goodbye 2006...hello 2007

an hour more to go to 2007! am I looking forward to a brand new year? or is that the end of a good 2006? let's see the great things that happened these past 12 months...

1) had my promotion in april... not sure if it is a good thing? but obviously the extra income helped
2) won prizes in 2 lucky draws - a $100 travel voucher and a rice cooker in the recent company christmas draw! I know... you must be thinking rice cooker? But hey, it came at the right time since the one at home just got spoilt!
3) went for more than 1 holiday this year! went to Hong Kong in June and Europe (France and Spain) just a couple of weeks back!
4) many of my friends getting hitched, pregnant or gave birth! so congratulations to all of them!
5) started my blog!!!! Haha... something I never believed I will be able to upkeep... but so far so good!

so... here's looking for a great new year ahead! happy new year to everyone!

are discounts a benefit?

being a big sucker for discounts, I was all ready for my shopping trip this morning to enjoy all my birthday discounts... Well, if you know me well, I have loads of discounts cards from the shops that I regularly (hmmm... actually even those that I don't frequent). So December being my birthday month, I usually get extra discounts! So the credit cards were ready for a major workout!

to cut the story short... here's what I bought from 2 shops only:
- 2 pairs of pants
- 1 jacket top
- 1 shirt
- 2 pairs of jeans (1 for me & 1 for my mom)
- 2 pairs of shoes

doesn't sound like a lot, but the total spending is in hundreds!!!!! Oh well, everything is with 20% discount and just got my pay. Also convinced myself that these are meant for Chinese New Year. (haha... it will be hard to stop me from shopping for a month!!!) So though I had some savings from the discounts, the discounts were the cause of me going shopping and spending money! Haha!

the mood today is totally different from the past few days...
1) happy with my purchases...
2) delighted with meeting up with friends (ex & current colleagues) at the party organised by my ex-boss! Hey, I even wore a new dress I bought online! plus new shoes, new watch and new handbag!
3) ecstatic with Liverpool's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur!

a great way to end the year!

when people forgets...

I should get used to this... when your birthday is near an important holiday like Christmas, there are bound to be people who forgets your birthday...

Nope... I am not angry or pissed at the people who forgets. It is just that, is it that difficult to send a person you worked closely with or a person you know for more than 10 years to simply says "happy birthday" via sms / email? Even simply a hug to send a birthday wish?

Oh well, it just got me to ponder on how important would you value your birthday? Is it a day you find out which friends of yours truly care? Or simply a day to make you feel loved? Or just another day with a birthday cake?

Many thanks to those who really made an effort to make me feel loved these 2 days (since I just got back to work today). Those who bought me gifts, those who gave me a call, those who sent an sms and those who gave me a handshake or hug! Love you all!

Btw, I had a cake! (didn't want one initially when my sister asked coz I am really not a cake person) But, it is always good to know somebody cared enough to buy you one... Err... forgot to take a picture of the cake, but this is part of it (oh... with my manicured nails that was done yesterday on my birthday)

birthday blues :(

happy birthday to me... happy birthday to me... sigh... another year older...

not sure if it is because I am getting older, or I basically didn't get into the mood of celebrations (whether it is X'mas or birthday!).

today wasn't the best of my birthdays... the chirpy, happy mood was just not around me! the weather didn't help much... it was rain, rain and more rain! spent most of the day on my own... thou I really enjoyed my own personal time (it must be the age!)

here's the details of my celebrations, which started yesterday...

checked into M Hotel (I had a complimentary night stay) at 2pm on my own coz my sisters are either at work or had errands to run... so I had the room to myself till about 4pm. the room is really big and nice... some pictures to share...

my birthday was like a big eating trip... here's what we ordered!

1) Steamboat buffet at THE BUFFET. Had chicken soup on the right pot, and turtle and black chicken soup on the left. forgot to take a pix before eating... so this pix was at the tail end of the dinner ;p

2) the dessert after the steamboat... the cakes were not that yummy, but took loads of long gans from the almond beancurd!

3) my bro-in-law came much later, so we ordered room service for him... his laksa was really good... and I took another helping of dessert - warm apple crumble! my sis had her fav carrot cake.

