Shanghai Shimmer

That's the *name* of a nail colour by OPI, believe it or not. My manicurist regularly recommends it. It wasn't until I visited Shanghai did I realise its association with "shimmer". There is indeed 101 shimmery things to see, do, eat and touch in Shanghai. Was suppose to visit El when she was there but i only managed this trip this year, long after she'd left. I've heard a number of scary and exciting stories about other people's visit there but couldn't quite identify with them as I've never been there. Soooo...an opportunity arose when I had a meeting to attend at the Hilton Shanghai. The challenge at the back of my mind all through the flight was how to check Shanghai out as much within 2 days. ha ha! hope my colleagues aren't reading this! Anyways, with three eligible bachelors (status changes when you're in a different country according to 1 of them), we arrived pretty early on a thursday morning and was immediately welcomed with a gush of freezing cold wind. It was 12 deg (just nice!) but strong winds were making it felt more like 0 deg! Brr!
My experience at the Hilton is always a pleasant and an irreplaceable one especially when I'm travelling for a short period of time. Not giving free publicity to Hilton, just because they have me on their Hilton Hhonors list, but it's true. Thankful for the fact that KL and Shanghai has no time difference, my friends and I were all hungry at the same time. Now the hardest part, ie to get 3+1 "bananas" to communicate in Mandarin to the taxi driver. Yikes! I was literally hopeless and pathetic! We eventually hit the Bund and NanJing Road in search of dinner after some degree of walking in the wind. Looking high and low for anything seemingly decent, we found and settled for a cafe/bar with pictures of familiar cuisine. However, as we were excorted to a private room, I had my doubts about the quality and authenticity of food they serve. True enough, the menu was skanky! Picked on our diseased-looking dinners, half cursing and half wishing we'd at least know enough Mandarin to ask for directions, we managed to get out of there in surprising time. Anyways, we got into another cab and found our way to civilization in the form of Singapore aka Xintiandi. Made a bee line for Taiwanese franchise Din Tai Fung and enjoyed our seconds. Yummy dishes of seafood siew-loong-paus and desserts made up for the cold and the getting crummy food earlier. Xintiandi is a really neat place, something like a Bangsar with rows of high end bars/pubs/chic restaurants...a hip joint to see and be seen, type thing. It's nice la. Refreshing to see such a lovely atmosphere which is almost familiar, minus the cold. Later that evening, the wind had calmed into a breeze and the friendly thursday night had invited more locals, expats and tourists alike, hustling around Xintiandi doing their own thing. The scent of fresh mixture of brews and a plethora of the sounds of music complimented and completed our after seconds-dinner caipirinhas.
We went back to The Bund the next night for authentic Shanghainese dinner at a cool development called Three-On-The-Bund. Name of the restaurant is Whampoa Club. After a 4-course scrumptious meal, we took a walk along the river flashing away our touristy gadgets while local street people poke and prod our elbows and arms in quest for our extra change. It was apparent that we were tourists, I guess. Then again, do locals walk along The Bund and take photos on a friday night? *shrug*...It was a pretty sore sight to behold of young mothers with their babies half wrapped up and elderly men and women roaming the open cold, begging. Sigh. I didn't enjoy that part, to be honest. What we all did enjoy was our earlier visit to ChenHongMiao that day. This area consists of refurbished ancient temples but it's more like a shopping area now. There's even a Starbucks in one of the squares. I was delighted and impressed. This place is yet another hotspot for tourists and touts. We were also poked and proded at by droves of men and women making a sale of sorts. Teas, cheongsams, household embroideries, DVDs and even handbags (ahem!). Got myself a few souvenirs though. :)
So if you're planning to take a short 2-3 day break to Shanghai because AirAsia flies there for peanuts, you should definitely consider this list of places to visit and things to do:
1)The Bund - eat at Whampoa Club, walk along the river, admire the architecture of buildings along it. 2) Nan Jing Road - high street shopping, bumping into lots of people, get on the lazy-man tram for a short tour around the area. 3) Xintiandi - drink, eat, live jazz bands, exclusive souvenir shopping, be seen and see beautiful people. 4) Chen Hong Miao- get more economical and practical souvenirs, buy genuine copies of anything u want, havva a cuppa grande skinny latte at the green franchise and 5) The Tower- check out the revolving restaurant/bar with a scenic view of Shanghai city.
After two short days, I've concluded why Shanghai has a shimmer. Visiting the home of my ancestors has definitely instilled a sense of indescribable pride in me. However, that's basically only what it is: the home of my ancestors. Home is where the heart is, they say and my heart is in Malaysia.
[photos to be inserted soon]

Happy Valentine's Day!

