Recent trip to BKK

Went on a sight-seeing trip to BKK.

Stayed at Somerset Park Suanplu Service apt.


Had quite a pleasant stay there I must say.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is ze living area........

and ze Kitchen......Complete with ze oven and cooking utensils.....



They have TV in the living area as well as 2 other TV sets one in each room. Very nice decor. Zen and comtemporary look.

We stayed on the 23rd floor.......

Unobstructed view from the balcony on different parts of the day








We went to the floating Market- one and a half hours car ride away from Bangkok city......and first stop was a souvenir/palm sugar producing shop.... along the meandering canals....


Wanna make a quick guess what do you think the picture below is of?

Quite an experience thou nothing to buy there really for most of their wares are also available in bkk city and they are targeting at more unsuspecting tourists I supposed.

I did not really get to spend much time there.....I supposed if I did, maybe I would be able to find/see the floating market that correspond to those beautiful postcards that we see so frequently.

..............to be continued.

My 'virgin bake'.....Decided to bake my mom a carrot cake for Mother's Day. Results.....too hard on the outside.......think I used a tat bit much flour.........I must try again.........

Careful with the receipts

The other day, I was shopping for stuffs at the local supermaket near my house - the one that advertised for being opened early in the morning and that you'll be able to Shop and Save- for ingredients to make Salad and Pumpkin Soup for mother's day and happened to see that the Cherry Tomatoes are on promotion. The refrigerated shelf pricing labels indicates that it is $1.70 each plastic container (punnet?).

After picking the rest of the stuffs, at the check-out counter, the cashier - a young lady wasn't sure what is the code to punch into the register for the Cherry Tomatoes and so she checked with her neighbouring cashier who advised her to key in certain code and the price was $1.95. I disputed the pricing, but the young lady looked to her colleague who arrogantly and impatiently insisted that the pricing was correct. Just as I told the cashier to ring it up and I'll go verify later, the supervisor - a guy approached and clarified that the code is different and managed to key in the correct code with the right pricing $1.70. All this time, no apology from both the cashiers and supervisor. I know it's only $0.25 difference, but what I'm trying to highlight here is the level of service or the lacking of (and the lousy attitude). In the end I choose not to make any noise and just pay and leave.

Moral of the story? better check the cash register when the cashiers rings up your purchases. but I guess nowadays bar codes are widely used and hardly the need to be punching in codes so errors are minimised also not to expect too much from such local supermarkets.

They should showcase those person around the smoker - their emotions.

I can't say for sure that smoking killed my dad, but it's definitely a contributing factor. It's unbearable to see someone close to you go thru the suffering - the angioplastry and other treatments. My maternal grandfather died of complications arising out of lung cancer. Till this date I'll never forget what the doctor said to my mum when my grandfather was running a high temperature and slipping in and out of consciousness - 'the cancer tumour has spread to his brain, there is not just one but many tumours and they are growing in size. There's only so much space in the head and so they are squashing the brain and have damaged the portion regulating the body temperature.......". Imagine being at the receiving end of this piece of news regarding someone you care.

Sometimes they only highlight that smoking may cause lung cancer, but they don't showcase the complications that may arise or the fact that if you have lung cancer, it doesn't necessary mean you die of lung failure only.

So that's why I say, even if you don't care for yourself, show that you care for your partner by quiting smoking.

That's why I hate to see someone light up a cigarette in front of me.......

On a lighter - not that lighter for fire - note, I have this crazy crazy 'song kram' inspired idea of our NEA officers going around with water pistols or 'super soakers' on every first Wednesday of the month (in conjunction with BYOB day) - environmentally friendly mah - to extinguish cigarettes when they see people light up.....haha.

Quit - Smoking.

There's been much criticism over Singapore NEA's recent hard-hitting anti-smoking campaign which includes the use of the graphic television advertisement showing a lady suffering from mouth cancer.

When I first saw that ad on TV, it was pretty startling for me especially when I was half surfing the net only to turn my head to the screen to see the part where they already zoomed in on the mouth. Like most of the people who wrote in to Today, I had thought it's the trailer for another horror movie. I can imagine the impact it will have on young impressionable kids.

Using scare tactics to attempt to make people quit smoking - my own feel - may not achieve it's desired effect.

I feel it would be better to showcase the plight of the family members/love ones of the smokers should the smoker be diagnosed with smoking related illness. A friend once said, 'when you're ill, it's your love ones who suffer most' - which I agree.

So if you're a smoker, think of your love ones.......not just the 2nd hand smoke aspect but how they will feel should anything happen to you, the mental anguish they will suffer.

I'm calling on behalf of XXX Bank, are you holding any XXX bank's Credit card?

They called me on my mobile using a 'caller-number non display' line, identified themselves as 'calling on behalf of XXX bank' and yet asks if I carry XXX bank's credit card.

Firstly I don't even know where exactly they are calling from, especially since they choose to 'hide' their calling number.

Claims to be representing XXX bank yet they do not know if you're already the bank's customer and expects you to divulge personal and confidential information.

It has happened to me a few occasions and I'll shoot them down with the points I raised above. One time, the caller actually agrees with me! hah!

