1 day only? GAWD!

Oh dear! It seems that everytime I update my blog nowadays, I start with apologizing for the infrequent update nowadays. Simply too lazy to do it. Sometimes, I do have the sudden inkling to want to share my current life with everyone but somehow, the urge just passed by. It seems to be much simpler to just type a few words in the facebook to let friends and families know what I been up to nowadays. But once in awhile, mind you, very occassionally, I do just am able to sit my butt down in front of a laptop or PC to type one of my super duper long posting.

So, let me what has been happening first. After the trip to Jakarta, my next trip was actually to the Batam Island for a day trip via Singapore! Yah, you read right, DAY TRIP. Basically, what this means is me waking up at ungodly hour of 5am and left the house on a taxi at 5.30am to go to LCCT. Catch my flight to Singapore and from Changi Airport, fight my way (err..not really fight la but it does feel like a battle when venturing into unknown alone)..fight my way to the Habourway Jetty to take my ferry across to Batam Island.

I, of course, thinking to safe company some money (and with great sense of adventure), decided to take the train from the airport to the jetty! Thank god at the airport, there is the traveller center where there are friendly people to provide maps and precise instruction which train to get on, station to get off and reboard on another train and where the final stop. I had to change train twice (!!) before finally on the right train bound for the jetty.

At the jetty, unknown to me, the counters are actually in a shopping mall and so is the departure counter AND custom since I am basically going out of Singapore into Indonesia. Anyway, I landed at Singapore airport at around 9.30am and only finally reached the jetty departure hall at 11am, i.e. 1/5hours later. (Later, I found out that if I have taken the taxi, I would have been at the place in 30min!!)

Jetty took 1hour to reach Batam Island(Left at 11.30am Singapore time, reached at 11.30am Indonesia-time. Cool huh? But my bodyclock all screwed up!! HAHA!). Despite the heavy downpour, the ferry was relatively smooth ride. Reached Batam jetty, my colleague and customer picked me up and we went for lunch before going to the customer office (NOTE: Lunch in Indonesia). The meeting was until 2.30pm and we race back to the jetty so that I can catch the 3.30pm ferry back to Singapore so that I can get to the airport on time to catch my flight back to KL.

I reached Singapore jetty at 5.30pm (I lost 1 hour due to time zone difference) and decided to walk around the shopping center for awhile to see if anything interesting. Then feeling super tired, follow the sign to the taxi stand at 6pm. I finally reached the airport at 6.45pm because it is the traffic peak time in Singapore and traffic jam (but trust me, the jam is nothing compared to the one in Jakarta!)

Checked in and then my silly stomach complained rather loudly. I remember a sign pointing to foodcourt when I was walking around like an idiot this morning looking for help to get to the jetty. Anyway, I found it and am super duper happy! Why? Because it is non-halal!! And I also found pork bun in a bakery! WAHAHAHAHA! A big big big happy thing for non-muslim Malaysian because basically almost EVERYWHERE here is halal food!

I finally home at around 11.30pm that day. And as I described my trip to hubby, I suddenly realised that I had my breakfast in Malaysia, lunch in Indonesia and dinner in Singapore. All in less than 20hours! This is definitely something that I wont ever forget.

Next trip? 29-30 Jun will be in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. 17-21 Jul will be in Kuching (Yeahhh!!!). 5 Jul on leave because want to clear the leave in lieu (we are awarded 1 day off for public holidays that fall on Saturday but we need to clear it within 1 month from the holiday date or else burn). 9-11 Jul will be at a camp half way up Genting for teambuilding. 2 Jul will be having dinner at KLCC for the customer appreciation nite organise by Sales and Marketing. 7 Jul is dad's birthday. And I think I am suppose to arrange a trip to either Surabaya or Medan (or both!) in Jul too. 

