Gracy Bee

Cambodia 7 Mar 08

Posted on March 23rd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places, Travel.

My 1st day of the trip.

I have took leave for the trip, starting 7 Mar. Due to some work commitments, I have not able to do a lot of packing/ purchases beforehand. Hence on Fri, I have done all the last min things I needed for the trip. Been so busy for the last few days with work, and finally it is time to rest. Really really look forward to the break!!

Then somewhat, I kaypo and wanna read the company emails to see anything urgent to clear. How I regret doing that. So many emails after I have cleared all the previous day!! In the end, I have to clear some of the urgent emails, and find other colleagues to help me do the work while I’m away etc…. ALAS!!

Have planned to reach airport at 1630hr to meet baby’s parents for dinner. In the end, we reached 1730hr. Eventually we had quick dinner together, where his parents were telling us what to do and what not to do, be careful etc…

^^^^^^

Ooooh…Juz couldn’t wait!!

It is my 1st time taking budget airlines: Jet Star. All seem normal and the same to me: checking in, boarding etc. The seatings arrangements are the same, though there are no business classes. The seats are crampy but comfortable to my standards, and are of leather, wow…not bad!

The leather seats (taken on our way back)

The interior

Until one thing that differentiate between full service and budget airline: that is refreshment on board. I’m so used to taking the full service airlines, that I TOTALLY forgot they DON’T serve any refreshments on board FOR FREE.
Oh yeah…baby reminded me that there are no refreshment on board. AH!! DIE!! I felt so thirsty that I’m so desperate for a drink that I have to pay $3 for a small bottle of mineral water. ALAMAK…very ‘cheap’ leh……… felt heartbroken Say me stingy, but I’m not prepared to spend that amount of money!

It was a short flight, and I was exhausted. Reached Phnom Penh at 8pm local time. We had arranged for hotel taxi.

My 1st impression of Phnom Penh while in taxi: it is like back to Malaysia. The row of shophouses, the cars etc. What is slightly different: the roads are much wider and the type of cars on the road.

Finally reached our hotel and after checking in and paid our money, we went to our room and zzzzzzzzzzzzz

^^^^^^ 

End of the day:

Felt very exhausted.

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Cambodia - Preparations

Posted on March 22nd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places, Travel.

I have wanted to visit Cambodia since……a while ago…and as usual, whatever there are plans to go and I’m all ok and cleared……the plans would be cancelled last min. That is so annoying.

That had happened twice already! 1st in Xmas 2006 and the other CNY 2007. First pple are so hyped to go, then at the very very last min……..they then come and say: ‘Sorry, can’t go cos have other plans etc etc’. Argh!

Finally…this year, I have told baby about my desire to go Cambodia. And he has decided to go during my b’day week. Yippee!! Thanks baby!

We started to make plans for this trip since January. Of course, I would want to go free and easy for this trip and wanna get the best deals from the air tickets and accomodation.
As usual, my travel guide book by Lonely Planet is my guide.

This time round, my planning get some disrupted here and there due to work commitments. Hence what do I do this time. Find the air tickets 1st. Then see where we wanna visit. Then plan how many days to stay there etc.. The little details of what /where to visit shall wait till we get there. So many of our things are brought at the very last min!

We originally planned to go on 8 Mar (Sat) and be back on following Thurs. But too bad, air tickets are not available, and so we have to settle 7 Mar and be back only on 16 Mar. In the end, the original 5 days trip has extended to 9 days.

After that, I have planned to stay 3 days in Phnom Penh, 2 day to travel and then 4 days in Siem Reap.

Day set off: 7 Mar 08 evening

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Work

Posted on March 2nd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

I’m feeling very tired from work lately. What is so annoying is that, I’m not busy because of my work scope, but rather dealing with some stubborn colleagues who don’t seem to like accepting alternatives I have for them. If they don’t get what they want, they have the habit to go up to the TOP so that I’ll be scared. Well, 1st of all, I don’t see the reason why you need to go to the top. 2ndly, what you want from us, is a waste of time because what I have suggested to you is a more effective and faster way to learn for your staff.

Oh well, for the last 2 weeks or so, I’m working with some spoilt brats that whatever they can’t get what they want, they go to boss. Alamak… So what if you all are more senior at work that you can throw your weight around? Geez, really waste my time on them as the whole hoo ha can take me hours, and different episodes of the same kind can just happen for days!!

OMG!! Is it worth my time dealing with them rather than doing my real proper work? Really, I felt very mentally tired dealing with these bunchs of spoilt brats.

Work has been tiring also, not just because of them, but rather, I’m very short of manpower. Already, the training is running on tight schedule, due to some changes in airline’s requirements. The top is pressing for more training schedule for the existing ground staff, but ironically, they are pulling few pple out from my department to help support other areas.

HEELOO!!! YOU ARE GRAPPING THE WRONG PERSON! And if my people are to support you, then who is supporting us? I felt so pissed off!!