Last week, it happened again and this time this guy's more persistent. Saying that they are offering existing card members a chance to get a supp. card with waiver of annual fees and they are giving away a free passport holder with each successful application......duh! Don't mean to appear snobbish here but who cares for a passport holder. (which most likely will be embossed with the bank's logo on it?)

I know it's nothing new, some banks have outsourced their card's membership drive to agencies. Some of them may even have gotten our infor from Lucky draw coupons that we filled up.(some do ask you to indicate if you paid via Visa/Master - since you qualify for one card, you should qualify for the other banks). Guess that's the mode of operations for these agencies. I think, well maybe they are authentic and are not fraudsters but I think their approach needs some fine tunning.

Also just the other day a lady from this pretty well known bank to offer me balance transfer facilities 'at low interest rate'. When I turned down the offer citing reason being 'no plans for usage at the moment', she tried to hard sell me their plan where should you lose your wallet especially with all your credit cards (any bank), you just need to call one number and they will cancel all your cards for you and even protection against fraudulent use of your cards. Agian I turn her down.

And she goes like:

"Sir you mean you don't own a lot of other bank's credit cards?" I was thinking, "none of your business!" but still I politely told her I still don't see any need for it (especially not when you need to pay $49 a year!)

"Sir you mean you don't travel a lot and so is not scared of potential risk of losing your wallet overseas?" at this point, I was actually quite upset with her and almost went

"You there, you mean you don't know you're being very rude?"

2nd day of the IT show at Suntec Convention Hall

2nd day of the IT show at Suntec. The place is crowded, littered and crazy. Most environmentally unfriendly event. See the brochures littered indiscriminately on the floor.

- This blog was updated through my M1 mobile phone.

My new hobby. Making orchid potted plants

My new hobby. Making orchid plant from artificial 'orchid'. Want to buy one?

- This blog was updated through my M1 mobile phone.

Gong Xi Gong Xi! Happy Lunar New Year.

ICT

Having my ICT from 29 Jan til 10 Feb and I already felt the heat when I saw what's th programme like online from www.ns.sg .

Today is off-in lieu as this weekend (starting tomorrow morning) til the coming Friday (9th Feb) will be out field.......

To that sargent who called me and those excused field duties (by the MO) lobos - Yes we excused field duties but you think your breakfast that morning found its way to the store all by itself (so that you guys can wake up at 9am and not miss it?) bloody hell; yes you all went for training till very late, but I also did not get to sleep until you guys return and yet I had to wake up at 6.30am to go cook house to ta pau breakfast for the whole company. There are those guys who are also lobos and stayed in their bunk the whole time and who only show their faces during meals time and booking out, why I never see you get them to help with the chairs moving thing?

Use your brain!

KL and Port Dickson

Went to KL 2 weekends ago and it was the first time I went to The Curve - which is rather near 1 Utama.

The Water Chalets


Also my first visit to Port Dickson ......Stayed at the A'villion Village Resort.

Very neat and tidy room that even comes with a day bed (near the window overlooking the sea).The rooms are very clean and tidy...only some of the desk, cupboard looks a bit old. Even so its a very nice and well maintained resort. One thing I like very much about this resort (amongst other things) is that the pool (one of the two pools within the resort) is open 24 hours.

The Village Pool

A view of the bathtub & Shower from the room

U can see the stars when you shower at night....

Went for a walk during low tide.........

There was this army of tiny little crabs scrurrying with their own agenda.....they were very quick to zip into their hideouts or dig fresh ones when you approach.....like the ones you see above are about the diammeter of a 5 cent coin or so - think the biggest was just slightly bigger than a 10 cent coin.

The Swedish Ship East Indiaman Götheborg docking at Vivo City.

Boxing Day - Earthquakes

I sometimes wonder what kind of society are we becoming if the top story of the day is "how our communications via the internet to the outside world is disrupted by an earthquake" and people's main concern are "how they can't trade online/the trouble they took to perform trading orders" instead of "what is happening to Taiwan now/how are the victims coping" etc.

Heard from the radio a very sad case of a mother who died whilst falling debris fell on her body and it was believed that she died while trying shield her child from the falling debris. When they were found, the mother was still holding on to her child.

My prayers for them.

Miscomm and Misunderstooded...

The problem with me is that sometimes I never think too seriously about how what I say may sound to the listener. Sometimes when I'll be better off being quiet, I'll proceed to shoot my own foot. Then there are times I feel I should have said something but yet I let it go only to regret later.

I used to hang out with this gang of pretty good friends. As with any group there may sometimes be conflicts (quite minimal....in fact non existence for them), also laughter and joy that we shared. (some of them still take the time to read my blog....hehe....which I'm very thankful for)

During that period when I was taking up my part-time degree programme, (which actually was the 3rd time I took up a part-time degree course - I gave up half way the first 2 instance). I decided that I must really make it this time and pass all my exams. There were many instances when this particular group of friends asked me out but I turned them down without properly explaining why.