To all my friends in this category, I love you all! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Feb 14, 2008

Geneva Fever!

In Nov 07, I stepped foot onto European soil once again. This time, Geneva travels brought me closer to the homes of premium timepieces (Rolex, Frank Muller, Swatch) and chocolates (Godiva, Martel, Lindt). I went with 2 guys, who turned out to be one of the best twin tower bodyguards I can have at any 1 time when roaming around on EU soil. Although it was only a short 4D3N visit, what made it more enjoyable was the relatively painless flight itinerary and excellent pre-winter weather (actually it was more like late summer).

Generally, Geneva has a friendly atmosphere with lovely weather, architecture, history, culture and landscape. We stayed at this really nice hotel which was recently refurbished called the Grand Hotel Kempinski. The famous Lake Geneva with the fountain was literally opposite our hotel. Every evening, my 2 friends and I would take a lovely walk along the lake and on the contrary to expectations of wet weather in ushering winter, we were blessed with a sunny weekend. No complains. The first day we arrived was pleasant already. In the early morning hours of arriving into Geneva had gotten us charged up as we drove out of the airport along the highway into the city. Morning rush hour, to our amazement was like driving around Ipoh on a weekend. Hello! Mana ada jam? I will now story you about our little adventure in search of Swiss chocolates.

After checking in at our good-looking hotel, we got hold of a map, and like heroes, started on our little journey to a chocolate supermarket. On our way through the little alleys and cobbled streets, we were stopped by an middle aged man. He was in a beige continental beat up hatchback and asked my 2 twin-tower bodyguard looking friends if we were interested to buy European Armani suits. He even had leather jackets-- IN his car. Pffbbt! My friends pretended not to speak any English, shook their heads, but this man was adamant. He told us that he'd been in a gambling accident the previous night and lost all his money, and was selling these brand new jackets to buy fuel for his car, so he can drive home. We said no, thanked him and scuffled away quickly, realising almost immediately it was a scam. He swore at us as we turned our backs. I looked back out of curiousity when we were about 200 yards away. The idiot had backed his car, made a U-Turn and parked on the other side of the street. So much for no fuel! Ugh! We must always be conscious of our surroundings, no matter whether we're in Europe, Bali or SS2!

We had quite a bit of a laugh after that and went on with our sightseeing. What is interesting about Geneva is that it is an "international city" as is currently home and/or host to 25 international organisations, around 180 NGOs and 150 permanent missions to the United Nations. So what else did we see? In case you do may plan a visit to Geneva, I would highly recommend checking out the main city's cultural and historical spots:-

- Jet d'Eau (water fountain)

- Flower Clock

- St Peter's Cathedral

- Geneva Lake waterfront

- Reformation Wall

- United Nations building

- Justice Court

- Palais Wilson

- Le Grange Park

To eat some cheese/chocolate fondue should also be on your must-do list! :P

Sawadee-ka Bangkok!