AH!!!! I CAN’T WAIT FOR MY HOLIDAY!!!!!! I WANNA GET OUT OF HERE!!!!

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Words

Posted on March 2nd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

Alas…words are funny creatures sometimes. A word that is so innocent and simple and yet it can trigger series of misunderstanding.

The 1st incident was when my brother is coming to Singapore. He didn’t inform me that he is coming today. But he insisted that he told me.

On msn:

Him: U know I’m coming today right?
Me: Ah? You told me you coming meh?
Him: Yes, I did. Remember I ask you about where to eat in Spore?
Me: Yeah, but that does not mean you are coming! That question could mean you are asking for a friend, or just to keep a note
Him: Neh, I wouldn’t waste time on asking that question, unless I’m coming to Spore
Me: Oh yeah, as if I can read your mind.

Great. Expect me to read and think like him. Oh gosh…how can like that? He say he wouldn’t waste time, but my personal opinion is that, he is wasting even more time by beating round the bush when eventually no message is spread across!

^^^^^^ 

The 2nd incident involved me and my baby. We are preparing for our trip to one country. I wanted him to buy earplugs as I know he is a light sleeper and would wake up at any slightest noise. The hotel we are staying would be near night clubs so I think there would be very noisy.

Me: come, we go buy earplugs, the next on the shopping list.
Him: but very funny leh
Me: no ah, u are such a light sleeper, better buy if not u can’t zzz
Him: omg, we are buying so much for this trip, even earplugs! When I go overseas, the lowest hotel grade I’ve stayed is 4 star leh! Now staying in budget hotel…
Me: ok…you are rich wat, dat y u stayed in 4 star!
Him: No…that is not wat I mean!
Me: if not then what?
Him: I just say I found strange
Me: ….

Eventually he did apologised to me and said that was just a comment. But somehow I felt disappointed. To me, it is not just a comment, but rather looking down on budget hotels where he used to stay in 4 star hotels. It is like a downgrade. Look like my efforts are all in vain, where I keep looking at maps and try to look for hotels that are not too expensive, and yet near to places we want to visits. Felt so sien at one point.

He told me he has never stayed in budget hotels before, so he don’t know what to expect. Well, I tot he would know. I thought the word Budget would explain it all. Alamak…need to work out the communication. Alas…Words, that can cause trouble here and there.

I’m still feeling a bit sore now but why I’m still like that despite him apologise profusely already?

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SMS - SOS!!!!

Posted on February 23rd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

AAArrrgggh!!

For the last few weeks, I couldn’t receive some of the sms sent to me, or some of the friends/baby/colleagues couldn’t recieve some of the sms I have sent!

AARRGGHh!!! What the hell is wrong with SINGTEL?!! I have paid for my bills punctually. I have to pay for my SMS but they are not received, why shd I pay leh?!!

Think SMS shd be now SOS!!

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Valentine Day 140208

Posted on February 16th, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

In my lifetime, I have rarely celebrated V Day, esp in England, and on this day, it is definitely work, work and work in restaurant. In Singapore previously it was that only one time.

^^^^^^

This year V day was a very special one for me. Knowing that I haven’t celebrated much, my baby went on to plan surprises for me. He doesn’t want to tell me what he is getting and what we will be doing. The only message he left for me is: You will know on the day itself.

Indeed, the surprise came in right in the morning when I’m going to work. He is supposed to be working night shift and so I was surprised to see him when I come out from the lift, holding a big bouquet of flowers and his smile. Then I knew that he has changed his shift so that he can make the necessary arrangements.

My 1st surprise: my bouquet of roses

The next surprise was he has put his thumbdrive in my bag when I was not around. Inside there is his own made slides of love messages. Aww, that was so sweet…Sorry can’t put it up here…it is copyrighted!

^^^^^^

I couldn’t wait till the day end at work, kept wondering about the surprises that come later. He came to pick me up from work and handed me another little surprise: a handmade card. So sweet! After I changed my working clothes to evening wear and I finally get to know where we are going. TO EQUINOX! where Compass Rose used to be. (so paiseh, I din even realise Compass Rose no longer in operation)

With courtesy from http://www.swissotel.com/singapore-stamford/z964/dining_02.html

^^^^^^

Ah,…I didn’t know he booked Equinox for dinner, it would cost such a big bomb! But he reassured me that all is alrite. I was still in the daze abt the surprises he has given in a day. WOW!

I have never been up to Swissotel before and today was indeed an experience for me. He managed to book the window side view so that we can admire the scenery while we had our dinner.

The table setting was beautiful, with rose petals and 2 candles, and with Rose Champagne to go start with.

Our table
This is our 1st course: Oysters. Oops…I rarely eat raw oysters but that was so yummy! (hehe, ate the 1st one before I took this pix )

Oysters
From left: Oyster in Lime, Oyster in Volka and Oyster with carrot and onion garnish

Our 2nd course: Soup

Our 3rd course: forgot what this is…

Our 4th course: this is so sweet and nice!

