Finally ... I manage to grab it!

After sending Violet to school and Shireen to attend her whole day team event, left Kai Meng and myself decided to do some walk at Mid Valley partly because I need to change some currency and bring him to see some toys. While I was walking towards Toy r Us, I saw there is a long queue at Machine Store and was wonder if iPad 2 stock has arrived.

When I walked pass the store, I guess was correct and left only 64GB B/W and 3G/WiFi model. It seems to high model for me and pricey too but I've been waiting for months and hardly to see stock availability in KL/SG so decided to grab it. The queue was so long and we have waited almost 50 mins!

While waiting, I was wonder why the queue take so long when they just need to pay, grab and go! One of their staff went pass and I quickly question him why the queue isn't moving at all (although I'm very frustrated but still speak in calm as I know it's not his fault). He answered that the queue was delay because some users were picky, ask a lot questions and some their credit card having problem while making the transaction. I'm glad he also understand my frustration and without much choice, just keep waiting lor.

When it's my turn, I've timed myself and the whole transaction just cost me 7 mins and why can't others just grab and go? Some thought they are buying a multi-million gadget and all the sales person have to praise him like lord. I know you need to know and understand before buying it but you can do it by just walking into their showroom and not take a queue without knowing what you are buying, right? Also, you can buy it first then walk to their showroom for some clarification and not holding up the queue. Why can't they just be more considerate?

Unlike previous experience on buying pricey gadget, this time I don't feel any regret and did something wrong. Partly maybe I really need it for their useful apps in my day to day in SG and I'm just so stuck with their innovation products. The only thing was I have to buy the highest model which I don't really need that much of memory.

Did my first posting in FB and received few welcome message by existing iPad 2 users ;)

Cause havoc to Kai Meng's homework

Was teaching him to do weekend homework and had a terrible misunderstanding. He already cut few pieces of numbered paper and the shape was odd. According to the instruction, he need to paste the numbered paper into each box with the correct answer. Maybe I didn't read properly so I decided to trim the paper into proper shape and let him paste it but when I'm almost completing it, he suddenly shouted in sobbing because it suppose to be in that shape because there is a jigsaw image behind the numbered paper.

OMG, he started to cry and luckily I still have those debris and instantly I came out an idea to scan all the pieces and stick it back in computer then reprint it out. After he knew my solution, he started to stop crying and with some of my jokes with the paper, he started to smile and forget about the problem (maybe he know I will settle for him) :(

Luckily all the main parts was recovered and quickly fix the image while the mother continue to guide him doing the homework. After 30 mins of scanning and stitches, voila, it's recovered and Kai Meng was so happy and relief. Although it's not perfect but it's the best I could do. Generally this look like a problem but at least I can make use of this as a lesson for both of us about importance of communication, being analytical and problem solving experience. Not sure how much can he absorb :/

Will go back to SG tonight and hope he will be ok as we were so close for the past 2 weeks and the mixed feelings re-visit me again ... sigh :(

Change the way of blogging

This week, I was granted to work from KL for the whole week partly because I'm in midst of working with my US boss and HR to stay put in ELC. They finally agree to allow me the flexibility to work between KL and SG and still hire under SG's payroll.

If you asked me, I really prefer come back to KL for good and work with GSK but $$$ matters. Things getting tough nowadays and inflation in KL has gone worst. Thanks to those drama politician and their outrages greed. Since I already work with the team for almost 9 months, I've immune and slowly force to blend into their culture but there is a sign that they are willing to change. So it's another hope for me and will try to work with them for the better and efficient future.

And since I will be with them for extended period, I will not change the way I blog because I find it tough to maintain in daily basis partly because my friends and family already have a good picture how am I doing in SG and the common challenges. Therefore from today onwards, I will only blog when there is new or special event take place, or maybe out of last min urge to blog :p

See ya real soon ...

Last Seoul tour and Good Bye Korea

Ok, this it it ... the last day of my Korea trip and potentially my last oversea trip for this project. Not only because I'm leaving but my job function doesn't require me to travel often (moreover, budget always an issue especially I'm just nobody).