Not sure if I can survive it but I sure hope my new staff will be on board soon. I am up to my brain with all the work. DROWNING DROWNING!!!! Ashame to say that lots of work behind schedule but I just cant find the time. I mean, at the end of day, by 8pm, after having worked for more than 10hours, how the hell want to think and concentrate ah?? 

MY GAWD! The long posting and it is only talking about 1 day trip! Wait till y about I post my 2 or 3 days trips! HAHAHAHA!!

p/s: They finally remembered not yet give me my confirmation letter and I am expecting to receive it from HR anytime soon. Frankly, I dont know if this is good news or not because it means that once receiving the confirmation letter, I will need to provide 3 months notice if I ever got a better offer elsewhere vs the 2 weeks now :P

Day 1 & 2 in Jakarta, Indonesia

(WARNING: This is a loooooooooooooooong post. Dont say I didnt warn you yar!)

Today is 2nd day in Jakarta. Arrived yesterday at around 12noon Malaysia time, or rather to be exact, my plane landed at 12noon and I finally step outside the airport at 1.30pm! Yah, took almost 1.5hrs to get thru the custom! I guess it is really my luck for the day because a few planes from different countries landed at the same time as mine. So, of cos, everyone of us need to go thru the custom.

Imagine hundreds and hundreds of people of different color and language queue at 8 custom counters waiting to be scanned through. Well, okay, not exactly scanned but did had my face taken. So, the Jakarta/Indonesia custom have my face in their database somewhere.

Pity my colleague that is meeting me at the airport to go customer together though. He waited for almost an hour! Anyway, once we got me out of there, went straight for our appointment with the customer. That is where I was informed that everywhere in Jakarta, takes an hour if there is no traffic jam.

I tell you, after seeing the jam in Jakarta, I will never again complaint about our Malaysian jam. Gosh! I take my hat off (if I have one) to all the Jakarta driver! It really amaze me that there is hardly any accident at all! I mean, the way they drive, you would have thought something really seriously bad would have happen right in front of your eyes. I come to the conclusion that Jakarta driver are actually more skilled than us in Malaysia...better drivers!

Let me give you some examples:
1. A small mini van without any door but with small wooden seats inside, suddenly stopped in the middle of the street with cars in all direction and people start coming out from the mini van onto the middle of wherever the mini van parked and casually walked to the side. Again, let me emphasize, MIDDLE of a three lane road! Right where I dont know how many motorbikes and cars are trying to squeeze through.

2. A big huge truck in front of me, painted yellow stopped on the right side of the three lane road, and I see 3 primary school boys climb down and proceed to cross the road to the sidewalk! Again, with lots of cars and bikes squeezing thru each other.

3. Stopped at a traffic light, suddenly see a man with a plastic bottle (like the cola bottle la) going to a big truck in front of us and proceed to open the side gas cover of the truck. I was innocently thinking that the fella is cleaning the gas cover in hope of getting some payment from the driver. Guess what he is actually doing? Stealing gas from the big truck!! The area we are at is actually just a few km from the port. So, imagine how many of those trucks that goes up and down a day. Just a liter from each truck....wah lau. By the way, not much the driver can do because it will turn ugly if he tries to stop them..

4. Parking are hard to come by in Jakarta. So, there is basically not much choice but to park in such a way that the car will blocked other cars that is parked in the parking space. Guess what you are suppose to do if you parked your cars blocking others? Leave your phone number on the windshield so the people will call you to move car? WRONG!! Leave the car in neutral so that if you blocked anyone that wants to leave, they will just push your car away!! HAHA! I heard about it but seeing it in action was really something.

5. At every other traffic light especially those under a flyover, you would see really 'pretty' ladies shaking a small containers filled with coins going from car to car to collect coins. I understand from my colleague that it is better to just give the few rupiah than trying to do anything..

6. At almost every traffic light, there will be people selling something, mineral water, newspaper, magazine, keropok and so on. Also, really pitiful to see, at one traffic light, pregnant mother and a little boy (I think no more than 10y.o) carrying a baby walking from car to car begging for money.

