The 100th post !!!!

Wow, I can't believe this is the 100th edition of my blog ;) Not only that but today will be New Year eve where everyone would go for count down or have dinner with friends/family but I'll be rather special, to celebrate it in the train ;) I wonder how long should I keep blogging but you'll never know ... it could be 200th, 500th or even 1000th! Let's get back to business ...

Today is another half day for work, YES! but no Aeroline this round and have to hang around town until 10:30pm. Wanted to leave office on the dot at 12:30pm but work seems bugging me as next week will be testing preparation week and everyone will be running here and there and chase each other. If I don't finish it by today, I will have to rush like mad dog next week. Finally, about 1+pm, I manage to leave the office and decided to hang around Funan for a while.

Went to do some window shopping and survey some camera lens. Opted either 50mm-300mm or 70mm-300mm lens but after some stress tests with Tamron and Nikon, it seems Nikon still the best but more pricey of course. It was about SGD800 but I did some homework before and KL seems cheaper. I feel sorry but thankful to the sales person because he gave me some demo but too bad as he can't explain in more technical and purely table talk (a bit or cow and bull) and a bit arrogant.

After that, decided to went to get some toiletries at Chinatown though it was a bit rainy. Once I was there, the shampoo that I wanted was sold out and so have to try my luck at Fair Price near my home. So no choice but to go home first and pack up my stuff and take some shower. The first thing is to ensure I bring Kai Meng's toy otherwise he will be very disappointed.

About 7pm, I left my home with 2 bags where one is my normal bag pack and another is my camera because Violet need me to take some photo of her lego (and maybe to test out the new lens if I really buy it :p). Bit tough and clumsy :(

After reach Vivo, I went for another round of window shopping to kill some time and will go to sky garden to see if there's any event going on. When I was up there, some of the regular path were closed because there will be a count down event. Also some people gather and sit around the park which facing Sentosa and I believe they might want to get a better view during the firecracker ceremony once the clock strike 12:00am. A lot of kiasu people where they were here to 'reserve' their spot since 5pm and some of them were with kids. Just because of their 'kiasu'ness and have to make the kids suffer with them. I saw some poor kids where they were just too tired and sleep/sit on the floor ... Sigh

Since the clock is near 9pm, decided to went for simple and quick dinner, Toast box! I miss their half boil egg and curry chicken. This round I manage to get the egg but curry chicken because they have changed some of their menu. So I took laksa instead. After the meal, I went straight to Tg Pagar and reach there around 9:45pm. Since it's still early and the gate still close, went to take some photo of the train station before it's final day on next 1st July 2011. In fact, this is the first time I took a proper photo with my camera at this place. Will post it up in FB to share with other as remembrance.

When I walk into the immigration section, OMG, it was damn pack and slow. Thanks to some foreigners who didn't fill their form or with mistakes. And also, there were just 2 counters open and make the queue become longer and longer.

About 20 mins later, I manage to get into my train and again upper deck. Nvm la since I'm already immune to ride the train. This time, I try out my TV USB stick again and manage to find few channels and some of them are quite good. Now I can watch TV everywhere as long as their signal is good ;)

New initiative at Hougang MRT

While I was walking toward MRT station to prepare myself for another working day, I stopped for few seconds and notice something very different today. It seems there are some construction in progress at the field route to the MRT and I guess they might be upgrading the the route because it used to be soiled based and now should be making it a pavement based with shelter. It make me like this neighbourhood more!

It was a quiet morning in the office but there are some urgent work that I really need to work on because next week will be the testing preparation week. Since today would be the last day to have lunch with colleague (because tomorrow company is on half day), so went for a full package lunch with them ... which is the normal main course plus dessert ;)

Since today is so special so I've decided not to take mixed rice but something soup. So got myself this QQ pot set at S$3.50 and dessert with mango pudding at S$2.80. It's a nice and enjoyable lunch though.

Just like previous days, I left office around 6:30pm as I manage to settle some high urgencies and the rest can wait till tomorrow ;) Also I don't feel to home so early so drop by NEX again for some window shopping and dinner. It seems today crowd is so much and food court is so pack, I've no choice but to visit the Ajisan Ramen next to it which is less crowd and able to get some seat.

