Sydney....

Some more pictures from my sydney trip....

Grand Pacific Drive....Lunch for 2 pax....super big portion...

Trip to Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves:

Katoomba - The Three Sisters...

This cave is at least 440million years old....awesome!!

Sydney...

Its been a farking long time since I blogged. Seems like this blog is dying... Finally found some free time to blog and bitch abit.

Had a super busy September 2009. Went to KL for an audit from 8/9 - 18/9, attending wedding in KL on 19/9, spend the weekend with my gf there in KL as well. Then 20/9...I flew back from KL to SIN....thankfully my uncle came and fetch me from airport...so I went home, unpack, repack, then off to airport again for a 7.50pm flight to Sydney. Was in Sydney from 21/9 - 02/10.... with audits in full swing, it was a darn busy month...

This was my first time to Sydney. It was very nice!! Experience the "red dust storm" which shoudded the entire city in a glow of red. It was amazing. I was quite blur...dont know what's happen...so didnt take any pictures...

went to do the grand pacific drive on sat....some pics...

My first glimpse of the entire ocean.....awesome!!! I really love the nature and clear blue skies!

Finally...Its FRIDAY!!!

Since Monday, I've been waiting for Friday. Since August, I have been waiting for September. Haiz, I wonder how is my working life going to be for the next 30 years. How will it path out.

Sometimes, I just wish to fast forward my life by 10 years or so. Really wonder what it is like down the road....

Anyway, lets just enjoy this weekend before I head to KL next week for the audit which I hate to do the most for this entire 2009.

God bless me.

ChatterBox: Chicken Rice

Oh my gosh! As there is a 1-for-1 promotion by Amex card, I decided to bring Shijia to the famous Chatterbox for chicken rice. I have heard so much about this place and since now there's a promotion, might as well go for it.

Chatterbox is on the 39th level of Mandarin Hotel. The view is really amazing. Probably because it is still daylight and I can see so much more clearly. The usually busy roads are being camoflague by the tress. With a view from the top, it is when I realised that Singapore have so much greenery every where. I could see miles away, up to Jurong Port.

The presentation of the chicken rice was good. The meat was generous with a selection of either breast meat or wing meat. Both tasted first class.

A chicken rice set cost $24. After Service charge and GST, a meal will set u back by $28.25. Very costly for just a plate of chicken rice. While the promotion last, I do advice those who have amex card to go try it out.

Prices have been rising and as Shijia's mum was telling me, it used to cost only $8 in the past.

Stupid Old Man!!

Went to the Temporary Rochor Market with lunch with my colleagues on afternoon. In total, 5 of us guys.

At the market, we saw an empty round table, with 6 seats. One colleague of mine kindly sat down to "look after" the table while the rest of us go get our food. I was the first to return with my food and my colleague went to buy his.

As there are still 2 trays of plates on the table, I cleared them. As I was seated alone, on a clean table with 5 more seats, I guess many people are definately eyeing the empty seats. One fucker, whom I guess is an educated man, came and sat down. This guy, looks to be in his mid 60s, dress in long sleeve shirt, with a tie, and a tie pin, came over, and just sat down without asking, plonking himself n the food onto the table. I politely said "Sir, this whole table is taken". My colleagues have went to buy their food.

The fucker retorted "What reservation? No such thing as reservation". Then he just continue to eat his food. My temperture immediately rocketed! I was super angry and scold the old man. But amazingly, he totally ignored me! I was saying, what the fuck is this? I cleared the table, and you just come and seat down? Granted that there are 5 of us on a 6 seater table, ya, techinically there is 1 empty seat, but of so many tables, must you come squeeze with me?

My colleagues returned with their food, some not knowing what happen while those who returned earlier ask me to relax. Even while I was eating, I keep on lamenting that "so many tables, die die must come sit here, make me lose appetite" and stuff like that. All the while, the asshole just keep on eating silently.

I guess he must have realised when the entire table full of 5 burly guys surrounding, you jolly well finish eating and just fuck off.

You bloody old man, good riddance to you. Just watch out. The guy you cross path with might not be so nice to you.