7. Understand that kids/children also sit on top of the train (no need to pay bah) to get from place to place. Previously, some of them were really badly injured but there is not much can be done because even after the security tried to stop them, they will climb on the train the moment their backs are turned.

Really eye opener and makes me appreciate what I have more. I understand those lower income group earn only around RM300-400 per month. If I only earn that, I really dont know how to survive. I must be thankful for what I have and dont grumble too much about difficulties at work. (But that does not mean that I will not look for better opportunities la)

Of cos, there are wonder things to say about Jakarta as well. The people that I have met so far, really really polite, gentle and friendly. The place I am staying now, people are super polite. I dont know whether it is because I am a foreign gal travelling alone and hence, they try to make my stay as pleasant as possible. Or maybe it is just how the service of this hotel is. It is a 3-star hotel but the service I got, it felt much better.

Food...gosh...let me tell you about the food. I kinda regret not having thicker skin and just whip out the camera and snap the food! Lunch yesterday was simple noodles with wantan but (and I am sure its difficult to get this in Malaysia), the noodles so so so so delicious because it is mixed with pork oil! HAHA!! Yar yar, anything with pork is good? My colleague had mixed rice which turn out to be crispy pork, char siu and a few more pork meat.

Then dinner, my colleague, his wife and daughter brought me to have nasi uduk which is basically rice wrapped in banana leaf and lots of other food that is wrapped in banana leaf parcel and steamed. My most favourite is the tempe here. It really taste super different than the one we have in Malaysia. If I can, I would really like to buy frozen ones and tapau it back!

Breakfast this morning was in the hotel as breakfast was included as part of the room package (by the way, room is about RM200+). That is pretty normal hotel breakfast. So, no comment.

Lunch was nasi padang. Again, the tempe. 3 of us, 2 plates of rice with tempe, vege and fried whole chicken leg. We shared a packet of deep fried beef skin. I had ice water and the other 2 had orange juice. Total damage = Rp45,000 (which is roughly RM18). Ok considering the portion! By the way, the deep fried beef skin is super addictive. Not as oily as pork deep fried skin. In fact, super light, fluffy and crunchy.

Dinner, I decided after 2 long days, the ppor guy, my colleague need a break from me. So, I told him that I would take care of my own dinner. Frankly speaking, I feel paiseh la because they wont let me pay for anything!

So, after much thought either to go out, eat at the coffee house downstairs or room service, I decided to have dinner at the coffee house. I am glad that I did because for RM48 buffet inclusive of tax & service charge, I have a selection of tender super juicy medium rare beef slices with mushroom sauce, bbq chicken, fish kebab & beef sausage, a variety of local dishes, salad spread, fruits and super rich tiramisu and chocolate cake selection. Back home, this would have cost me easily at least RM55 excluding tax!

So, here I am now, contented & full, almost 11pm Msia-time (10pm Indo-time), comtemplating what I want to do next. Watch one of the 30 channels available, read my book in bed, surf internet some more or sleep.... hehehe.. Dont you envy me? :P Haiyaa..dont lar. Exhausting okay business trip. At least, for vacation, the brain dont have to work much. Business trip is exhausting not just physically but mentally......

Ooops..okay, enough. Really long post already. I must develop really thick skin tomorrow and whip out the camera even in the car and snap more photos. Babe will be laughing because I carry his camera around but only capture photos of the hotel room! HAHA! OKEEE.. NITE NITE!!! MUCKS PPL!

SWIMMING & DIRECT SELLING....

My colleague and I finally went to the swimming at the pool at my apartment yesterday evening. I was suppose to have a meeting at 6pm yesterday but after dialing in and waited for about 15minutes, the moderator has not dial in yet (turn out he couldn't wake up! He was 5am his time and 6pm our time. Guess cant blame him lar). So, we dropped the call and decided that since still have time, we might as well go back to my place for a swim.

