Jammy Jam on Public Holidays

This is also one of the very reasons I want to work on public holidays, so that I don't get into those snail crawling traffic jams. Look, I even had the time to take some pictures of the horrible ques, cos the traffic was at a standstill. This picture was taken on Chinese New Year eve, where everyone was rushing home for their family reunion dinner. Everyone wanted to get out of Penang and head home to their respective hometown. Whenever there's a public holiday, Penang bridge will be so jammed pack. It could take more than an hour to get from Bayan Lepas to the other end of the bridge. AWFUL!!!

After CNY, everybody come rushing home to start work again on Sunday night. And this time, it took me 1 and a half hours to get from Bukit Tambun to Penang across the bridge. It was almost midnight, yet, there were still so many cars. Unfortunately some reckless drivers had to get themselves into some accidents which caused the jam to be even worse. Look, I'm at the smart tag lane to the bridge. Yet, the que was at a halt. Some inconsiderate drivers without the smart tag was queueing on this lane, then they will cut in to the touch and go lane. Of course nobody from the touch and go lane would give way. PBSB should do something about this. Maybe baricade the smart tag lane 100 meters before the toll booth. So, those without the smart tag who drives into this lane will get caught at the toll booth and be fined RM 1000 for their stupidity of not understanding that they are at the fast lane. It's supposed to be fast and not hold up by their lack of brains for not having a smart tag, but being on the smart tag lane. I'm sure this fine will definitely scare the shits out of them and the smart tag lane will operate as smooth as it's meant to be in the first place. And guess what? There were no jams on Monday morning. I guess everyone decided to come back on Sunday night. And hey, I'm at work today!

Wan Dala... Wan Dala...We should all be damn grateful for all the things we have. I was in Siem Reap on 13th - 16th January, and I had a really mind blowing experience there. The thing that struck me the most was the kids, probably less than 5 years old, were carrying their much younger siblings and begging for a dollar from the tourists. It wasn't a very pleasant sight. From there, I started to think to myself, on how lucky I am, for all the things that I've got.

Apart from that, we visited the Wats, which were magnificently structured. Each step that I took, I kept wondering how these people managed to build the temples before civilization without any modern technology to carry the heavy blocks of stones. Amazingly the stones were just stacked on top of one another, and yet they stand majestically til now. You won't be able to imagine the precision here. Also, the carvings on the walls were so beautiful. You'll keep imagining how'd they do it.

Brand new year 2008

A totally brand new year ahead of me. I'm very sure it's going to be a really good one. I think to myself, what have I done last year? Nothing much to shout about. But this year, I'm going to make a difference. I want to have a more meaningful life. I will try to blog more often, as with this, I can document my life.

A little bit about my current state now. I have not mentioned about my second nephew, Adrian. He was born on September last year. Oh, he is as cute as Brian. He looks like Brian, in fact! I've not seen them for quite sometime already. Hopefully I will catch them during Chinese New Year next month. Brian is 4 years old already. And Sarah will be 2 this May. So miss them.

I'm still at work in Penang. Looks like this is going to be my carrier here. Let's see... it's been 5 years, I'm still in the same company. Not bad, eh? I'm trying to make each day that I go to work more meaningful now. Besides making lots of money, which is the ultimate aim, I want to make a difference too. How? I don't know, I'll just do it as it comes.

Next week, I'll be going to Siam Reap with Sunshine and some other friends from Taiping. They chose to go there because we're flying AirAsia. They made the booking last month, which was very cheap, so everyone wants to go. I'm aiming to go Japan end of this year.

You know, life is good when you start thinking that it is really good. Look at it, I have clothes to wear, a car to bring me around, a place to stay, enough money to spend, I'm healthy, I'm capable of earning and make a living for myself... This world has been good to me. So, I am damn thankful for everything that I have! You should too.

Counting down to 2008

Day in, day out, and another year passed. Still wondering what is the meaning of this life? Feels like just another ordinary life in the world. I hope 2008 will be another smooth or not better year for me.

Christmas

I woke up early this morning and headed for work. Feels like just another ordinary day, minus the traffic jam on the bridge. I chose to work today. Or else, I wouldn't have anything good to do either, might as well come to work.

It is really hot outside. The sun was burning into my skin as I went out for lunch earlier. I guess getting the sun once in a while is ok. Oh, I went to see a doctor yesterday cos there's some rash on my skin. According to the doctor, I am allergic to the sun. Hmm... it is really weird. How on earth?