Marina Bay Run / Army Half Marathon

16 August 2009. 5.30am. Esplanade Bridge. Start Point. 21km lies in wait.

Gosh! It was on Friday night, when a friend told me she's going to join in the Army Half Marathon that I decided to go for it as well. Been tinkering with the thought of participating in some long distance running. This is my chance. Heck la, just go for it. After all, I have been running 10km at times on the treadmill. Time to test myself.

It was a struggle to get up at 4.15am. I consider that the toughest part, making up your mind to go for the run, getting up so early in the morning and transporting myself there. Half the battle won. Lucky, my uncle also decided to join me. He who was boasting he can do a Standard Chartered Marathon, decided to join me for the 21km. His first 21km. My third 21km.

Flags down, and we are off. The long ardous road ahead. But hey, there are thousands of bodies running together with me! Lots of motivation to run. Bodies in all shapes and sizes. There are some really lean machines, some out of shape ones... But all can run. From Esplandade Bridge, turn at One Raffles Quay, on the ECP, onto Sheares Bridge, exit Fort Road, all the way into East Coast Park, U-turn.... back out...Mountbatton Road, down Stadium Walk, Nicoll Highway, Esplande Bridge and finally, Padang... Sounds long eh?

By the time i was into my 13-14km, my thighs started to stiffen and cramp. Gosh... I was only at East Coast Park... Already I see those African Blacks making U-turns and exiting from ECP. They are damn fast. By the time i was at Mountbatton, I started walking running. My uncle forge ahead all the way. Soon I lost him. I was alone. But hey, I'm with thousands! There are lots of fit young girls.

Cheekily, I started to run beside any girl that I can find. Pace with them. Haha. That's one tactic in running. Running beside them and pace with them. That way, I can't lose face by giving up. But many times, the girls just forge ahead and left me behind. So sad. :(

Anyway, got to experience standing on the F1 Race Track, seeing the grandstand and probably what the F1 drivers will feel come September.

Finally, I ended the race. 2hours 40mins it read. Not too bad I guess. My uncle came in at 2hr 20mins. Very good for a 46 year old veteran.

The rest of the day was agony. Slept few times. Back ache, thighs ache, foot sore. Took me 2 days to recover.

Looking back, I'm proud to say I can still finish a half marathon.

Keep it up Qing Hui!

21km and counting...

Sun Yan Zi!!!

Wow! Its already mid august....time flies... been quite busy lately so no time to blog...Well, much have happen over the last 2 weeks. I attended Sun Yan Zi's concert on 11 Jul in Singapore....She gave a very good performance. Love her concert....

While in Shanghai, I went to attend her concert again. Well, its an open air soccer stadium!! Gosh! Sound system wasnt very good as in it can't surround the entire stadium. The China locals, totally lack of etiquette. They were smoking in the stadium, among the crowds!! Disgusting! Then when it started to rain, the idiots started to open their umbrella...towards end of the concert, they started to throw their lightsticks forward and onto the pitch...my gosh..... really put off by it...

some picts from Shanghai....

There we are, waving our little Singapore flags throughout the concert. Really proud to be Singaporean, and really proud for Sun Yan Zi to do us Singaporeans proud..... Well, her concert was on 8 August, 1 day before Singapore's birthday....

Off to Shanghai..

Finally, after rotting in office for 9 weeks, I'm off to Shanghai this Sun for 2 weeks. And its going to be my first time in leading an audit (with DHL)... dun know if its good or bad also...

Happen that my mgr who is suppose to go with me, is require to go USA (lucky fella!!) for another audit. So ended up I am having another colleague (same rank) to go with me. As I have been doing the planning all along, I'm arrowed to lead the audit....its a new audit for me...

Hopefully I can take some positive from this experience. QH, its time to stand up to show your boss you are better than you german senior!!!

Boss, you reading this? :P

Act of kindness...

Well, just a short post for this... My company every Tues & Thur will have delivery of fresh fruits to the pantry...whenever the fruits came, somehow, word will be will pass around very fast and all employees will swing by the pantry to grab their fair share of bananas, apples and whatever. Some, will take even 2 bananas or more so that they have enough for Weds and Fri. Nothing to say on such acts...

So, as usual, such fruits, especially those easier to peel ones, will be gone within 5mins of arrival.

Today, I was in the pantry and I ask the Auntie there, fruits haven come ah?" Haven come then forget it. I'm not going to walk back to the pantry later when it comes. Too lazy for that...

