i'm gettin bored in here.. where can i go next???

Whenever i got sick of work(which is very often) i will visit my fav budget airlines webpage. Jetstar, Tiger, air asia, firefly and even lionair. Just to find some inspiration on where to go next. Where i go next is more than often decided by the prices of airticks.

Proudly, so far, my air ticks for tis yr are all below SGD100. That is for Langkawi, BKK and Bali.

Sadly, now, cheap air ticks in my definition is Below SGD100, for RETURN.

I've a feeling that i wont be flying as frequent as i wld like to. Meaning that i will most likely be coaching or ferrying to nearby getaways like Malaysia, Bintan or Batam, which is fine with me.

Just that i'm hoping that Jetstar and Tiger can come up with more routes because.. where budget goes, i go.

I just found out tt Jetstar flies to Japan frm Aust. Will they fly from Sing to Japan someday since we are the midpoint btw those 2? Sigh..

Darcy came back today aft a wk away at ET+hsemates. It's the first time he's nt at home when i am. The hse seems quieter, cleaner and more lifeless. I shld say tt i was fortunate to fall sick since he got away as the flu medicine and cough syrup numb my senses and brought me to a floating dimension. I spent my first 2 days without him sleeping.

It feels weird not having to fight for my blanket as well as my bed space. I can sleep in whatever positions i like and roll all over the place without worrying of squashing him. I can wake up at whatever time i like because he wasnt there to bark at me at 8am to open the door for him to go in and out. I can spend my whole day watching drama online without wondering if he's bored and in need of some entertainment. Suddenly i feel that i have more time to spend and soon i was thinking of getting another tuition assignment or two. Think bout the extra income i can get.. ($_$)

Despite having more time, bedspace, drama watched, i'm still glad that he's finally back. All i can say is, it has been a long long week.

When i left darcy there last sun, i was hoping tt they wld call me up the following day to pick him up and bring him home as he had been a terror. But sadly, the feedback i gotten were..

'Hes a very well trained dog..' frm ET's hsemate
'Hes an angel''Its an eye opener, i cant belive he can be so docile' frm ET
'Hes so teh..' frm another hsemate.

Thru out his 1 wk stay there, he didnt bite them like he did me, he didnt bark except when he gt lock in the toilet(just for fun they said) so he barked once to get their attention, he sit when told to and simply said, he acted the role of an angel pretty damn well.

They, ET and the hsemates are now looking for a sheltie to call their own.

I just hope theirs wont be suffering from spilt personalities like mine. =D

i'll try real hard..

I'll try my best to ensure that i do not balloon up and become so fat and lumpy such that ET will feel embarrass to be seen out with me.

=(

Back n feelg lost..

I remembered the first day i was back, i woke up feeling lost. Like i'd lost my motive in life. For the past few days, i wake up with an excitement of not knowing what i will see and what i will get. Tuesday, i woke up dreading the coming of wednesday where i'll be back to wearing heels and tight skirts and long pants.

The past few days had been maddness. Oh, how i love THE MADDNESS. The shop and shop and shop and shop till you drop and you still dream of shopping kinda maddness. I remembered the last night at Suan Lum Nite Bazaar, after a relaxing foot massage and a super heavy dinner of Peking duck+pig trotters+braised pork with man tou+duck soup and duck toa gae, after shopping for an hour or two where i'd just covered a quarter of the nite bazaar, i could barely keep my eyes open. Yet i push myself to go on only to succumb to the temptation of the beer garden. Sadly, when we reach the Chang counters, pasted on the taps were printouts that read ' We do not sale alcohol'. Trust me, i almost fainted on the spot. Our faces were like this => (-_-!!!)

Anyway, here we goes again...

Night 1 - Thursday - 6pm
We (e 4 budgeters or budget airliners) met at Changi Airport Terminal 1 to check in, each with a hand carry ONLY. Nothing more nothing less. Just a handcarry each to bring on board. We checked in, wait for our flight and flew into the skies at 7plus, reaching BKK at 8plus Thai time(1hr behind Sing). We were WARMLY welcome like VIPs at the airport by the 2 who reached earlier as they caught the flight that served food and drinks. Anyway, to cut the story short, we took a maxi cab to our boutique hotel, checked in, went to our rooms, changed to more comfortable clothing for the rest and off to the street to search for food.

