SIN/FRA/SIN - Day 7

30 October 2011

Happy Hallowiiiiiinn!

I woke up late today, normally by 8am latest I would have left the hotel but this morning at 9am I am still snuggling in the bed.  Woowooooo~  Feeling so lazy today...  It was super cold because when I draw up the curtains, I saw the floor was wet - rained has just stopped.

I left the room to explore the non-shopping area in Frankfurt - the Dom Tower, Romer, St. Paul's Church, Old Opera House, Berger Strasse, The Hauptwache and found Goethestraße where the branded stuffs are...  Didn't explore the main tower because there is a BMW Marathon Run and main roads are all closed.

Daylight saving has started since Yesterday, therefore now is +7hrs... that means I have an hour longer than Yesterday... GOD... time passes really SLOWLY when you've got nothing to do!

Tomorrow's schedule is to "hoot" the branded streets, pay a visit to the roof terrace of Zeilgalerie and enjoy the breathtaking view of the skyline before I leave for the airport!

My new buy from H&M > BMW Marathon setup beside my hotel > Dom Tower > Kopi-ing along Zeil Street (catching up with the marathon) > along the riverside - OMG Autumn is so beautiful! > At the Iron Bridge (Eiserner Steg) - found many lockets on the bridge!

ZOMG!  IMMA GOING HOME!!!!!
Auf wiedersehen Frankfurt!
Goodbye Frankfurt!

SIN/FRA/SIN - Day 6

29 October 2011

Hallo Guten Tag Frankfurt!
Hello Frankfurt!

After spending 6 days in Cologne, today I leave for Frankfurt.  It was TOTALLY a challenge to push two trolleys on my journery here (I am aching all over now)... and everywhere is people mountain people sea... weather is about 19degree and it was not cold... why I know... it's because thats when my face turned oily like when I am in Singapore!  Hopefully tomrrow will be a cooler day - I am exploring the city all by foot!  (the helpful lady at the hotel reception told me no need to spend money pay for city tour... all walk-able...)

All ready to go! > Just when I was about to check out, I found I have accidently bent-ed my key and I cannot lock my spidery! While I was going to the supermarket along Zeil street, I passedby the key master and the kind-soul hammered back my key at NO cost! Now it is in good shape and I can lock my spidery liao! > Leaving for Frankfurt > My adventure starts now - in the barn with two luggages and trying to find my way to hotel! > Street view outside my hotel > At Zeil street!

SIN/FRA/SIN - Day 5

28 October 2011

Auf wiedersehen Köln!
Goodbye Köln!

Really long FULLEST 5-day work week at igus GmbH... everyone else left the office at 16:30hrs sharp and we only get to leave the office at 17:30hrs... rushing back hotel just to catch all the shopping with the remaining 1.5hours before they are closed for the day... and not forgetting all the 'homeworks' that were tasked to do / submit - dateline right after I am back for my photoshoot!  ++ GRrrrrrrrrr++  :(

Leaving for Frankfurt tomorrow morning via the high speed train (ICE)!  YAY!!!  Shopping... and MORE shopping... here I come!

Beautiful morning in Köln > my lunch ticket... Bon Appétit > Day 5 at igus - Sunny.  Very sunny! > riding on the mini motor-bike... vroom VROOM > hitting the shopping streets again > skimpy cowboy on the streets!

SIN/FRA/SIN - Day 2 > 3 > 4

27 October 2011

The rest of our days at igus were very very very packed with re-re-re-scheduled of presentations and workshops...!

Day 2 at igus - Rainy > getting ready for night tour to Dom > Museum of Applied Art & Design - the "Snow White's Coffin" > Hearty breakfast at Hotel Cristall - rest of the days only managed to eat ziam tao lo ti > Gilden Kölsch Brewery & Restaurant > my 35mins spree at H&M > Day 4 at igus communications office - Sunny > lunch at igus canteen - meals are all provided to all staffs on daily basis and you get to 'pre-order' what you would like to have from tomorrow's menu > new luggage for my loots > biggest shopping bag ever - trolleying around to catch the shops before they close at 20:00hrs > in Legoland... bought a great gift for ah Thiang!  :)

宝贝, 生日快乐!

27 October 2011

Birthday greetings from Cologne, Germany.... XOXO!!!

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, mein Lieber ♥ !

Best wishes on your birthday, my dear ♥ !

+++... nah, Wendy's branded lolex watch!+++

SIN/FRA/SIN - Day 1

23 October 2011

Grüß dich Singapur!!!
Hello Singapore!!!

