Another week

Was totally shacked by the end of first week. Doing sales is indeed tiring. Talked so much during day time and don't feel like talking to anyone after work. Yesterday was most challenging. Was at travel fair ground for 12 hours. Was stationed at Turkey booth. Closed a few sales on Turkey and South Africa.

My first office sales was Bangkok and then Cambodia last week. But these two are far from my sales target of 65k for this month alone. Don't know how now.

Been reading on South Africa and I am really interested in that place. I hope I can visit it one day.

Today's my off day and I slept through the afternoon.

1 more to go

One more paper to go. I'm already in christmas mood. This is the first time I am having such a late exam, ending near christmas.

I am enjoying every second of my study now. Left with half a year more and that's the end of my student life, forever.

I hate working.

But have to work, so as to survive. That's life.

Last day of presentation

Finalli ma projs r cleared. tis sem was de most shiong cos i was away in china for half a year.

Ended with strategic management presentation today. The following major group projs were done:

Strategic management: The Sapphire - eco-boutique hotel in Sapa
Services marketing: Inner Harmony Wellness Resort
Econs of tourism: China Outbound Tourism

Current undertaking includes FYP: "Destination Marketing: A comparative analysis between Singapore and Hong Kong." Still more than half undone.

Gonna start ma exam next fri. Suddenly i miss exam. Projs haf overwhelmed mi n gave mi few times of nightmare.

Oh, went universal studio evening admission on sat. 5 bucks onli. but onli can roam around hollywood section. gonna start revision proper.

Flu

Yesterday slept halfway through caught a cold. Suddenly can't sleep at 1.30am. Tossed till 3am, got out of bed and ate bread with butter. Den popped a sleeping pill before I managed to sleep, all the way till 10am. So in de end skipped strategic management class, 4 hours of lecture. In de end went for 2 hours tutorial onli.

Tis sem was really heavy on mi. Because I went china and was absent from school. No regrets though.

Went orchard central do proj after school. On de way there i went to guardian pharmacy, food republic n uniqlo. Realised later I lost ma book which I carried by hand.

Went back to guardian pharmacy, de staff said din see it. I remembered placing the book on de counter.

Then went to food republic, and was told no lost book was returned.

Never mind that. I went to uniqlo, de staff said din see it too.

In de end I went back to guardian, and requested to see cctv because I was not convinced. It has shown that I have brought the book along when I left after purchasing 2 bottles of mineral water.

I went back to food republic and requested to see cctv, but de security man said the camera wasn't pointing towards where I was seated.

In de end I went back to uniqlo again, approached the counter staff and tis time round, dey said they found it.

Unlucky day.

Reached home and ma best friend nb told mi her ipad had gone missing at swensen's in vivocity. she placed it on de table and moments later it was gone. she oso requested to see cctv but de manager said need 1 working day. while dey walked into de cctv office, waitresses shouted at my fren even. de waitresses then picked their bags and left. lol. wat a scene to make in front of customers. some people just aren't meant to be in service line. just like me. i prefer planning and strategy more. back office =)

okay now i shall continue wif ma services marketing proj. servicescape, servicescape n servicescape.

Villon's wife

Watched the villon's wife on tue after school with wc. Very cheem show to understand. Japan in the 1940's.

Yesterday went raffles city to study, and bumped into mel. Then we shared table to study, had dinner at 8 plus at ion. Hokkien mee was nice but costs 5.50 bucks.

Today stayed home till 7 plus before having dinner at bedok north market..

Many assignments to clear and if onli i can outsource some of them.

Lucky day

Went for project meeting with my mates at raffles city. then I went to starbucks at one fullerton, waiting for dearie to pick me up. While waiting I saw our minister mentor lee walked past! I was so excited... I waved at him and he waved back. Lol... He must have been out for a stroll, along with his bodyguards. I think without him singapore will not be where it is today.

Although I don't like to stay in Singapore, I feel proud holding that red passport when i'm overseas.

Long weekend

Today's the start of long weekend.

Been reading up on strategic management and doing some research on Banyan Tree.

And then I stoned for the whole day because of the rain.

Heart attack

Today is May-Day or D-Day. Sigh.

So many projects are flooding in.

Strategic Management module alone has 6 projects to do (although no final examination). I rather sit for final paper in this case. Exchange student from Canada seated beside me was shocked.

It is really a courageous choice for those exchange students to choose Singapore's universities (SMU, NTU or NUS) as their host universities (although most of them only need to transfer either a 'pass' or 'fail' grade back home). If I have a choice I will choose to go somewhere more relaxed.

I got a total of 5 modules today, or 6 if final year paper is to be included.

- Services marketing
- Accounting 2
- Strategic management
- Economics of tourism
- Personal information

I will be amazed if I won't collapse even when lying horizontally on bed one day.

