Just a cup of Gie

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Showing posts with label workaholic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workaholic. Show all posts

first-hand look at rws

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Inside a lift at Hard Rock Hotel

It wasn't long ago when I visited Resorts World Sentosa. The colleagues and I were invited to a food tasting luncheon at restaurant Chinois by Susur Lee. SUDUP!

A few restaurants at RWS are already in operations and I highly recommend Chinois by its excellent high quality Chinese cuisine. I'm still drooling over its kampung chicken brewed soup. Simple traditional Chinese dishes made exquisite. An absolute delight.

Two nights ago, we were invited to the launch opening party of Rang Mahal Pavillion, a spin-off of well-established Rang Mahal. Well done with the finger food, but unfortunately the golden bubblies ran out a little too soon. :(

More pictures to come.

I miss travelling and exploring the big big world out there. To travel, is akin to a mental and spiritual rejuvenation for me. I absolutely enjoy filling up someone else's shoes and live life an a local at whichever destination I go.

Unfortunately a few episodes of politicking were on-going at my previous job and I decided that I have to give up the job, and the benefit of being able to travel the better part of the world. Something's gotta give. It's been five months since travelling has ceased. Increasingly I feel the frustration swelling up within me. No longer can I tag my posts under 'Travelogue' nor illustrating my travel adventures to friends like a wide-eyed girl who has visited the Wizard of Oz and returned to tell her story.

Now, everyday, I commute to my new office like any other Singaporean. I stand in line to get into the train; with frustration. I queue to wait for my food at the hawker centre; with frustration. I need to jostle for space in the shopping malls; with frustration. Don't get me wrong; I appreciate my citizenship. However, I also value the freedom to get out there to see the world and experience life which can never be found here. I need freedom to move. Increasingly, I find it tedious to breathe easy as I lead my daily life 'typically'. Yesterday is simply the template for tomorrow. This is driving me mad.

When I'm not working, I do plan in engaging myself in various activities. It cheers me up, quite briefly. Even if it is only chilling out at Dempsey Hill, enjoying a cuppa coffe on a Sunday morning. I like that; it reminds me the times when I would walk down the streets of Sydney alone, find myself a nice quaint cafe to while the afternoon away.

I wonder how this odd character of mine would affect my relationship with Archie. I don't want to be stuck in a relationship so 'comfortable' that we'd spend the rest of our live and times together only to watch DVDs or late-night television and nothing else. I will shoot myself in the head.

I am getting increasingly bored. Perhaps not a very responsible statement to make. But true to the damn bone, I have this feeling of being helplessly bored. In life, in the relationship. Every morning when I open my eyes, and every night before I drift off to the dark, I'd notice my breathing becomes heavier. It's becoming harder to breathe than being trapped in a sauna room. I want to talk to somebody about this, then again, they might just say I'm crazy and ungrateful to the blessings I've received thus far.

I want to get away for a while. I just need to figure how.

people management

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The week has gone by in a jiffy. Needless to say, it was seven days full of madness, agony, torment and (think of the worst word you know).

With reference to my previous entry dated 02 Oct 2009 (damn, me still in work mode), I learnt that that on my office level alone, there are at five Indian head chiefs whom I have to simultaneously report to. Everyone of them has to review and approve (not before inputting their comments) almost every email I send and proposal I write. The only damn sure thing I don't have to knock on their doors to seek approval is to go pee.

Well, writing to chefs - Michelin-starred ones no less - is a tricky business. Some have a heart of gold and berth of [patience as wide as their bellies while others are... well, prima donnas. My boss apparently knows the best. And hence, he becomes my highest authority for approval of sorts. As always in a typical company with more than 30 head counts, one or two would stick out like sore thumbs to resist that 'authority'.

And long story cut short, a Higher One's decision to bypass the Highest One, I got the shitz. The shitz literally rained on me. And then I spent one afternoon breaking down in a manager's room. The irony is, the manager who comforted me and gave me some sound advice isn't from my department. But we connected well in the few after-office hours dinner we had. Her level-headedness advice and gentle egging to get me back on my feet were just what I needed. To stay sane, people-management is imperative. You can say it's playing politics. Unfortunately, I learnt the hard way and there are no two ways about it - in this little mental black book in my head, I've noted the quirks and what-nots of everybody in office.