At 11am, when the auntie went about her rounds of collect mugs, wiping the dust, she handed me one banana. Gosh! appreciate it alot.

Thanks Auntie (although I know you dun read blogs)....

KPMG Gathering...

I like gatherings. Gatherings resembles a forum where we all meet to catch up and share our lives. Not necessary through the exchange of words but by observing each other. I notice some of my ex-colleagues are looking happier, some have grown a few more white hairs, men are getting older with our ever-increasing bulging bellies.

Its good to meet. Thanks to Brenda who organise and of course, thanks to all who came. I really enjoyed such sessions where we all play some games, laugh, talk cock, eat, be happy.

Hopefully they will not kill me for posting these pictures (Partial state of "under dress")

The beautiful ladies of my ex-department...

The hunks...

Looking back, I do miss all the good friends whom I have got to know during my time in KPMG where we go through many late nights and weekends today. All of you have been a part of me someway or the other.

Can't wait for more activities to come!!!!!

Day out in Sentosa..

Really starting to feel like a tourist after checking out the Singapore Flyer 2 days ago, I visited Sentosa. Well, Sentosa have really change alot. A day out in Sentosa at the beach practically cost next to nothing. Your $2 entrance fee covers all the train and tram rides within Sentosa, free use of the beach. My gf, her siblings and I went to the Tiger Sky Tower (Former Carlsberg Tower), Luge, Merlion, 4D Animation and Underwater World.

Great views again at the Sky tower and I really enjoyed the luge. Well, the ride up the sky way is scary to me, with our legs dangling in mid-air! Had my heart in my mouth for a few moments. For me, the highlight is the Underwater world where I saw black tip sharks, nurse sharks, leopard sharks, crabs of 1.8m is size, stingrays and lots and lots of never-seen-before fishes! There's a "touch pond" at the entrance where we can really touch and feel the harmless sting rays and the baby sharks.

Great experience which I will strongly recommend.

Now for the pictures...

Resorts World...amazed at the speed which they build the place...

A ride on the sky way.... totally no enclosure...scary..


Waiting in line for the Luge...

Top of the World...On the Flyer...

Been busy of late. Busy slacking at home and idling away, not wanted to touch the computer much. Yup, was clearing some annual leave on last Thu & Fri.

Well, thanks to my gf's cousin who had free passes to the Singapore Flyer, I was treated to a great experience up in the sky. The ride up the capsule was really superb! As I started the ride, I felt like a 5 year old again. Running about in the capsule. A modernised version of the good old ferris wheel, going up to dizzy heights.

Ya, I'm not someone who is afraid of heights. But when the capsule reaches the top, my gosh. You can really go whobbly in your legs as you peer over the glass, with the ground a far distance from you. But the views are really great. I envy those who are staying in Carribean Bay with a view to die for.

View of Shenton Area View of Suntec Area..

View towards East and Marina Golf Course.

View from the Top...of Shenton Way

Do try the Flyer. Experience of a life time. Have a good flight.

Bah Pok in the heartlands!

Wtf! I'm seeing Bah Poks standing at the bus stop, in comical make-ups and fake boobs trying to attract attention and earning the few bucks! Global Financial Crisis? Sexual hormone changes?

I was giving spy a ride home and as I was drinking earlier, he told me to exit by jurong town hall (Jurong Canal always got TP lying in wait). As such, using this route, I will be able to drive pass the bus stop which I will have miss if I were to exit by Jurong Canal. As we drove pass, spy told me, there have been Bah Poks here plying their trade for some time. I asked "Where? How come never see before???" As I missed them, I made a U-turn and went back to checked the missus out.

One word. Comical. few guys, fake wigs, fake boobs, shitty make-up, sexy pose, crooked wrist, trying to get "business", REAL voice. GOSH! THIS IS JURONG! How can this be happening????

I will be exiting by Jurong Town Hall from now on.

The good old times..

Its been a long while. Long time since the few of us had gathered and meet up for dinner and drinks. Gone are the good old days where after our Boys's Bridage sessions on the countless sat afternoon, we will all hang out at the Jurong West KFC for dinner.

