Monday, July 24, 2006

350D

I finally got myself a 350D!! Woo Hoo… now I’m just waiting for the free lens from Canon.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

SG trip

The last time I went touring in SG was when I was 12years old. Evers since then it was always walking along the Orchard Road.

Finally, I manage to walk around other parts of Singapore other then The Orchard Road.

The flight was supposed to be at 8.15am. Due to the traffic in the air, the flight was delayed for 50 mins. Wait and wait and wait for the plane to take off.
Finally reached SG at about 10am. Was trying to find ways to call Em from SG to inform her about the flight delayed. Messages from Maxis keeps beeping in, informing me how to call and sms back home but nothing on calling a SG telephone line. What the !!??

Luckily, the nice taxi driver was kind enough to lend me his hp to call Em. Reported in with an apology and then headed to the store visit ‘trip’. Walked walked… and walked.

By the time it ended, it was already 6.00pm. Checked in to the hotel at 6.30. My legs were tired. All I needed was a good shower. Didn’t really felt like walking anymore but I had set a meeting with Foon earlier on. On top of that my dear ‘yee ma’ has arrive on the very same day I landed. Bloody hell. Why now!?!

When I checked in to the hotel, they told me that someone would bring me up to register.
……Wah…. they have some kind of hi-tech door key that they need to register into before I can actually get into the room. …..

The traffic at the lift area was freaking long…. Due to some function that was going on. Some association has occupied about 100 over rooms for the function.
Wait wait wait…. Door lif open…. But pack of humans…
Wait wait wait…. Again another door lif open…
Damn! More humans!!

I was about to suggest to the lady who was responsible to take me up to my room to walk up .. work out some fats…. When I found out that my room was located on the 33rd floor. OKAY.. bye bye walking up stairs…

Wait wait wait… and finally 1 of the lifts was available to the poor restless humans waiting at the ground floor.

All I could think of is takeing of those heels and rest my feet…. Take a long shower…… and lye down before meeting up with Foon…………..

When the door lifts open, there were 3 people, smiling and welcoming me. A glass of juice and a towel was on the table.
‘Welcome Ms. Mok”
“How was your flight, Ms. Mok”
“Please take a sit Ms.Mok”

ARgghhh!! I just want to go to my room!!!......

“Firstly we would like to welcome you to Pan Pacific…. Blahh blahh blahhh…….”

First I heard something about special rate… then $315 SG dollar… then free upgraded room…. then with balcony view….

I started to panic, just tell me that the room rate is the same price.*panic* *panic*
“Can I confirm with you again, what’s the room rate for tonight?” I asked.

“Oh Ms. Mok, it is still the same SG$215.00”….

Pheww…

then blah blahh blah…… from them again. I wasn’t paying attention to what they were saying.

“Let me bring you to the room” one of the lady said.

For the first time, I have a brief throu on a room.
Where’s where. What kinda of service they provide.
Mini bar is complimentary, fruits is complimentary, tea break is served from 3.00 - 5or 6 I think, cocktails is served from 6.30-8plus… and from 8plus – 10.00 is liquar… at the privilege lounge.

“Oouuhh… NICE” I thought to myself… FREE LIQUAR!!..... but then it’s either free drink or dinner with foon.. hmm… Thank god that I didn’t had the mood for drinks… if not, I would have beaten my self up… hahhaha timing.. timing… timing..

Met up with Foon for dinner. Walked around Marina Square, Raffles Mall and then head to Chijmes for some drinks…

chapel II
Originally uploaded by melmok.



By the time I got back to the hotel, it was already almost 12. Grabbed a few snacks from the privilege lounge, head back to the room and took a longggg nice shower.

The next morning, I was so tempted to just relax at the hotel room until I really had to check out. But I manage to drag my self to walk around Esplanade. Took some pictures… and by the time I was finish. It was time to check out. Stuffed everything that I could in the backpack and head off to Takashimaya to check out the bookstore.

Walked around without any problems. But by 3pm… my shoulders were aching… I guess I have to forget about my backpacking trip in future.

Asked around if I could make it to the airport by 6.00 if I were to take a cab from Takashimaya at 5plus…. And everyone told me that I should leave before 5 cos, it would be a problem to catch a cab at that hour with the heavy ‘human’ traffic.

Finally max my self up till 4.30 and took a cab to the airport.
My whole body was numb with all the carrying and walking. Checked out the Duty free mall at the Changi Airport with the trolley ……. Ahh……Heaven on my shoulders….

Carrying the backpack wasn’t such a bad idea, even thou it gave a bad shoulder ache, but it stopped me from buying unnecessary things and spending less.
I only bought a pair of sandal for KY and I.

I wish I could stay longer in the hotel. The service was wonderful. I guess I would have to wait for another opportunity to stay in a privilege room like that.

Wednesday, July 5, 2006

remorseful

It sucks at work when you have to key in your id number + password every time when you want to log in to any web sites! Now I have to stare at the monitor when I have nothing to do or when I’m brain dead.

On the other hand, I’m going to another ‘business trip’. Singapore this time. Was suppose to go to Philippines, but my manager went on behalf of the graphic team. Going to Singapore at this time gives me more excuse to spend more. Cos it’s the Singapore Great Sale! I shall only spend necessary. And I shall remind myself every time when I pass by the malls and shops, that I’ll only spend on necessary stuffs… Things that I can’t get in Malaysia and probably just some nice tops …. And maybe a pair of shoe and a nice sandal to replace my torn Reef sandal… birthday present for KY. Arghh.!!!.. It has started… my list… of ‘Things To Buy’. No… no… no…

I shall control my self and have some financial discipline!.. I doubt that I would have the time and spirit to shop since the only reason that I’m going there is to do market survey on the booths and design stuffs there. Meetings and store visits the whole day.

I got the confirmation on the reservation of the hotel yesterday. The booking was done on the SG side. All I had to do was to let them know what time I’ll be arriving at the airport. I got a shock when I receive the reservation letter from SG. The cheapest room in the hotel has been all fully taken. And the second cheapest room cost SG$ 215.00!! Not including the taxes, service charge and GST. That would be RM495 a night.

RM495 A NIGHT!

Instantly, I felt really remorseful. I emailed SG side and asked them to recommend another alternative hotel to stay in.

“Slightly cheaper”.. I said. “It might be slight over the budget”…..

I ‘reported’ the hotel issue to my boss. Asked him if there’s any limitation on the hotel stay. Told him about the charges and I wouldn’t mind to look for another cheaper hotel on my own since the SG side is busy preparing for the budget meeting. Shockingly and I’m still in SHOCK… that he say GO AHEAD.

“Please stay in a nice hotel. You would be tired at the end of the day and I would like you to have a good rest…”

My jaw practically dropped and my eye was about to pop out! (Even though my eyes are really small)

“While I was on business trip in America….. blahh blahh blahh…. The subsidiary company “XXXXX” in America, arrange a very nice and expensive hotel for me…. Blah blah blah….” he continued. Still felt guilty after hearing his approval.

I had to email SG side again to tell her to ignore my previous mail cos my boss said it was okay to stay at that hotel. She must think that I’m pretty troublesome. Oh well…

I AM still feeling bad about it. About the RM495 per room thingy!
There goes the year-end bonus. Apparently, my colleagues told me that this company tends to give you less bonus at the end of the year if you’re given the chance to travel. They would use this as an excuse.

Is that common in other companies?

I shall enjoy it for now then…