Today is Sunday, Day 1 in Cologne - It is 6hours behind SG time (so now it is 5.31pm.... very very drowsy NOW!  I can hear church bells ringing in my room...)

I arrived last evening close to mid-night...  Had a bad rushy experience rushing to check in my train/rail to Cologne - SQ flight delayed in landing in Frankfurt... and my baggage came out late and with a 'bandage'!  Think the luggage side gave way alittle and the ground staff taped it with masking tape (oh, I didn't take any pictures... heng it survired this flight... weighting 19.9KG when I checked in!!!).  Me run and rush like mad... luckily I made it on time to catch my train...  ++PANT pant-ing pant-ed++

Moi plan changed, instead of alighting at Cologne station, I alighted at Siegburg Bahnhof station so that the taxi can pick me to hotel, about 20mins ride (because taxis here don't pick up customer if the distance is too near...).  The Mercs Taxi drove in the speed of 140-160km/h (the ride from train station to hotel cost like Euro 51)!  Very fast.  I reached hotel and after unpacking, I only slept at 12.30am local time (6.30am SG time) and I woke up 6.30am local time for breakfast... ++ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz++

Weather today is sunny and cold but OK... not OK was the windy part that made me tear and nose wet.  Everywhere, thermometer outside of the building measures differently (one measures 19, another one 6 and last one I saw was 0)... so I also don't know how cold it really was. 

Sunday is a WINDOW-shopping day... all shops are closed.  Nothing to buy... only SEE.  There are many H&M outlets along the streets...  Found the Rimowa flagship store... now Watsapp-ing - in discussion whether to buy or no buy... buy what model.... HAHA!  A 27" (63litres) will cost like Euro 389...  CHEAP right?  Now the Yeo's are comptemplating whether to buy or not.  HEH!

I have like another 1.5hrs to go before dinner... hopefully I can doze off RIGHT after dinner...  Tomorrow will be a LONG day... bus will pick us up at 7.15am local time...  I have to wake up like 5.30am local time!!!  BRrrrrrrrrrrrrr~

Breakfast at Cristall / Autumn lookbook No.1 attire (very autumn feel especially taken with the leaves right!?!?!) - heading to Dom / Dom Cathedral / lunch at Früh Kölsch, Brauhaus Köln / Turkish demostrating beside the Dom

Pre-Birthday Celebrations for my ah Thiang!

21 October 2011

I planned my surprised advance birthday celebration waayyyyyyy before I leave for Germany... yes, as early as two weeks in advance!  Pre-booked a "party of two" at Morton's The Steakhouse on 15 October... a lomantic dinner just the two of us - restaurant had his name printed on the menu and decorated our tables with little confetti!  Very nice dining ambience, staffs were very friendly (walked us thru the WHOLE menu with her super power memory...!) and very helpful (offered to take photos for us when they saw me took out my camera...!).  ++IMPRESSED!++
 
I did my homework before coming to Morton's.  Read through the online reviews, I am warned of the HUGE serving portions but still... anyways, we ordered the 3-course steak & seafood combo set... at S$108++/pax and it comes with the following:

1. caesar salad - YUMS, very nicely tossed with their blue cheeses... many leaves, so crunchy and juiceeee... HAHA
2. a single cut of filet mignon...
3. and a choice of either scallops, prawns and crab cake...

We also ordered espresso martinni and lobster bisque to our meal.  The waiter suggested we spilt into two servings... so glad we did...!  After our dinner, the staff showed us a TRAY of deserts for the day although knowing that we are too full to place any desert order and whats' more, the restaurant has already informed us that they will throw in a free hot chocolate molten cake to celebrate his birthday!  ++Shwweeeeeeet!++  The staff took a photo of us with the cake and gave it to us in a Morton's pouch, hand-signing off "Happy Birthday Arthur from Mortons!"  ++AWwwwwwwwwwwwwh++

Almost every table are celebrating birthdays at Morton's!  HAHA.  Total bill cost me over S$300+...  (well, now I have lesser to spend for my Germany trip...) but what matters most is ah Thiang enjoyed himself!  YAY!

After dinner, we met Yeo to catch the movie <<Real Steel>>... everyone says good... Pauline even wants to watch the second time!  ++SURE BO???++  I find it so-so nia... alright lah....

So... another birthday celebration with the Yeos' on 16 October!  Jess says celebrate same weekend because I won't be around the weekend next... and she is buying us dinner!  They have birthday lunch with Serene after church service, so we only met up for dinner and drinks... we went Antoinette at Mandarin Gallery... another atas dining place... their foie gras wasn't as nice (or you called it JUICER) than Shin Kushiya... I only steal alittle bite from Jess's plate.  :P  As usual, we ordered a sliced of their signature cake and wisper Birthday song to ah Thiang!  We went drinking at Malones Irish pub after dinner located at Somerset 313 and Jess developed rashes after the drinks... hope she recover her rashes by now...