Oct 1st: Sawadee Mai? The landing was smooth. Thailand air smells the same, maybe a little thicker since my last visit early 2006. *rub hands together* Looking forward to some massage and shopping. I wonder what the hotel looks like. Hmmm...Royal Athenee Hotel. Never heard of it before, but should be good as it's one of the partipating members of the SPG (Starwood Priviledge Guest, *not* Sarong Party Girl!). Traffic is the same la. Just like the air. Am here for a finance training, I remind myself-- not a holiday, wei! Looking at the tight schedule over the next 4 days, it doesn't look like any space for AOM (any other matters). Eeps!! (1005hrs)
Oct 2nd: I'm actually looking forward to our 2nd financial simulation. First year looks bad with horrific book-keeping, lousy line production plus absolutely disgusting credit. Don't even talk about pipelines. None inherited. But our team, the new management--Sitravon 4, is doing a 3-year turnaround with everything new. I just hope we don't bankcrupt halfway.,...Oh, hello....didn't realise you reading here. he he...bored yet? Suddenly got myself all "finance-ed up". Kinda under-estimated this workshop. I'm actually interested in Accounts again. Dropped it like it's hot after SRP. Totally hated the balancing act. I mean, balancing life was hard enough. You want me to balance numbers? Crazee!! This simulation is changing my mind about its practical implication in business sense. Hmmm...now I understand how the rich become more rich-- by borrowing money to make *more* money. And of course, they have a good accountant to do the Libran act for them. (0742hrs)
Considered a massage with Michelle et al but decided to stay in tonight instead. (2100hrs)
Oct 3rd: Am into the 3rd cloudy day within 4 walls of the Hotel Royal Athenee Bangkok's meeting room for a Financial Training Simulation. So much for getting some Thai heavenly shopping and spa. Had a list of go-see places charted out on the sunrise flight out of KL on Monday. Siam Paragon, MBK, Cha-tu-Jak market, Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Siam Square, Central World, Sukhumvit Road, Pat Pong street and Silom St, to name a few. And I'm still stuck indoors, not having seen light of day since touchdown. So what are my options now after dinner? Spa, Thai massage, Suan Lum night bazaar tonight, Sukhumvit or Silom street for a drink with Amy J. (NB: work isn't an option. Hee..!) (1825hrs)
Oct 4th: Just came back from Amy J's friend's place. Had a walk-around Suan Lum Night Bazaar with colleagues for a bit last night after dinner. Bought some cheesey tee-shirts. Then met up with Amy at Silom, Convent St., who was already with Martin, Travis and Rekha at a margharita bar there called Coyote. She introduced me to Bed Supper Club. Models Nite on Wednesdays apparently. Met some beautiful Thai people. Also Amy was somewhat drunk by the time we left the margharita bar, so it was funny seeing her grabbing asses of people she didn't know, left with a gasp-ily disgusted look on their faces after being grabbed. Ha ha! Some like--but she got bad taste in men lerr. Left for Lambert's place at 2am. Clubs close early in this country. Had more vodka tonic. Met Lambert's cool Thai friends, Chippie and Bubbles......(I know, right?!?!). Ha ha. They are all crazee la! Names also sooo farnee!! Final simulation for the finance training in a few hours. Team Sitravon 4's Yr 5 P&L is looking very good. I can't wait!! (0434hrs).
Finale: Phew. Didn't bankcrupt!..and we're done for the day. Four days in Bangkok, very fulfilled with some shopping, some partying, gotta include work ...ok..which was the main purpose of this visit, 1 French, 1 Japanese, 1 Cantonese, 1 poolside, and 2 Western meals down, I'm ready to get packin' and leave onward for Geneva. (1645 hrs)
Kop-Kun-Kaa!!

October 02, 2007 Permalink

Disappointment 101

You know me not, you know me not,
Much of my expressions, distractions and thoughts,
None given, none taken,
But twisted conundrums in distraught you sought
You know me not.
You know me not, you know me not
Wrenched the heart, though cold and old
The grey goose lingers in swirls of icy stories told
Crying for an answer, a chivalry so bold
Crushed in a fist of fury, what we had were blurry,
You know me not.
I am blind, often seeking, but left bleeding,
The ghastly hour that sang your grace,
It is thence I came to know
Naught’ even light of day agreeing,
The diabolical burns of your sputter in tow,
Untruth splashing and rowing, basking in evil glory,
You know me not.
You know me not, You know me not,
Punk rock skies in deception, in flames,
With prickly scissors, paper, stone, I’m caught
Shadowing the winds of distress, abomination and wrath
How could you? How could you not?
Why did you? Why did you not?
And then it was but forgot,
You know me not. You know me not.
In my darkest hour, it was you who guided me
In my deepest sorrow, it was you who showered me comfort
In my highest moment, it was you who danced
In my widest smiles, it was you who painted the world.
Yet you know me not.
*Very* disappointing...

August 29, 2007 Permalink

Sucker for marketing

Found this at E-Mart, Jeju Island.
It was selling for about USD3.5. I bought 7!
ok ok...truth be told. The coffee served at Lotte Hotel was crap!
Tasted more like coffee-flavoured water. There was a small cafe selling UCC coffee, some Japanese make, which tasted alot better than the Korean c-flavoured water. But THIS, tops it off. TOTALLY made my day, man! See how neat the packaging is? I had to resist going back for more! ha ha! Ok abit of my jakun-ism side showing now. Well, I know some might say it's just a cup of over-priced, over-commercialised latte. So what? It looks cool, content taste like yummy coffee, easy access with the cool straw at side of cup...what more can I say?
I'm such a sucker for marketing, aren't I?

Sxcker!!!!

8 days 6 nights affair on Jeju Island.