My flight will be 4:50pm and decided to went for a morning tour package with the hotel's agent. It cost 38,000 Korea Won and we will go to few places like the palace, passby Parliament house and Korean Chinese temple. According to the brochure, it will end around 12:30pm and it better be because I need another 1 hour trip from city to the airport.

While waiting for the traveling agent to pick us up early in the morning, went to the nearby 7-11 for quck breakfast otherwise will have to wait until 2pm :( Also, luckily my credit card payment went smooth while I was checking out otherwise I will have to be shame for the 2nd time. Sigh, better apply one credit card at SG ... just in case I need to do last min travel.

The trip went smooth and consider value trip for me because I can complete all my tasks and at the same time a short visit to Korea. Honestly, I don't really fancy about Korea but I'm sure will be back one day with family because they don't really travel much and will try to fulfill their dream while I'm still capable to do so.

About 2:30pm, finally we reached airport and head for our lunch. As expected, Sachin still hinting me to think carefully if were to leave ELC or join GIS and I do understand his concern as well because the team is a mess, work and processes sucks and a long pipeline for projects until 2013.

I can feel my resignation really 'wake' them up and realise the actual situation (as they always think everything is so perfect). Being a boss and friend, we bid each other and hope we can meet someday, whether in ELC or some other places. Ok, gotta walk around and ensure I didn't miss the flight home :)

Day 2 for Korea Workshop – Shopping day!

This morning, we had breakfast nearby our hotel and that shop has a catchy name by Cafe7gram. Everything seems related to 7 like they open at 7am, open 7 days a week, 7 gram of coffee used, etc. My muffin set was 4,000 KRW.

After that, started our journey to the office for the last session. Yes, finally my workshop is over and glad the affiliates appreciated it and wrote a compliment email to APAC mgmt. So happen the Chg Mgmt Director forwarded that to our team’s Vice President and he also forwarded to our CIO!! Guess what, the CIO personally wrote my boss and myself an email for our hardwork! This is cool and really outshines our team’s performance.

Manage to leave office around 5pm, reach hotel around 5:20pm and started the journey to Insadong, one of their popular evening shopping street. The whole journey was slightly jam but still bearable and manage to reach there around 25 mins. Insadong does gave me a feeling like walking thru Chinatown but you will only find Korean stuffs here. You might saw some Chinese stuffs like painting, accessories, clothing, etc but this make sense because Korean was once influence by China too.

After doing some shopping with my boss, was looking for a decent place and so happen I found an Indian restaurant. It was a cozy and well decorated place, located at 2nd and 3rd floor of that shoplot. Food isn’t that great and price still reasonable, in term of local prices. Spent about 1 hour there as my boss was so enjoy their music and keep talking about his past. It’s fun but later found a bit boring.

Right after we stepped out from the restaurant my boss suddenly persuaded me to do massage again!? In Korea? Yeah and so happen it’s not really that expensive. He took the back massage and mine just food massage, just to accompany him which cost me 15,000 KRW. Initially we thought the massage might be lousy because it’s just a small place with few beds and owned by an old couple. Once they started the massage, it changed our assumption because they were good, right at the spot and seems skillful too. Though their duration just 30 mins but to me, they provide quality over quantity, like what we had in BKK. Once massage is over, I only saw they have those accupunture chart on their wall and looks like they know a bit of accupunture. No wonder they can find the spot easily ;)

Besides the nice massage, we were also given a free, nice, soothing saxophone live band. The songs were so nice which comprises of Christmas songs, popular Kenny G’s hit and others. With good massage and song, it’s perfecto!

After the massage, we had to called it a day and take taxi back to our hotel. Had to rest well because tomorrow we will do early check out and plan to go for a quick morning tour in Seoul. It cost 40,000 KRW and will visit few popular places which start from 9am till 12:30pm. Since my flight is at 4:40pm, so should be fine and really want to utilize my time and resources because I have no clue when I will be coming back.
Better get freshen up, pack up then sleep now …

Day 1 for Korea Workshop

It was a short sleep so still feel a bit tired and sleepy while brushing my teeth. By 7:30am, already at lobby taking the hotel limo to Korea office.  The limo driver seems very blurred because even provided him the address and map but still unable to find the office. Luckily my colleague manage to spot it while ‘turn around the garden’. Since none of us had breakfast, so we just had our quick bite at the coffee house located right in the office’s lobby. Nothing great there but at least not stomach empty :(

Receiver - they will buzz you when your food is ready

About 9am, we have reach the office at 8th floor and met our affiliates team lead where she brought us to 19th floor where their training floor (take note, I mention floor not room) was located. After chatting with the lead, just got to know they have few floors within this new high rise where 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 19 were rented by ELC, awesome!

