My mum is the best…

Just had dinner with my mum and it just hit me once again that I probably have the best mother in the world.

I did not have an easy childhood; my father was missing from my life most of the time and even when he was around. He was more of a terror than a father.

I still have 2 younger brothers and yet, my mum brought us up single-handedly. All these while, I knew that I have to work very hard, so that my mum will have an easier life in future.

Despite the hard times, my mum never let me felt that I am poor. She gave me what ever she could, scrimping on herself and gave her children the world.

When I graduated, my dream was to travel Europe. Although my mum thought that it was a total waste of money (she had never traveled by plane), she “loaned” me additional 2K when I most needed the money (for my frivolous want!) And of course, she never asked for repayment for the “loan”.

When one of my brothers secretly bought a motorbike, my mum got so freaked out that she bought a small car for my brother to zip around. She paid for the car in full.

Now that all 3 of us have grown up, and especially that I have already started working, I told her to take a break and not work so hard anymore. She refuses to listen, stating that my two younger brothers are starting on their universities soon and she needs the money to pay for our education. She is even trying to save up for my Masters.

Upon hearing that, I wanted to cry.

A mother’s love is so selfless. Without my mother, I will not be who I am today. (Not saying that I am anyone great now…)

But I could have easily been led astray during my teen years. Yet, my mother was also there for me and my brothers, playing the roles of a mother, a father and a breadwinner.

Just have this urge to tell everyone how great my mother is.

Mum, I love you.

I’m tired…

The time is now 10 pm and I am still in office. Worked till 2 am last night. Worked till 930 pm the night before. I foresee working till 10 pm tomorrow and the day after as well.

I do not think my brain is working anymore. Ever single brain cell is either on strike or has already crashed and burnt.

At times like this… I really ask myself why am I working so hard for?

I do not know…

All I know is that I am fucking tired now, and I need to sleep. Yet, I can’t finish my work and the deadline is tomorrow.

You know what…

Fuck it.

That’s it. I am going home NOW.

Salsa Performance School

Although I have failed my driving test, I got into my salsa school performance team instead! Yeah! Which means that I will get to perform and might even make my way to L.A for the Salsa Congress in May!

Really excited about this since it has been quite a few years since I last performed for any actitives. F.Y.I: I used to dance for my college's Modern Jazz team. (Can't tell huh?)

Can't wait to start dancing again!

Today is a sad day for me…

I failed my driving test this morning… (Sob)

Now I really feel stupid because everyone around me passed on the first attempt. My 2 YOUNGER brothers passed, beloved passed, brother’s girlfriend passed, my mousy girlfriend passed… and to think that I took my driving lessons from the school.

I am so disappointed with myself.

Sigh… now I have to wait for another 2 and a half months before I can take the test again. Not only that, I also have to pay for another 3 revision lessons and that will cost me altogether 350 bucks. Just because I failed the damned test today!

And I did not even make any major mistakes! And there was this STUPID SILVER CAR that suddenly stopped in front of me and caused me 8 demerit points! I hate all silver cars now… especially Mitsubishi silver cars…

The stupid tester is inhuman. He has scarred me emotionally for the rest of my life.

I hate him.

Back to reality

Back to Singapore. Back to work. And back to reality…

Holidays always have this surreal quality that allows people to be ridiculously happy, relax and somehow spend a lot of money, especially on shopping! Haha.. At least for me!
Now… it’s back to slogging in office. Sigh…

Anyway, the Taipei trip was great and I truly enjoyed myself. Despite the fact that I traveled alone! Highly recommend one to travel alone… at least once in your lifetime. Where you can walk around at your own pace, enjoy your own independence and basically chill… …

I was really happy to see my friend (Taiwanese) again after two years. I first got to know her in New York and somehow we really clicked and had so much fun hanging out together. She was so nice to let me crash at her place (free accommodation! Woohoo!) And that freed me loads of money to shop! And all the girls’ talk that we engaged during this period brought us even closer. I really appreciate her friendship…

Next, Taiwan has really great food and shopping that my daily itinerary was “eat, shop, eat even more and shop even more”. That was basically how I spent my days in Taipei… Furthermore, the cool weather (It is now winter) means that make-up stays and you do not perspire when you are out shopping. Ahhh… heaven!

