Hong Kong - Day 4

Last day in HK, times sure move fast. Our flight is in the evening. No site seeing or tourist spot for us today. We just want to walk around HK Island, watch and experience how the locals go about their daily lives. At Central (中环), we took the Mid-Levels Escalator, the longest covered outdoor escalator system in the world, almost all the way up. We visit the streets where we recall the various HK drama serials are film (Angie is a HK drama serial junkie), follow by taking a tram ride from Central to Causeway Bay to do some last minute shopping.

We loved the dessert from the cafe last night that we went back there just before leaving for the airport to try their desserts one last time. Sadly, to our disappointment, the desserts are not ready yet. :(

All in all, the entire trip is a mix experience for us. The first 2 days is really moody and frustrating caused by the bad attitudes, services and behaviors of the people in Kowloon. The last 2 days is a better experience for us. The only regret we have is we don't have enough time to visit Lan Kwai Fong, to experience Hong Kong night life. Maybe it's because of the realistic nature of the people here lor, we feel like we are not welcome here. Compare to Taipei, we still prefer Taipei, where there seems to be more interesting things to see. I duno, maybe I am biased lor, but after going to Taipei 3 years in a row, I still feel that there are places I have not been to yet n yearn to go back there.

Hong Kong - Day 3

Today is the most enjoyable day we have in HK so far. Early morning, we took the MTR to Lautau Island to visit the Great Buddha Statue. My initial plan is to take a bus to the Great Buddha Statue from the MTR station (Tung Chung) we were alighting. I am very surprised when Angie says she want to ride the Ngong Ping 360 cable car when we arrived there. So we bought round trip tickets for the ride n it was worth it. The scenery during the ride is fantastic. It's amazing that we saw people hiking along the hillside. It's more amazing that Angie is not scared at all during the entire ride. So proud of her ^_^




We spent the entire morning there, taking photos and admiring the scenery on top of the hill where the Buddha statue sits. Only letdown is the morning fog but the air is so fresh... IN the afternoon, we went back to Tung Chung Station and shop at the Citygate mall there, which houses many branded clothing factory outlets.


In the evening, we went down to Hong Kong Island and walk around Causeway Bay. We find that the people here in Hong Kong Island are more courteous and friendlier. What a big difference from Kowloon. Maybe this place is the classy area and people here are better educated. We wander around the area, saw roasted pigeons. I really wanted to try that, but Angie is not very willing. No point eating that alone. We just walk aimlessly around, walking into a night wet market at one point. Angie and I were so excited as this is something you don't get to experience and we like seeing locals in their daily lives. We end up sitting back at Times Square, people watching, laughing at the ruby fans that are celebrating and cheering after a HK Seven-a-side match. The atmosphere there is so cheerful with the fans singing and partying, enjoying themselves. We really like the atmosphere so much that we decided to give The Peak a miss. After all, it's just a night scene of the skyline of Hong Kong Island. :P



Got a bit hungry when we return to the hotel and decided to look for supper. We found this nice little cafe a few minutes walk from our hotel. The folks at the cafe are very nice and helpful. First time we met nice folks in Kowloon... We order noodles and a few side dish. The noodles are really very nice (not because we are hungry :S) and their desserts are heaven man. The sweet potato in their sweet potato soup is literally melts in your mouth. We really have a sinful and fulfilling meal tonight.

Hong Kong - Day 2

Day 2. Woke up and went to look for the porridge shop that my uncle recommends us for our breakfast. Couldn't find it anyway (turns out we were looking in the wrong area after we came back). The people here are damn rude. You try to stop the walking on the streets n ask for directions, nobody bother to stop. They treat you as you are invisible. In the end, we just dash in one n had our breakfast. Gosh their porridge is nice. Really good stuff, unlike the cheapo porridge we have in Singapore.

After our breakfast, we went down to Wong Tai Sin 黄大仙 to pray. The place is so crowded with tourists and locals. Can't imagine how the crowd was during Chinese New Year Eve here.

In the afternoon, we walk along Nathan Road and visit the various theme streets as well as search for shop to buy some 老婆饼 for our friends and relatives back in Singapore. I tell you, shopping in 九龙 Kowloon is a bad experience for both of us. The people are rude and simply bochap. You wanted to buy a pair of shoes and ask for your size, they can walk to the back of the store, come back in less than 5 seconds and tell you no stock with a look of heck care what you think. Maybe it's because we spoke in Chinese n they thought we were from Mainland China. I heard they despise Mainland Chinese but this is a first hand experience.


Anyway, in the evening, we went down to Victoria Harbor to view the Avenue of Stars as well as watch the Symphony of Lights show. And what a disappointment it is. The show is a total letdown. The show starts at 8pm and 10 mins into the show, we had a feeling of "Is that all?" There nothing special, just a bunch of building lights and rooftop spots light flashing around to some orchestra music.