We settled our roadside cravings with banana pratas, sotong, grilled chicken (which make me recall of a funny tale. We were walking and we saw this man pushing a cart of bbq chicken coming our way and past us. Being us, we immediately u-turn and follow behind him till he stop. He was unaware of our presence until another store owner signal to him of the 2 hungry ghosts who cant stop eyeing his chicken.)

After which we walked on and as it gets later, it became harder to find dinner (note: it was almost 11pm). We finally decided on the chicken rice which is yummy enough to fill our stomach and wait for breakfast. We went back after dinner as most places are closed. Bathed and sleep.

Day 1 Night 2 - Friday
We woke up and had streetside breakfast delivered to our room. Where can you find this kinda service?? Only when you travelled with bentan when his sis is around. Then you may leap in the benefits.. muhahah..

At 10ish, we proceed to BKK aka Platinum mall. We shopped till 4plus and went for lunch at A&W den back to shop somemore till 6plus where the reason we stopped is because our cash is low!! I brought 5k baht which is about sgd200++ out tt day and i almost finish them all. Luckily i didnt bring out everything else i dun think my extra 150sgd will be able to last me for the next 3 days.

We went back to the hotel, rest our feet for a while and went out again to Central Mall (i think this wat its called) for Naraya. Its crazy inside. It seems like theres some massive sale around but THERES NOT. Everyone is busy grabbing stuff like free one. I think this shop had become a tour highlight for the China tourist. Goodness. I upon walking into this shop, saw the maddness walked one round and decided to stay put at the entrance and wait for a seat. I got one, sat and waited for the khakis to do their shopping, pay and go for dinner. We intended to go for Peking duck but we reach there at about 10pm and they are closed for the day so we went to another Thai restaurant which we went the previous time. We were the last customers and some of the stuff we ordered are already sold out. So we have to replace another order which is also sold out. ANd to replace with another item which luckily they have. Anyway, after a fulfilling dinner of pad thai, tom yum kum, pandan chicken and steam otah, we cab back to our hotel, bath and went to bed.

Day 2 Night 3 - Saturday
We went to Chatuchak market early after another round of 'room service' and spend the whole day there till around 4pm. It was a hot hot hot hot day. I reckon it will be a smarter choice to go bkk during dec as its way cooler. Anyway, i didnt buy a lot that day while the others did. The buddy n i bought mostly accessories and a quaking chicken for darcy. We cab back, took a shower, went for fish spa (i promise myself tt i will not try it again!) at the hotel lobby, den went to meet yl's thai friend for dinner at a sister branch of S&P restaurant. Think its near Siam Square or something. The area is rather cool and high end i would think and is worth a visit (e next time i go). (Note: Hard Rock cafe is there.) Aft dinner, we went to a temple and went back to hotel to shower and sleep.

Day 3 Night 4 - Sunday
Today, we became tourists instead of shoppers. We went to take a river cruise!! How fun!! But apparently not. No particular reasons for why not, just tt i felt kinda cheated to have to pay 500baht (appro $20+) to go up and down the river.

We stop at the grand Palace and decided to forgo the visit and went to Chinatown for Birdnest (500baht). But this, is WORTH it. Haha...

We walked around, den went back for a shower den went for foot massage which was nice enough. Not as painful as i thought it will be. Went back to our hotel, catch a shutter bus to the train station and went for my Peking Duck. Again, we had a room to ourselves which is a fortunate event as i dun noe how i will feel to have my fellow diners talking about P-holes and S-holes infront of other diners. After which we to to Suan Lum Nite Bazaar and back to our hotel to sleep the nite away.

Day 4 Night 5 - Monday
We (e 4 who had not have enough shopping) woke up early and went back to Platimum Mall for some last minute shopping. Till about 1pm where we went back to check out of our rooms. We kept the luggage with the adorable bellboys which capture the buddy's heart so much tt the buddy didnt want to come back and started blaming us on why didnt we remind her to take a photo with them. Thats how adorable they are. Anyway, we went for a Thai Massage while the other ladies went for a pedicure/manicure. The massage was not as scarry as i thought but in the future, i think its best to request for a female massaue.

After tt, we had Swensons, went back to pick up our luggage and took a cab to the airport (700baht). Waited for our flight and reach singapore at 2am. I was dead tired when i board the plane and for once, i slept once i got on the plane, woke up a few times now and then and went back to sleep till we almost landed. Not once did i talk to shu yan or maybe i didnt remember speaking to her. But i was so damn tired by then.

