busy busy busy!!

My Sweden holiday blog is so so overdue..Sighz~

Been kinda busy lately....spent the whole day yestie looking at ST classified ads and calling housing agents...

YESH! Tom and myself are looking for a place~
Preferably in Punggol or Sengkang area...

My fren, Roy recommended his friend who's a housing agent. He showed us a couple of places in Sengkang/Punggol area yesterday. One thing for sure, the property market in Singapore is definitely soaring and sellers are asking more than the valuation prices.
In fact, some of them are asking for S$25-50K above the valuation prices

Totally insane!

A 5 room flat in Sengkang/Punggol can easily cost S$320K+++ and a 5 room executive around S$400K+++

With these prices, i could easily buy a big plot of land and build a big house in some countryside in Sweden.. throw in a couple of cows and sheep as well!

Was talking to my mom awhile ago and she mentioned that they bought our current house for less than S$15K. But that was 30years old lah... Back then, money was huge and you could just get by with S$1/day. Now that S$1 couldn't even get u a can of coke in coffeeshop...

Raymond, the housing agent just called and he's arranging more viewing for tonight... Hopefully we'll find something that we like and the price is within a reasonable range.

Moi was at the bank early to today to get my hands on this:
SINGAPORE, 27 June 2007... Brunei Darussalam and Singapore today celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement. To mark the auspicious occasion, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and His Excellency Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore jointly launched the new $20 polymer notes issued by the two countries in a ceremony held at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.

They are for my Dad...His only hobby is to collect currencies, old and new from all over the world
Else you think i so free meh? fyi, the bank only allow each person to change just 2 S$20 notes each time

Seoul and San Francisco!

Phew~ I'm so so glad the flight is over! Let just say there are some people that moi hope I'll never see in my life....ever again!

Stay in San Francisco was pretty interesting. Moi almost witnessed a gangland-style killing near our hotel. We were in the hotel waiting for one of our colleagues who had gone up to her room to get her jacket. While waiting, two of my other colleagues went out for a smoke. Minutes later, they came running in screaming they heard gunshots outside the hotel. We looked out and saw people running towards the corner of the road. Within a couple of minutes, tons of police cars and fire engines arrived at the scene. Being typical Singaporeans, we too made a mad dash to check out the action.It looked almost like a scene out of a CSI episode! The police came and started putting yellow tapes around the area. One of the policeman went around and asked the people whether anyone had witnessed the whole shooting. One of the paparazzi even went into the restricted area and started snapping photos of the person that was laying on the ground. Moi couldn't see much cos I WAS TOO SHORT! But i did saw the medical personal performing CPR on the victim and thinking to myself "He's a goner".

Wednesday, From San Francisco Chronicle: San Francisco's drug wars rose to a dramatic new level with a gangland-style slaying in broad daylight that was within ear-shot of the Powell Street cable car turnaround, one of the city's biggest tourist magnets. Police said the shooting might have been a battle in a turf war between San Francisco and East Bay gangs for control of the Tenderloin.........occupants of one car began shooting at another car with a semiautomatic rifle at 4.40pm, Monday. When it was over, two people in the target car had been wounded. One of them, 20 years old Charles Rollins of Contra Costa Country, later died. The shooter's car drove off and got away......

I saw his face when they were wheeling him into the awaiting ambulance. A young life is lost.

Another bad experience happened to moi in San Francisco and it's because of this!!!!

Lemme first tell you, It's really scary to be out after 6pm. That's when the homeless and weird people start coming out into the street. One of my girl fren was so funny! She was out alone (i scolded her for being out alone) shopping till 8pm when this totally insane and scary homeless guy started talking to her and following her. She was darn scared and didn't know what to do. Then she did the funniest thing! She approached one of the lamp posts and started screaming and talking to it. FOR 5 FULL Minutes!!!! The guy left her alone after that.

Totally hilarious

So back to my story, it's was already 7pm and moi had this tremendous craving for Carl's burger...so together with another two girls, we cut across the street from our hotel to the Carl's junior joint. While moi was waiting for my food, this homeless guy in his electronic wheelchair came in and started to pester us. We ignored him and turned our back at him. Next thing i know, THAT IDIOT ACTUALLY PUT HIS HIS HAND ON MY HIP!!!!!