Spicy Miso Ramen

Green tea ice cream with red bean plus almond flake

Before I leave the mall, I've decided to walk to another area of the mall which I think should be just some small extension area but to my surprised, it's another part of the world and it has to many restaurants and boutique there! Wow, I think this mall really can on par with VivoCity by now. Also I spotted a nice Christmas deco at another exit. Seems I'm getting to like this mall very much :)

Speak too soon :(

Next time, better keep my mouth shut tight and never complaint so free and boring at office. Just when I arrive office this morning, numerous emails and tickets finally route back to me and kept me busy until lunch hour. After lunch, I've to spend sometime to study few complicated tickets to ensure I'm fully understand the requirement and not mess things up. I thought I can still enjoy my honeymoon by this week but it seems some US colleagues started work today ... or gradually.

No matter how, I will still try not to stay too late and enjoy my TC-less nights because everything will be back to normal next week. Somehow, today seems nothing much to do after work and decided to visit AMK Hub and have dinner nearby. Wanted to watch movie but 7pm show seems fully booked so just hang around the mall for a while. Surprisingly, I have found a games shop where they sell a very wide range of console games like PSP, PS/3, Wii, xBox and even compatible ones. You name what you want and they can provide it to you. Just PSP games alone already filled with 2 racks ;)

Don't intend to buy any for now as I still have GT for PSP to play and try not to spend so much. After that, went next to the mall for dinner then home. This hawker seems quite good as they have a lot of 'Tai Chao' and seafood too. I've ordered Beef Fried Rice with Sambal, Deep fried Chicken Wings and Ice Lemon Tea :-

The beef is quite tender and taste like deer meat too

Taste about the same those I bought from Old Chang Kee

This Ice Lemon Tea is good, seems better than restaurants

Darn free

Today is another pretty darn free day. Basically I just reply few emails and update some document and I can go home ... but of course I still need to stay put at my cubicle and show some face because there are still some spies lurking around.

This morning, I went to try out the economy meehoon that Duan said is nice among my office area and not too expensive. It's just at Central Square, few 2 blocks away from my building. I picked sunny side and sausage as my side dish and whole thing cost me S$2.50 (my usual is S$1.50 - meehoon and sunny side) and I think it's sound fair. Once I back to office, I quickly on my laptop (to show I'm already at work :p) and head for my breakfast with headset listening to ghost story and watching FB update via iPhone4. Sound so canggih and busy :p

Generally the meehoon is really more tasty and less oily than the one I had normally (most importantly is not oily at all) and the egg and sausage are standard. The whole thing is quite filling and just nice for me. Wanted to took picture but I was too hungry and forgot to take it. Maybe next time will show you but it's nothing special and the meehoon color is a bit dark, maybe too much black sauce.

When back to cubicle, challenge come ... what do to and how to kill time? Sound sacarstic I know but that's the fact. Not to say I don't have work to do but most of my stuffs are pending with US people and most of them only return next Jan 4th. So I can assure for this week will be pretty honeymoon week for me. It will be great if my family can visit me this week instead of 2 weeks ago ... sigh.

About 11:50am, I've offered to buy lunch because Duan wanted to try the beef noodle near Raffles and she was rushing something. Since I've got nothing much to do, so volunteer to 'tah pau' back for her and Carlo. And again, maybe I'm just too craving for the beef noodle, I didn't take any picture ... next time la ;)

Now it's about 4:45pm and I'm thinking what else to do later? Maybe just prepare some Excel and Access script to prepare for my next round testing which will commence at 4th Jan. Also I will be joining my colleagues for dinner and movie at NEX later tonight. Will go there first because they will be late, as usual. Good for me too as I can explore that new mall. Let's see what I've got to write later tonight ...

About 6pm, I left office and decided to visit Mustafa again for some window shopping ... hopefully. Too bad it's drizzling but luckily there were so many shades and shelter for pedestrian in SG. I spent about 35 mins there and pretty same old stuffs. Their PSP games always dirt cheap, either S$19 or S$29 for medium and least popular games, unlike Sony will sell at minimum S$30 or above.