It's a jungle out there. And my advice is serious.

In the interim, I'm still having fun salivating and unbrashly discussing about cuisine from 9am to 7pm.

fresh hell on friday

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I would wake up every morning, thinking what fresh hell the day would bring. No, my job doesn't suck. The management I work with... well, tricky stuff. Which reminds why I refused to enter the hotel industry when I graduated from Tourism Management. Political relationships are not my cup of tea.

Then again, I would have to start learning the 'hard knocks' of this pragmatic, harsh cold society. Everything else in the past have been a bed of roses.

I was being screamed at this morning. It wasn't only directed to me. Perhaps a false impression I had that hoteliers have higher EQ than layman. Apparently not so.

No love lost. Really. I'm above all that and besides, I'm getting the hang of this shitz. The Godiva truffles sent to our office was the best thing that happened. A couple of Martinis helped too.

I'd love to dream of a few Michelin-starred chefs in my dream tonight. Bonne nuit!

one food up

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I am on the brink of working myself to death. I shan't go into specifics but I've been ducking arrows like ninja warrior. The price I pay for the better future. You know, sometimes you feel so confident but there are always roadblocks just when you thought the roads are clear. Dammit.

In the meantime, the balance of life must still be in place, no matter what. If I have to dead working, there better be good food around. Heh. Last week, the company had a mini yacht party. Chef Dennis Sim from Mietta's gave us (Archie and me) the buffet feast of our lives. For the first time, there were no crappy food from a buffet spread. I was so touched I almost gave Chef Dennis a mega hug. There were no foodie pictures; I was trying hard to keep my hyper-self under wraps (new company, you must understand).

I had the honour (or my stomach's honour rather) to visit Chef Janice at 2am : dessert bar, Holland Village. You probably read about her somewhere in the papers some time ago. No big hoohaa probably because most people dismissed her as 'the one who opened a dessert bar with her dad's money'. Eh.. cannot deny that, I guess. But she isn't one without substance. My boss (you can watch him tasting food at My Perfect Meal) and the rest of us couldn't stop raving at her creations. Her desserts are not your usual chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. She imagines. She creates. Her latest degustation menu is a genius work of art. Damn! I couldn't get a decent picture to show you what I'm so head-over-heels about. But may I warn you, 2am : dessert bar is not a place to order blardy meatballs and pasta and expect them to taste like stuff from Les Amis. Dessert people, dessert!

You have to have the Chocolate H2O. 72% dark chocolate frozen with Evian Mineral Water into a chocolate block. It seems a lot to digest at first, but the chocolate will almost instantly melt in your mouth. Because of its airy texture, this dessert will not fill you up and cause bloatness. Good for me. ;) As mentioned, Chef Janice's degustation menu takes you back on a nostalgia track. You will find really fun and creative interpretations of Peanut Butter & Jam, Lime Explosion, Shades of Purple and etc. One may find her desserts a tad expensive. I say, for the effort, imaginative effort and her Le Cordon Bleu experience, $13-15 is not too much to spend. Perhaps I would spend less for an ordinary meal and a little more at 2am : dessert bar for an extraordinary spread of sugar-fix.

Anyways, there is this eatery outlet I've been wanting to try along Serangoon Road. Archie drives by that area pretty often. It's The French Stall.

Escargot with Olive Oil

Beef Sirloin with Peppered Sauce

Cod Fish with Potato

Giant Profiterole with Hot Chocolate Sauce

A simple dinner to celebrate his entreprenuer grant being approved by Spring Singapore. The entrees such as Onion Soup and Escargot with Olive Oil are pretty tasty. But what puzzles me was the Chicken Liver Pate. The serving was as large as a luncheon meat. Too big for a pate, no? The bread wasn't enough to go around and soon, we find ourselves eating the pate on its own. The taste of the pate was slightly overwhelming when on its own. Bleh.

Too bad for me, I had no stomach left for the dessert. Otherwise the chocolate cake is somewhat warm and soft. Quite delicious. Profiterole was huge. Hah! Even Archie has problem finishing it. Maybe I was too tired or the sparklings worn me down further, all I wanted was to sleep.

