5pm Office Beer
Yea!!! Just when I was feeling stressed out!
Beer in the office at 5pm thanks to boss’ birthday celebration! I can’t believe that new girl worked in the dubai company I was so about to join!!! Yea, looks like she was there for a year, about the same time I was poached. She says office is nice , small but good and stressful. I want to go even more! Dubaidubai…
Such a small world. I have at least 6 people in this office who worked in my previous companies before. Haha. small design world too.
Cambodia 2008
This trip took place in replacement of the northern Thailand mission trip 2008. We applied for leave and paid up but Bangkok and chiangmai were in a political state of mess. Riots, bombings, deaths. So, we decide on Saturday night to cancel the trip due to many reasons. On Sunday morning, Fiona asked if i wanted to go to Cambodia, i said YES!!! and after a few hours of booking flights, hotels, and research, we turned up at the airport and were on our way to Phnom Penh.
Everything! worked out well. We recounted God's blessings frequently. How he has provided this trip for two weary white-collared souls, at the very last minute. How he allowed us to get refund for a night at the Phnom Penh Hotel. We paid up already, but were spending a day at Siem Reap. The hotel staff at both hotels were all so kind! gave me boxes to pack and offered me tape for the box. I highly recommend New York Hotel at Phnom Penh. and if you need a good location at a budget, Angkor St Hotel at Siem Reap is worthy to be considered! :)
Disclaimer: because i just came back from Vietnam a few weeks back.. i felt there isn't much difference in culture, language, and tourists attractions. it almost seems that Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia are just different states belonging to the same country. hee. I'm thinking twice about visiting Laos and Mynmar.
1st day-
City tour at Phnom Penh, Genocide museum, national museum, killing fields, genocide museums, Russian market, central market and foot massage/ pedi&meni along tonle sap. Shopping and taking in sights. the museums, were all so sad...
2nd day-
6 hours on the mekong express bus to siem reap. and angkor temples. the pictures turned out sooo well. sky backdrop enhances every picture!
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3rd day-
visit to siem reap old market and french quarters. SPG!!! more shopping for sarongs.. and hammocks. haha! another 6 hours to Phnom Penh. THe bus broke down 15 mins at the arrival terminal.. but the mechanics came and fixed it in a flash! Wow.. impressive i say. Commercial break: mekong express has english speaking tour guides and the journey there is long, but scenic. they also serve towels, water and light snacks.
4th day-
breakfast and straight to the airport for last minute gifts!
Thank God for this refreshing time! :)
Vietnam day 4
The morning started off at 545am. We had to embark on the journey to mekong delta at 7. It was 150 minutes there. And I wasn't very happy when we reached the floating market. It looked quite shabby. Nothing compared to the infamous Can Tho market about 240 mins drive from HCMC.
Well the sampan ride was good. Short but enough. :) we were hopping from islands to islands for 4 hours. Couldn't help but doze off in the boat. I whacked my head again. Haha.
Saw a python shedding skin, awesome!
No highlights for today. We went to the market for dinner and after that bravely walked home. Swung by a bicycle and motorbike rental store. Can you believe it? It's 50 cents SGD for one day, bike or bicycle. Open all day and night!!! :)
Im all showered now! And packing my bags. Wondering how im going to bring my straw hat, rattan bag, luggage etc all back home.. Hee hee.
This was a fulfilling trip.. Have tried french, viet cuisine, street stalls, restaurants. Gonna meet pam's uncle, hock. And gonna maybe cycle or bike around. Haha! So glad I denied the spa session at all costs.
Signing off! See ya all soon! :)
Well the sampan ride was good. Short but enough. :) we were hopping from islands to islands for 4 hours. Couldn't help but doze off in the boat. I whacked my head again. Haha.
Saw a python shedding skin, awesome!
No highlights for today. We went to the market for dinner and after that bravely walked home. Swung by a bicycle and motorbike rental store. Can you believe it? It's 50 cents SGD for one day, bike or bicycle. Open all day and night!!! :)
Im all showered now! And packing my bags. Wondering how im going to bring my straw hat, rattan bag, luggage etc all back home.. Hee hee.
This was a fulfilling trip.. Have tried french, viet cuisine, street stalls, restaurants. Gonna meet pam's uncle, hock. And gonna maybe cycle or bike around. Haha! So glad I denied the spa session at all costs.
Signing off! See ya all soon! :)
Vietnam day 3
Im soo broke!! Haha. Estimated expenditure. Total for the whole trip to be 1200 SGD. Mwhaha! But I have and will have covered the whole ho chi minh, and should never come back again...