Reached home, a super warm welcome by Darcy the Jumping Jack, showed Darcy the quaking chicken which he didnt like very much, took a shower, dry my hair and sleep all the way till the next noon.

It was a nice trip and which i'd been telling my colleagues, i'd bought enough wkend clothings to last me for the next 2 yrs. By then, i will be back again. To buy my next 2 yr worth of wkend clothings. =D

Anyway, no picts because theres nothing tt i took except 2 picts which is pretty entertaining and i shall post it another day.


To: You shld know who u are
I saw this Pink (sadly nt red) T-shirt with a 4 leaf clover on it and words that read 'I rather be lucky than good' (its so u right?!!)which i bought with the intention of mailing to you. Only to lose it. Dun ask me how. Somehow it was misplaced and i cldnt find it for the next 2 night. I'm so disappointed but i still want to let you know that you ALMOST have a t-shirt like tt! heee....

Missg my Sydney Road aptm n WOW AU

I'm nt a SUPER EARLY morning person, but i dare say i'm a early morning person (dependg on wat time ur early is, mine is 8ish)

Since i wake up early and have the whole place to myself(& darcy e shadow) w no nice early morning shows, the only thing i feel like doing is to cook a big hearty breakfast. That is eggs, sausages, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes kind. But its hard to do so in sing. Because the kitchen is not MINE!!

Our kitchen has everything i'm sure, just that 20% of the things i need, i do not know where they are placed. Another 40% of the food tt i need are spoilt or expired and very possibly with mould growing.This can be verify by Mr Peng who had, over the years, grew to be smarter and will check the expiry date of everything he used and then take a sniff to double confirm that they are alrite. THIS, is my hse in Sing.

Whereas, on the otherhand, in Melb, in my little Sydney Road 2bedroom apartment with Safeway just behind, literally JUST behind where i can just 'lup' a jacket over and go for grocerries instead of changing to appropriate clothes and walking to the nearby over crowded market and snatching with others for the freshest food available.
Yah, back there i waltz into Safeway and shop in a peaceful enviroment with no sweat achieved.

If i feel like having pancakes, i buy buttermilk and some strawberries,

if i feel like making eggs florentine, i buy some baby spinach and muffins,
if i feel like baking i can buy all the flour and sugar and butter i need,
and if i feel like making toast, i just buy bread and whatever fillings i feel like.

Here, the nearest supermarket that will offer buttermilk, fresh baby spinach and the other more 'rare' stuff will be up the little hilly at Woodgrove's NTUC and its not everytime they will have it and not forgetting the queues and the sweat achieved.

Lastly, not forgetting the cleaning up part, in my little Sydney Road Aptm's kitchen which is small but well equiped, its also neat and tidy where things are properly stored away after used and everything has a place of its own. Not forgetting that the place is bright and airy. Here, the kitchen is so messed up that i just leave it there and let my mum do the putting away part because trust me, i'm not lazy, its just tt when the things are finally dry they are just not where i'd left them at. And honestly, i just dont know where to start.

Argg.. On days like this, i really miss my Sydney Road Apartment and WOW AU.

BUT, BUT, BUT, what i have here and not there are khakis to have pratas, macs big breakfast, kaya toast etc etc.

There i only have ET(when she's nt busying phoning home) who will indulge w me once in w while for some eggs florentine and ice coffee in somebody's garden, ultra thick hot chocolates and pastries by the street and not forgetting the bratwurst w sauerkraut as well as the sugary spainish donuts in vict mkt.

Sigh.. Those were the days!

confession

i officially admit: i'm a fb stalker!



shit..

A quote tt i can fully relates to..

"the purpose of a Friday night is to apply alcohol to the pain of living."
- Celia Brayfield

The fifth hundred entry - Langkawi

Am back from the 4D3N trip to LKW and her nearby Thai Island.

Loved it!!!

The trip was good. A luxury trip i wld say. We spent a total of 440sgd+200usd+1000rm+600baht.

Our airticks which were booked last oct cost sgd70 each. Flight took 1.5hrs including boarding time. The actual flight time only took 1hr or so. Upon reaching lgw, we took a cab(rm20) to our resort which is about 20-30mins away.

Our deluxe room @ Holiday villa cost 350rm per nite, no breakfast included. Poolview. Ground floor. The service was alright and the plus side is its filled w angmos. Thru out the stay there i didnt see a lot of singaporeans or chinese which is so good. I cld easily imagine myself to be on an Caribbean island.
After checking in, we went to the nearby restaurant, Sunday for dinner. rm120 for 2 mains, 1 stir fried veggies, 1 soft shell crab, 2 beer. Nice bali-thai deco hence the steep pricing. The food was so-so but the ambiance is worth it.