We then took the MTR to Temple Street n take a look. For all the boasting how buzzing this place is, we dun find anything special about it. End up having a mango dessert at one of the 许留山 branch before ending our day

Hong Kong - Day 1

Touch Down! First day in HK. Our hotel is the Metropark Hotel Mongkok in Mongkok (where else? :P) which is pretty clean and tidy although the room is a bit cramp. After checking in to the hotel, we had our lunch in a real 茶餐厅, not those cheap fakes in Singapore. In those HK movies and drama serials, we always see the Hongkees enjoying egg tats and a cup of ice milk tea in these eateries. Now we get to be in a real one, having their set lunch. The milk tea is is really MILK tea, concentrated with condense milk, just the way I like it.



After our lunch, we immediately head for Shenzhen. We took the Hong Kong MTR to 九龙塘 before transferring to the railway service. Their public transport is quite convenient, using their Ez-Link card equivalent, called Octopus Card. The journey to Shenzhen is quite convenient and fast. The entire trip only takes less than half an hour. We got off at Lo Wu station and proceed to the Lo Wu Commercial Center. We dun dare to venture anywhere else just to play safe. Lo Wu (罗湖) Commercial building is full of bags and ladies accessories shops. When we endure the building, we almost got choke by the smell of the place. The entire building stinks of cigarettes smells as there is no law that prohibits them from smoking inside. Walking along the corridor give me the impression that I am in a brothel, with sales girls standing outside the shops asking you to go in to take a look. They are so desperate for business that when you walk out after they quote the price, they automatically slashed the price down. At the end of the day, we took the train back to Hong Kong, have a crappy dinner at another 茶餐厅 and went back to our hotel.

Flying Off To Hong Kong

Haha, logging in this entry from a internet kiosk in T3. Yes the new Changi Airport Terminal 3... Going to board my flight soon. Angie is very excited about the trip. Got my itinerary all planned out. Hope the trip will go smoothly. Only regret is there is not enough time to hop to Macau for my trip. Will be going Shenzhen though. Will update my trip experience when I'm back... Chow....

Passport Panic

Going Hong Kong this Friday morning to HK for 4D3N free & easy vacation. Counting down now... Still yet to plan out my itinerary :P Will be popping by Shenzen for a short shopping trip. Thought of going to Macau if time allows but will see. Weather reports shows it may rain, hope it won't rain too heavy else the trip will be a white wash. ^_^

Check my passport last night and to my horror, I found out that my passport is expiring this coming July. Less than 6 months of validity. Quickly dash down the the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) early this morning to check if I can extend my passport. Thank god, the officer says this is a common case and help me to make a new passport ready for collection tomorrow afternoon. Whew.... what a nightmare... Only thing I dun like now is my passport photo, which I took at the ICA building. Make me look like Mas Salamat buddy :(

Singapore Next Most Wanted?

P.S. For all my friends out there, please start checking your passport expiry date. The ICA officer says they no longer send out letters to inform you that your passport is going to expire

New Recreational Park

Finally, the new park at my place is almost done complete with exercise equipments. As a matter of fact, it is completed, just duno why it is not open to public with all the construction tapes surrounding it. Maybe our MP does not have a available time slot in her busy schedule to officially open the park. Anyway, the typical kiasu Singaporean neighbors of mine have ignored the warning signs and been using the new facilities... Wonder what will happen to the current roof garden when this park is open?

Working Dangerously

Saw these guys working to lift some big machinery up the third floor at my office block this morning. Geez, these guys walk along the metal platform without any safety harrness. One wrong step/move and it's three stories down. This is so dangerous...

Feel very disappointed at a friend of mine. It's one thing that you can't answer or reply my sms immediately. But at least have the basic courtesy to call back or reply later. Dun tell me his phone does not have miss call or sms inbox?

A couple of months back, I am talking with another friend of mine to see if he has anyone who can help to repair Angie's old phone. This friend overheard and offers his help, saying he knew someone who can repair it for free. So I pass him Angie's phone and since then there are no replies from him. When I finally managed to get to him last week, he informs me that the repair might cost $75 so he din send it in. At this point of time, I am very angry. Why he doesn’t inform me about it? He then gave me excuse that he is on reservists and busy. How busy you can be that you can't even make a call or sms to ask my opinion when you found out there's a charge for the repair? And he just dun follow up with it after that. It's only until after repeat enquiries then he bother to let me know the situation. He is actually quite a good friend and we have been through a lot during our NS days, but the way he behaves really let me down. Now Angie's old phone is still with him. Told him I want the phone back but till now he has not reply to tell me when he can return it back. Feel very sad and disappointed...

Woke up late today for my conference call. Anyway, no new issues to discuss so it's ok. Let my lead handle it. :P Backside itchy again. Decided to change the name of this blog to something more appropriate and suitable to me. ^_^ Dun think there will be anymore changes liao

For My Sister, Jasmine - Dun work too hard...

Revised taxi rule in CBD

That's the problem with our stupid government. They like to create a problem to "solve" a problem that does not exist in the 1st place. By changing the rules of taking and alighting of taxis in the Central Business District area, rather solving a non-existent problem, they create more problems for everyone else. Now rather than scrapping the rule, which will make them lose face, they complicate the rules some more. Another perfect example that we are paying high salaries for the PhD officials who totally lose touch the ground and posses any logic in thinking.