View from office main entrance

Since my voice still not so good and my boss speak better than me, so I pass the ball to him again ;) The session started very slow but just like the past workshop, the team seems getting better right before lunch. About 12:40pm, we finally heading for our lunch … Yes! Outside of office and no more lunch box :)
They brought us for Japanese restaurant which located at the basement of same building. It’s just a normal Japanese restaurant and I’ve ordered myself a bento. The portion is very generous and I almost can’t finish the whole set. Also, I worried I might feel sleepy due to heavy lunch but don’t care lar … still better than hungry for nothing :p

After the lunch, we continue the workshop and the team was much productive now and able to complete the mapping without any outstanding issues. It was cool and we were able to go back to hotel around 6:30pm. As expected, my boss asked me out to walk around our hotel after put down our backpack. There were only 2 malls nearby and things there were quite normal and common but far more expensive. I wonder how they survive especially those low income fella :(

Icon made from scrap, nothing to do while caught in jam :)

Found so many nice food like BBQ pork, ramen, local roadside hawkers but just can see no touch as my boss is vegetarian. Because of him, I’m unable to try so many nice food during my Bangkok and Seoul trip. I guess I can only try if I’m able to visit Korea one more time on personal trip. Ended up having dinner at our hotel and food just so so lar … nothing great.

About 10pm, decided to go back room and lazy for a while then shower … Hope tomorrow will be easy and smooth day and able to leave office around 5:30pm because I’ve agreed with my boss to visit their popular night market, Dongdaemun which require 40 mins journey via subway. Not near but at least something lor … we shall see ;)

So long Bangkok

We have to check out at 7am because our flight is 10:40am and the rush hour traffic can be very bad. To be safe, we rather to go there early rather than sorry. Surprisingly the traffic was quiet good and we manage to reach airport within 35 mins. Since we still have 2.5 hours to spend, so they went shopping again then bring me into the business class lounge. It was lucky to be with them otherwise I will have to wander around there until boarding time.

About 1:30pm, our plane landed at HK Airport for transit and we manage to get 30 mins to walk around the airport. Again, my boss went for shopping again even though we just have such short window but to him, stuffs here isn’t that expensive and he wants something authentic. After he had done his shopping, the gate is calling and again, we continue our journey to Seoul. Kinda excited to go there as this is my first trip but knowing I won’t have chance to walk around but to work like a cow, this really disappoint me. It’s ok, I believe someday I will get to visit here for vacation ;)

Surprise to see Recaro were used for their aircraft seat because this normally used by sport cars

About 8pm, I finally arrived at Incheon airport and the crowd seems very less. Similar to KLIA, I have to take a train back to the central airport. Luckily I’m travelling with 2 managers hence we took at limo with fixed price KW75,000 to our hotel, Hyatt Park Hotel right within the CBD area.

It’s considered expensive because it’s almost 1 hour drive from airport, much further than KLIA to KL. Due to minor traffic jam, managed to reach hotel around 10pm. While checking in, it seems all my credit cards giving me problem and I guess it must be my limit must be due as I have been traveling to Sydney, Bangkok and now Seoul without making any payment to my card. Luckily I can still split the payment into 2 cards and I should have call Maybank to extend my limit temporarily but it’s too late. Another thing is how come this hotel charged the full payment as initial deposit?

After the payment was made, the female front desk captain seems so friendly and escorts me to the room personally and explains all the facilities to me, just like that I had in Bangkok. Wow, such hospitality and I wonder if they don’t afraid some nasty customers might take their advantage when alone in the room. Not only the service was similar but even the appliances in the room were also the same.

No matter how, glad I’m in the room now and better settle down then sleep as tomorrow will be another tough day.