I recently learnt of a really good Chinese restaurant - Chef Chan's Restaurant at the National Museum. I can't wait to meet Chef Chan in person...

Appreciating food and the chefs,
Gie

so far this week

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Me: Good morning, Mr. K.

Boss: Stop smiling. It's Tuesday morning and everybody has to work.

Me: Well... I like to start my day with a smile.

Boss: Yeah right.

That's my first day. A church mate who has worked with my current boss on a partnership level told me not to take comments from ang mohs too personally. I couldn't agree more. In fact, I find my boss a tad hilarious when he flares with anger. Guess I've seen enough white people to know that they're not monsters, aliens or anything really overly superior than us Asians. I am not about to be intimidated by a being who is simply fairer, taller and has a louder voice than me. So friends, if you're worried about me, I'm gonna survive. ;)

The web surfing restrictions at work has made it harder for me to keep up with friends real-time though. I haven't been able to tell Yann how I'm doing, help aJ in her wedding preparations, or talk nonsense with Archie. I can't check how cash-poor I am via internet banking nor CPF-rich I am. I sure miss the sights and sounds at Keong Saik Road. At where my new office is, all I see are loads of fashion-less OLs and yabbing executives. The traffic sure is hell too. I miss Maxwell food centre and Tong Ah kopitiam...

Oh well... something's gotta give. At least I have legitimate reasons to surf food blogs, review restaurants and stare at awesome food pictures. Oh well oh well. Tomorrow evening, I'll be reviewing 2AM Dessert Bar at Holland Village. With my boss. I'll tell you how it goes. Maybe he might murder me for smiling too much after a chocolate high.

Before I sign off to do work (i.e. research on molecular gastronomy), I leave you with a sweet note written by Archie (although I have an unexplainable dislike for sunflowers).

Without food is like a day without sunshine,
xoxo Gie

snowed in

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Aiyo aiyo aiyo... Hello dear friends, I've gone away from my usual surfing, blogging, msning, emailing routine since I started on a new job. A simple reason being, all of the above is restricted at work!


Okay, some web surfing allowed as long as it's food related research. So unlike in the past, I can no longer instantly 'google' stuff for you, reply your emails, nudge you on msn when I'm bored nor tell you the latest sale in Singapore. On a bright side, I have every legitimate reason to stare at food blogs for hours.

I should count so lucky in my previous jobs. I'll share why with you personally (if you know me). I'm now more cautious of what I write online pertaining to work. Heh. Anyway something's gotta give.

I'll miss the time I could frolick at Bondi Beach, Australia and so much more. Those for another time.

Long day ahead. But today will end with a boat party to celebrate the company's annivesary. Rumour has it that Chef Michelangelo will be cooking for us. ;) Till then!

bouncing back

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The truth is, well... there are always THREE sides of a story - their story, your story and the TRUTH. If only the Earth is FLAT. Makes things easier eh?

I was considering spilling all the beans about the interesting shenanigans people do around here when the cats are away. Like how they told on me. Oh but wait, I'm above that. I have stuck by this principle since day 1. I've been told that I'm stupid to play nice. But I'm about to tell you that I will stick by it. Simply because I am above that. That that.

Hmm... 其实， 当我知道同事一直有在阅读我的部落格，我在想，他们会不会一直都在网上到处寻找/挖掘我或其他人的私事。我确实把我平时一些私生活发生的事（大大小小)写上部落格。在写之前就有心理准备，但也有注意别把太多工作上的情绪表露在网上。

在公司里，大家都想保持专业的形象。我不同意大家做个没有性格的木头人。We're all unique individuals and to shine with our personalities at work, is possibly the most beautiful thing we could ever do. 我喜欢谈天说地，分享有趣好玩的人事物，但有时稍微有些保留也无妨。我的私生活并不堕落，也没什么不光彩的。但在知道同事/主管有阅读我的部落格时，不免会担心他们会不会用客观的角度来看待我。

现在的我真是有点烦。平时的我就是喜欢在网上分享生活里的点点滴滴。尽量保持幽默的态度。有时不免会遇到感伤的事，并把情绪抒发在文章里。这些的一切的一切。。。 所谓‘说者无意，听者有意’。叫我如何？

人言可畏。你一言我一语。要求一个人没有任何一件或保持中立的态度是很难。也许这就是为什么长辈经常警戒 - 朋友是朋友。同事是同事。大家保持‘友好’关系就的了。

保重了。

excuse me, am i a banglala?

