I'm going to Las Vegas! Will be back with updates...

All I hear from her is Bloody this and F* that...

One of my team associate arrived from London office. We met before during our off-site about 2 months ago.
Saw her yesterday borrow money from me liao. Its not much just buay song. She went to buy food then call out to me asking me for money to help her pay. There's no please , no thank you. Hey do you have 20bucks?

Then she wanted to smoke so she went off searching for someone to grab cigarette from. Not before she turned to me and say "stay here, Im gonna get a ciggie" I owe you ar?

Whatsmore it's not like we're friends. She can walk into the training room and treat me like invisible. We are colleagues working in the same department ley, just that she's with London office and Im with Singapore office. Damn unfriendly.

Today send out email asking our team if any of us have extra mobile phone because her phone doesnt work here. Nobody replied her.

I didnt get my money back. There's a breed of them who's all loud , noisy, dont give a hoot about you and then suddenly ask you for money.

And you know how she tries her luck to get rides to church? She asks this dude whether he goes to church. He said he hasnt had the chance to cos he's been real busy, then she say well I'm looking for a ride so let me know when you go. He diam diam...

My mobile bill is $350bucks this month...=( cut-throat...

Gimmie some Hokkien...

I cannot take it liao! I need to say it to my heart's content!

nabeh nabeh nabeh nabeh~~~~ wah shiok ~~~~~

I've not heard or spoken Hokkien for a long long time...

For those of you who think it's dis-tasteful, suck my toe...

Hi Cherandy, how's it going??

nabeh nabeh nabeh....

Hi Cherandy, what's going on??

nabeh nabeh nabeh...

Today one account manager irritated me to no end, he called me for the umpteen time and I bit my tongue from saying "Simi Tai Ji??"

I swear he plucks his eyebrow. When he smiles at me, I can only focus on the 2 ticks on his head...

I thought I met my imaginary friend...

We finally got to Disneyland! One dude agreed to go cos 3 of us gals paid for his ticket as a birthday present. Well he's saving money cos his parents are coming to town so I'm cool with that. Another went after much much persuasion from my vietnamese friend, she called his mobile until it nearly exploded then finally shoves the mobile to me and says he needs a motivation. So I went "pleeeaase go to Disneyland with me" then its done!

I would say it's a really messy place, spilled over with tourists and locals, there's just too many people! I always thought Disneyland would be a very far-off place buried deep in some remote area. Like travel through some wilderness then suddenly you see the big white Castle in front of you and you know your there. But no ley, it's in a town area, you would pass by shops and banks then the shops suddenly appears more funky with coloured walls and you see a big fence alongside this wall. Next thing you know it's the walls bordering Disneyland's fortress and your driving into the carpark to Disneyland! It's a huge carpark, then you take a tram which drives you to the entrance of Disneyland. No white Castle. Before you step right into the heart of Disney, you see this sign:

Feels so magical once you read it. It's like Disney's promise to you.

Well ya the park was crawling with confused tourists running around trying to get into those snaking lines. It really was just about planning, navigating and trying to get around. I only have 1 day... Waiting in line for the Carousel ride, we saw the wicked queen from Sleeping Beauty walked in and waiting for the Carousel as well! She was so zwai! The air around her, her face and the way she carry herself! She was the perfect wicked queen! We climbed up the horses and hey I'm riding next to her! We acknowledge each other (dont even think for 1 min she will smile ok, otherwise your a shame to the Sleeping Beauty tale) , then I ask her does she ever smile. She glance back at me and say: I'm smiling


Then she asked me "Whose your favourite character"
Without even thinking twice, I pointed at her and say You! *swallow saliva*

Good answer
Next she asked me if I like pies (you wonder where this conversation is heading)

Er...yes...

What flavour?

Apple pie? The regular pie

Without hesitation she went Good, I have a very good pie recipe, you wanna try it?