The most sensible thing would be to glare, shout and move away from him.
I DIDN'T! I kinda just froze up. Help came in the form of my colleagues who quickly pulled me away from him.

Of cos i was offended! I didn't know why i haven reacted when he touched me.
Possibly too shock? or too surprise?
and i was holding this gigantic cup of lemonade... It was only hours later when i think back about it and wished i had just threw that big cup of lemonade over his head...

UGHHHH

Back to happier times!
When out shopping shopping and shopping!!!!
Abercrombie and Fitch having mid summer sale!
I think i went abit bonker in the shop!!Bought a small lil Coach pouch that was on sale!The day moi realized that 38DD is almost as huge as my head!Dark chocolates filled Ferrero! *swoons*
I love anything with dark chocolates!!!
Stay in Seoul was good as well. We went down to MYONG DONG, a shopping street in Seoul. Most major department stores in Seoul are located there and there are many small shops offering all the latest fashions, including Korean and foreign made clothes, shoes, accessories, and cosmetics from world famous designers.

Brands like Etude, Skin food, Face Shop etc etc all come from Korea. I simply love buying cosmetics from here. Firstly, they are so much cheaper than buying them from Singapore. Secondly, they give out tons of their freebies!!

I bought a tub of the Laneige's sleeping pack and check out the amount of freebies they give away!!And its not just in Laneige! Be it Face shop, Etude or Skin food, freebies like face masks, cotton buds, body cream, slippers and so forth are all given free!!!
I think it's a fabulous way for them to promote their own products.

Moi came across a number of donut shops while shopping in MYONG DONG.
Mister Donut has a great selection of donuts!
My colleagues say Mister donut are really good! I bought the Pon de double chocola and the strawberry donut. Sadly, they fall short from my expectation. I thought they would taste really great cos they look so so good... Mabbe it's cos i kept them in the fridge and ate them a day later... Even Tom, the Donut king, says it taste kinda weird
My all time favourite donut chain! Krispy Kreme!!
(which have yet to make an appearance in SINGAPORE!!!)
A dozen cost 8000won

They even show customers how the original glazed donuts are made...
Adding the glaze in....
Moi is a happy person, with my dozen of original glazed krispy kreme!
While on our way back to the room, we past by the event room in the hotel where a Korean wedding is taking place. Well wishers sending flower arrangements to congratulate the couple.

flying to seoul & San Francisco....

Sorry for the lack of updates....Simply have no time!!

UGHHH~

just came back from my Sweden holiday on friday and going back to work on SUNDAY!!

I HATE WORKING ON SUNDAY!!!!
Gosh, have to set my alarm at 5am...

will be away for another 8days...Ermm, think i'll be back on the 29th Jul
Hopefully moi will be able to blog about my Sweden trip and the Seoul/San Francisco trip when back

Take care.....

Hello from Sweden!!! and Grattis to Robert & Agnes

Was just doing a quick check on my email and decided to write a short lil update here... Everything is wonderful in Malmö, Sweden..Tom's family has been extremely kind and nice,
I LOVE Swedish food!

The weather is a letdown though..been raining and overcast sky for the last couple of days..
Which is so weird...It's suppose to be summer here!! But we are getting like 9-15degrees here...
-_-

Managed to head over to Copenhagen, Denmark for 2days and visited the "Little Mermaid" and Tivoli...Moi will upload the photos when im back in Singapore...

Thanks to everyone who wished me "Happy birthday!!!"
I REALLY REALLY appreciate it...
sorry that i cant reply u guys..cos its like almost S$1 to send out per sms from Sweden
*gasp*
and to those who forgot about it....It's still not too late! kekeke

Oh yeah...almost forgot the reason why i wrote this blog.... Moi received a wonderful new from my dear friend, ROBERT....
Who "OMIGOSH" just become a father
*throw confetti in the air*
Grattis, Grattis!!!! (congratulation in swedish)

It's so hard to imagine him being a dad...i mean, he's like so playful way back in poly, the tricks he pulled on us, not doing his homework, copying OUR homework...
Oh man! I cant believe you're now a father...
But im really so happy for you and Agnes (see, i finally got the spelling right!)
and i sure both of you look so forward to this day...