More about food, the Stinky toufu really tastes FANTASTIC! Ok… I know it really stinks like garbage mixed with someone’s fart. BUT IT TASTES GOOD. Pinch your nose and put it into your mouth… and the stink will be miraculously replaced by a sweet aroma and taste. Viola! You are now hooked to Stinky Toufu.

And for the very first time, I soaked in a hot spring! A.k.a Onsen (in Japan). Taiwan has many great hot springs and I was brought to one in Wu-Lai. The spring water was so silky that it made my skin baby smooth for 2 days! Not only that, I had the view of a mountain with a little waterfall, gushing daintily down the rocks. One of the highlights of my trip.

Ahhh… will definitely want to return to Taiwan. But I will like to explore other parts of Taiwan… that’s if I can tear myself away from the shopping and eating in the city!

At the airport now....

I am now using the free internet at Changi airport... and I only have the last 3 minutes to write this message.

Ok... I will be in Taiwan from today, 27th Dec till 2 Jan. Meanwhile, everyone has a great New Year!

Happy 2006!

Xmas is here again…

I’ll like to wish all of you guys and girls, especially those who have been reading my blog, a SUPER MERRY XMAS and A GREAT 2006!

I have been really busy with my work lately and haven’t got the time to post any entries at all. Nonetheless, one of my New Year resolutions is to keep my blog alive…

Thankfully, I will be taking a break from 27th Dec to 2 Jan 2006… and I will be going to Taiwan!!! Yeah!

Really looking forward to the trip, since I am travelling alone (excited!) and will be visiting 2 friends in Taipei as well.

Hmmm… can’t wait to taste the yummy food!

Will definitely keep you guys updated again!

The big switchzeroo

Ok, I am still alive and that is because I did not run 21 km last Sunday.

I did not chicken out. I repeat, I did not chicken out!!! ;p

Well… I was still coughing rather badly on Saturday night and Boyfriend suggested that we should exchange our running bibs instead. Boyfriend did not sign up for the run initially, but managed to hitch one bib at the very last minute because one of his colleagues decided not to take part in the 10 km run.

After a long though of 3 mins… I decided that he was right after all. In my condition, I could not pull off the half-marathon at all. So on Sunday, Boyfriend was running as “Lee XXX XX” (my name) and I was running as “Henry XXX” (His colleague).

We woke up at 430 am, each wolfed down 2 bananas and put on our running gear and we were all set. The full marathon started at 6 am, but by 520 am, the area (Esplanade) was already flooded with runners. It was like a carnival, with the music blasting and all the fanfare. Finally, it was 6 am and the marathoners set off from their starting point with the music blasting “Who let the dogs out, woof woof woof woof!!!”

After an hour, it was time for the quarter marathoners to set off! The run was pretty relaxing in the beginning, but as I hit my 6 km, my nose began to run faster than my legs… yeek… Not a very pretty sight! And with no tissues… I snorted and sniffed for the remaining 4 km.

Finally after 1 hour and 8 minutes, I completed the 10 km run! With sweat, snorts, mucus and all! Yeah!

It was a good run and I was pretty proud of myself. Heh heh… Now, I am extremely motivated to sign up for the run next year and will continue to train for the next one year!

My bip number: 12226, running shoes, running singlet (sponsored by HP) and the goodie-shoe bag given by the organizer of the marathon, StandardChartered Bank.

My BIG run: 4 Dec 2005

In 3 days time, I will be facing my greatest physical challenge ever – a half marathon of 21 km.

As you may know, I have been training for this run for 2 and a half months. In fact, up to last week, I ran at least 3 times a week, each run I will clock at least 10 km.

And guess what… … I am now down with a slight flu!!! Not the full blown flu with running nose, fever and cough, but the itchy sore throat, the half-blocked nose and slight body ache.

I have never been more frustrated!!! All these months of training and my stupid body has to fall ill at this time of the year!!??!! A-R-G-H… ….

Nonetheless, I have decided to participate in the run. I may not be in my top form, but I believe I can still make it. Well… at least I hope that only one part of my body will be running, and that’s my legs. (NOT nose!)