Of cos you say no lah! Then she dismissed me saying it's my loss. Ok lor, Mac Donald's have very nice apple pies too 24/7 somemore. I wore my favourite Superman Tshirt to Disneyland, well, to be part of the fictitious imaginary legends. A band of Ah Pehs clad in band military clothes marched past playing and one Ah Peh stopped, pointed at me and yelled "Look! Supergirl!" and instinctively I posed a Supergirl for him and he waved at me.




We walked on and found ourselves at a quiet little corner of the park, here my friends suggested they take a proper photo of me alone in my Supergirl shirt. I did a really good pose, ready for the camera. To the side of my side, a figure sneaked up and stood beside me and I could see my friend behind the camera smiling back at us. I had no idea who it was. After the picture was taken.... it was Eeyore the Donkey standing beside me! I ran up and check out the picture wondering what Eeyore was doing and found it was posing together with me as well! I turned back and ran after him telling him to give me a hug and he kindly did.




Seemed to be in an awful hurry into the gates behind us. We continued walking into the crowd and saw Winnie the Pooh walking past us. My friend was like quick! I want a picture! We ran after Pooh Bear and my friend was screaming for him to stop and take a picture. The Bear actually ran away.. I dont really blame him, maybe like Eeyore they finished their shift and are in a hurry off to the gate and if he stops for her, everyone else would want a picture too. But if I'm Pooh, I would stop simply because my friend was the first to stopped him and she was screaming so badly to take a picture with him. You dont walk normally and start running off when people want to take picture of their favourite character in Disneyland. But anyways, she managed to take a picture of Jessie from Toy Story so that helped alittle. Note that we were in motion as we snapped this picture because likewise, this character was in a hurry as well.
Here's the link to the rest of Disney pictures: click here

It is truly an experience visiting the park. You do feel your cut away from the rest of the world and in a land of legends and fairy tales just like what that plague promised. They really do have that much money to build a fantasy world.

Diam Lah

I'm chatting more with my friends then with someone I would like to
There's just always something that comes up and never me
I guess this trip is a real good test and it does show just what people can and cant do for you
It does show how much your valued, your worth spending time with

Initially when I first came and a certain friend of mine knew I was miserable stayed online
and had her lunch in front of the comp and just chatted with me for hours
The chat was really dull and she was basically asking me about how I spend my time here
You just know its not so much of the chat but people just 'hanging out' with you
Spending some time with you, this is kindness

It does show, it really does. Maybe this was the purpose of the trip

Maybe I bugged people too much. Well they always hang it by their mouth saying hey lets bring her out here, lets bring her there. Then when the email was sent out. Nobody replies

I would then ask each one individually, those whom I thought I heard them rally on saying yeah let me know when you guys plan on doing so. And then they say they never planned for Disneyland.

Another dude initially was okay with the idea of heading out to Vegas but he said he doesnt gamble so he would just walk around. Then I said I wont gamble too so I can walk around with you. Couple of weeks later, he said his parents were coming to town and he needs to save money. He said he never wanted to go Vegas

So I was asking that Disney fella about other scheduled trips upcoming and just threw in a 'u sure u dont wanna go Disney with us =( '

And the reply I got was, "Asking me to go Disneyland is like asking you to go on the Duck-tour to see the Merlion. Dont get me wrong you will have fun but everybody who comes here ALWAYS wants to go Disneyland" Dont have to say until like that right? This is like the ultimatum asking you to bug off.

Yeah and everytime someone randomly says to bring me somewhere, you will make some noise and say let you know when.

Somemore keep asking me when I will play pool with her. Ask me for what. You plan the day and take charge la. Your the one with heaps of commitment, I only have my tv in the hotel room. So I say why dont you decide then she says okay maybe towards end of week , we'll talk again mid-week. No more news and when it was nearing end of week, she sends out a mail saying she's got this event with her friends and asked if anyone's interested to go. Hello, what happened to pool?