It was actually pretty dark by the time we finished changing to our swimsuit and go to the pool. Dark but still can see lar because the sun has not fully set. That was around 7.30pm. always thought that the water will be warm because the pool would have absorbed the heat from the sun the whole day and is suppose to release it slowly in the evening. But the water was so cold last night! Super duper cold. Kee, my colleague was actually shivering! I know I can feel EVERY part of my body tensed from the cold.

But after moving around in the pool for awhile, we felt better lar. There was another girl in the pool. One of the people staying at the apartment too. It was the first time I see her. When she wave and say hello, we thought she was just being friendly at first. Then suddenly, she ask do you know what is , I actually rolled my eyes in my brain, OH NO! ANOTHER DIRECT SALES! I have nothing against people that do direct selling but please lar! We went to the pool to swim and have fun. Not to listen to the nonsense about EXPERIENCE SHARING GATHERING or whether we are interested and if yes, she can invite us! As if that is such a previlege thing, to be invited..sheesh!! GERAM!

But me and K being super nice people, we just dont have the heart to tell someone direct to the face to shut up and leave us in peace. So, in the end, we were trying really really hard to change the topic a few times without much success and when she asked if we are free this Saturday, that was the last straw and I immediately told her, sorry, I wont be around. Will be going away for a long trip. I think she finally got the hint lar and left the pool without saying goodbye or anything! HEHEHE!

Anyway, we had a good peaceful swim after that. Looking forward to doing it again. Maybe we go to Jusco later and check out the swimsuit on 50% sales? ALAMAK! Errr...maybe not. Need to save $$$ ~>_<~ Or I bring Sum there and ask her to buy her swimsuit & googles??? PPsst, Kee, what u think?

After the swim and bath, we went to the mamak for dinner around 8.30pm. Ate thosai telur again with chutney that is white (coconut I think) and brown (er..this I am not sure what but really nice mix with the white one). Kee also ate thosai but hers was plain one. Babe at nasi pattaya and we ordered chicken tandoori. Super full after that but we were glad because we ate super light throughout the day and finally go swimming. Dinner was not too heavy. So, all in all, it was a good day yesterday.

p/s: *singing and humming* SMILE SMILE SMILE SMILE SMILE HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!!!! Going back the day after tomorrow!!!! No need to work for 16 days!!!! GRIN GRIN GRIN GRIN!!

My Business Trip

Some of you might remember that I had a business trip to Penang and Kulim middle of Nov08 AND I promised to upload some of the photos that I took. This is actually the second time in 2 months that I went there for business trip. The first time was on my own and since it was the first time that I was there, it was really really really really boring. I was really looking forward to coming back (but I did miss the hot shower at the hotel!HAHA!! Babe, time for us to invest in our own heater...)

Anyway, the second time was with another colleague and we left together with four other customers of our to visit the vendor for an audit. And as usual, since we are with customers (and big shots too :P), our vendor took really good care of us and bought us for yummy seafood dinner. Of course, all thanks to our customer special request for mud crab, I think I ate enough seafood in that two nights to last me pretty long time.

On the last day there, since my flight was in the evening and the colleague and his family is actually staying in Penang, they have nicely offered to bring me around Penang. I was relunctant at first as I didn't want to bother his weekend with his family too much. After all, he only get to see his wife and kids a couple of days every week unless there is a public holiday or he is on leave. But after some pursuasion that the kids will enjoy it too, I agreed (KEKEKEKE! Haiyaa..pretend to be shy mar, cannot ah????)

So, after having bak kut teh and yam rice for breakfast, we drove around Penang and we stopped at a cendol store by the side of the road. He told me that this is one of the most famous cendol in Penang and I had to believe him because I can see hanging at the stall, a photo of Phua Chu Kang having cendol too! A humble A4 size photo laminated with see through plastic. Of course, the moment I taste the rich creamy coconut milk cendol with the sweet gula melaka, I am hooked! Definitely need to bring babe here to try this.