Mind over body. Mind over body. Mind over body. *chant*

With this half marathon, I am looking forward to train for the next year for the full marathon in December 2006. Hrm… that’s if I am still alive after this Sunday!

Ok, my dear friends please wish me all the luck and may I complete the run in less than 3 hours! For those who are in Singapore, you are more than welcome to wait for me at the finishing line with a bottle of champagne!

My run will start at 6.30 am and hopefully, I should be done between 9 am to 9.30 am.

For those who cannot make it, there’s always next year!

p/s: don't worry... at any time during the run if I feel unwell, I will stop. As I've mentioned earlier, there's always next year.

Last Stop: Hanoi

Finally, we have reached the “last episode” of my Vietnam Travel Tales where the last pit stop: Hanoi ended it all.

Hanoi is the 2nd largest city in Vietnam and some said it has more charm than Saigon. Hmmm, I kinda agree with that because Hanoi’s main tourist attraction, “The Old Quarters” is definitely a colorful and fun area to visit. In fact, our hotel is situated right in the heart of the Old Quarters.

As for our hotel, Hoa Linh Hotel is a family-run enterprise and so, it gives a homely kind of feel. Everyone in the family helps out in the hotel, be it cleaning, cooking or basically lazing around in the reception area.

I only paid 30 USD for 2 nights’ stay for a moderately size room, huge toilet but unfortunately, with a view to a garbage site! Nonetheless, I still found it to be good value for money ALTHOUGH I encountered 2 blackouts in 2 days??!! The 1st blackout only lasted for about 30 minutes in the evening, so that wasn’t so bad. However, the 2nd blacked out happened at 2 am while I was still watching TV, and suddenly ZAP! No TV, No lights and NO AIR-CON!

Thinking that the black-out would only last for 30 minutes or so, I decided to just join my snoring Boyfriend… … and sleep. But I woke up again at around 4.30 am to a stuffy room and electricity was yet restored. Feeling irritated from both the heat and having my sleep disturbed, I woke my boyfriend up and was getting dressed to stomp down to the reception area and scream at whoever was on duty.

And guess what, after spending 10 minutes dressing up and combing my hair and was just about to open the door, ZAP! Electricity was up and running again! (Did they have a hidden camera or what??!) ARGH!!!!!!!! PISSED… … so, I woke up for nothing. Boyfriend gave me a goofy grin and hopped right back to sleep and began snoring in less than 2 seconds!

Besides the Big Black-Out, which happened while I was in New York, this twilight black-out episode in Vietnam was the next most eventful. An experience worth describing because in Singapore, black-outs seldom happen!

Another enjoyable experience in Hanoi: eating out. And I mean that literally where you will go to road-side stalls and sit along the roads (while the motor-bikes are honking away), on those little stools and tables (stolen from the near-by kindergartens?) and order wanton mee or Vietnamese pancakes (called Banh Xiao). Never mind that the food did not look very clean but they were absolutely delicious!

The next day, we joined a day tour to visit Halong Bay, a beautiful bay with many little islands. It was like the Guilin in China, but of course, of a smaller scale. You can even choose to stay overnight on one of those Junk boats for a “complete” Halong Bay experience.

That concluded my trip to Vietnam. It was fun and extremely cheap, especially with such cheap fares from Tiger Airlines.

Guess what…? I will be going to Taiwan for 6 days during the last week of December! Yoo Woo! More travel tales to update!

There is a temple in Hue
Next to the Perfume river
People from far and away
Stood before the candles and pray

I came to a temple in Hue
To come and see for myself
Rays of light upon my face
I felt the sun's warmth and life was good again

3rd Stop: Hue

Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam, and it is at Hue where you will see the “mini” version of the Forbidden City. I have not been to the one in Beijing, so I cannot draw any comparison. However, I believe the palace in Beijing must definitely be grander and better preserved. It is sad to say that the government of Vietnam did not put in much funds or effort to preserve Hue’s Forbidden City nor its ancient tombs of the dead emperors.

The highlight of Hue was the Motorcycle tour that we took. Each of us hopped on the backseat of the motorcycle where our guides zipped us through the city and into the villages in the near-by countryside. Along with the villages, we also visited the ancient tombs, as well as some war bunks.