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For all peeps who are living on this little sunny island (aka The Little Red Dot to some), the heat has been somewhat turned up a few notches. Usually I wear a light cotton outer wear over my tank top, even on the warmest day. But I abandoned that and went, "Heck! I'll dress like a slutty Ah Lian!" It was too damn hot to think straight.


I saw stars just the other day, after stepping out of my office for a short while to get a drink from 7-11. Then the rest of the day is marred by an awful headache and stuffy nose. I thought I was going to die. The air in my room became so stuffy and humid I could hardly breathe through my nose alone anymore. I thought I had fever and was about to go see a doctor (you know, the recent H1N1 scared the shit outta me). I walked by my colleague's room and wtf!! I realised it's not me who's sick but my room's a/c! It was spewing warm air all this time!

You see... my company occupies two levels of a shophouse. I share a open-door room with one colleague (who is absent for a business trip). The management takes another room across the hall. The receptionist and accountant, each takes on corner of the first level. All rooms have an individual air-con unit. Every one of them works, except mine. So for days, I've been plagued with warm air spewing from the air-con unit in my room. I kid you not. If it is snowing out there, I'd gladly welcome the a/c taking on a heater's job. But no, it's farking 34 degrees out there.

Anyway I made my case known to the rest like, "Hey, you know the a/c in my room. It's really not working well. I'm having a headache from the heat already,"

All I got was a raise in the eyebrows and slient response (if slience is even responding). Or maybe there was no motion on the facial at all; it could be just the stars I was seeing. Not one colleague bothered to come into my room to check. Instead, one of them complained about her room's a/c 'also not working well'. For the record - the temperature in her room could chill a lemonade while mine can cook an egg.

Some guy came to service the aircon today. But it's still spewing warm air at my face. It got worse by 2pm. By then, I had enough - turned off the a/c and threw open the windows instead. The sun can shine its arse at my face. But it's better than breathing like an asthmatic patient in a warm stuffy unventilated room. I casually mentioned the failed servicing to my colleague and I feel like an idiot speaking to the cow. You get the drift. I feel like a fool. Like a spoiled pampered princess making a big fuss outta nothing.

But seriously I'm surprised that when The Colleagues passed through my room to get to the copier, none of them responded to the heat. While the rest sits comfortable in their chilled little rooms, I am feeling the heat like a Banglala working under the hot sun. In short, I feel like shit.

I wished there are alternatives, like an electric fan or something. But no. I only have a I took a day off yesterday because I couldn't take the heat and there is really no point turning up at work. My home's a/c could do so much better. Working from home makes more sense. I explained my case to The HR and all I got was - 'please subject your leave form to xxx'.

Right. So what is transcended here - I am expected to turn up for work, rain or shine. Anything else is my own business?

Nobody credits me when I work late every night or burn my weekends off. Instead I am being scrutinized for walking through the entrance at 10 minutes late and penalised for not continuing to work in an less-than-fit environment which is supposedly the company's responsibility. I don't expect to be handed out lollipops for the extra effort. But really? asking me to fill out the leave form is... damn uncool.

So here's my plan. Since it's too cumbersome to unplug my desktop and shift the entire shit to an air-conditioned room, I will bring my personal laptop tomorrow instead. I will switch on my rusty old laptop and have a cuppa ice cold latte while waiting for it to start-up. It's either FIX THE A/C or wait three hours for my report.

goodbye notes from dongguan... day 18

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Yes!!!

I'm flying to Shanghai tomorrow!!!!!!!
Out of this horrible village!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot believe it! I've actually survived this who-know-where-the-hell town for 18 days! Very clearly, I'm really looking forward to Shanghai. My last trip two years ago was a great one. Though this time, it's without the fun bunch of ex-colleagues, it shouldn't be difficult enjoying myself. Well, anywhere could be better than Dongguan.

H&M H&M H&M!!!

rumour notes from dongguan... day 16

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Rumour has it, that I'm a rich miser.