Today have the cheek in loudly in front of everyone say she waiting for me to schedule a time for her. She wanted to make it sound like Im quite prissy and never got to hanging out with her. Please lor, I shoot her back saying ya we were deciding on the day then u say we'll talk again mid-week and it never happened. Then she was all innocent like well I was waiting for you to get back to me (ya right, u say talk mid-week becomes waiting for me) then I say you had your event so I guess you didnt plan for pool. By now everybody was laughing already that I retorted her, she wanted to say something back again but it was buried in laughters. I think people here like to see 'action' like woah! she spoke up and shoot this back wahaha!

And angmohs always like to talk back. They will die if you say your stuff and they never get to say their last piece. They cannot hold their tongue. Die die must say something.

So, I've got enough of people just sprinkling their saliva and mia when it comes to action.
Seriously, its become quite amusing. Someone wants to organise something, sends out an email and you only hear crickets. Or one by one they will reply with "sorry my cat got pregnant I need to stay in take her pulse"

Sometimes I cant help but just feel like telling them..."Diam la"

P.S. Ive gotten by so far without you. It is a waste, really a waste. It could have been a very good opportunity to prove something more. I really thought it was worth it.

Beverage Toy

Hillside Mocha Latte Coffee! It's so ingenious, packed in a self heating container
Upon activation, the coffee heats up and you get hot coffee anytime you want.
Always interested in stuff like these, I saw it in the grocery store and bought 2 cans without hesitation


first, you turn the can upside down and pull off metal bottom


Pull down firmly on the button, which releases coloured water into a storage of quicklime
(when mixed with water, chemical reaction starts and heat will be released)


After few seconds, turn the can rightside up and wait for the pink spot to turn white
that's when it's ready. A hot cuppa mocha latte!


But it tasted like shit and when I pour it out there were coagulated particles which I think is milk solids
This freaking thing can warm itself up but cannot ensure that it's fresh lor.
Goodness knows how long its been on the shelves already...
I've got another can....dont know what to do with it.

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miss my guitar...

My room number should be 369!!

Gosh I cant believe this, the negotiated internet rate I had causes the system charge me on a daily basis just so that Im entitled to half price. You want good price? I give you half price, see me key into system? viola! Now our system will charge you half price everyday, whether you logon or not.

I discovered this a week after I activated my connection and decided to check out how much I was owing for internet. That bill nearly sent me back to Singapore. The shock, I meant. Yes, they charge me half-price and on top of that they charge me everyday too. I say this is not right and told them the days I actually did logon (thank goodness I recorded the times I logged in). Lady at counter didnt even flinch. She just went "oh, just tell me when are the days you did logon and I'll take the rest off" fwwwwahhh so cool ar??

This is not about how cool and nonchalant they are, it scary to think they dont have a proper system. It's my word against nobody's words. I would like to think this is a good thing but it can turn either way. They can simply question you and how to resolve like that?

Anyways they dont even look apologetic, more like: har? got mistake ar? just reset again lor
Marriott hotel ley...you shock guests like that you dont even appear apologetic?

Also, each time I order room service and give my credit number for them to charge, this particular "Tricia" yankee would go..."264..WHAT?" yes it's that loud like how Ah Sorhs would HAR? me at wet market. That kinda HAR can instill sense of familiarity with me, but not service staff at hotels lor...you try doing that at Singapore's Marriott, you better pray your underwear is red colour. I dont think Tricia knows it even and means to be curt but am afraid it does sounds that way.

On Friday, I hopped down to the Front-desk again and request to pay for some room service charged to the room so that I can be billed and submit my weekly T&E claims. I fainted and collapsed on the floor...! I kp ask them why they keep doing this. This is when they finally explain to me about the system thing. Then I say how like that? How would you know when I login? They say just tell them when and they'll Trust me. Oh my gosh.

This Alex staff better be around when I check-out. He used the word Trust. I tremble...