Await for the last surprise to ah Thaing while I'm away in Germany.... gotten Jasmine to arrange to courier the 'present' to ah Thiang on 24th October... hopefully he is in office to recieve it personally!  Woooo wooooo!!!

Wedding Celebration of Peirong & Kenneth!

18 October 2011

Peirong's 的大喜之日!

Today I am celebrating the end to our 2-days Regional Meeting and my BFF's wedding!  Leaving for Cologne this weekend - YAY! Yay! YAY!!!

It was pouring so heavily on our way to Goodwood Park Hotel...  There is some myth & legends about weddings on rainy day...  Wealth pouring down from sky or you are 'meow'... HAHA!  Not saying my BFF 'meow' lah...  :)

In my vivid memory... I only seen Kenneth once when I was working as p/time MAC makeup artist and that was like a decade ago!  I was only glancing him from FARRRRRRRRRRRRR...  He never join us on our gatherings - NOT even once, at most only pick Juay after our gathering... so I really really don't know much about him.  Sad.

Anyways, they have been together since poly days... and I am so happy for Juay that she has finally settled down (jumped Q... supposed to me mine first!).  ++heh heh++  OKAY, I'll start to plan mine when I come back from my trip... woooooooo~

15 Minutes with the Girlfriends!

15 October 2011

Last evening gathering was meant to be a mini-impromptu hen's party for Juay but the hen has to go for her mani+pedicure and trial makeup session with the bridal shop... hence, only the usual of us met up and post-celebrate Pauline's belated birthday instead.  Gloria unable to join us this time because her Carys' wasn't feeling too well... and all partners turned up except for ah Thiang...  ++pauline asking for you, you know...++ 

He attended his first YEC meeting at Tampines (remember?).  After the meeting... he, Simcik, Veny, Connie (friend of Veny, another newly joined-YEC member) and Jessica (one of SC's BFF) met up for supper at Geylang's Korean BBQ and they ended the Friday night at almost 2am in the morning!  Ok lah, he did call me to asked if I want to join... but I bathed already when he called and was lazy to dress up again... so I did not join them...  (now missing Korean BBQ!)  ++BOOOOO!++

Anyways... Huihui recommended this cafe, 15 Minutes located at Lasalle... food was not too bad (consolation prize for missing the Korean BBQ!  HAHA)... they had a live-band performances... but only "Happy Birthday" song was sang best - me and Jade were rather they sang the same song over and over the whole night!!!  >_<"

I am so looking forward to the surprised advance birthday dinner I have planned for ah Thiang later tonight and yes, dinner session with Yeo's on Sunday... so more updates on the next blog post for his birthday celebrations!!  ++WHOOOOT!++

EGGCITING Weekend Ahead!

13 October 2011

Things I am bery eggcited about this weekend (yes, starting from tomorrow!!!):-

1. Girl pals gathering on Friday (ah Thiang's going for his first Bishan CC YEC Meeting)!
2. Belated birthday celebration for Pauline!
3. Suprise Advanced Birthday dinner planned for ah Thiang!
4. Catching Real Steel with the Yeo (yes, only one... mrs not free cos she has lancing...)!

WHOOT!

I am leaving for Germany next Saturday for a pERFECT Marketing Workshop... air-tickets booked, seats changed, clothes - mmm... still packing, still buying... everyday since Monday! :( , hotel for my extension in Frankfurt confirmed...  WHOOT whoot WHOOT!

Before I leave for my trip, I'll have to survive two sessions of marketing presentation (45mins + 20mins) to my boss's boss for a regional meeting next Monday... so not whoot-ing anymore...  BOOOOOOOHOOOOooooos!!!

Joyfulicious Weekend!

09 October 2011

On 08 October, we celebrate two joyful occassions - Joe & Xian Yan's baby princess, Yu Xuan's shower and afterwhich was Khim & William's wedding celebration at OCC... very joyful indeed!

Me and my S$10 buy from VN / Baby Yu Xian soundly asleep (so Joe!) / Baby Leann & Uncle Arthur / Khim & William's wedding celebration (another Saupra-alike event... we were the rowdiest crowd at the wedding... demostrated Sapura 的精神... hoot hoot hoot!)