A certain colleague has unwittingly revealed this rumour (or gossip rather) going around about me. Isn't it exciting to find out a certain aspect of yourself, which you never knew, from someone else in an 'accidentally' manner?

I am certainly interested to know where my 'riches' are. Because it's high time I spend it all and keep the multiplier effect going. And a miser? Oh yeah. I am such a bean counter that I get the high counting every penny I have in my packet, morning noon and night.

wtf.

But well, ain't I entitled to be a miser? If there's an application form to be one, my credentials would check every single effing box. I have no degree - my annual income doesn't allow me anywhere near a credit card form. I have a household of three - only one is working (well, guess who?). I have a roof over my head - guess who's paying for it? I have a dad who paid for my tuition fees - guess who's paying him back? I have bills to pay which are incurred even though I spend half my time away from Singapore - guess who's paying for them?? And everyone tells me death is inevitable and I better leave money behind for my family - guess who's paying for insurance???

I am 25. I should be enjoying the fruits of my labour. I should be one of those young brats who give $600 per month to their parents and say, "Nah. Give you and don't bother me for the rest of the month," and spend the remaining thousands on food, clothes, shoes, entertainment and other useless stuff. Instead I'm handing thousands to The Mother and keeping the remaining hundreds to myself. Am I not entitled to be just a little extra careful (perhaps calculative) in what I spend so that I have just enough savings to buy myself a nice dress or a pair of shoes once awhile? Don't I deserve anything for myself?

I cannot help it if clients like to treat me to lunch, or my crew invites me for home-cooked meals when we're away in overseas. Neither it's wrong for me to save on lunch money by chewing on sandwiches. As far as I know, I've never owed any money for meals. I order, I pay. I scrim, I save because sometimes I don't get overseas allowances in advance; I'm spending a puny sum of money from my own pocket and am expected to make large purchases and 'claim it back from company later'.

So what if I ask favours from friends who might get me a discount or two on stuff I want to get? If they don't like to do me such favours, they'd tell me. I don't own a gun to put it to their heads. But I would go all out to do it for them, if they ask. Because I know every cent counts. To me, at least. If I have my way, I want to be living in a family of four. ALL FOUR OF US WILL HAVE WORK AND A DECENT INCOME. I don't worry about bills (just my own to be concerned about), I go for short getaways or even a long trip once a while, I will dine in fancy rastaurants every week, I can throw money at everyone's face and make them make me their best friend, I will buy my boyfriend every nice damn thing I see on my overseas trips, I don't have to purposely avoid designer boutiques nor do I have to furrow a single brow about my younger brother's tertiary education fees because it won't have to be my farking problem!

So anyway, this rumour got to me in a most ridiculous fashion.

I am running out of cash here in China. Mainly because I paid for my accommodation and made purchases for the project with my allowances (which are rightfully MINE to keep). I have a few more nights of hotel stay to pay for and I asked a colleague if I could borrow from her when the need arises. That's when a couple other colleagues said I don't need to borrow because 'I am rich and knows better than anyone else how to save money''.

And they repeated that many times throughout the day. It gets on my effing nerves. Do I have to set up a theatrical play and act out my sad-sob life story for them to understand that I am nowhere near the effing term - rich. Because I don't dress shoddily and I eat frugality doesn't equal me to being a RICH MISER.I am not rich to pay for every damn blardy expenses here and 'claim it from company later'. I would IF I could. Because I am not a bean counter at heart. I am actually very generous and don't mind paying for the entire crew's salary, accommodation, meals, purchases and 'claim it back from the company later', IF the alleged money does exist in my bank account.

So,

still random notes from dongguan... day 12

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Guess my first buy from this ulu town? Other than the massive amount of food and snack.

Bwahahahaha!

Okay Shangqian, having a Logitech Optical Mouse in pink doesn't make me a Hello Kitty fan! I hate this cat! No offence, Wanjun. You can like that meow all you want =)

Oh yeah, back to this. The crappy printer in office broke down for the zillionth time and The Boss had no choice but send me out to get a new printer. Well, an American client was with me... we couldn't help but 'look around' the other stuff while waiting to pay for the printer. Technie geeks, both of us. He bought some cabling. And I went for a portable optical mini mouse. I'm so over the touchpad. The bargaining spirit never left me and I got it at RMB 120 (SG$22). Well, and I didn't purposely choose this colour. This is the only one left!