Anyways I think I'm quite notorious here liao. From the many many times I locked myself out of my room, to my kpkb at their internet rate and then loving them for charging me internet daily, I'd like to think they have a picture of me hanging inside their office wall with header: Sibeh Mafan

Let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel...

Each time I spend a day out, I returned sunburnt without even attempting a tan. Woke up rather early and decided on exploring Balbao Island once again. Previously I had my bicycle with me and it was rather inconvenient to check out the crowded shops with the bike so took a bus there instead and just walked on foot.

This part of town just feels somewhat different. Little shops lined along both sides of the street and each shop is heavily decorated with their merchandise and have lots of American flags hanging off of them. Each shop is unique and it's a typical American town. The same goes for the houses here and I believe these residential place is worth millions especially those that goes right out to the beach with private piers for their boats.






Balbao Island in Newport Beach. This is the place where celebrities own summer houses and where I spotted a Sea-lion beached itself 4 feet away from on-lookers and simply posed for my pictures.



I walked on and noticed cars driving up onto a ramp above the waters and saw it's a transportation ferry. People just walked right onto it and so did I. The other side of the island seems real near so I didnt think twice about getting on. This 3 min ferry costs a buck and passengers sits next to cars (max 3 at a time) with their occupants in it. The crew was a funny guy, when he went round collecting the fare from the car passengers, he jokes whether they're hiding anyone in their trunk. Now that's an idea! Next time we go Sentosa, I shall pack my friend in the trunk. Save 2 dollars. Hey 2 dollars can get you a cheeseburger okay. You eat the cheeseburger and stay in the trunk.






Other side of the island is where I had my lunch, the Harbourside Resturant. Diners have plenty of sea-view thanks to their large glass. My server was standing round ensuring my food was fine when he suddenly look out and seemed mesmerized. Then he turned to me and said that's John Wayne's boat! I looked out and saw Wild Goose. He asked you know who John Wayne is right? Yes, I heard of him before just like I heard of Clint Eastwood and James Dean but it's not my era. I only know he did alot of cowboy western films and his name is quite legendary. And I thought he's still alive but really old kind. So I asked in amazement, do you think he's up there? And the waiter said erm he's passed on...oops




My waiter told me John loves his Wild Goose and used to have a bunch of celebrities in it all the time.
I went online and check it up abit and true enough he did have Wild Goose and this is now owned by a cruise company and you have to pay a hefty sum to charter for it. I prefer my 1 buck open-air ferry ride. I found myself staring outside the waters while consuming my lunch. There's so much activity out there and then I saw a bunch of sea-gulls diving near the surface of the waters and circling the same area. Small powered boats would stop their engines and floated around observing that part of the waters. And then I saw it, a small black head bobbing up the waters and flinging some stuff outta its mouth, then flipped its tail and splash into the waters. It was a sea-lion again. I guess it's trying to break some food into smaller bits by all the flinging, but it sure gets all the birds and humans excited.

And then another waiter came to collect my bill and I was like "Look a sea-lion!" to which he just "uhuh" then collected my bill. Tamade! At least entertain me abit can? He's not like the other John Wayne waiter, I dont like him very much...

It seems alot of the supposedly Rich & Famous stays here at this Beach: Michelle Pfeiffer, Van Damme, Chuck Norris, Dean Koontz and Dennis Rodman. But I dont see them ley...I only see sea-lions which is fine with me. Because even if I do see a celebrity, I'm not going to whip out my camera and do all that "Autograph!!" mania...I will most probably act nonchalant and keep parading up and down sneaking side-peeks at them. With sea-lions, at least I can under broad daylight photo-shoot them from various angles.

So Stupid...

on Sunday, I went walk-walk, came back and found I dont have my room access key with me. This is the 2nd time liao, the other time I went to the gym and left my card in there. Since u need the card to gain entry to the gym, I couldnt get in to retrive my card. So the hotel gave me a new card. Now weeks later this very card is somewhere lost forever and I had to get it replaced. The front-desk gave me 2 new cards with the spa picture on it.

