Sleepless...

Woke up at 3.41am to answer the call of nature and realised that PK is not sleeping.... Went to get him back to bed...

Guess what, I m the one that can't get back to sleep. Piglet is going to HK next month with Mum at Mum's request, or rather HK Aunt's request.

Piglet is funny, when we asked her, "Do you want to go visit Yipo in HK?" She shook her head. When we told her that she will be taking the aeroplane to visit Yipo, she did not answer us. After a while, she told us, "I want to find Yeh yeh and Yipo ah!"

For me, I suddenly have this notion to visit Piglet in HK and helped Mum to bring her back (almost towards the end of the trip). My only problem is whether my work enables me to take leave? I m researching the air ticket's prices to Hong Kong, its either i take budget airline (serves no purpose coz the flight timing coming back dun coincide with Mum) or I take the same airline as Mum.

Quoting Sis => Can't bear to let her go, dun let her go.... (But the selfish me wants to have a break from her.)
Quoting Mum => Itchy butt syndrome....

Mystery of the mozzie bites!

During the 3 weeks in HK, we experienced alot of mozzie bites (the gang from Singapore). K, my 10 months old nephew reacted very badly to the bite.

Mum & Claire got it and they prevented it by applying Tea Tree Oil. Whereas D & I got the mozzie bites at all the weird places, I got it at my butt whereas D got it at her armpit.

We tot the mozzies were due to the stuff at Auntie's place.

But the source is finally revealed today!

Before Claire & I came back to Singapore, the toilet at Aunt's place was blocked and we had to bath by sitting on the toilet bowl so that the floor wont be flooded and reduced the need to scoop the water back into the toilet bowl.

The pipe was blocked due to the plant growing into the pipe area. So Aunt hired someone to remove the plant as their attempts to remove it was unsuccessful! It turned out that there was actually ample space for the plant to grow and its roots were so deep. It took the guy very long to remove it and the moment he removed the plant, all sorts of insects came out from it!

So, the source of the mozzies is this plant! Mum told me that finally they can bath in comfort and not to worry about mozzie bites at night!

I m really lucky!

In every trip to HK, no matter how we tried to control our buying... somehow we will end up with excess baggage.

This time, Piglet & I took Jetstar back to Singapore and its strictly no excess baggage, any excess baggage, you just gotta pay excess baggage charges! My original intention was to check in 3 pieces of lugguage, 2 suitcases & 1 "Red, Blue & White" bag. Imagine, my surprise when i attempted to check in all the 3 pieces of lugguage, the check in counter staff immediately shoved the calculator right in front of me and told me, "Mdm, HK$1,080 please."

I was like stunned, so she advised me to repack my lugguage. Ie pack 3 kgs more into the "Red, Blue & White" bag and took one of the suitcase as cabin lugguage. So, we desparately repacked the items and guess what happened when we checked in the "Red, Blue & White" bag. The bag's handle came off and there was a big gaping hole in it!

Totally freaked out, thank god for Mum's brilliant idea... We "patched" the hole up with an Eco bag and kept our fingers crossed that the lugguage will still be in one piece when back in Singapore. Then, we immediately went for immigration due to the lack of time and the counter staff told us that it will take at least 20 minutes from HK Airport Terminal 2 to the boarding gate at Terminal 1!

The queue at the immigration was long and after clearing it, we had to go thru scanning of our cabin lugguage. It was a "nightmare" for me. I was carrying one cabin lugguage, one handbag and one bag of the "Wives' biscuits" and not to mention, Claire in her stroller and her backpack. So, we cleared the X-ray machines and we boarded the shuttle train to Terminal 1.

It was another up and down the lift just to board the train and to get to Terminal 1. Finally, we reached the boarding gate and guess what, a bus will have to take us to our plane!!! So, at the boarding area, dunno whatever reasons, I just went up and asked the staff about the boarding time.

I was so lucky! The staff told me that my cabin lugguage will be checked in for free as there's no space to put the lugguage in the overhead compartment due to the full flight! Upon boarding the plane, my neighbour helped me to settle Claire into her seat and not to mention that, she also helped me to carry my handheld lugguage upon arrival in Singapore as Claire was asleep and I had to carry her out of the plane.