Nevertheless, this baby works like magic. =)

Oh by the way it's Qing Ming today. A public holiday in China because everyone needs to commute to a faraway cemetery to give respects to their ancestors and... wait. How come it's mountain people mountain sea on the roads? The streets are more crowded than usual. It's a pain to cross the roads, but an even bigger pain to sit in the car and watch the driver zig-zag past the jaywalkers who obviously don't give an eff to safety. My safety! Urgh.

sore notes from dongguan... day 10

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I'm having a sore back. As in the entire back. I don't recall having to engaging in any tedious activities which require me to break my back and limbs. Because by far, all I do is sit in the office all day and curse at the crappy internet connection.

So that leaves the quality of sleep I'm having. It is crappy too. The hotel's bed is harder than steel. When I first sat on it, I yelped in surprise; my arse felt no cushion. Only hard wooden board. No wonder the room's only RMB 120 per night.

Excuse me while I go get myself Solonpas.

P.S. The Mother and Boyfriend are going to the post office tomorrow. Can't wait to receive stuff from home...

dubious notes from dongguan... day 9

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Remember this?

I have a lot more boxes of snacks which are not in the picture. But last night, when I went through the plastic bag full of Meiji, Glico and what-nots, I thought the bag looked... somewhat smaller. I emptied the contents on my bed and conducted a stock take against my purchase receipt.

Not right not right... Where has my Meiji Macadamia gone to???

A few other snacks were missing too. Now I am damn sure of what I've consumed; I need to make sure my tummy isn't in jeopardy. So when the reception staff asked if I have forgotten what I had ate, I was rather pissed off. And upset. I haven't had the greatest day yesterday. Hungry and pissed, I was looking for comfort food. And damn it was stolen!

Perhaps it was a combination of home-sick, work stress and PMS, I was clearly upset by the day's events and the case of missing food didn't help. I went to bed tearful. FRIENDS didn't help. I sobbed even louder when Joey and Chandler said something stupidly funny.

I keep all my valuable stuff in my luggage. Who would have thought that now, I have to keep my snacks too. I hate whoever who took my snacks and wish he'd burn in the pain of UTI.

weekend notes from dongguan... day 5

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JiaHua Shopping Mall

NanKang Shopping Mall

Yeap. The city is revolved around these two shopping malls. As far as I know, this district is the busiest and most stores are located here. So as I walk out from my hotel, KFC's right ahead and Watson/Nike/Adidas are to my right.

KFC's simply a stone's throw away. I could cross the road and get my hands on nice crispy chicken wings in less than five minutes. That is if, I can get to the other side of the road. Alive. Nobody obeys the zebra crossing rule. There are no pedestrians crossings. I managed to cross the roads in Shanghai but not here. So I'd walk a 500metre loop to the nearest overhead bridge and back the opposite direction just to get to KFC. Actually I don't really mind using the overhead bridge if it isn't always water-logged right in the middle of the path. It's rather... KNN.

Anyway, first weekend here and I'm still working from the office. Dammit! Not that I wanna go shop or walk around the city... I just wanna hibernate in my room, watch FRIENDS, read my book and do lots of sleeping. Well the plan for next weekend is more exciting - I'm going to HongKong! Actually, it's to get out of China, get a stamp on my passport, come back into China so as to 'renew' my 2-week validity stay here. And HongKong's the nearest foreign country to go to. But that's not the point. I'm going to HongKong!! I will not leave without having egg tarts, egg tarts and more egg tarts!

coffee stained notes from dongguan... day 4

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It sure feels like eternity. Probably not wise to do a countdown; I will drive myself crazy.

Each day I start off with a cup of Capparoma Instant Coffee 50% Less. Then power myself up again after lunch with a cup of Cupparoma. And my day ends with one more cup of Capparoma. My dentist would scream at me if he knew. Just when I'm complaining to The Boyfriend about the soon-depleting supply of Capparoma, The Boss decides to have my last sachet of Capparoma. Very. Nice.