After that, too stuffed to even contemplate or think about any other food (although the colleague promised there will be more to come before he sent me to the airport), we went to the temples near the hotel. And if I did not tell you that this photos were taken in Penang, I think you would have thought I went across the border to Thailand! Just look at this amazing photos took with my motorola K3 handphone. (WISH I HAVE A DSLR!A D60 would be good. Or even a secondhand well cared for G9<-hint!). I will not put any comments at each of the photos because I think they speak for themselves.

Penang Assam Laksa

Short one, just to show what I had for dinner last night at Gurney Drive. Yup, made it after about 20minutes walked from the hotel. I was a little too early because most of the stalls were still not opened or just getting ready to open. Was thinking of having the famous Penang fried kueh teow but it was not open yet. So, had this instead, Assam Laksa. The taste it not bad. Noodles in thick spicy sourish gravy with a fishball and hardboil egg. It tasted abit like the belacan beehoon we have in Kuching but the gravy is thicker here. So, the photo to share:


Only 1 photo you ask me? YAP! Pathetic I know but was too tired to take more. Big battle at my vendor and aching feet makes me less than excited to take more photos. Maybe tonight if things are good and I can get back to my hotel with rejoicing heart.

God is Testing Me?

Here I am in, in this stupid lonely hotel. I never thought I will say this but I HATE TRAVELING ALONE! The taxi picked me up from the apartment at around 1.30pm. Arrived at LCCT at 2.30pm. Queue to check in for more than half hour because the conveyor belt to scan the bags are jammed for more than 20minutes and another 5minutes before finally my turn. Actual queue at the counter was only about 5minutes! So, only done check in by 3pm.

And AirAsia being what they are, lowcost carrier which promised to reduce delay to below 2hours, DELAYED for about 30minutes. So, I can't claim my RM300 (?). They got us to board the plane at 4.30pm and only took off at 5pm. Half hour in a super crowded plane is no fun at all! To make matter worse, they merged earlier flight going to Penang with the one I am on. So, it is super super crowded. Arrived at the Penang Airport around 5.45pm, took my bag and then taxi. Taxi to hotel cost me RM38. Then another hour to arrive at the hotel, i.e. around 7pm.

Then I discovered that I have to put RM1,400 as deposit and all I had on me was RM900. I also just reduced the limit of my credit card in my effort to control my spending! GGRR!! I was under the impression that this is company trip, so the company should be the one handling all this right!? JIAK LAK! After handing over all the cash I had on me, I realised that I do not have any for my taxi tomorrow and it is already 7.30pm! ARGH!

What do I do? What else can I do? Left my bags in my room and when down to look for ATM lar. The nearest atm do not have MEPS! Only can use for visa! What kind of bank is that? The kind that is for rich rich rich people that I am not (YAR I AM MAD!). So, I walked and asked direction. Then half way through, it hit me that I shouldn't be asking any tom,dick, harry or jane where is the nearest bank! I mean, that would really be asking for trouble right???

So, I thought I just walk. I am bound to find a bank or something somewhere. After a few minutes walk, I can see the Shell station in a distance, about 10min walk. Normally, petrol station will have atm right? So, I walk and walk and walk. To make matter worse, it actually started to rain while I was halfway there! God must be really really testing me. Here I am, in a place that I never been to, and he decided this is the time to throw all the obstacles at me!

I can only say thank god that He is at least protecting me and make sure that nothing bad happens to me. I mean, I practically walked at the side of the road for more than 30minutes - ONE WAY! Some parts of the road are really dark and as I go through them, I was thinking to myself, if anything happens, who shall I blame first? Thank god I was able to find the bank and it happens to be the bank I need as well. I would have settle for any bank at the time as long as I can withdraw cash! They can charge me all they want!

