Day 2 of Bangkok Mapping

Today, the Thailand team seems picking up now and just like Sydney team, we manage to complete the mapping and as well as yesterday left over. Surprisingly the CEO and CFO came into our meeting room and greet us personally. They are so friendly and humble and we had some chat about work and leisure. The CFO even offered to bring us for dinner later and get the FM to show us around. Because we also feel bad to make them drive us on weekdays (BKK traffic can be very bad), we just ask him to send us to The Grand Palace and drop us there.

The dinner place was just around our BKK office, also few shops away from WK restaurant that we had on Sunday night. The food portion is small but quite cheap so instead of having just a main course, we actually ordered quite a lot of dishes and it was a satisfying dinner. I think the price would have triple fold if were to eat at WK restaurant.

It was a long journey to The Grand Palace, almost 35 mins due to bad traffic. We were told the Palace would have close at this hour but we can still take some night shots and walk around that, which we did. The Palace is very big and easily I can spend half a day there. The architecture was so detail and shape is very attractive, a nice spot for photography.

After spending about 30 mins there, we decided to take cab back as my boss still wanted to do massage near Silom. OMG, he seems having good time here and this time, we went to different massage center in hope to find a better and cheaper one. This time, we chose foot massage and it turn out to be very good. I even fell asleep during the session until my boss wake me up ;)

He also tell me that his massager tried to massage his penis but luckily he hinted the massager to stop otherwise … you’ll know the rest ;) It seems Silom has a lot of gay person and stuffs there because while walking the night market, instead of selling women porno, they sell gay porno and sex toys for men. Damn … I really need to be extra care when talking to a lady in BKK because you’ll never know she might have the ‘stick’ :P

Day 1 for Bangkok Workshop

Unlike my Sydney trip, this round we have 3 person to do the workshop and things seem much smoother and effective, partly because my US boss did the presentation ;)

I have to admit Indian is very good at presentation because they can talk in relax manner while deliver still able to deliver the message. Good and bad things always come together, we have good start, smooth presentation but the users seems slow and not sure what they really want. As usual Asian users is more passive and you really need to make them talk and work otherwise they will keep quiet. Besides that, their spoken and understand of English were a bit poor.

As another long pack day passed, we manage to get some mapping done and able to leave the office around 6:30pm. I thought we could go out for some shopping but the other 2 colleagues look tired and they proposed to have dinner in the hotel only. So once we have freshen up, we met and had our dinner at the Zuk bar, one of the hotel facilities.

Didn’t talk much with them because it’s more to management discussion and I just look around and have my dinner. Once the dinner is over, they called that a day and I better go back room to rest and watch some TV. Hopefully tomorrow we will be able to do something after work.

Bangkok, here I come :)

Yawn, that’s the first thing I could remember because I have to force wake up early on a Sunday morning, sigh. It was 7:05am and I have to walk to nearest taxi stand to get a taxi. Not sure if I could get a taxi on Sunday morning otherwise I will need to call one.

It was my luck that a taxi came within 5 mins and that driver was very friendly and we had a nice chat all the way to the airport. Initially wanted have breakfast at McD but the queue was very long and I’m so lazy to wait, plus most of the tables were occupied. So went to change some TH and KR money first as I never has a chance to do so during weekend. I was so happy when I found Toast Box and I always crazy about their soft boil eggs ;)

So had myself a breakfast set then check in thru the immigration. It was a quiet morning because the crowd is very less. Most of the facilities were vacant and I even have the chance to use the foot massage machine by Osim. Manage to relax for 30 mins before boarding the plane while doing my last FB session.

Another breakfast on the plane

Arrived in BKK airport around 12pm and this is the first time I’m not in transit but walk out from their arrival hall. Few years back, I was told all signage was in Thai but luckily now, they have some English words right under the Thai words. With this, I’m able to get thru the airport, found a taxi and arrive in the hotel ‘tanpa was-was’ ;)

While checking into the hotel, I got to know that my manager from US was already there since 10am so decided to go out for some walk with him after settle down my luggage. The only place that I always heard and wanted to go is Cha Tu Chak and so happen there is a MRT station (Lumphini) near my hotel, just 10 mins walk. Also lucky that this line is the same line with Cha Tu Chak station so it took us almost 30 mins, 12 stations to reach there.

A duckie in my bathrub, not funny :(

It was a very huge market where it has outdoor and indoor and their goodies range from  clothing to pet’s stuffs and price seems reasonable but of course bargain skill will be useful here. My manager seems very enjoy at this place and spent all his Thai Baht here, not to mention borrow some money from me. I have to stop him otherwise he will spend more.

Lunch at Cha Tu Chak

After 4 hours of shopping, we finally reach hotel around 5:30pm to get ourselves freshen up because the next stop will be massage. To me, this is a must To Do whenever you’re in Thailand. Since I have no clue where to, went googling and found there is a popular place near my hotel … which is Silom/Pat Phong. It’s just 15 mins walk there and once we were there, OMG, another shopping market and here my boss gone crazy again.