Oh by the way, the KFC here is quite tasty, though not exactly dirt-cheap. I had Argentina grilled chicken wings. New Orleans flavour is also on the menu. Are we having that in Singapore? Oh yes, I crave for KFC no matter which country/city I go.

Food in the factory-office's canteen is decent. Except it's too salty and greasy. Ah Tiong style. Numbs my palate. But well, I've been eating cup noodles like there's no tomorrow. Won't make a difference to my liver toxin level. I'm fine with killing myself with caffiene.

Oh free internet in my hotel! (Have I already mention this?) So yeah. The only time I'm not hooked onto the network is during my commute between office and hotel.

Laundry in hotel is RMB5 per piece (approx. SG$1.10). The Adidas jumper with gold stripes and zipper is RMB 314 (approx. SG$70) after 30% sale. Eh, real one. A designer print Nike T-shirt is RMB120 (approx. SG$26) after discount. A bottle of Garnier Moisture Fluid is RMB 53 (approx. SG$ 11.70) and you don't get it in Singapore.

The list goes on and on and on.

Oh. YEAH IT'S FRIDAY!!!! AND I STILL HAVE TO WORK TOMORROW AND POSSIBLY THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW!!! YEAH!!!

Really. Whatever.

quick notes from dongguan

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The weather here in Dong Guan isn't as harsh as I thought it'd be. Sometimes mild drizzles, most part of the day is fair and cool. I haven't had the opportunity to use the warm pads, which is a good thing.

I'm currently putting up at a business hotel which has a KTV operating on the ground level. Every evening I would be greeted by hostesses wearing pink gowns, standing by the entrance. Except they aren't interested in greeting me. It's so obvious I'm not that 'target market'. Anyway the room's clean and spacious, has free internet (when connection doesn't break down), and decent TV channels (I couldn't find a decent English channel though...). Well, it's RMB 120 per night (approx. SG$24); I can't complain.

My colleagues have repeatedly warned me not to venture out on my own late in the evening. But the malls are just a mere 2minute walk from my hotel. Very tempting. But everyone of them kept repeating the same advice to me: DO NOT GO OUT ON YOUR OWN AT NIGHT. Right right. Even though KFC, Giodarno Concepts, Adidas and Nike are damn tempting...

So I hurried off the the supermarket while the day is still bright, stocked up instant noodles, coffee and juice like there's no tomorrow and slacked off the entire night in my room watching FRIENDS and surfing the net. Oh I am not sure if I should consume the milk here...

35 days of ni hao!

Posted by gie_chloe | Comments: (3)

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I've been playing it cool. At least I think I am.

But ultimately this game will give itself away because I might not live to see another day and the last thing I want is to regret not saying the three magical words to all my loved ones out there.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Excusez-moi. Considering that I would be going away to Middle Land for *counting fingers* 35 effing-days(!), I've been behaving well so far. Perhaps there isn't much reaction time allowed for dramatic emotions, feet-stamping and intolerable whining. In fact, the usual cathartic experience before every overseas trip just didn't happen this time. Oh you most probably didn't know the drama behind this.. Timeline timeline!

20 Mar, 4am: Was threatened to be sued. Adrenaline-rushing experience. Got a little high.

20 Mar, 9am: Removed the controversial post, but replaced it with something smarter. Felt good about myself. Ready to party the weekend away.

20 Mar, 11am: Got a call from The Boss. He sounded flustered. Looking for colleague. Asked me about my schedule for the next one month.

20 Mar, 12pm: Colleague asked me if The Boss has spoken to me. Dropped the bomb - I have to be stationed in China for one month for the upcoming Motorshow.

20 Mar, 3pm: Still no news from Shanghai office on where I'd be staying, which office is going to pay my allowances. Received my e-ticket though - Tiger(matherfarker)Airways.

20 Mar, 8pm: Still thinking how the heck I'm supposed to pack one month's stuff into a 20kg limit. F***.
And so the weekend went by seeing me cracking my head over the 20kg limit. I haven't got time to think how much I'll be missing my family and friends. ONE BLARDY MONTH! And five days. The longest period of time I've been away was only 14 days. But 35 days of no breaks, no seeing of ma boyfriend, no tasting of ma mama's brewed soup, no pigging out with ms bestie best friend and no picnic in the park, no sky-high heels... URGH...