Entering my room, I found my 'lost' card! Not thinking too much about it, I proceeded to change into shorts and tees and walked out of my room in my bedroom slippers to the laundromat which was just couple floors below. I took my 'lost' card along with me. Returning, my 'lost' card flashed red when I tried to enter my room.

Blistering barnacles! The damn card doesnt work anymore! So I plopped over to the front-desk in my tees , shorts and bedroom slippers amongst stares and cried father cried mother asking them to send someone to meet me at my room to let me have entry.

Someone came, got me in and I thought that's the end of the story. Minutes later, I received a call saying someone will deliver new cards to my room...I thought for what??

okay! sure!

A knock on my door and hey I suddenly have another set of cards!

It was time to collect my laundry, so I went to laundromat again in my same tees and shorts complete with bedroom slippers flip flap flip flap...came back up and hey the new set of cards doesnt work!

I tell you, I'm Asian and one who drinks alot of ginseng soup. Thanks to Ginseng I brought along each and every single card I had with me whoopee! This card dont work? Try that card. That card dont work? Try another card. Total number of cards I have? 5. Well actually I threw 1 back at them when it didnt work. So...4 cards for 1 guest

They sent me 2 new cards which wasnt activated. Geniuses? I would like to think so...



In other news, I was so happy to see an Asian face on the TV screen....it's Bruce Lee!!

Dehydrated...

Last night we were supposed to play pool at Dave&Buster's again but thanks to a private event which took up most of the pool tables, we decided we waited too long and left for Yard House instead.

We had a new colleague who joined us last week, she's half chinese with a Shanghainese mom. Was quite surprised she came and join us for our little outing. Her boyfriend is those type who can smile and u can never see his eyes. I was so outta line (also cos I drank a little too much) after I took pictures of them, I started laughing at him asking why cannot see his eyes wan...then I kept taking pictures of them saying that I wanna see those eyes. I told him to close his eyes really tight then at my count of 3 to open them really wide...but alas...what Nature has decided, men cannot change...


*trying....


*try harder...


*cannot make it....

I laugh at people, ownself also laugh until cannot see my eyes liao..



Actually I was quite amazed at my liquor tolerance, when they asked me what I wanted to drink, I replied Long Island Tea then they were like woah...strong stuff...

It was stronger than Singapore but okay lor, I was still going strong...then they told me to order another drink and I was quite bored cos the drinks aint strong so they were trying to get me something really strong. So Jason ordered a Jager Bomb for me which came with redbull and a shot glass. To drink it, u submerge the shot glass of donno what cough medicine into the redbull then down it..




oh ya, I told them about our Singapore's infamous flaming lambourgini donno how to spell, then Jason was very interested in the drink cos they've not heard of it. He went to ask the bar-tender at D&B's and surprisingly he sorta knew what's in the drink. He say donno what one fifty one...anyways when we adjourned to Yard House we really wanted a flaming Lam cos I was quite bored with their drinks. But the people at Yard House never heard of it b4 then I was like nvm just give me any drink that flames! Then they all laugh and wonder why I have such interest to flame my drinks. Sadly the waitress told me they've not allowed to set anything on fire...sibeh sian...

Angmohs are boring...

So Jason suggested Three Wise Men...then everybody was like wooahhhh....so I think it must be very strong...it consists of 3 different types of alcohol. Well, I drink liao and dont feel any wiser....tipsy definitely and talking alot more...I guess in a way its good bah, everybody felt more relaxed cos we're afterall colleagues and Crystal was so new to us and we just met her boyfriend that night! And oh plus this friend of Jason's drove from LA to meet up with him and us (apparently she likes him hehe) and to me she reminds me of Tyra Banks! Can u imagine we're of the same age?? Dont look like it hor? Anyways she says she likes me wor, maybe cos of my crankiness, I tell u woman, once I sober up , u wont feel the same towards me liao. Im very quiet....quiet....so quiet ur better off talking to urself. She told Jason he must bring me to her should we visit LA one day, she'll bring me go shopping! whee!!