Santa's Coming to Town

Three more days to Christmas. I've been working non-stop since 26th November, inclusive of Saturdays and Sundays, for the past 4 weeks. Wa-hey, I'm at work still today! My shift will be over at 3pm. I'm getting my day off tomorrow. Guess what? I'm working on Christmas too.

Everywhere is so Christmas mood now. Last week, when I was in Singapore for the Road Show, there were Christmas carol performances and Alvin & The Chipmunks came out with a Christmas Soundtrack too. Last night, I went to Queensbay with Lisa, and there were carols at the atrium too.

I'm not really into the Christmas mood yet. Well... what do you actually do during Christmas? Go for mass, exchange presents... Nothing much or big for me, as I will be at work. Feels like I haven't got much to look forward to this holiday season. So, the big question is what is this whole life about? Truth is, life is all about choices. And you choose which path you want to take. Life can be totally awesome, depends on how you want to see it.

Mixed Feelings (Part II)

A few blogs ago I had the title "Mixed Feelings". But I didn't elaborate more of what actually I was feeling that time, other than my amazement of that humongous 747 that flew me from Penang to Singapore. Cos at that I time, I was really having this mixed feeling. I heard the news about one of my very close childhood friends' father had cancer. It was scary, I didn't know what to think and write. Well, time made us drift very far apart eventually. We didn't keep in touch right after I left to Australia. All that I could do is to pray for him, so that he does not need to go through the pain and agony of the desease and chemo. I hope he'd be able to battle this and gets totally well.

St. Regis

I had the opportunity to dine at St. Regis on the last day of my Singapore business trip. The hotel is not officially opened yet, but Ivan invited us for a simulation dinner. It was so prim and proper. Miuz and I were just after work, so we weren't dressed for the occasion. Well, I didn't have any proper clothes at that time too, even if I had the chance to go back to Fairmont to change. St. Regis looked so luxurious and expansive. When we reached, it was pretty late and it was closing. We were practically greeted by every staff who passed by. It's like "wow", they were so friendly!

The name of the restaurant is Les Saveurs. We don't even know how to pronounce that. It's a French name, if I'm not wrong. I took pictures of everything I ate that night.

This is Amuse Bouche, salmon and prawn tartare with yuzu dressing. It tastes so good. The portion was very small as it was just a simulation. It made me crave for more.

Next we were served with some bread. I chose the bread lovosh and bread stick. It came with a very nicely shaped butter that looks like a Christmas tree.

They served the soup while we were enjoying the bread and butter. Pumpkin soup, butternut squach with crab soup.

The main course was Cod Rossini. Look at the picture. First layer was foie gras, then the cod and a piece of potato. Feels like the foie gras just melts in your mouth!

Lastly, the dessert. Chocolate. It was so good. Of everything I ate above, this was the most heavenly!

If you had the opportunity, go to St. Regis for a nice dinner. Pamper yourself. I think once in a while, we all deserve to enjoy life. Dinner at St. Regis was really satisfying. Especially when we were having crappy food for the past few nights.

Yakun Kaya Toast

We've been having breakfast at Yakun Kaya Toast for the past 3 days. A cup of coffee, 2 half boiled eggs and 2 pieces of toasts costs S$ 3.90. The place seems to be full most of the time, not only for breakfast. A decent meal to start the day, as Miuz and me seems to miss breakfast at the hotel every morning.

I think I'm going deaf already. Our booth had to be right smack beside the stage and the speakers are blasting right into our ears. Awesome isn't it? We always have big blasting speakers beside us for almost every fair. Miuz has been talking to me and I had to make her repeat herself a few times before I could absorb what she was telling me. I think I need to check my ears when I go back.

Alvin and the chipmunks were here earlier. They were so cute that all the kids were crowding around them to take some pictures. Of course I didn't miss out the chance to have a picture taken with them. They were just so cute and cuddly. Santa was here too with his Santarinas.

Mixed feelings

This was the wing of the plane that flew me to Singapore two days ago. It was a really huge plane. I think this wing must be 30 meters long. Normally we fly on the smaller planes. I have always wondered how a plane can fly. And the size of this plane really amazes me. Humans are so brilliant. Thanks to the Wright brothers we could fly from one end to the other side of the world. Isn't it just so awesome?

So, here I am in Singapore now, running a Christmas Sale in Funan with Miuz. First day of sale is quite promising, we broke the egg. I'm sure it's going to get better tomorrow. I know it will.