On the other hand, I can always look forward to burning another hole in my pocket at H&M in Shanghai... *dreams* Makes things a lot better.

look ma no commas

Posted by gie_chloe | Comments: (0)

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when i say im farked by destiny i have no idea whats coming for me just this morning i have been told to fly to dong guan to oversee a project for a certain high end car brand which has less than three weeks of production time and no design is drafted yet and i will be staying in china for a month and i have only two days to pack my bags settle my bills clean out the skeletons out of my closet i have no idea where i am staying what clothes to bring who is picking me up from airport but i do know that im on tiger airways and 20kg bag limit is one big farking problem i will miss home

farked by destiny

Posted by gie_chloe | Comments: (0)

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I've been doing quite a lot of thinking about my job. Mainly whether I'm truly enjoying it.

It's kinda eating my health away. Close friends would have known how much my body has weakened since I took on this job. Some days I slack like a taitai, other days I work with almost no sleep. And it's crazy. Overseas trips would eat half my life and spit the remaining half corpse-like body back to the doctors in Singapore to scratch their heads over the mysterious illness I'm plagued with. So the many days when I'm not prancing around like a taitai, sucks.

Then stuff happens - like when I can't balance my ledger sheet. One time too many. Unless the gahmen decides I could do whatever damn thing I want with my CPF, I'd need to think of ways to mend the f-king arsehole I've created. I'm not good with the printed notes. Seriously. Like I have a damn big problem with it; I have to let it out of my sight. I cannot touch it. I must not have anything to do with it. Otherwise, I'd just lose it. Which, did happened. But I take heart that if nothing works out, I can always give Keong Saik Street a run for its money. The ancient brothels need new blood anyway. I've been told many times that I'm quite 'hot'. Hah.

The Mother has been asking if I'm interested in other jobs. Perhaps one which doesn't need me to carry $10K everywhere I go in India, or one that doesn't send me to faraway land such as Jordan, or one that doesn't require me to fly on recently-not-so-safe Qantas or one that doesn't take me away from her so very often?

And I've been considering hard. 25 years young and I've...

... joked, laughed and drank beer with the usually stern-looking Israeli bodyguards.
... sang the most hilarious French song with the usually snobbish French.
... successfully 'bribed' a top brass military lieutenant with 2 cans of Coke-Cola.
... visited the rough side of India.
... saw the most beautiful sunset in Jordan.
... slept with the ants in Langkawi.
... shopped nearly every shop in the streets of Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
... cried three times a day in India.
... visited all the churches in Macau in a single day.

The truth is, my passion for travelling and the exposure to so many experiences outside this little well is so intense that it pushes me further into this wilderness.

The worthiness of all absudities that I've been through since, is by far (bystanders' point of view) is amounting to nothing. Yet my thrist for more travel tells me to try things out again. On a clean slate.

I've comtemplated resignation. It was a long conversation with Kat. I spoke my mind. She spoke hers. One can never ask (or pray) for a more understanding boss than her. It'd be a shame to seek another boss. But if I could also add a few more truthiness (amongst other things) to what I find hard adjusting to in this job, it'd mainly be:

... Hi-Bye Man.
... the unavoidable need to dirty my hands at work.
... the lack of classy hotel rooms to stay in during overseas trips.
... the lack of a corporate credit card for me so that I could minimise losing cold hard cash to the wind.
... random angmoh man asking me how much the brothels, opposite my office, charge.

But I didn't reveal these, because they are not really THAT important. Just like how I told Kat, that 'money is really not an issue here'. I mean it. You laugh. But I mean it. Because if you really know me, you would have asked me a million times, "Why aren't you paid more?"

Because really, I am not interested in banking, medical, insurance and stunts, even if it pays a million bucks. And despite the fact I am the sole bread winner of the family.

And so I tossed and turned in bed many nights, pondering about... you know, the usual list of 'what i want', 'what i f-king don't like'.

Then I 'struck a deal'. I asked to be listed for a certain project for a certain show in a certain city.

So yeah, I'm going to Paris this June.

Yes I know. I'm such a sucker that I'm willing to endure shit in return for an air ticket.

Just for one blardy ticket. Stone me.

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