Back to school

Woke up at 6am. Have never woken up so early this year to attend school, save for catching early flight! Back in Suzhou I woke up only at 7.40am everyday for work when the sun was high up in the sky (during summer) or just nicely bright (during winter).

Reached Pioneer station at 7.45am, just nice for me to have a plate of duck rice. Never before have I eaten duck rice so early in the morning. But my appetite is the biggest in the morning. I can also eat a packet of nasi lemak.

I eat more because I have to attend 6 hours of lesson straight, from 0830-1430 without any lunch break.

Still feeling abit sad because from now until next year June I will be busy like siao. Because of final year project. Many exchange students in my class. I thought I was in America! But one student from Hong Kong. So envious of them now.

Consultation with prof

Met prof for final year proj consultation. Went running in the gym.

Met GIP groups on Sentosa Island. Watched Songs of the Sea performance. Dinner at Carl's Jr. in Vivocity. Tired.

Back from Beijing

Been super super busy planning for my upcoming melbourne trip next wed. And I'm just back from Beijing on monday. Lots of travelling this year! Until they are wearing me down. No more fun elements in them.

Beijing was extremely hot and stuffy. But the dry weather made me sweat lesser than I would in Singapore. The air was forever bad, with very poor visibility. Dusty roads. I still prefer Shanghai and Suzhou anytime.

Enjoyed Peking Roasted Duck the most and the turtle soup at 全聚德烤鸭店. Expensive though! At about S$40 per pax for dinner with only three dishes in total. Yet there were many Chinese tourists patronising the famed restaurant, besides foreign tourists.

Flew to Xi'an (18 July 2010) and I found the Army of Terracotta Warriors stunning. They were excavated in 1974, after being discovered by a nearby village digging a water well at that time.


Went to Inner Mongolia (19 July 2010) as well. Stayed at a Mongolian Yurt for a night (20 July 2010), and the weather at night and the next morning was chilling, with vapour that came out from my mouth when I speak. Regretted not bringing along a jacket. The Mongolians work only during summer season from June to August. Come September temperature drops and snow starts falling in October. Winter temperature dips as low as minus 30. No tours come after August.



Rode a horse for two hours, until my hips and butt ached. After my china trip, I could manoveur a horse! And ride with confidence. Most Chinese from Northern China know how to ride a horse since young, because it is their transport.


My butt got a second blow the next day (21 July 2010) when I rode on a camel. Thank God the weak-looking camel could not run, but sauntered along the desert path as though it would collapse anytime due to heatstroke.


On the bus back to the city, a french guy seated behind me asked: "Is this bus going back to Hoh-hot?"

Hoh-hot is the capital city of Inner Mongolia. I replied "yes, going back to Hoh-hot."

Then I told dearie that I should have said we're going back to "Hot-yit" (which means very hot in cantonese) and not Hoh-hot!

Got back to Beijing (23 July 2010), visited Temple of Heaven and had Peking Roasted Duck for the next two nights!






Joined a tour to Tianjin (24 July 2010), the fifth busiest port in China, but it wasn't busy at all. I can't see any cargo-lifting work in action. It was 1.30pm, and perhaps the workers were still taking an afternoon nap. The tour bus stinked like hell. I wouldn't want to remember this unpleasant experience, but I wouldn't want to forget that I have to carefully choose the right tour operator next time. No more CYTS!


Still, I would say the Great Wall (25 July 2010) is still the most marvellous structure amongst the other six wonders of the world. Even surpassed the colosseum in Rome. Needless to say, Tower of Pisa.

This Zha Jiang Mian 炸酱面 that I had at the Great Wall filled my final night in China with unforgettable trips to the toilet, even in the sky back to Singapore. SIA should consider installing TV in toilets. So I can come out only when it's about time to land.

A simple cup, above a simple sky. Don't you think I have a flair for marketing photography? I love this pic the most.

Went for my second IPL treatment yesterday at Vivocity. Had an injection on my face after doing carbon peeling. Carbon peeling was kinda unbearable due to the high heat. Felt as though a construction worker was performing soldering work on my face.

Dental appointment today. Paid almost 140 bucks for my broken retainer. Met jc and jm for fyp project discussion, amidst an impending stress. So I went running at Bedok Stadium.

IPL Laser

Dearie brought me for IPL laser yesterday for my acne at Derma Solutions in China Square Central. The package consists of 6 treatments. Went ecp for dinner. Ate my favourite duck rice.

Went cycling with ken this morning. Cycled from home to ecp to changi village. Then had nasi lemak for lunch. Then cycled back to ecp and then home. Took 3 hours man! That's the longest bike ride ever.

Met sis and bro-in-law for dinner at Dian Xiao Er in Tampines One today after my haircut. I still think singapore's salons are more ethical and skillful.