Yet another opportunity to visit Korea swung by recently. Apparently, the rainiest but a good time nonetheless to go. This time to paradise island of Jeju, off the coasts of South Korea, which is twice as big as Penang. Jeju Island is home to many locals and holiday-makers alike. There are many forest reserves, hills, parks, coastal beaches and volcanic remnants that shape this island beautifully. I was there on an assignment, which included 8-hr daily classroom style lectures on man-made theories and sterile trials, constant checking in on special guests aka corporate babysitting and some brain-squeezing on internal activities. Fortunately, I had exotic Korean dinners in between and irreplaceable colleagues to gossip with.

ASSignment aside, it was unmistakably a genuine experience for me. The toilets were unique (the device had squirts of all sorts), the air was fresh, the sights were breath-taking and Korean food was yummy! Even grocery shopping was fun! They have all the wierd stuff we obviously would never see in a local Malaysian supermarket. Like multicoloured sausages. NO kidding! However, I found Korean men a tad disappointing and have come to a conclusion that all hot Korean men can only be found in Korean dramas. Not anywhere else!

On this visit, I stayed at the famous Jeju Lotte Hotel. It's a pretty grand piece of development, something of a cross between Palace of the Golden Horses and Sunway Lagoon Resort back home. There are 3 main eating places and we can choose from any of the 3 to have breakfast at: Japanese, Korean, Western. Senthil and I were the food sluts, frolicking between Jap and Korean most of the time. We also had dinner at an authentic Korean house that paraded phalic structures as ornamental decor around the grounds of the restaurant-house. We had to sit on the floor and were served half the time and the other half, we had to work for our meals. We also ate BBQ horse meat which tasted just like beef. I only had 1 miniscule piece and Senthil had a whole plate! The dude started neighing after he was finished. Nnnneiiighhhh...!!!! He's crazy!

Getting to the island was quite a feat. It was a midnight-overnight flight on Korean Air/MAS from KLIA to Incheon International Airport in Seoul (6.5hrs). Something about Korean Govt forbidding foreign aircraft use of airspace in the day time, hence flying at nights. From Incheon Airport, we had to take a cab to the domestic Gimpo Airport (45mins), where we had to take another flight to Jeju Island Airport (1.3hrs). Then another 1 hr cab ride from Jeju Airport to Jeju Lotte Hotel. The hotel is located on the south side and the airport is on the north side of the island. Travelling there was a bit of a pain, if you ask me. However, upon arrival, all fatigue naturally disintegrated. The sights of vast pastures and hills on the way to the hotel was awesome. The sea was a gleaming sparkle of olive green and silver. The skies were scattered with tau-foo-far clouds. And the air was a fresh crisp dewy fragrance. Ecstatic!

I managed to steal some time aside from the assignments to explore abit of the hotel vicinity. Apparently, Jeju Island is a famous movie production destination and in fact, a few Korean drama series have already used some sites including the Lotte Hotel and helped put Jeju Island on the map. The hotel's beach was a browny-grainy patch. The sea looked rough but ironically there wasn't a draft at all, considering one would anticipate the wind, seeing the waves coming in so fiercely, apparently enough to have a surfing competition which was going on at the same time I was there. In view that public use of the beach was limited, I casually hung around to check them out, but was again disappointed with the Korean men in this cohort, albeit associated with surf boards.

On my final evening at Jeju, I eventually visited the Jeju Teddy Bear Museum and did abit of grocery shopping. Everything Korean was cute or nice or interesting. From chocolates to coffee to shower stuff to cereal and breakfast sandwich packs. They even had ready-to-drink Starbucks latte. Just pull out the straw, insert through and drink. Like those Vitagen/Yoghurt drinks we have. Now that was impressive. So I bought chocolates, green tea latte, korean chinese tea and some Xylitol chewing gum that came in a cute dispenser can. Michelle asked if I was gonna buy some ginseng home....I didn't....don't think I need any of it le.. he he..

Let me story more about the Teddy Bear Museum. It was kinda strange to think that someone actually built a museum for teddy bears. I know what's going through your mind. I was like you at first too. Teddy what?? What's with a teddy bear museum?? Who would in the right mind pay USD 7.00 to go to a teddy bear museum???? What's there anyways? There was enough kepoh curiousity in me to wanna go take a look, which eventually I did. Two colleagues and I stumbled around and surprisingly found it both enjoyable and educational. I'll tell you in greater detail in my next entry.

Generally, Jeju Island was a pretty good experience.