Same thing I have to stop him as he keep buying things and make him go to massage. Since he never try it before, I have proposed him oil massage which cost 500 baht and same goes to me. After the message, both of us were already half dead. Had dinner at a decent nice Thai restaurant, MK, while we were on our way back to hotel.

The food is quite good but slightly overprice but since it’s paid under company, who cares ;) As expected, he discuss about my resignation and our team road map and I also told him that I’m being offered by GIS team and he proposed me to wait for a while because he will discuss with the GM.

Here again I’m in dilemma because GIS boss offer me but position seems not in my favour, SAP boss seems keen to retain me and try to fulfill my criteria but I don’t like their working environment and if were to go back, it’s still unknown but one thing for sure my salary will be cut 40%.

It seems I have not much choice but to take GIS boss offer because it’s a new role, have the flexibility to work in KL/SG and retain my current package. Hopefully, things will be more solid and firm by next week but then again I need to find out what’s the consequences if I turn down GSK when I have signed the letter offer.

Leisure Saturday … still can’t go home

Wake up late a bit late, around 10am because I slept around 3:30am last nite. It was a slow and blurs morning so decided to upload some photos taken during my Sydney trip. After that, get myself freshen up and went lunch with a friend at Song Fah BKT. There was a joke from my colleague on my because I just had it yesterday and today I’m having it again and it’s near our office too :p

After the park is opened, they even paint some foot print ... cute

After that, went to Sentosa Costa Sand for some racquet because my friend’s relatives will visit SG next month and take the opportunity to walk around at Sentosa. About 8+pm, went to Bugis to watch Kung Fu Panda 2 before I’m leaving tomorrow. Luckily it wasn’t that late after the movie so still manages to get MRT home.

Managed to pack up around 12am and preparing myself for another stop … Bangkok

Yes! Samy’s Curry and PS Café for TGIF

Suppose to be TGIF and not so busy day but turn out everyone was so busy until 7pm. Suppose our TGIF outing start at 6:30pm but ended up only departure around 7:30pm. Anyway, work is over and the itinerary for tonight will be around Dempsey Road. I heard there is a lot of nice and expensive restaurants which similar to Bangsar in KL.

Dinner will be at Samy’s curry and was told the best curry in town but pricey and instantly I think of Ravi’s in SS2 PJ. Dunno why Indian food is such over price but still got people go and eat. To me, the common one like banana leave set is ok but why bother to order 2 big prawn for S$20? Crazy.

After that, went for a decent place for dessert, PS Cafe where they sell wide varieties of cakes. They even show most of their cakes at the reception area and I believe they purposely do this to attract their 'victims' :) Overall the ambiance is good and price wise seems reasonable (for such classy place).

My cup of Ice Cappuccino

Zombie in the office!

Yeah, that’s referring me because I couldn’t sleep well and went to office around 8:15am. OMG, what happened to me? It’s torturing because I keep yawn and felt very sleepy the whole day. Must go for a good lunch with the team to keep me awake but also kinda miss them too.

After lunch, it does feel better but at the same time more work is coming in and as well as preparation for my coming trip to BKK and ICH. How come I am the one who arrange it but it was supposed conducted by my US manager? Sigh …

Good Bye Sydney

Since today I’m not going to office and my flight is around 3pm so I’ve decided to wake up a bit late but still around 7:30am. Get freshen up and finalize my packing because I will need to meet up Angela around 8:30am then do some walking around town then head straight to airport. Somehow I received her SMS saying she was stuck in bad traffic and will need to reschedule the meeting to 11am. Since it’s about my check out time so I went shuffled the agenda and went for a walk before meeting her up.

It’s a cool and rainy morning but still not a bad condition to browse around. Manage to visit Hype Park, St Mary Catheral and also saw a 3 storey Apple Store and it seems the biggest I’ve seen so far. About 10am, my stomach is signaling me it’s time to grab a bite and I went down to the food court in Mid point. It’s a huge food court and with wide range of food but I ended up with Rosta Fresh Burger. Since it’s only available in Australia, why not give it a try? I had a “Big Breakfast” which cost me AUD8 but the taste is much superior than McD’s “Big Breakfast”. It’s really fresh as they only make it when ordered.

It’s about 10:30am now and shall get myself ready to check out. Talk about that, the hotel seems insert an envelope with the bill this morning and slot it under my door. What the heck, are they being professional or afraid that I’m unable to settle the bill? In general, I don’t find the bell boy anyhow friendly … maybe I’m an Asian?

After some walk, it’s time to get back to hotel, pack up, check out and depart to airport around 11:30am. Oh yeah, also manage to meet up with Derrick’s wife and pass her some goodies from her husband. In return, I had to piggy back 2 walkie and WiFi router. Oh man, it seems I’m a personalized DHL for them but I get nothing in return ;)

Luckily the traffic was good that morning and it just took me 20 mins to reach airport. Since so early, so went to check in then head for lunch. Had Hungry Mack and it actually look similar to Burger King, even their value meal. Since few days I never had chance to clear my office emails, so better logon and finish it before boarding.

It’s going to be another long evening and the next day need to work also … sigh :(

Though it seems weird but I like the idea, why waste?