Gonna sleep now. Early flight to beijing tomorrow.

Humble Administrator's Garden

Went gym this morning, then had lunch at In City. Ate hokkien fried mee from a Singapore cuisine outlet called Sin Chew Kee (新洲记). Not nice at all. Initially did not give me sambal chilli. How to eat?

Went to the Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园) and was happy to be able to use my student card. So paid half price entrance fee at only 35 yuan. Inside the garden got a pavilion called Celestial Spring Pavilion (天泉亭) and I overheard a tour guide saying that by looking at one's own reflection in the well, one will grow more handsome. So I decided to look 3 times because I need an overhaul!

This well is about 700 years old

Of particular interest to me initially was the Tower of Reflection (倒影楼). But it turned out to be nothing more than a corridor's shadow being reflected on the water.

Got generous bites from mosquitoes, which thrives endlessly since spring time. Other things else......

Went for massage in order to use up my remaining 2 hours on the prepaid card.

Bought taiwanese sausage and braised eggs rice rolls (台湾香肠卤蛋饭团) and a black soya bean for 10 yuan. Returned home before going to Moonlight Harbour (金鸡湖) at about 9pm overlooking the Golden Chicken Lake (金鸡湖).

Reached home at ten plus.

Postal office

Went gym this morning despite the drizzle. Returned home to pack my items to be freight back to Singapore. Carrying the luggage down the stairs from the 5th level was no joke. Brought it to the postal office nearby and then purchased a cargo box for 10 yuan. Transferred all the items from the luggage to the box.

Weighed 18 over kilogrammes and costs me almost 280 yuan. Still cheaper than paying excess baggage fee at the airport.

Bought Subway Today's Special "Seafood Sensation" at 15 yuan.

Returned home and after eating that sandwich, I went to Suzhou University to collect my certificate of attendance.

While walking to the bus stop, saw a minor accident. Few days ago I heard loud skid on the road while waiting for the bus. But did not see any accident. Anyway, the way the locals drive are bound to have accidents everywhere.

Then went to Cang Lang Pavilion (滄浪亭), which is a garden. Entrance fee costs 30 yuan.

借景 - a window 'lending' the view from outside

Went for massage at 刀馬旦 from 6pm to 7.30pm (masseur no. 157 was good) before buying 台灣香腸滷蛋飯糰 for 10 yuan for dinner and a vegetable soup for 3 yuan. Headed for In City and saw that a hard disk (500 gb) costs about 800 plus yuan. So in the end I did not buy. Only bought a refillable facial cleanser bottle from Muji for 10 yuan, because I left it at the hotel in Zhengzhou.

Reached home at about 9 plus.

So fast it's mid-week

Bought train tickets to Zheng Zhou city in Henan Province yesterday, for my trip tomorrow. The train will depart at 10.35, and will reach only at 0006 after 13 hours 13 mins of journey. Returned home to pack my stuff for my return back to Singapore. I'm starting to miss Suzhou now.

Too dusty

When I opened the drawer in the wardrobe, I was shocked to see winter clothes still lying around (because I thought I had handed them all over to mum and sis for them to bring back when they visited me in April)

Laptop is so heavy

Books are in aplenty

And oh, yesterday was the official start date for summer season, known as "夏至" where, according to ronald, people in the past would eat salted duck eggs and hang salted duck eggs around their neck... at least I don't see people hanging such things now, or it will be a laughing stock.

Because it is "夏至, " the sun yesterday would be in a 12 o'clock position (right in between east where the sun rises and west where the sun sets) at 12 noon sharp; I went out to the balcony to see and it was damn accurate.

Had dinner at a food court in In City, yong tau foo-like.

Today I went to the gym in the morning, and then went to highlight my hair at a salon called 丝度发型 because I wanted to use up my credit on the VIP card that I bought in February. As usual, the stylist will keep pressing me to choose a higher price category, but this time round, I am not to be swayed by their hard selling tactic! I got cunning as well, and said I forgot to bring the VIP card, so that they cannot check the balance and persuade me to top up more money.

After dying, the stylist kept asking me to buy a hair treatment at 80 yuan (about 18 sgd). I said no it's ok. He continued saying it's good, and even said it's not expensive. My heart was saying: "If not expensive then you pay for me lor!" But of course, I remained silent and not giving him any facial expression. He kept quiet.

After the hair cut, I flashed my VIP card at the stylist's face, and I could see his expression changed! HAHA. I just said "oops, I thought I forgot to bring."

Now I am still left with a balance of 68 yuan. Shall go for a hair wash and massage at 45 yuan next week. The remaining credit I will give back to the salon for free (or as tips haha).

Passed by a small roadside along Feng Men Road (封门路) leading to Suzhou University, selling street-side food. So I sat down to have my late lunch. Ate noodles (凉面) and seaweed soup (紫菜汤) for only 3 yuan and 1.5 yuan respectively.