I was brought to this restaurant for dinner. Gosh, guess I must have blinded as I asked myself, " How the heck I'm not aware of this place??" Better than Botak Jones. Similar concept, but restaurant style. Aston's the place. Suntec City. They serve mainly western food with a Stirlon Steak going for $13.90 with 2 sides! A pork chop cost only $6.50. Spaghetti cost a similar price. Drinks average $1.50. No service charge mind you! Only the standard 7% GST. 4 hungry guys tucked into our dinner and the total is only $51 bucks. Worth every cent. Delicious food, not to mention, with good service.

We adjourned to a new pub down in town. Gee, I'm not going to share this place with all of you! Its going to be one of my fav pub as present so I do not want it to be too crowded!

Well, the pub has about 6 tables indoors, with dim lightings, retro advertisement on its walls (Think Ya Kun), a bar counter and an outdoor area with 3 tables. Initially, we sat inside. Enjoying the plush comfy chair, sitting back, enjoying our wines and beers. Good retro music mix with the Top 40s and latest hits is played at a volume good enough for us to enjoy the music, yet chat among ourselves without screaming out lungs out.

A group who were seated at the outdoor area left and I relunctantly went to the outdoor sitting area as my buddy wanted to smoke. Holy smokes! The view was stunning! You can see the entire CBD, in the calmness of the night. The light breeze gently cools my face, making it the most enjoyable drinking experience. Best of all, its 1-1 all night long with free potatoes wasabi chips, courtesy of my buddy's long standing reputation. (He's regular there la). We are the only group at the outdoor area and we can have a good and long conversation covering all topics since our NS days, to working life, to handling our girlfriends till present life. Good chat we have.

The drinks are of good quality too. A pint of heneiken cost $15. One for one. A glass of red cost $13. One for one (Can be red or white). There are other drinks too, where 3 glass goes for the cost of 2. Again, no service charge. Only the 7% GST.

I will be coming back again. For sure.

And I ain't going to tell you where.

Jokes of the Day....

Really made my day at work to read of the following on the mile Hi! club's website..Read on...

A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane. He turned to her and said, ‘Let’s talk. I’ve heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.’

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger,‘What would you like to talk about?’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said the stranger. ‘How about nuclear power?’ and he smiles.

‘OK,’ she said. ‘That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff–grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?’

The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl’s intelligence, thinks about it and says, ”Hmmm, I have no idea.’

To which the little girl replies, ‘Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don’t know shit?

Yeah, sometimes I feel people don't really know shit about what they are talking...
And me don't care a shit neither.

Frequent Flyer Club...

Itching to blog again... Hahha...blogging is addictive!

Well, in the past, many of my colleagues are members of the PPS Club. With the cost cutting now, I believe most of them are kissing goodbye to that PPS card.

What I managed to amass is only enough points to qualify for Gold Status. 50,000 miles! Easily clocked in my first year. You started to enjoy the special "priority" tag on your luggage, the lounge access even its on an economy flight. Well, in my second year, I missed out on about some miles and did not managed to clock the 50,000 required. SIA even send me an email, "Sir, if you can take any flight on SIA to anyway, we will retain your gold status for the year". Sadly, no flight consumed by the stipulated deadline.

Next I knew, my status drop to silver. The package which SIA send to me, containing my "Silver" luggage tags and silver membership card, I leave it on my table, unopened. I could still remember 1 year or so ago, when I was upgraded from a normal membership to Silver, I ripped open the package with glee. Now, it means numbness.

Screw the membership! Guess, its a form of self-console...

Bali Trip..

Had a short 4 days holidays last week in Bali with my Zhar-Boh. Personally I feel, a holidays can be of varying nature. The rush-rush, see-see, shop-shop type, or the lie back and relax type. I choose the latter.

As the car pull into the hotel, I was thinking, gosh, hotel on the hill top? Away from the crowd? Away from all the hot bods and babes from Kuta? Over the days, I learn to appreciate the goodness, the calmness and the serenity of the hotel.

This hotel is located on a hill right between Nusa Dua and Jimbaran. Called Swiss-beLhotel Bay View. http://www.swiss-belhotelbayview.com/ The hotel is very quiet, not much people around. The rooms are nice and spacious, with a view. An Ocean view, no less. Not right on the beach, but on the hill. The top of the hotel on the 6th floor, is the restaurant cum a roof top swimming pool. How I miss having my daily breakfast there, with the continous breeze on my face, over looking the vast open space and oceans. In the distance, you can see colourfly kits flying in the sky.