We spent the rest of our weekend nua-ing at home with LOOOOOOONG afternoon nap and home-cooked feast for dinner!  :)  ++YUMS!++

SIN/VN/SIN - Day 3

06 October 2011

An apple a day keeps the doctor away however it did not keep cancer away.  RIP Mr Jobs.

News of the passing today of Mr Steve Jobs are everywhere.  He dies, aged 56 after long battle with pancreatic cancer.  He was a legend and legends' 的宿命 － 早死。Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Bruce Lee and Steve Jobs... You'll be missed.

Day 1 of METALEX VN 2011... quite a fair bit of crowd at the booth... just finished sending my reporting for the show... and tomorrow meeting me boss to go "marketing"!  He said he cannot go back empty-handed... his doors at home will not open for him.  ++he and his senses of humour!++  So 可怜 therefore, I am bringing him to the market where I bought my cashew nuts and I too, needed to get another pair of bling shoe in silver.  :P

I will match my travel schedules with Kai Hua for the next and future exhibitions!  With him and Tien Dung (as local guide cum driver) to bring us around, everyday is a feast (compared to the last trip to VN, there wasn't any meal that was worth recommending).  Dinner today was early, we went to Three Coconut Trees Restaurants (Ba Cây Dùa).  There were only THREE coconuts along the street and that was the landmark!  Some what like SG no signboard restaurant... by the river... alfresco dining...  We had seafood... I think, I was too busy taking photos again...  LOL!

igus booth #D09 / Interactive robot that kept the crowd at METALEX VN 2011 entertained - singing "My Way" / Dining at Three Coconut Trees Restaurants (Ba Cây Dùa)

Tomorrow has an early "marketing" date with me boss before leaving for the airport... tucking into bed early!  ++ah Thiang, I AM COMING HOME LO!!!++  Muahahahaha~

SIN/VN/SIN - Day 2

05 October 2011

今天是农历九月初九，是中国传统的重阳节 and there are also many wedding celebrations all happening in Saigon including the couple at our hotel too!  祝有情人长长久久！:)  They even have bridesmaids all dresses up at the lobby welcoming guests to the banquet!  ++ideas coming...++ 

Talking about ideas...  I bought some neon nail polishes (MAC brand ok...) for my bridesmaids for my NEON NEON wedding theme too!  ++getting VERY excited!++  Also, my tasks to buy cashew nuts and G7 coffees are accompolished!  意外的收获 - I managed to get a pair of bling bling light gold heels for my photoshoot at only 200,000 VNDong (approx S$12.50)... and it's YAY!  But only realizing that my gowns are in offwhite and whites... so tomorrow or before my flight, I have to rush down and see if I can get a pair similar in silver color.  Dang.

Lunch was good... the duck noodle was nice, 黑鸡炖药材汤 - 好喝!  Kai Hua strongly recommended us to Hai Lua to eat suckling pig for dinner.  This meal cost us 1.7Million... in VNDong of course!  ++ROFL++

鸭面和黑鸡汤 for lunch / Bridesmaids at lobby welcoming guests / Neon nail colors / Dinner at Hai Lua

SIN/VN/SIN - Day 1

04 October 2011

Welcome to the land of Phở!

On my flight here, I was seated with two rowdy kids on board and just before the flight takes off, the stewardess even warned the kids softly to behave themself then bent over and asked if I would like to change my seats - I said YES.  And I do so after the flight took off!  Nice.  But after I was "re-seated", the ah pek at the window seat gave me that buay song look after I took 1 of the 2 empty seats beside him...  ++youthinkicare?!?!++

Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre is a much better place to setup and hold exhibition compared to MY, TH and ID!  There is a newly opened Saigon Paragon (anchor tenant - Parkson) located just opposite the convention centre.  The wonton mee at the basement food court was yummy, have 家乡味!  ++HAHA++

After the setup (which was already 3/4 completed and the convention centre is closing for the day...), we went back hotel and have a short briefing for tomorrow's plan and head out for dinner at Saigon Halal Restaurant.  WOW - the baby clam with fried garlic was DAMN BLARDY YUMMY!  MUST HAVES!  YUMS yums!!!

It was a wet evening and I am tucking in early for the night... tomorrow if time permits, I need to buy cashew nuts, G7 kopi... and neon orange nail polish for ah Ju!  ++MUAHAHAHA - she is getting ready for my BIG day!!!++

5 must-dos in HCMC / sending my love from Saigon / cool clock cum iPhone docking station in-room / 家乡味 wanton mee / Saigon Halal Restaurant

cà phê sữa đá; Vietnamese Ice Milk Coffee, I'm gona have you every single day!  ++LOL++