BTW!!! i need to GLOAT abit here....
ROBERT, if you are reading this : remember the last gathering we had and you mentioned that Agnes was pregnant and gonna give birth in JUL? And moi casually mentioned :Quote"I hope she'll give birth on my birthday!"
and how the rest of you are giving me this DUH look....
HAHAHAHAHHAHA....~
in the end, your baby really came out on my birthday!!!!
2 weeks earlier than expected!!!

lalalalala...Your precious son and moi share the same birthday...lalalalala
*Hop hop around the room*
(Tom is giving me this weird look now)

Congrats once again to the brand new parents, Robert and Agnes!!!!
we are looking forward to the baby shower in a month time...

Going to bed now...Tom and myself are taking the train up to Stockholm tomorrow morning and the train leaves at 7.11am, meaning that we had to wake up like 5am!!!

Tata.... miss everyone back in Singapore!!

In Sweden 7th - 19th Jul

flying up to Sweden with Tom tonight~
Woohoo~

and travelling as a passenger!

Gonna be so exciting.. But i'm so not looking forward to the 13hours in the plane.
It's different when you're working vs travelling as a passenger.
The time seems longer when you are sitting in the seat and not doing anything else.
sighz, guess it's movie marathon again for me.

Be back on the 19th...probably wouldnt be updating my blog...but we shall see

Amsterdam - Part 2

After our windmills tour, we proceed on our own to the next touristy attraction, Madurodam.

From wikipedia: Madurodam is a miniature city located in Scheveningen, The Hague, in the Netherlands. It is a model of a Dutch town on a 1:25 scale, composed of typical Dutch buildings and landmarks, as are found at various locations in the country. This major Dutch tourist attraction was built in 1952 and has been visited by tens of millions of visitors since then. The miniature city was named after George Maduro, a law student from Curacao who fought the Nazi occupation forces as a member of the Dutch resistance and died at Dachau concentration camp in 1945. His parents donated the money to start the Madurodam project.

From the Amsterdam central station, take a train to Hague Central station. Round trip cost 17.70Euros. The journey takes about 45mins
I took a photo of the bicycle tracks that surrounds the whole city.
There have been alot of debates going on in Singapore regarding whether to allow cyclists on pedestrian walkways.
Until recently, there's actually a law that goes back donkey years ago prohibiting cyclists to be to be on the pedestrian walkways! READ: ILLEGAL @-@
Which surprise me tremendously...Nobody knows such a law existed!
i mean, i so used to sharing the pavement with cyclists, the incessant ringing of bells and speeding and weaving in & out of walking pedestrians.
So from now on, i'm gonna stick my leg out and watch them fly the next time i see a bicycle on the pavement *kidding*

i'll say just follow what the rest of the countries are doing: Have the road for the motor vehicles, a pavement for people to walk on and a path for the cyclists! You make everyone happy~

At the entrance of Madurodam
Ticket: Adult ticket cost 13Euros I'm so obsessed with these "how far are you from XXX cities/countries"
Oh well,
Moi is just 10504KM away SINGAPORE!!It had started to rain when we got there. There no point in turning back cos we are already at the entranceWe just wish the rain will stop. The Mighty one above probably didnt hear our prayers because the rain got even bigger after that. Darn~
It's so funny in Europe. People doesnt use the umbrella even if it's raining. They just walk around like it's no biggie to be drenched to the skin

and we follow suit.
WE ARE NO WEAKLINGS!!! It helps that we were given a booklet that list in numerical order, all the famous buildings in Madurodam. As mentioned earlier, all these are on the scale of 1:25This is the our main objective:
Take a photo with the new A380 aircraft!!Perhaps it was the rain that damper our spirits.. we kinda became bored after awhile.