About 8pm, I met up with my colleagues at NEX and we went for dinner at the food court. Varieties almost the same as others but I notice something special here. They have mushroom and cheese prata (roti canai) and looks tempting. Because I'm a bit heaty so ended up with lotus root soup with white rice. Actually that soup stall sell a lot of varieties and the most expensive and mostly ordered is 'Monk Jump Over the Wall" which selling at S$7.00. Will try that one day ...

See? It's so much cheese and mushroom, not cheap though @ S$3.50

Surprisingly not expensive and no msg @ S$4.00

About 9:10pm, we went to watch movie at Shaw Theatre for show "Fockers". It was a quite good comedy show and I think this is Part# 3. The fun (show) ended around 11pm and still can get MRT home ;) Anyway, it's just 2 stops and far nearer compare to DG. Once I reach home, I quickly Skype my family but too bad Kai Meng was already sleeping. So chat a while with Violet and try out my new toy (which I didn't tell you during my trip to Mustafa) :)

Bought a external USB TV Tuner - which enable your laptop/desktop to receive TV programme and contact to DVD player/Satellite/Cable TV and game console. Also can do schedule recording too if you afraid to miss your favourite programme ;)

What's that?

Here it is ... selling at S$98

See the method of applications

Out of the box ... quite a number of items

I tried to scan via FOC antenna and able to receive 1 channel thru the air ;)

Thanks for Serving me for 4+ years

Although the train was delayed last night but it manage to reach JB about the same timing when it's punctual. Also the driver seems reduced the boarding/alight time from each station. So normally it will wait for 10 mins but now maybe 3-5 mins. As I've morning meeting about some refresh activity, I have to reach office before 9am and it was 8:40am when I'm out from Tg Pagar. One word, RUSH again. Once I'm in the office, I saw another belated Christmas present (again) and this round was from Todd. I think it should be Chinese tea leaves as I saw it from my other colleagues who receive the present as well.

Since I've skipped the breakfast, I have to go for early lunch around 11:50am. This round, I'm walking towards Raffles Place for prawn noodle. This shop is very busy during lunch time and super pack and I bet the noodle should be good. They serve varieties of prawn noodles like pork rib prawn noodle, medium/big prawn noodle, seafood prawn noodle and more. To me, only the pork rib and medium/big prawn noodle catches my eyes.

So I've tried their medium prawn noodle ... result? Not nice to me and pretty diluted to what we have in KL. I must admit the prawn size and freshness is quite good but the noodle and soup just so so. They don't even give you extra sambal/chili paste but red chili if you need more hot. So weird and this bowl cost me S$5.50. Big prawn will cost S$8.

Today is a very quiet day and seems nothing much to do also. So I just browse the Internet, checking and housekeep some stuffs. So about 6pm, I've went off to VivoCity to buy the toy that we've been looking in KL due to out of stock. It's the Kamen Rider DragVisor and seems a little cheaper than KL, S$59.90.

Kamen Rider Dragon Knight!

Also my lunch portion is relatively small for me, so I've bought KFC 2 pcs meal with 2 chick wings from Old Chang Kee ;) Look very filling and I finished them while watching 2 movies from PPS ... also Skype-ing with my family. It feel so nice and satisfying.

Magazines of chili sauce ;)

Da Feast!

After the nice meal and movie, it's almost 12am and have to take shower :p Also I realized that most of my shirt were not iron as I have gone back to KL so have to stay late until 1am in order to iron all the clothes :(

Last but not least, my 4+ years backpack finally gave me up as it was pretty worn out and serious damaged. The hole seems getting serious and afraid if it really break while I'm in MRT and all my stuffs flying everywhere. So I've had a new one and to perform the final transfer and tribute to it. Thanks for serving me for years and I'm deeply, gratitutely and sincerely thank you for being such a nice companion. After that, I've sealed it in the big plastic bag and archived it ... above my wardrobe ;)

Look pretty old eh?

The 'damage'

His new successor

Steamboat Day

Due to our late rest last night, most of us only wake up around 9pm.  As usual, only Kai Meng and myself were awake. So we went to living room to have some games and movies. About 10:30am, we have to leave the house to do some back to school shopping at Jusco Tmn Maluri. Shireen wanted to do the shopping first then back home for brunch because she will be lazy after the steamboat brunch then to Jusco. I was a bit hungry but since that's what she wanted, so have to starve a bit lor but I've told her that I need to get train ticket first because it will be cancel if not collect by 31-Dec-2010.