We went back to the resort wanting to go for a soak in their Jacuzzi but they close their pool at 8pm with the reason tt they had added in chemical to clean their pool. So we had to soak in the bathtub instead.

Day 2
We rented a car for 100rm and drove around lkw. My 4th country tt i drove in.

We went to tanjong rhu beach,

the city,

took the cable car(rm30 each),

and end the day w a lobster dinner (rm180). yumm..
check out the price for ONE bowl of rice.. we almost fainted..

Day 3
We took a day trip to the nearby Koh Lepe (The Maldives of Thailand) which is an hr away frm lkw via speedboat. The return journey cost rm280 each. This only covers the speedboat ride, on the island its own time own target own expenses.

Check out the clear blue sea..

Koh Lepe is a small island that has 3 beaches and is all within walking range.

Theres no car on the island, only motorcycles. Lots of simple thai cafes, thai massages and thai dogs.

Here, i counted less than 10 chinese. We are the minorities and can say tt the Thais' look out for us. We walked around the island, found a nice place for lunch(450baht),

went to the beach and found a shady place to waste the day away. I rented a mask(50baht) n did some snokelling along the beach.

I saw a lot of clown fish, parrot fish, big colourful clams, a lion fish, many sea cucumbers and other fishes. Not much live corals here due to the boat activities, but there are shops there that offers 2 type of snorkeling trips to the nearby reefs at 550 and 650baht that last for a day, departing at 9.30am, coming back at 4.30pm. Hence if you want to do both trips, its recommended that you spend 4d3n here.

Their accomodation cost around 1200baht for 2 pax for no aircons and hot water to much much more for resorts style.

Day 4
We slept till we had enough and went for breakfast(30rm) at the Catus restaurant just outside our resort. They served American bkf, British bkf, Malaysia bkf, International bkf, pancakes and such. It has a very sit back and relax feeling for me, no air-con, wooden tables, mismatch chairs, large bright dinning plates and most importantly, freshly squeezed orange juice!! yumm..

Aft bkf, i decided to give it a go at sun tanning. Thru out the whole trip we were trying to avoid e sun as much as possible but tt day i decided to 'TRY' sun tanning to understand why the ang mos enjoy it so much. At the poolside of course.

I changed to my one piece swimming costume, slap on as much sunblock my body can take, took my book, a bottle of water and the large pool side towel and 'chop' a partial shaded lounge for myself. I went for a dip den went back to read my book. Feeling my body turning warm then dry then hot is actually quite an enjoyable feeling. When i felt myself beginning to sweat, i went for another dip to cool off. Due to time constraint, i head back to our room, shower, pack and then check out at 1pm.

We slowly walked out of the resort to find a place for late lunch and after a 30mins walk we ended up at this simple and nice place(which i cant remember its name).

I had a mexican pancake which i like very much, she had a curry chicken which is nt too bad either.
My iced coffee float taste kinda different but bearable and her iced tea is fruity and cooling.
Our lunch cost 50rm which may be ex for Malaysian std, but aft converting to sgd, its actually reasonable. We sat and eat and chat till nearly 3pm, paid for the bill, got a cab, went back to collect our luggage and head to the airport.

And before i knew it, i'm back in SG. One more mth to go before my next getaway. How will that be then?

Tip: To avoid unnecessary conversation with strangers, just smile and pretend you do not know english and they will just assume that you are from China..

Note to self: Get dark shades for ppl-watching.

15 more hrs to go..

finally, i'm going away. thou nt far far far away but at least away.

Work was getting even worst than i cld take, silly awful mistakes were made every single day for the past wk. Hence i tried to do e minimal tt i can get away w. But there were still errors here n there n everywhere. Perhaps its due to e fact tt i'm actually already away. Just physically here, mentally there.

Hope, i'll come back feeling better w a clearer mind. In all, a peaceful-er person.

Lets see if i can finally start my traveller's blog tis time.

May my next 3days be filled w beer, more beer n even more beer!! Maybe a little bit of sun and sea. Hope i can see what i want to see...

brb
=D

wishing

i'm far far away..

0.769230769

Happy 20th Anniversay old mates!!

We have known each other for 76.9% of our life..

Live well and

Happy New Year!!