During collection of our lugguage, i thanked my lucky stars that the "Red, White & Blue" bag is still in one piece and nothing has spilled out from the bag!

The best is to see the expression on PK and H's faces when i pushed the lugguage trolley out!

The "Red, Blue & White" bag with the hole!

Differences

Yesterday, I booked a one way ticket to HK. Ms Piggy, Mum and me are going to HK and first time taking a budget airline. We stopped taking budget airline when we first travelled with Ms. Piggy.

As most of us know, for budget airlines, the seating is on a first queue first served basis while queuing at the departure gate. Priority boarding will be given to those passengers that have toddlers, children or elderly travellers. These passengers will be in a separate queue and the first to board the plane when the aircraft is ready for boarding. We experienced and witnessed this during our flight from London to Amsterdam.

However, I was lamenting to PK about the seat selection for the budget airlines while doing the online booking. We can select our seats online but we have to PAY!!! IMO, paying for the selection of the seat is not an issue as majority of the airlines do that but BUDGET AIRLINES?

Somehow, it defeats the purpose of having budget airline and PK commented that it could be the Asian mentality. In this sense, I preferred the European way (sometimes rigid) of on a First Queue basis for budget airlines.

Claire in HK

Claire is starting to get used to the life in HK now.

First day, she was in HK. She wailed upon reaching HK Aunt's home & she only stopped when she stepped into her room. As that was the room she had stayed before in March. During the 1st day there, the elders DUN DARE to lecture her & give in to her whims as they re afraid of her crying for us, the parents.

So in the end, she literally challenged the elders by defying them. HK Aunt climbed onto a make shift ladder (a chair with a stool on it) to get the blankets & stuff for them. Ms. Piggy immediately climbed onto it the moment she saw HK Aunt on it. HK Aunt was desparately shouting for HK Uncle to get Claire off the chair. Somehow, HK Uncle din catch it. The situation was so hilarious that HK Aunt just broke off laughing while at the same time worried for Claire's safety.

During my conversation with Piglet these few days, she will pout & looks about to cry whenever she heard my voice. The ultimate was on the 2nd day, PK told her to sing the "I love you" song from Barney. She immediately pouted & wanted to cry. True enough, that night she woke up crying for us and Mum has to pacify her.

Mum told me that she is getting used to the life in HK, whenever Claire mentioned about me, Mum will tell her that I m working. Occassionally, she will utter this phrase, "Mama, working.

For me, i missed her like crazy but without her around gives the time to declutter my place. I have project Storeroom, Wardroom & photographs printing lined up to do. Plus, it also allows PK & I to have some couple time together. Though PK doesn't have any outwardly shown appearance of missing Ms. Claire. I know that he misses her too... coz at the Airport send off, he was trying so hard to get her to kiss him!

Sending Ms Claire off

Ms Piggy & Mum flown off this morning to HK.

When we reached Changi Airport T3 this morning, we were in for a shock! The internet check in queue was snaking! So, Mum queued while we checked for other counters for check in. Upon confirmation, that is the only counter! :(

Fortunately, a SQ staff diverted us to the check in counters for Business Class! It was no joke, different flight classes of check in counters had different decor. For Economy class, it was plain & simple! For Biz, there was a blue carpet in front of the counter BUT for First Class, it was RED CARPET!!!

They are supposed to fly there on last Saturday but with everyone sick upon our return from KL. Their trip was postponed till this morning, they will be in HK for at least 3 weeks. (Ya, 3 weeks of holiday for me!)

But i will miss Ms Piggy terribly, in fact my eyes teared when I saw her going into the departure hall! Mum teased me by saying, "Aiya, if u miss her, just bring her back home lah... Dun let her go!" I almost forgotten to give the 顺风 angbao to Ms. Claire, lucky Mum caught my signal & U-turn to get the angbao from me before heading to the immigration!

Mum called me earlier to inform me of their arrival in HK (Auntie's place). She told me about their flight to HK. Ms Claire was quite steady and behaved like a seasoned traveller. She never cry during take off or landing but her tears started rolling seeing my HK Aunt!

Well, as much as i will miss Claire terribly but it will be another break for me!