No one swims in the pool. Rare. So it turn into our own "playground". Both me and my gf will swim in there, braving the cool breeze. But oh, just 2 of us. Enjoying the ocean, enjoying the sun set, admiring the star-lit skies,.

A picture of the pool and view..

A wet drive...

A wet morning. How nice to stay in bed! As I had told myself the night before, "Lets take the train tmr to work". Yeah, rubbish that. I had wanted to take the train this morning to work as I'm meeting some friends for drinks, late into the night after work.

All Eco-friendly thoughts dissipated as soon as I got out of bed to see it raining outside. "Lets drive instead" came the voice within my head. Drive it shall be.

As usual, wet mornings meant heavy traffic. But I love wet mornings. The air is cooling, the driving conditions are different. The spray from the roads, the decorated wing mirrors and the swishing of the wipers. I quite like it.

Tips for drivers. Turn on New 938! Listen for traffic watch! Gosh, heavy traffic on AYE towards ECP...Accident before Clementi Road... Thats confirms it. I'm going to bypass that and use the West Coast Highway to get to office. As usual, there's tons of heavy vechicles, the trucks, low-loaders, pick ups and whatnoughts. Well, I egg my humble Opel Combo on and nip in and out of traffic. Not the dangerous driving kind, mind you! But its the judgmental kind! You predict if the red lights in front is turning green soon, u quickly select the fastest moving lane. I love going over the puddles of water on the roads so that you create a wave (Sorry pedestrains! Will try not to do it if there are people at the side!) The trill of choosing an alternative road instead of the clogged up AYE, trills me.

The satisfaction that I derived, makes my morning good. Its like a game of Outwit, Outlast and Outdrive on the roads. Ala-Survivor style.

You Dumb Oaf!!! YOUR ROAD ah?

Finally...the place where I can curse and swear and spew expletives at others without getting retorted back. Maybe you will say I'm a coward, coward for not confronting the dumb ass. Whatever you say, but this is my blog. Yeah, no racist remarks. I know.

Last night, I reach home about 1030pm. As usual, the mini carpark at my block all no more lots. So as a usual practise, all will park along the double yellow line, facing OUT, on one side of the road.

As you can see, this stupid idiot of a driver, park his F***ing car on the other side! Causing a bottle neck and blocking the entrance. I was incensed and pissed! What an inconsiderate dumb oaf! Don't you follow the bloody culture that we have for the last 20 years and FOLLOW??

No choice, carpark full (obvious), i go to the next block to park. As I was exiting the carpark, I saw the United Premas officer on the bike, already on the spot, booking the car. After searching for long, managed to find a lot. So I tore a piece of paper out of my scrapebook and wrote something on it, to "gently remind" the driver to park his god-damn car properly. Be it on the pavemant, on the ramp, handicap lot, I don't care. Just don't block the road!

As I walk to place my note on the windscreen, I noticed beside the parking ticket, another piece of paper. I burst out in laughter! Another like-minded resident had the same idea and fury as me! He wrote it using black marker!!

Well said.

Book review - Memoirs of a Stewardess

Gosh...Was lunching with a colleague and we decided to go into Popular. Chance upon this book. The MileHi! Club, by Janet Chew.

This book practically captured my attention with its cover and it speaks about the very thing which I would like to know about the airline industry and of all the stories I have heard from my air crew friends! I am witness to some of these as well!

I demolished the book in 2 nights and had raided its website as well...the jokes, the anedotes, the wacky language...LOVE IT! http://milehiclub.sg/

To all my friends, I strongly recommend this book. The $20 that you pay, is worth every single cent for 2 nights worth of self-entainment and enrichment.

Why Blog??

Why? Why blog? Why join the craze? Its fading...

Well, after reading so many blogs, contributing to so many forums, having so many views, so many comments, guess the time has come. For me to share, for me to voice up, for me to compliment. I feel I will be able to realise pent up frustration, scold the hell out of the guy who incurr my wrath, or praise the lovliest cutie pie that I have just seen sashaying down the street.

I hope this blog can record down memories, good and bad ones, act as a diary to my life, enable me to list what I would like to achieve for myself, in life and at work.

Hopefully my tales will be able to capture you, hook, line and sinker...