Till Death We Will Not Stop Working

So, Singaporeans today are expected to continue to work longer beyond 65. I like to ask who in the right mind would want to do that. If the circumstances permit, I rather retire early. For all these talks of working beyond retirement age, how many companies are willing to keep an employee who is even beyond the age of 40? When we reach that age, you can't help but look behind your back at those eyeing your job. Why should your company retain you while they can get a younger and cheaper graduate, who are willing to clock in longer hours and have lesser commitment that you? For all the talk of making companies to employ older workers, the most they will do is employ them as cleaners. I dun put much faith in my CPF when I retire. I doubt it will meet the minimum sum requirement of 120k when I hit 65. After all, it's just numbers. I doubt there is any money in there in the first place. Look at the number of policies implemented lately. It seems like they are trying to prevent us from drawing any cash out. THAT'S OUR HARD EARNED MONEY! Why can't we decide ourselves what we want to do with it? And in the meantime, our Temasek Holding and GIC companies are dumping billions of dollars into the US banks and Benetton, while the government says they facing difficulty in support the elderly and low income family. It is better to start saving and depend on yourself now.

The Beginning of the END?

"This world is mine. In time." Lucifer in Constantine (2005)

The above statement is quite true. Look at what's happening in the world around us. Global warming, environment destructions, pollutions, spread of deadly diseases, drug abuse, corruptions, war, terrorism and violence. There are problems occurring at every level of our society and all caused by us. We are moving down the path of destructions and no one seems to be concern about it. Makes you really wonder is this THE beginning of the end?

Finally it stop... After raining for so many days, Mr Sun finally decide to show up. Really miss the sun for the pass few days, it's so cold and wet.

Do you experience those days where you just dun feel like doing any work in the office? All you do is surf the net and can't wait for time to pass to get out of there ASAP? Today is the day for me... spent the entire morning typing 2 lines of codes, pretend to do some testing, while most of time research info for my Hong Kong trip at the end of the month. Shit man... heard there is a flu outbreak in HK. Better pay the doctor a visit tomorrow with Angie to have a flu jab as a precaution...

I Learn Something New Today

Learn a new windows application trick today from my company IT newsletter.

Viewing two applications on the same screen side-by-side.
It is common for one to work with two or more applications concurrently on the same screen. The usual process is to open up one application, MINIMISE it and then bring up the next application on screen. Some would go through great lengths to adjust until 2 applications appear side-by-side on the screen.

A shortcut technique for displaying two applications side-by-side, either vertically or horizontally, is as follows:

• MINIMISE all your applications until you see only the desktop screen.
• HOLD the CTRL button, click the 1st application you want using the LEFT click of the mouse.
• Continue to hold the CTRL button, now RIGHT click the 2nd application and a drop-down menu will appear. You may select either HORIZONTAL or VERTICAL view and both applications will appear sized to proportion. Go try 4 screens…cool!

Flood At Changi Terminal 3

Less than 3 months after the Changi Airport Terminal 3 open, the first screw up appear. That was fast. Seems like we for all our reputation as a world class city, we still get this type of cock-ups in our mega-projects. Remember the the Singapore Esplanade ceiling leak problem? So what's the next screw up? Singapore Flyer cannot turn? Singapore F1 night race flood lights failed?

Singapore's Very Own Prison Break II

So the man is at large and our police force is still showing their incompetent n naiveness. By releasing bits n pieces of info here and there, they only succeed in reducing the chances of apprehending the guy. ACCURATE information must be released out ASAP. First, he is said to be limping, the next day he only limp when he runs. 5 days later, we are told of the clothes he wore when he escape. What's the point of withholding the information? To confirm with everyone everything is correct to avoid being mah lu anymore? Capturing the guy back now is more important than saving face lah. The entire incident shows the authorities are not sure about a lot of things and how to go about finding the guy. So far, all I see is random searches. It takes them 4 hours to inform the public of his escape. How big is the detention center? Why they need 4 hours to confirm of his escape? Most doors in the center are locked n the place should have a lot of CCTV cameras, there are not many areas he can go to or hid in the center.

Read this very well written article by Yawning Bread on this entire incident.

By the way, there are growing number of conspiracy theories on the timing of his escape. Some claims that Mas Salamat died during ISD questioning n this is a cover up. Others says the escape is used to divert attention of the angry public in the miscalculation of the budget deficient figure. The most probable reason I believe is that his escape may be to create a fear among the nation to bring the population back under the government control. By inciting fear, it will keep the people under check. Anyone seen V for Vendetta?

No Plans of Mine

Time sure zoom by fast especially if its the weekends. Like a blink of the eye and I back in my office again. Sianz... feel like I did nothing over the weekends. Wasted... I dun like to plan my days or schedule my tasks. I always end up failing to get things done. Maybe I am not discipline enough but something always cock up and mess up my plans. Or maybe it is because i pack too many work at one ago. Whatever it is, I have given up planning in details. Just a rough draft of what to do is good enough for me. So most of the time, it impromptu work or a sudden rush to get something done...

Watching the World Passby