but it still has the blue and red.

And on each seat, that's the individual entertainment console. Touch screen, loads of movies for all ages and background. Unfortunately it was a sub-3 hr flight, so no earphones were provided. Ended up watching a foreign movie, because it had English subtitles, but fell asleep in the middle of it ;p

Smelt brand new (and not of the MAS air freshener which I dislike) and seats were nice. Now lets hope I get on another 737-800 on my next trip.

Banana Spring Roll

I thought it was just plain spring rolls but it turned out to be banana spring roll. No, not the one closest, the one in the far end of the photo. It just looks like regular spring roll (popiah) but its got a strip of banana inside. ;p

One of the things available in Lahad Datu only ;p

Day 1 LDU

After much contemplation, I will be in Lahad Datu without AIR2.

Thanks Fong for the effort in helping find the nursery. Managed to go view it and though there were people there, I didn't stop to talk/chat/check with them. It's a proper nursery, I'd consider it when I'm back here again in a couple of weeks' time. But quite pricey too...

Without AIR2 I will have more flexibility in terms of time management and movement. Weather will not be a major concern. Oh yes, if it rains, traffic and time to go fetch her will have to be considered. Who said a small town like LDU does not have traffic jams?

I will also have less things to bring along.

But I will surely miss her laughs and baby talk every morning and night. And her brother's antics band daddy's too.

So far, its been relaxing. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Now let me wake up at 530am for a run tomorrow!

Yay!

Erm, yay because of what? because I can finally leave my sitting infront of the computer and go to site. Yeah!

1st it was a day trip to JB. Yes day trip...not exactly very tiring la, but I'm not a fan of night driving. Thank God it wasn't raining.

And now, I'm in Kota Bahru. Yes, and no, I didn't drive but flew here.

My 1st trip to KB was probably 20 yrs ago. Yes, that long ago and I barely remembered how it was like. And gosh, so many things are different here than the other states on the west coast of even Pahang. Terengganu is somewhat similar, but still not the same.

I'm quite surprised that people here are quite friendly and nice.

In fact, after completing my tasks, I had some time to drive around (part of my task, but I just went further) and well, seems like life here is pretty simple. I've yet to see the 'urban' housing estates yet. Hmmmm....

Anyway, lets see what else I'll be exploring tomorrow :)

MOther's Day weekend

Mum has gone on holiday. So her celebration was earlier....

Weekend - rushed. Didn't have time for anything. We were too tired at the end of each day.

Stuck in Alor Star GH almost the whole day, both on Sat and Sun. Sun we were smarter - took AIR and sat in the baby room where it was much more cosy, cool and nice. (Realised that small-town people do not really know how to utilise this special place. hehehe I suppose they are used to changing babies in the toilet though its without the proper facilities) Spent Sat sitting in the warm waiting area of the Operating Theatre. Otherwise no where else to wait. Lousy la. Hospital so big, so spacious, no proper seats for people to sit and wait outside the special wards.

Visiting hours - 1230 - 2pm, 430 - 7pm. In between, people sit and wait outside.

Hospital cafeteria - fortunately good. OKla, its new so still clean and nice and got good variety of food.

Hospital itself is huge. And new. Otherwise, it's just another gov hosp. What else can go wrong?

Alot of to-and-fros over the weekend. Finally another tired weekend gone. Another to come...

Airport and What Nots

It's been ages since I went to SUbang Terminal 3. THe last was probly when I went there to do some tiketing stuff with Air Asia. Something I couldn't do online nor via the tele-centres. Can't remember what.

Now its being renovated. Gosh, the interior is so nice now. Grand I may say. I like it. REally nice la. Hmmm some more got donuts...yumyum hehe

So this time we're flying, but its Firelfy! somehow, upon boarding the plane, I liked it. More than Air Asia. DUnno. The interior was just nice. Aiya, you know la, it's the feeling you get, but dunno how to explain. Though its a smaller plane, 4 seats per row, i.e. 2 each side and narrower, somehow its just seems ok. Erm, they served us a pack of biscuits and a cup of juice. On a 45minute flight, this plane takes 1 hour instead. But its nice. I like.

When was the last time planes had their logo on their seat belt? Erm, my last trip on the plane was...perhaps 2 year's ago. Not on MAS, neither AA has this. NOt that I remember...I thought this was pretty cool. Call me 'jakun' if u must. hahaha I only noticed this on the return trip. On the way there, I was too busy trying to calm AIR and bfeed him and oh well...getting used to the environment.

Then it occured to me, travelling with a small child/baby is not easy. Cos the other baby pooped on the flight and boy it was a hassle trying to change her. PLus the fact that it 'leaked' and even got her dad. Thank God AIR has his predictible routine, though sometimes abit haywire.

Penang Airport also changed abit. NOt much, only on the public area. Inside, at the boarding & waiting area, its still the same the last time I stepped in. 2 years' back...approx..

What a weekend!

I'm back after a tiring week of running around...

subang-penang-jeniang-alor star-penang-jeniang-alor star-penang-subang...
all from 9pm friday till 1040pm sunday...

more updates later ya...:)