P.S: something was not right, couldn't load the other pictures of the food...

slept till abt 10am this morning, had a bubble bath before going for lunch. after I checked out of the hotel, I went for my relax therapy - manicure and pedicure! It was still raining at the evening. I went for a quick dinner at VIVO city with my sis, mermaid and her prince. Nothing fancy (especially after all the big meals since christmas!), just a good hearty meal at the food court!

That's how I spent the day I turned 29...

merry christmas...

First of all, let me wish everyone reading my blog a Merry Christmas!

It was a crazy week trying to brave the crowd to do some last minute shopping! Madness was the only word to describe my trip to Orchard Road!!!! I must go back to my routine of shopping early next year (provided I don't go for a year-end holiday).

After a hectic week of shopping and wrapping of presents, organising christmas gatherings with friends, it is finally time to enjoy the fruit of the hardship!

This was the christmas eve dinner I had yesterday with my family. Doesn't the turkey look yummy?

Not sure if I will be having more of such meals as I practically have a gathering to attend every single day! Hehe... my usual "peak period" for gatherings is this time of the year... Looking forward to meeting all my friends to catch up!

Once again... May joy and happiness surround all my loved ones this Christmas

yummy food in Madrid

Pasta and Pizza - the Spanish way!

I finished this Tropical Pizza by myself! (Almost...)

Croissant, Donut or Cornflakes?

Our breakfast provided by the hostel

Starbucks lunch (we sort of had no choice)

Something local, very yummy and cheap!

Calamari Baguette! There was a long queue for this!


Of course, I had to give KFC a try...

some pictures of Madrid

Touching down at Madrid!

Look at the narrow streets! View from my room!

This is where I stayed! MAD Hostel







The grounds of Real Madrid

Bullfight season is over, but I was at the most prestigious bullfighting ground!

the Barcelona story

hey all my blog faithful (see it being singular!!!) ... sorry for not updating my blog in Barcelona. The same story at the hostel... shared computers with no way of uploading my pictures. Besides, the opening hours to the common room (where the computers are) were only opened at breakfast hours and after 5pm...

so... how was Barcelona? It was more like Paris... more cosmopolitan city as compared to Madrid. More people speak English or at least understand English. So it definitely easier to communicate there. We also see more asians and even Singaporeans (there were 3 of them staying in the same hostel as us).

The hostel we stayed in is centrally located... We felt like we were staying right at the Orchard belt! Imaging Cartier was our neighbour, Loewe was just next to it. Zara and Mango was just around the corner.

The most memorable places in Barcelona was Park Guell, La Sagrada Familia and La Ramblas...
Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia were the works of Architect Gaudi... He basically inspired the look of the whole Barcelona! His works were simply breath-taking. Don't think you can forget about his works once you see it! La Ramblas was a great place to stroll along. With lots of street performers and artists at work, you will never be bored walking down the long stretch of road.

Ate lots of Dunkin Donuts (yes... it was everywhere in Barcelona!) , tried the Paella (with Chicken, Cuttlefish and King Prawn) and yummy desserts like Flan (Creme of Caramel), Bread Pudding like dessert, very sweet melon! Will post yummy food pix when I get them from E!

P.S: Something strange happened... my postings were amended with some wierd text. so if you read some funny text that is so not me... It is NOT my writing!

posting from madrid...

haven´t updated my blog as the internet connection is in the bar of my hostel. Each person is limited to 20mins of usage, and it is usually quite crowded...

Well, no pictures too as it is a common computer where i can´t upload the pictures... so just read abt my trip!

Its my 4th day in Madrid and it is colder than expected... the coldest so far... 6 degrees! Didn´t help with the rain! In fact, I was drenched on the first night alr! The place seems more gloomy than Paris... maybe it is due to the colours of the building, mainly brown and grey! Lots of little lanes... but finally managed to figure out the directions after my first night!

Went to Warner Brothers theme park! Have to be quite impressed with ourselves for navigating the map and programme in SPANISH! Can you imagine that they have no maps in English!!!!

Walked mostly as most of the key attractions and shopping area is within walking distance from my hostel... Basically walked to / through the key shopping district - Puerta De Sol... But the best shopping (or where I bought the most stuff) was at Plaza Mayor. Lots of sourvenior shops! Oh yes... i found the exact keychain my sister bought for me many years ago when she was in Spain for her honeymoon :)

I almost forgot... I ate something local and unique - Calamari Baguette! Quite yummy... at 2 Euros. E thought it was saltish, but i could take it... Imagine generous amount of calamari (which is not chewy) stuffed to the brim of the baguette!