One instance I even met them by chance and I really spoke from my heart when I said I'm really appreciative of the fact they keep trying to ask me out tho I can seldom make it. I also made the silly remarks that "other people would have given up trying long ago". I did not realise how that may have sounded as I really mean it when I said I'm very touched by them for not giving up on me......in the end they misconstrued that I was being sarcastic and snobbish. Who can blame them. Thinking back, I realise (at a tortoise's rate) how silly of me to make those remarks.

I wish to express my apologies to them. In fact to everyone whom I've offended in anyway with the things I may have said expressly or otherwise.

hmmm....I think I know what my 2007's resolution will be.

Contradictions

Friends are precious……
You only realise how precious they are usually only upon losing them…….
Treasure your friendship…..and so they say……
Respect and never Expect……easier said then done.
Life’s so full of contradictions……the irony of it all is that the people who contradict themselves do not realise it themselves.
People who can afford it are stingy, people who are poor are generous.

Saw a beautiful Rainbow while walking home last evening.......what a beautiful sight to end a day..:)

KL 2006

Went to KL over the weekend.....click on the photo above to view the album......just testing out this picasaweb album.

Krabi - La Playa Resort

Over this long weekend, I went to Krabi with my friend.

We managed to book couple of months back, rather inexpensive air tickets from Tiger Airways and book from NTUC Income their special promos - 3 Nights stay at Krabi La Playa Resort. Sunday to Wednesday (22nd - 25th Oct).

Krabi is indeed a beautiful place to visit. The resort we stayed in is in the Ao Nang area of Krabi.

Day 1
Our flight departs 4.10pm and (an hour and 40 mins or so later) we arrived at Krabi Airport at 4.25pm (local time - like Bangkok, it's one hour behind Singapore time. However after clearing customs and waiting for other tourists under the same local tour operator to gather, we only reached the resort almost close to 7pm. Nothing much to do then but to walk around to hunt for local food for dinner. Right outside our resort we found those mobile stalls selling "Thai Pancakes" - similar to our Prata actually except you'll be spoilt with the choice of fillings like banana, mango, coconut, chocolate, strawberry etc and they will add a generous dribble of chocolate sauce /condensed milk / sugar etc. We had banana filling with chocolate sauce - heavenly - and it's only 15 baht. We walked around Ao Nang area and although there's no difficulty finding many restaurants, we decided we want to try some local food and settled for a open air hawker like eating place very near our resort. There were about 4 - 6 "stall operators" there who sells almost identical types of food. Our dinner was a simple Phad Thai with a plate of Banana fried rice with a coconut drink and a thai iced tea and it only cost us 120 baht.

After dinner stroll saw many similar shops - tailors, laundry shops, small local tour operators, bars and painting galleries. We chance upon one of the many Massage Place which was brightly lit and seems pretty crowded. So we took up a foot massage for 250 baht that lasted an hour.

We didn't quite like the room we were given....we requested for sea view but we were given one where the view from the balcony is a constuction site. We requested for a room change.....which wasn't easy, not especially when the staff have difficulty speaking in English. We were told that the resort is full and they promise us they'll look into it tomorrow and let us have the room change.

Day 2

We took up a half day 4 Island Hopping by speed boat tour.....

First stop...the Pra Nang Cave.....Ao Phra Nang Beach, Chicken Island, Poda Island.......

we got to Snorkel ............ more snorkeling and ........more snorkeling with lotsa Sand, Sun and Crystal clear Sea......

Finally we got our room changed.......

At least it's hill and sea view and not the ugly construction site where the construction starts as early as 8am. Oh and we did not request for morning call but we got one anyway at about 8.30am.....

Day 3

The weather is rather predictable during this part of the year....light showers in the afternoon that goes off as quickly as it falls. We decided to take up kayaking and booked it the night before at a small local tour operator. It was supposed to set us back 650 baht per pax but we manage to bargain with a friend's help down to 450 baht. Only drinking water and fruits provided for the half day kayaking at Ao Thalen.

Day 4

Today we're supposed to go on the city tour that's included in resort stay package. It was managed by a local tour operator See Tho Holidays. We are supposed to be brought to 2 local product stores and a thai silk and jewellery shop, thereafter we'll have lunch at a famous local duck noodles eating place.

It was pretty delicious. The duck was cooked til tender. However I think the rice noodle was not as good as I expected it to be cos the first night I chanced upon a mobile stall selling chicken noodles and the rice noodle from that stall was very "q" compared to the duck noodle.

After lunch, we were brought to the Krabi town and had the choice of shopping at the Fruits Market or the one and only shopping complex there.

Overall I would say that it was a pretty enjoyable trip and I think I would definitely be visiting Krabi again - there's still many places I've yet to explore and activities do try.

Why you say that?

Sometimes I think it's funny ..........when someone made a comment on you and the comment is not true, do you keep asking "why you say it? why?" shouldn't you highlight and prove the person wrong by presenting facts and say "hey, look here ..............and so your comments aren't true."

When you ask people "why you say that", in a way it's admission that "oh what you said is true, but you shouldn't have said it"

Have you tried the River Crossing Puzzle?

http://freeweb.siol.net/danej/riverIQGame.swf

Leave the solution in comments or ask and I'll provide the solution:P