Bentong, Pahang

Bentong - 45 minutes ride from KL & 45 minutes ride to Genting Highlands, Mum's hometown and a small town.

I love to go to this place when I was young! It was a place for me to play and gorge on the food! Its the place where I first saw Fire crackers (banned in SG), where I encountered Kampung life! Mum will bring me to her friends' place, where she will chit chat while i played with other kids...

Usually i m the youngest and always tagging along but the big brothers & sisters will take good care of me. Boy, we had fun pretending to be in a disco! My playmates will switch off all the lights in the room and shone the torchlights, played the cassette recorder and how we danced! Imagine the thrashing we got when the adults finished playing mahjong & realised how we messed up the room! :P

Anyway, going to Bentong these days is for the FOOD! I loved their Hokkien Mee, Ice Kacang, Wanton Mee, Yong Tau Fong & basically all their FOOD!!! Now, i m seriously looking forward to my Oct trip to Bentong to attend my playmate's wedding!

Creative!

Window Display found at Portobello Market, London

Happiness....

Dun ask me why but i just love this pix!
Taken in Clapham, London May 09

Harrods Plastic Bag

Harrods Departmental Store is a must go in London for hard core shoppers.

I felt like a swa gu when I first went into the store. Its the first time I seen such a HUGE Department Store selling ALL BRANDS OF LUXURY GOODS! Not to mention, the vast variety of BRANDED goods, from bags to apparels to accessories...

They even have a pet shop section selling High Pedigree Breed of Dogs!!! The security guard are very strict. They dun allow us to wear our backpacks on our backs and we have to carry it in our hands. The reason for this is to prevent bags bumping into shoppers.

Only Mothers who are pushing a strollers can be allowed to have the backpacks on the back. Plus, they dun allow strollers on the escalator. There is a pole stuck at the escalator to prevent the strollers from heading onto the escalator.

So you can imagine how amazed I am by this store. The things that I bought from Harrods, Coffee, Honey and 2 Harrods Plastic Bags!

Hehe, on the plastic bags.... Singapore does sell them but the variety is limited. In London store, there are so many designs for you to choose till you just wanna buy everything! I saw a fellow tourist with print outs of the Harrods Plastic bags in his hands, attempting to find those designs as per the print outs and i think he has at least 6 pieces of paper in his hands.

So, you can imagine how popular those plastic bags are! Hehe, for me the 2 bags i bought cost me around SG$70. PK was like sheesh... do u hv to buy such an expensive PLASTIC BAG? Anyway, the $$ is worth it as I used them almost every day!

Okie pix of my PLASTIC BAGS!

I survived 13 hour flight with Ms Claire!

The 13 hour flight with Ms Claire is a horrifying experience!

Claire refused to sleep on the plane and she slept only for 1 hour during the flight. She was making so noise that i felt so frustrated and tired.

She wailed and screamed, refused to be buckled up during turblence on the flight and all sorts of pacifying, whacking dun work on her! I just gave up and let her cried and screamed!

Some passengers expressed their annoyance especially that fat couple sitting behind us but nothing we can do!

I was so relieved when we finally landed at Heathrow Airport! Guess, its better to travel on a night flight for long haul flights!

Another experience

Will be going to Changi Airport in another 7hours plus.

Just finished packing the lugguage, its such a torture... The stuff we packed is as if we re on the run (mostly Ms Claire's stuff)

Now, the 13hour flight to London is going to be a challenge. I just hope for the best.

Swine Flu

Just saw in the papers that there are 2 confirmed cases of Swine flu in London.


Mum had asked me to check with SQ this morning on changing the flight dates for the London trip due to that. SQ reply was NO and they assured that it is still safe in London.


Ah fry sms me and advised me not to go London as her bro (a doc) confirmed that this virus is WORSE than SARS. Being the sweet Ah fry, she even gave me SMS updates on the Swine flu virus' situation in Europe.

Checked with Sis at UK side, she told me that its all under control and we need to be careful. Amsterdam & Paris' trips are still as planned but no trips to other parts of Europe.

I will continue to monitor the situation and decide later our decision to travel. Moi's belief in life, whatever will be, will be.

Places I wanna go

On that Sunday which i locked myself in the study room, I was msning with Ah Fry. We talked about random stuff.