Walked past this building and thought I am already in Singapore - HDB-look-alike

Returned home and then went to the gym again for body jam lesson at 1915 hrs, and then to In City.

Shall sleep now.

Shanghai

Watched a movie on "Chanel No. 5" at In City. Prior to that had lunch at sushi outlet. But the fresh salmon wasn't fresh. So I had to reject.

Rushed to Shanghai by bus. Stayed overnight at a guest house. Only 130 yuan. Was quite clean, except that the wall partition wasn't sound-proof. So I could hear an irritating couple talking nonstop, until a woman had to knock on their door twice. It did not go off until 3am. Or maybe that was the time I finally dozed off. But they started talking since 7am again. I wonder if their mouths are battery-operated.

Took a taxi to Wusong Pier to buy ferry ticket for Putuoshan - one of the four most famous Buddhist mountains in China, apart from Mount Emei in Sichuan, Mount Jiu Hua in Anhui and Mount Wutai in Shanxi. Costs me 189 yuan for a 6-man bunk.

Taxi uncle told me the pier wasn't far. But the fare came up to 110 yuan (21 sgd). He still could ask if I want a ride back. I said it was too expensive, and off I went to inquire on how to get back to Shanghai City. In the end, a metro station was only nearby (30 minutes walk), so I took a taxi to the train station. When I opened the taxi door, I was too forceful and bang the door onto the kerb. I thought it would be dented. It was really loud. But thank God, the door only suffered visible trademark (scratches) left by Melvin Ng in Shanghai, China. HAHAHAHA

Returned back to Suzhou later by bus. Slept all the way back. Went to the gym before having lunch and then returned home. Went In City with Ronald for dinner at the sushi outlet again, this time round the raw salmon was fresh.

Returning back to Shanghai tomorrow to catch my ferry. Will depart at 8pm, and arrive the next morning at 7am.

And oh, it's a three-day public holiday in China, since Monday, in celebration of Duan Wu Jie (dumpling festival).

Last day of work

Yesterday was my last day of work, ended earlier than expected! Was even more happy when boss gave me an extra 1000 bucks, in rmb unfortunately, but better than nothing?

Went Guan Qian Street to buy a book titled "英语导游教程" (tour guiding in English) and "写在旅游研究边上" (Research on Tourism Industry). And also a map on Beijing because I'll be there next month.

While I was in the bookstore near the main entrance (4 storeys in total), I heard a familar accent asking "请问这里有没有英文的书har?" Saw quite a few tour groups from Singapore, and I realised it's june school holiday now.

Ate fried eggs with tomato and rice at a 米线 outlet with ronald after we knocked off. Gone walk walk awhile before returning home. Is that my farewell dinner? Omg..

Gonna have farewell dinner with 3 other colleagues tomorrow.

Went running in the gym today. Have been running everyday for almost a month. 5km each time and now my joints and knees are really painful.

Ate salmon at In City again (3 plates this time instead of 4 plates, each sushi plate costs 6 rmb). Bought kiwis, mangosteen and tomatoes, green beans to reduce heat, and vegetables (dou miao) for dinner. And also "bi luo chun" (碧螺春) - 50 rmb - green tea leaves from Suzhou.

Winter made my appetite grew extremely huge, so I ate alot few months back. Now that summer is here, I have to shed some fats away. Believe it or not, I got very full eating half of the rice portion now as compared to winter. So I gave the other half to my colleagues or had to throw away.

Seasons change

Seasons change, I am missing winter which I used to detest initially.

Went to a Watertown called "Tong Li" in Suzhou on saturday. Took a pic (right half of the photo below). Isn't Suzhou - Venice of the East - nice?

My days here are numbered.

全国默哀3分钟

The whole of China is in a state of mourning for 3 minutes today, a week after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Qinghai province, resulting in loss of lives of some 5,000 people.

All entertainment and services were suspended during the mourning.

This morning when I started using the Internet, the homepage (baidu search engine) was purely black and white. I thought there was something wrong with my monitor and I kept wondering what's wrong. Then people told me it was also in a state of mourning.

At roy's house, I tried to switch the tv programme. But somehow the next channel, next next channel, and next next next channel were all repeating the news on mourning. Then we came to realise it was due to the mourning.

As the whole state went under a sombre mourning session, us Singaporeans abroad unite together for the wrong purpose - to have nasi lemak and vegetable curry OMG! I miss nasi lemak so much.

Season change

Went jogging outdoor after work today... in t-shirt and shorts. Season has changed!

Jogged with hl to 金鸡湖 (golden chicken lake haha) before ending up in In City for dinner at Saizeria. Had mushroom spaghetti for 12 yuan and a mini mineral water for 3 yuan.