Today we went for a service at notre dame cathedral. The songs they sung were in the same familiar tunes. Service was in english and songs in viet. We sung threefold amen and said the lord's prayer as well. :)
We went to diamond plaza, supposedly biggest department store in saigon. Bought coffee. Then we walked down the art street with lotsa art galleries. Bought paintings. Further down we made 2 traditional viet wear for mom and myself. Waiting to collect it at 6pm. Paintings will be delivered to the hotel.
We are currrently at sheraton saigon having high tea. Cos it rained. Haha! I feel sooo broke! Pay day in 5 days! Yay... :) we should be renting bicycles at night and tmr we'll sampan in the meanders of mekong.
Another major expenditure in dec for mission trip. Brokeness!! Haha.. Signing off now..
Cont'd...
We just booked our tour for tmr to mekong delta. It's another 60 USD. Broke! Haha.. Going to try a roadside stall for dinner and be back to sleep since we need to be ready by 630. :) that should be the end of the day.. If not i'll write more tmr. :) seeya all. And yes.. Monday blues... Sigh...
Today we went for a service at notre dame cathedral. The songs they sung were in the same familiar tunes. Service was in english and songs in viet. We sung threefold amen and said the lord's prayer as well. :)
We went to diamond plaza, supposedly biggest department store in saigon. Bought coffee. Then we walked down the art street with lotsa art galleries. Bought paintings. Further down we made 2 traditional viet wear for mom and myself. Waiting to collect it at 6pm. Paintings will be delivered to the hotel.
We are currrently at sheraton saigon having high tea. Cos it rained. Haha! I feel sooo broke! Pay day in 5 days! Yay... :) we should be renting bicycles at night and tmr we'll sampan in the meanders of mekong.
Another major expenditure in dec for mission trip. Brokeness!! Haha.. Signing off now..
Cont'd...
We just booked our tour for tmr to mekong delta. It's another 60 USD. Broke! Haha.. Going to try a roadside stall for dinner and be back to sleep since we need to be ready by 630. :) that should be the end of the day.. If not i'll write more tmr. :) seeya all. And yes.. Monday blues... Sigh...
Vietnam day 1
Vietnam HCMC is... soo fun so far! Altho I went to the airport right after work in the wee hours and had 2 hrs of sleep, we could still visit 5 places of interest... Was in a raincoat most of the time. Although I stupidly tried to use my tooth to pry something open and chipped it, and walked straight into a jet plane on display at the museum, I think I enjoyed myself :) HCMC post office, war remnants museum , reunification palace, ben thanh market, notre dame cathedral. And looking forward to tmr's chu chi tunnels private tour!!!
I bought lotsa gifts and august and rui's tee shirt! Sorry aug, the tee shirt star print is quite dirty.. I didn't check it. Haiya... I think so come off with a few washes. :(
We are currently having freak show and tell, folding ears, snapping jaws, knocking ankles etc... Haha.. First time I had a all lady tour group, and enjoying it... Hee.
Jodi
Ho Chi Minh City- 735pm. -repost
I bought lotsa gifts and august and rui's tee shirt! Sorry aug, the tee shirt star print is quite dirty.. I didn't check it. Haiya... I think so come off with a few washes. :(
We are currently having freak show and tell, folding ears, snapping jaws, knocking ankles etc... Haha.. First time I had a all lady tour group, and enjoying it... Hee.
Jodi
Ho Chi Minh City- 735pm. -repost
Vietnam day 2
It's 1230 now.. And we're off to lunch then to cu chi tunnels. We paid a good price for a private car, driver and guide. Just left cao dai temple. This place gives me the creeps, they have a very symbolic architecture, like stairways leading to heaven. And the ceiling had stars all over etc. Before this we went to a handicapped handicraft centre and bought crafts and lacquerware. Hungry.. And moody...
Cont'd...
Cu chi tunnel was great! I was hyperventilating. Hah! But still finished the whole tour tunnel :) I whacked my head against the entrance post at the start. Haha! Accident proned.
And the highlight of the trip... I fired a AK 47. We paid about 2 SGD per bullet. It was so cool! I was so tempted to buy bullets for M16. Pure adrenaline.. Now, back to the hotel...
Later we'll visit some hotels and clubs HBA designed. :) and go to the tailor for my ao dai- formal wear. :)
Regards,
Jodi Chen
Cont'd...
Cu chi tunnel was great! I was hyperventilating. Hah! But still finished the whole tour tunnel :) I whacked my head against the entrance post at the start. Haha! Accident proned.
And the highlight of the trip... I fired a AK 47. We paid about 2 SGD per bullet. It was so cool! I was so tempted to buy bullets for M16. Pure adrenaline.. Now, back to the hotel...
Later we'll visit some hotels and clubs HBA designed. :) and go to the tailor for my ao dai- formal wear. :)
Regards,
Jodi Chen