Photos

i uploaded more photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98864278@N00/?saved=1

sian ley, just cos this is a free account after a certain limit they will only display the most recent photos...my photos from NZD and office no longer there....

Singapore - A Peesai

Few weeks back me & a friend chatted with some locals at the Orange County Fair. When we told them we from Singapore, they asked "Is that part of China?"

And then last week while hanging out with Ashley, she said her friends asked where the hell is that when she told them where I was from.

Everybody knows United States but that doesnt mean they need to know about you. A co-worker told me she has never flown out of States, just inter-states & furthurst she went is Hawaii but that too is part of America.

The country's so big & they've got everything. She doesnt feel the need to get out of the country. These people are in California, quite a city & they may not know or heard of Singapore, the natural phenomenal Auroras, catfish having barbs or strings..

Sometimes I get the feeling they're really closed-up. I guess in Singapore there are people like that too but maybe what really bothers me is they dont really care and they think they're always right..

I know my ABCs...Armani, Bebe, Coach

This weekend was quite well spent

First Thuy took me out to the Peninsula at this surfer's joint called "Mutt's Lynch" for a real hearty breakfast. They serve good breakfast 7 days a week from 7am - 11am



Since this place serves alcohol, that blok above seats himself at the entrance & checks your ID to ensure your of age before letting you in. You cant see it but as I was standing there next to him, he was spewing Japanese at me..."konichiwa...arigato.."

You know Japanese?? my eyes widened...we had this little exchange all while smiling at the camera.



We were seated right at the window & that's the Pacific Ocean stretched out behind those cars. People walking past smile in occasionally as we tucked into our breakfast: Corned Beef Hash with sunny side eggs for me and her "Twosome breakfast: French toast, bacon strip, sausage & scrambled eggs. All these washed down with refillable hot coffee.


Talking about breakfast, I ordered these in my hotel room Sunday morning. Smoke salmon benedict. Gosh these pics make me hungry...

Anyways Thuy dropped me off after breakfast & I waited for Carlton and his wife to pick me up for Singaporean's all time favourite: Shopping!!

Carlsbad is not your typical shopping area. It's littered with factory outlets from Designer's Brands. Make no mistake, I'm no slave to branded labels but some of these stuff are heavily discounted going at ridiculous prices. I would slap myself if I dont get them!



That Polo Ralph's 350 threadcount bedsheets were only 10bucks! Converted to Sing, it's like $15??

For a man, Carlton's quite a shopper. Even after Denise and I kinda zoned out he was still going strong, zipping from store to store. We spent like 5hours at this place. Were supposed to pop over San Diego since this location was really close but decided to do it on another trip instead.

Next day Ashley picked me up & we headed to this shopping mall called "Spectrum". Our agenda was to play pool & beat the crap outta each other. Dave & Buster's is damn atas. Frankly I donno what to make of it, there's restaurant, pool area, an arcade and some theatre/party rooms. Huge place and the pool area was really posh. You register at front desk then a guy walks you to your table carrying your balls for you. He proceeds to brush down the table before racking the balls. Naturally you pay the price as well. US 12 bucks per hour...



My mom taught me not to brag, so I'll leave it to you to guess the winner..heheh..



Iphones are huge here ever since they were launched. We cant use it in Sing cos it's not supported in Asia yet. But heard got alot software glitch and security issues.

Last stop was dinner at Johnny Rockets. Burgers, fries & milkshake. This is just like Billy Bombers back home complete with the mini slot Jukebox at booths. Ash didnt know Billy Bombers but for her age (22) she sure knows her oldies.



The drive home was memorable, the sun was setting in its glamourous display of pink and she tuned in to the oldies station. We squeezed in A-go-go dance moves at every stop lights we meet & this indeed feels like the America I watch on TV.