To entertain ourselves, we started posing silly photos
(READ: NO OBJECTS WERE HURT IN THE FOLLOWING SCENE)
Tom mentioned that we are not suppose to step inside the displays.
We donno anything *innocent look*
HEHEHE

Kaay, we did know about it...BUT STILL~For dinner, we went to this Chinese joint that's really popular with the locals

I was so excited when i saw the box that contained my stir fried beef noodle

TATA!!!I had always see these Chinese take out boxes in American TV.
Truth is: This is not HOW we packed Chinese takeaways in Singapore. We usually put them in plastic containers. AND it's not at killer prices!! An order of beef noodle will probably cost like S$4 or S$5 in Singapore. The one i bought in Amsterdam cost moi 7euros (S$14)

It's super exciting to be holding one and chomping it like how the Americans do it on TVAnd with chopstick! Mind you
PS: If you are ever in Amsterdam, buy this brand of Peanut butter!!
Its really good!! *thumb up*Lastly, i'm so looking forward to my Sweden trip on 7th jul!!
STOCKHOLM/MALMO!! Here i come~

Amsterdam - Part 1

Heehee...

Moi got my birthday present early.....
From Tom: A baby Pink Nintendo DS lite!!

*TATA*

At least there's something to keep me occupied when i'm overseas now~

In Amsterdam...again
The last Amsterdam flight i did was probably 2-3months ago? (Not that i mind~)

Nice hotel.... I LOVE KING SIZE BED!!! You could just roll yourself over and over again without falling off from the bed....and it comes with not one or two BUT 6 Fluffy Down pillows~
*YAAY*

See! Such simple things can make me jump up in joy~It comes with a nice toilet too
(Unfortunately, i didnt have the time to soak myself in the nice bathtub)
Dinner was at a restaurant inside a Casino. It was very popular and we had to wait 40mins before we finally got a table.

While we were waiting for a table, moi was walking around and observing the scene around me. I think it'll be so interesting to be working in a casino. The gaming chips, the slot machines, Roulette and so forth.

Having say that, i'm not supportive of gambling. I have never place a money bet on anything
(i did buy Toto once and that's cos it's shared among my colleagues for the S$10million jackpot)
I know it's very easy money... In fact, one of my colleagues won a couple of thousands that night.
Matter of principle, i guess *shrug*We saw a beautiful rainbow as we exited the casino.
Im really hooked on my Nintendo DS Lite.
And my favourite game at the moment is: Bomberman Early next morning...9am
We signed up for the half day Windmills/Edam tour package. Cost: 30Euros per person
(15% discount for crew members) HeeHee
We passed by moo moo cows along the wayFIRST STOP: A quaint little town, Edam
lined with picturesque shops and charming houses...Notice the RED ARROW pointing to the man?
In all the sightseeing tours i had been, never in my life had i came across a group of man joining a sightseeing tour wearing 3-piece suits!!
SHIRTS, JACKETS, PANTS and even TIES!!! @_@
Talk about being dressed up for tours...
And they had this professional photographer tagging along to take photos of them!

I'm not jestingNo prizes for guessing which nationality they are.....
I really love this little town

We saw a wedding...

Nope...your eyes are not deceiving you.
These are the everyday dressing of the town peopleOF COS IM KIDDING!!!
*roll eyes*

Obviously, they are having some sort of a carnival and some big shot is suppose to make an appearance later.
(I can't remember actually...the tour guide kinda explained but we were too busy taking photos)
I just thought the following scene is pretty amusing.
Two ladies dressed in old centuries clothing buying a hotdog. HahaAfter leaving the Edam town behind, off we go to our next destination.

Windmills/cheese factory/wooden clogs factory
(They are all located in the same area) WOODEN CLOG FACTORY

Wedding clogs~

Clogs everywhere!

They made wooden tulips too~That's the cute guy showing how wooden clogs are made...and he speaks a little bit of chinese too! Awwww~
HAHA...i wonder who came up with this cute designBiggest Clog in the world?Next stop: CHEESE FACTORYBest part? Free sampling of their home made cheese!!
I love Cheese!!! (except Blue and goat cheese...bleah~)The Dutch lady explaining how cheese are madeFinal stop: WINDMILLS That's Jaz! She's really tall...Like 1.83m or something....
I'm so envious of her height.. She's probably the tallest girl i know...
Sighz, if im as tall as her...i could be a MODEL!! HeeAwww...i saw a little baa baa running across the field
Finally, the tour came to an end.. By then, the bright and wonderful weather had come and gone... The sky looks like its gonna rain any minute
We're going on our own to the Madurodam, a mini world..
Hope the weather wouldnt get worse~
Part 2 coming in the next blog