About 12pm, we finally home and preparing for our steamboat brunch ... finally after so many challenges and
remind me of an episode of Crayon Shinchan :p

Preparation in progress

The kids is whacking the food

Round 2

Perfect combination for us

Not long after, most of us started to get full :p

Luckily she finish it with me otherwise, there goes my stomach

It was fun and full meal ... as expected. Those left over was keep in fridge for later lunch/tea break. Luckily
today Violet has appetite so both of us finished the whole thing around 4pm. Talk about that, I only left few hours with them so I went to play and talk to my kids ... before I leave them tonight.

About 7pm, as usual, I went to send them back to Pudu and then back home to prepare myself for the trip tonight. I purposely went out to take taxi about 9:40pm but due to smooth traffic and crazy driver, I reach KL Sentral around 10pm! It was weird feeling for me because it seems it was quite sometime that I didn't come here for my train to SG. Actually, I just skip for a week because I took Aeroline last week :p

Everyone seems busy with football match between Indonesia and Malaysia. It seems Malaysia was leading with 3 while Indonesia was 0. When the game is over, I heard someone said MY team is cheating because their fans used laser pointer to disturb the player in the field but who can prove it? I guess it must be ID fans but anyway, both ID and MY supporters are the same, whenever who's in home position.

It's about 11:12pm and I just heard the train was rescheduled to 11:20pm. I already sensed something is wrong when the train before (heading to Butterworth) was delayed almost 40 mins. So when they announce just now, they really said reschedule and that very moment I was thinking don't be 1:30am again because tomorrow I have 9am TC with US team. Luckily they only said rescheduled to 11:20pm and hopefully that will be all. Pray for me and hope I can get sufficient rest :(

Finally I got my mini massage chair!

This morning, the whole family woke up at 7am because we wanted to go for breakfast at Imbi because I missed their half boil egg so much. Also I will need to buy some faw food for tonight's steamboat as dinner ;) It's been ages since the last round and we were out of idea on what to eat for dinner. Also it will be much cheaper if were to eat out. Today also is Violet's birthday, therefore I took her for some outing at The Curve and then KLCC. One of the reasons for this was because of Kai Meng. He wanted to buy Kamen Rider Dragvisor and seems most of the toy stores were sold out. Due to his disappointment, he was not in the mood but I've told him that I will try to lookout in SG ... hopefully stock still available.

Also today, I finally bought the rest chair from Ikea that I've wanted to buy for months. It's running promotion
now and selling at RM228. Bought it and put into the car boot otherwise it will be very difficult to shop with it.
About 4pm, we were so happy to go home to prepare for tonight's steamboat but my dad called! As usual, spoil my plan and mood because he was asking out for dinner, in conjunction Violet and my birthday.

Why does he has to be so last minute everytime!? As if I've nothing to do and wait for his order? Can't he just be more considerate and respect others? How to settle my steamboat? No choice but to postpone it to tomorrow :( I reached home from shopping about 5pm and I quickly assemble my new rest chair then shower myself because the dinner will start at 7pm.

Need some DIY

Almost done

Alright, this is it

Advance version, added with my mini massager. Not as good as true massage chair but cheaper version

During the dinner, I hardly talk and just focus on my food. Not because I want to show temper but I really have nothing to talk to him ... just some lame topics and same goes to my daughter (anyway, he also has nothing to talk too).

About 9pm, the dinner finally over and we quickly go back home and enjoy our remaining quality time of the day ... and enjoy the chair too :)

Post Birthday, Christmas Eve and Balik Kampung Day!

I think I slept about 2am because took late shower, doing some book keeping and packing up because I will be going back to KL today at 2pm via Aeroline. As I need to reach office before 8:30am, so I've to wake up at 7:10am but still I was late by 5 mins :p


When arrived office, I saw another nice wrap little gift on my keyboard and it was from Duan, my new neighbour just got back from US and share the same surname as mine. It was too nice wrap until I don't
intend to open it ;) Right after that, Connie went to see me and pass me the welcome gift where it should
be given to me during my inboarding training but due to some delay, they can only pass to me now.