Our main course: Fish fillet

Our desert: yummy!

^^^^^^

You can see the portion is very very small, BUT it is very very filling. The whole dinner experience lasted for 3 hours and we didn’t even realise it! Been busy taking photos, talking, admiring the food and scenery and gossiping! HAHA

The view of the scenery up there is breathtaking.

The view on the left, that includes the new Singapore Flyer (in red)!

The view of CBD, Spore River

And not forgetting our very own…Esplande! haha, from the ground, it look like durian. But from the top, it look so like a house fly! That is also shown in Talking cock.com! haha!!

The Esplande….look like housefly?

A little note for my baby: thank you dear for such a wonderful day. You have made me feel like a princess. Whatever you have done for me, I can feel ur love in it. Love you my sweetheart

1 comment.

The wonders of Chinese medication

Posted on January 28th, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

Haven’t been feeling superb for the last 1 week. On and off, either I felt very sleepy and tired, having headache or I would have funny feeling in my stomach. So much to the extent, my baby noticed how tired I was whenever we were out. He insisted of me taking medication but I resisted. Though I had flu/cold symptons, but somehow I know it is not cold. I used to take panadol when I faced such and I ended up feeling worse than before.

Yesterday the headache came again and I was so tired that I went for afternoon nap: that is RARE. And today the same when I went to work. Baby was with me and his comforting hugs during the journey to work soothed me for a while.

In the end, I think it is time for me to see the doc, is sinseh…..

Diagnosis: breathlessness, heatiness, indisgestion that resulted in poor zzz and headache.

Phew……after medication, felt slighty better……Yeah! Not that I don’t have faith in western medication, but I trusted chinese medication more as they are less damaging to health. They are ok for minor illness, but for major one…then I would opt for western one.

For now, kudos to chinese med!

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Little Accident….but is there any?

Posted on January 23rd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

This morning, my baby and I took bus 53 to work. It is supposed to be an uneventful long journey to the airport…and this morning…there was big hoo ha happening…

At the turn of the junction, we heard a continuous horning from the car at the traffic lights. Oh well, I was thinking…what has happened? Is there an accident?

Apparently yes…and the party involved was the bus I was taking…The lady drove the car all the way to the bus stop and started to argue with the bus driver.

I didn’t witness what had happened but I do know it is a very small matter. But what was so annoying is that, the lady chose to argue  and ‘fought’ for her rights, making everybody else on the bus late for their school/work, and causing a big jam behind us when other buses came in and couldn’t board and alight passengers.

It is my baby’s off day but he has no choice so he has to intercept the situation. He did, and managed to calm the whole situation and in the end managed to get the bus going again. He got the lady to go to the police station to lodge the report rather to stand there and argued as ‘adviced by husband’.

Ok lo…pple get angry when such close shave happened…but perhaps there is a better way to solve problems right? Why call husband when he was not there to witness the whole thing? Why can’t you just go to the police station and lodge the report?? Geez…don understand these pple these days….

All in all, I was slightly late for work, but what made me proud was how my baby has calmly handle the situaiton and get the bus going…GOOD WORK baby…now I know how you usually work…

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09 Jan 2008

Posted on January 12th, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

Changi’s new T3 officially opened on 09 Jan 08. With that, that also spell the new beginning for us.

I was on a special roster whereby to be on the ground observing. Phew…for straight 4 days I was on afternoon shifts and then morning come back for meetings and such. Shag sia!

Overall, although there are some little glitches here and there…I must say all our staff did well for the cut over. GOOD JOB EVERYBODY!

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It’s 2008!!

Posted on January 1st, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

Here comes 2008 finally!

It has been a life changing experiences in the year 2007 for me. And I’m glad is for the good.

First, I have made a drastic decision to come over to Singapore to work after spending 6 months struggling to get things worked in Malaysia. The job I took up was in the airport, and the position is what most people would shun away as low manual job.

Well, I beg to differ and want to defend. I have learnt so much more about the aviation industry when I was in Operations, and we as the CSA worked as hard as anybody to get the job done. They are the front line and they are just as important as anybody else in the organisation.

Due to my educational qualifications, my boss wanted to give me the chance to apply for executive position in the company. I took up the opportunity and passed the exam and interviews. And so after 8 mths, I was re appointed (not promoted). Life was totally different from my CSAs days. A lot more hectic, a lot more busy but I’m still coping with it so far, ok. I’m so glad to have such a supportive team who are so willingly to help me when I need help.

Another new sparkle in my life is my new found love. I have never thought I would have found love again after 4 1/2 years of singlehood. But he proved me wrong. He has been there for me when I need him, he is my source of comfort and strength. He is indeed my champion.

With all in place, there is still one more to go………………………………………….

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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