She told me that she was torn between going Taipei & Zhong Dian (Shangri-La in China). I told her to go Zhong Dian and Taipei can wait. My simple reason, Go there before the place is corrupted by Tourism.

So here is a list of places I wanna go before I die....

1. Silk Road - Starting from Xi-an to the Mediterreanean (where it ends)
2. Tibet
3. Nepal
4. USA - Arizona (To see the stars) & Grand Canyon
5. Bhutan
6. Egypt - Pyramids
7. Peru - Nazca Lines
8. Can't remember the country name - The Maya Ruins

Hopefully i will be able to go there with Pirate King when we retired.

Europe Trip Planning

We will be going to Amsterdam & Paris from London. Sis had booked the air tickets & train tickets for these 2 places but not the accomodation.

Last night, Sis & I spent 2 hours++ to look at the accomodation in Amsterdam. Boy, it was so tough to find one that is within budget and comfortable. As Spring is the perfect time for travel plus with the flowers' season in Amsterdam, the RATES ARE 100% MORE!

Initially, Sis suggested this hotel, Moevenpick Hotel City Centre but it was way beyond our budget. Guess what, after 2 hours++ of searching, we BOOKED IT! Talking about being efficient! We realised that other options will run up to about the same cost as the rates for Moevenpick, plus this hotel has a free shuttle service to & fro Amsterdam City Centre and the location is safe & convenient. Plus not to mention, 2 elders & a toddler, we just gotta find better ones.

We also booked the tickets for the Keukenhof Gardens, it costs 20 euros per person as entrance fees. Hopefully we are not disappointed by the lack of tulips when we re there!

Now, I m left with the Paris accomodation to book and confirm. Sis has gallantly volunteered to babysit Claire for 2 days so that we (Mum, Auntie-Mum's friend aka Sis' colleague's Mum, PK & Me) can travel in a more relaxed manner.....

Okie, more data mining on hotels accomodation!

*Updates at 1215am, I managed to book the hotel for Paris!! Its a boutique hotel located near to Moulin Rouge, red light district.. The hotel is called Le Chat Noir! Wonder how the elders are going to react to it! LV, Chanel here i come... As if i will buy them! :P

Change of Plans

Originally Mum & Piglet will be going to London first while Pirate King & I joined them 2 weeks later.

As Mum is on MC (she was down with flu & a strained back) and after many thoughts, she asked me whether is it possible for me to bring Piglet to London instead? She was worried that i might object to it, i told her no... In fact, she was the one who violently objected to it when i told her to go first while i got Piglet's nanny to look after her for 2 weeks.

Now, i shuddered to think about the 14hr flight to London with Piglet... Well, i survived 4hr flight alone with Piglet, i think 14hr flight should not be a problem and with Pirate King around too...

London London Here We Come - Part 2

Okie, Smart Superior has approved my leave after a series of ding ding dong dong on the dates... Expected from her and it shows how fanastic the so called "Back up" plans of the department (another story)

Hahaha, I had booked the tickets to London!!! Yup, it will be a few months of bread eating after the trip!

Will need to settle Piglet's tic & her travel insurance later!

London & Paris Disneyland, look out for the invasion of the Ang Family!

London London Here We Come?

Sis called me on Monday to persuade/convince me to visit her in Apr/May 09. She told me to come together with the whole family (Pirate King & Piglet). She even email me the list of places that I could go and the budget needed!

So after thinking about it, I managed to persuade Pirate King to agree to the trip! Now, i just got to settle the leave & air tickets. Hopefully, we will be able to go London & visit Paris Disneyland too!

God, pls answer my prayers on this! :)

PS: Sis is coming back to Sg in another 2 weeks time!

In HK!

Hehe, this is my 2nd trip to HK in 2008!


Arrived here in HK yesterday, my cough is still as bad!


Have not gone out to the major shopping malls yet to get my stuff. Will be doing it in a couple of days!


Ah fry, hehe... I had a very nice dessert today! No picture to tempt you!! :P


The dessert is "Ginger Juice with Milk"... Only this stall near my Auntie's pl is good! Hehee....


More food to be eaten!~ To heck with my cough! :)