So, bought dinner and went back to the hotel to arrange for my transport to Kedah tomorrow. Guess how much the lady at the counter told me the taxi was? RM140 for an hour rite!! That is one way. So, returned trip would be RM280! Crazy or not? I mean, I take taxi from my place to LCCT took slightly more than an hour and it only cost me RM80.

Thank god I have a colleague that is from here and he started to furnished me with plenty of local taxi. Finally found one that is willing to accept RM90 for one way. So, return is RM180 and for tomorrow till Friday, that means RM450 + RM140 (since I already stupidly book the taxi from the hotel for tomorrow morning) = RM590! This not yet include the taxi to and from LCCT. Should be another RM80-100. So, total taxi for my 4 days 3 nights here is RM770! Hotel is RM660+. Luckily can claim!

I guess I should thank God that He is taking care of me in his own way. I mean, after this, I will definitely know what to expect for my next trip here. I am sure it will be pretty soon lor. Already know one is planned for somewhere middle of next month. I think I am turning into a regular high flyer? Right now, I don't know if I am enjoying it or not. Too damn frustrated and still numb from the expenses inccured on the trip. I will let you know once I start travelling more. Tomorrow evening, if enough time, will be going to Gurney drive, which I was told about 10-15walk from here?

More mumbling about SLEEPLESSNESS!

I am in my hotel room now and it is 11pm(Tues) US-time and 2pm (Wed). Planning to go to bed in another half time or else I will end up being super blur when I go to the office tomorrow at 9am. Yup, we still need to go to work at the US-office like normal eventhough we are suppose to visit the vendor tomorrow afternoon and will be leaving for the airport to fly back tomorrow night. Am not looking forward to the long trip back (sigh)!

Still feeling very tired as I only sleep an hr on the plane. The next time any1 envy me for going to US for such a short trip, i will tell them no need to envy. 5 days, only 2 days in US and the rest of the time in airport/plane. Let me see,
Home to Airport = 1 hr
KLIA waiting = 3hrs (Reached airport early bcos the driver drove reli fast)
KLIA - TW = 4.5hrs
TW Airport transit = 3hrs
TW to San Francisco = 11hours
San Francisco drive to Santa Clara = 0.5 hours
TOTAL = 24hours
And I woke up at 6.30am on Monday, mean that 6.30am to 12noon = 5.5hours

Total 28.5hours??? And then after we check-in at 10pm, we went for late supper and only got back at 11pm. I only finally sleep at 1am after checking my mails and going online to catch up with my work. So, honestly, the next person that tells me they envy me taking long flight by plane to US, I will make sure that I told them that they are crazy!

Anyway, let me share some pictures of my hotels with you. I really like it as it is really big. And I absolutely LOVE the weather here! Summer but so cooling and deliciously chilly! Even now, I didn't on the aircon but instead, open the sliding door leading to the balcony. I will definitely miss this weather when I go back! Ok, enough loso from me, here are pic:

The Hotel
Double story chalet style. Some rooms has two bedrooms and some only one (like mine)

The view from the door of the room

Each suite have private kitchen complete with EVERYTHING. I want my kitchen to look like this!!!!

Kitchen even have oven. In the cupboard there are knives, eating and cooking utensils, measuring cup and so on

Fridge, dish washer and Microwave

King Size Bed and 5 pillows!ALL FOR ME ALONE! MUAHAHAHAHAHA

Popcorn, instant decaf coffee and coffee for the coffee pot, hot choc, salt & pepper shaker. YAP, I took everything except the salt & pepper of course! hehehe

Grocery List if you want the hotel to help stock your kitchen for you

I guess all I can say is that, the next time the company wants to sent me here for a longer trip, a few weeks maybe, I don't mind staying here again. ( I am not sure babe will agree with me on this though! hahaha!) The service is great and the place is fantastic! Thanks to Marriot Residence Inn at Santa Clara, it has made my super short trip memorable.