Look so nice ... maybe will not open

My collection to-date

It's quite a cool gift where it has a small welcome card from CEO, a mug with my name on it and finally a aluminium case. What's in there? It has a set of cutlary where it has a dismantable metal chopstick and a
pair of small size spoon and fork, seems good for tea break.

The gift

Detachable chopstick

Tea spoon & fork

All the cutlery kept in this case

Mini Welcome card

Generic message from CEO

Just like yesterday, there were so few emails and tickets and I was a bit worried is it because of system down? I guess not because everyone is busy for their long vacation and last minute Christmas shopping. Not sure why, today I finally receive the eCard from Shireen and it was capture by our spam system. Well, it's better late than never ;)

While I was working half way, the bad headache come again and this round not as bad as the previous one but still bad. I think it must be my own body not getting sufficient rest. Also today I finally receive my welcome gift which has been pending for almost 3 months. It's simple but cool ... like it :-

Anyhow, Geok finally reminded us to enjoy the cake that she made few days ago and it was good, homemade cake is always better than those in pastry shop.

You'll be cut into pieces soon

Enjoy ...

Hopefully everything will be ok and another 24 mins, I'll be off to go Harbourfront ... Be strong man, be strong ...


About 1pm, I have reached Harbourfront and I still have another hour to go. So decided to go for a long lunch and ended up with Pizzahut (again). Another disappointment where they don't serve mushroom soup today so I've no choice but to order minestrone. Besides that, I only order appetizers as I don't want to take pizza and ordered chicken wings and cheese beef ball ;)

After the lunch, I have to go to the bus stop as it's alreadyt 1:45pm. When the bus opened the door and people start going in, I saw they are holding boarding pass but I only have the printed confirmation slip. I quickly went to see the conductor and she told me quickly go to check in at their sales office at 1st floor in Harbourfront! Man, I have to rush up and avoid missing the bus.

When the customer service help me to check in, they told me that I've already did advance check in and suddenly it strike my mind that I've done that on last Sunday at Chorus Hotel. Sh*t, how am I so forgetful and I've no time to regret because I still need to rush into the bus :(

Ok, I'm finally in the bus and this time seems different bus design including the leather seat and seating layout. Also it only has one big LCD monitor at the front and nothing in the middle. Since I'm sitting at the last row, it's almost impossible for me to watch the movie. So again, I've to watch movie using my netbook :(

c

Can you see the TV?

Though last row but spacious

Instead of net pocket, it's leather pocket

Info at finger tip while on the road ;)

About 2pm, the bus departed and reach Tuas Checkpoint about 30 mins later. Maybe it's Friday and still day time, so the traffic is very minimum and the whole process was so fast and smooth. To complete both SG and MY immigration just take me 30 mins (it took more than 1 hour for me to go from KUL - SG last week). Once the bus went pass JB, they started to serve lunch but I keep it for later because I was too full. This time it seems curry meal and look better than the last time. Not long after that, I took some nap as my head still pain until the conductor make an announcement that they will be stop for toilet break. This round, it's a small R&R and no signboard. When I asked the hawker, they said it's M something (I can't recall) and it's in between JB and Melaka. About 15 mins later, the bus resume the journey until I reach KL around 7pm.

It's the same hall but now is day time view

Not much people today ... good

2nd Link Bridge

MY Immigration, so old and outdated

The lunchbox, seems better than last round

Different headset, seems better this time

Better note down the plate number to avoid riding the wrong bus :p

The lower deck design seems different too

My in bus entertainment and meal

And they even have dessert for this trip! Cincau ...

The bus driver seems quite smart as he used a route with least jam by using few tolled highway. Otherwise I think it will only reach Chorus Hotel around 7:35pm. When I exit from the bus, I'm a bit worried hard to get taxi because there were so many of us in the bus but luckily I manage to stop a taxi before others starting to call for taxi ;) So the next stop is to fetch my family at Pudu then back home to Connaught. It was pretty bad traffic in KL due to Christmas Eve so I've asked the driver to use tolled highway and ended up my taxi fare is RM26! No choice ... too tired and wanted to save for quality time ;)