OK... Its a public holiday today, so the streets are packed with people. So I am back at the hostel early (that explains me being able to blog) and will be going for a performance later! Look out for my next blog!

Last night in Paris...

Time really flies... today is my last night in Paris. Flying to Madrid tomorrow (Yipee!)...

Anyway, went for final shopping trip at Champ Elysees so that I can go to LV to get my colleague's bag! Thought I could walk out with a LV paper bag at least once in my life (although it is not my own purchase). Well, luck is not really on my side for this trip (if you read my earlier posting, you would know why)... The item that my colleague wanted was not available! In fact, every item from that series is NOT AVAILABLE at all stores in Paris!!!

It was raining in the morning, sunny in the afternoon, raining in the evening... so that was the horrid weather I was facing in 1 single day!

Visited a few main places of interests like the Arc de Triomphe, Effiel Tower and Moulin Rouge, Sacre Coeur and Monmarte... so here's some highlights:

happenings on 3rd Dec

My Kerbab dinner... It's chicken wrap, but tastes more like ham!


Outside the Lourve - the glass pyramid!


The "Idiot" first police station that refused to let me make a report coz my wallet was "LOST" not "Stolen"


The pier where the river cruise disembark

what luck!

Before my trip, I was more worried about pickpockets, or losing my passport, money or wallet at Spain. Mainly due to the warning by many people... No one, yes no one said anything about Paris. And yes... lady luck is not with me... Never would I expect to lose my wallet (with BOTH my credit cards, 90.20 Euros and all my Singapore dollars --> hehe $70) at The Lourve!

Not sure if I dropped my wallet or was it pickpocketed... I only realised it when I was leaving the museum, that I realised the zip of my bag was opened. Quickly looked through my stuff and realised that my wallet was missing... Though E thinks that I most probably dropped it, I just couldn't believe that I was that careless!!!!

Anyway, you would have thought what else could go wrong right? Wrong! The police at the police station (the one that the information counter lady from the Lourve directed me too) sucks BIG time... We went in and explained that I "LOST" my wallet... Her response was "In France, if you lose your things, that's it". After explaining that I need to make a police report so that I can claim for my insurance, she just say no, she can't make a report. How pissed can I get! A gentleman at the counter, who spoke a little English was kind enough to help with translation and he too exclaimed that that's how it is in France. He advised us to go to another station and tell them that my wallet was stolen or pickpocketed instead. Which was exactly what I did to file a report! However, the police there were so much more efficient and friendly. E, my sis and I strongly believed that the police woman at the 1st station was plain LAZY!!! Coz that were many procedures and she doesn't speak much English, so I think she was just trying to brush me off!!!! Becoz of her, I wasted almost the whole afternoon travelling from police station to police station!!

P.S: I was quite impressed with AVIVA. Called them to ask about my insurance claim, the lady Tracy was really kind and volunteered to help me call the credit cards company before calling me on a conference call to cancel my card, so that it will not cost me as much on phone bill! It really helps coz by the time she called me with the bank personnel on the phone, she had alr explained to them my situation. Hence the call was very short with just 3 verification questions.

bonjour!

Finally found the time to logged on to the computer.... So for my dear friend who is faithfully logging on to my blog to check if I am updating it... here is the first!

FYI - the Parisian air isn't that great! That's the first thing I noticed! Haha... Well, it is really a gloomy winter in Paris... Arrived at 6.00am, and even by the time I collected my luggage, found my way from the arrival hall to the exit to the bus stop, it was still dark at 7.15am... Then, the day turns dark again by 4pm!!!! Wow... it takes a little time to get used to it... maybe it is also the jet lag, I was starting to feel sleepy at 7pm, coz it is as dark as Singapore at 10 pm...

There's something wrong with the connection... doesn't seem to be able to load my pictures... I will try again another time... But just some updates on the places I've been: Disneyland Resort Paris (yes... there on my very 1st day), Place de la Concorde (the city's largest square), walked along Seine, Sainte Chapelle - a small chapel with beautifully stained glass windows depicting the story of Jesus Christ and the magnificent Cathedrale of Notre Dame (most wowed by it so far. the feeling of being inside was unbelievable!)

Will try to upload pictures the next time!