It was a lot of fun! Although during the 1st few minutes on the bike, I was wondering whether I would make it back alive. Our guides were driving like Michael Schumacher in a F1 race… Haha, what an experience!

I definitely highly recommend the motorcycle tours instead of the boat tours along the Perfume River. (You will need a strong heart though!)

Hue was not as charming as Hoi An, in fact, the city had nothing much to offer. So, after two nights in Hue, we packed our bags and flew to Hanoi, our last destination of our trip.

Cyclos anyone? Personally, I'll rather walk. Hoi An is simply too charming and a slow stroll in the old town will definitely brighten your day!

2nd stop: Hoi An

Today I am on MC… with the usual signs of being overworked: sore throat, running nose and headache. Time to take a break and rest at home…

(Yeah right… I will be working from home. Attending a con-call with India in 15 mins time and another con-call with Australia at 2 pm later.)

Anyway, back to my original intention of blogging about my Vietnam trip. I’ll like to share with you, my favourite town of Vietnam: Hoi An.

Hoi An is a sleepy, little town yet full of charm. There isn’t much traffic and it is full of quaint little houses. I enjoyed its idleness and felt like I can finally relax after the hustle and bustle in Saigon.

So, if you are intending to visit Vietnam, please do not miss Hoi An. Although it is situated in the middle of Vietnam, it is certainly a stop you wouldn’t want to miss if you are travelling northbound or southbound.

Boyfriend and I only stayed for 2 nights in Hoi An, and we easily covered the whole town in half a day. However, one can walk through the old town again and again, and marvelled at each new discovery, be it a new shop, a charming café or noisy children by the side of the road.

During our stay in Hoi An, we also made a half day trip to My Son, a historical site in Vietnam where it is also known as “mini Ang Kor Wat”. Sad to say, most of the ruins were not well preserved and some were heavily bombed during the war. Nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable trip and I feel it serves as a “preview” to Ang Kor Wat.

Hoi An is also the place to tailor-make suits, dresses or even the traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai for ladies. You can get high quality silk at a fraction of the price in Singapore. But please, bargain! Or else, you will join the long list of tourists who were being ripped off. Personally, I did not buy any garments or tailor make anything as I was simply too lazy to shop!

After 2 lazy days in Hoi An, we packed our bags again and made our way to another city, Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam.

Why Stinky, Itchy Feet?

Someone asked me why did I change the name of my blog from “Pink is the new black!” to “Stinky, Itchy Feet!”?

Well… firstly, it’s time that I revamp my blog… especially since pink is no longer the new black. Purple is more “in” nowadays. ;) So, gotta get those fashion police off my back!

Secondly, I feel that I should always update and reflect my true self via my blog. So, currently, I am going through a phase: having stinky and itchy feet!

Itchy feet since I have a constant urge to travel… and stinky because… my feet really stink anyway! ;P

There are many shops selling paintings and portraits in Saigon, and I found one near my hotel. The artist looks so young... seems to be in his late teens or early 20s. I like the painting that he is working on... a beautiful woman who has red skin. Or maybe... it's just her make-up. ;)

A breakfast stand just outside our hotel in Saigon. There are many food stalls just like this one. Selling cheap yet delicious food. Try it!

1st stop: Ho chin Minh city a.k.a Saigon

What ever you want to know about Vietnam, you can get that easily from the internet or from any decent guidebook. Personally, I recommend LonelyPlanet as the number 1 guidebook for budget travel to anywhere in the world.

Therefore, I am not going to drill too much about travel tips or places of interest in Vietnam, but I will share my travel hiccups and adventures instead!

Saigon, reminds me of how Singapore would have been during the 1960s to 1970s. Everything had a very retro feel. The shopping malls, shop houses and residential houses looked very much like the old photos of Singapore! That was the 1st impression that I had as I cruised along the highway, from the airport to the heart of Saigon, where our hotel was.

The next thing that hit me: the traffic. Specifically, the honking of the drivers and motor cyclists. These drivers did not seem to use their side mirrors at all?! Everyone horned and bonked every 2 mins on the road because they were either hitting a bend or just wanted to warn the pedestrians who were crossing the roads as if they were strolling in a garden.

After checking in into our tiny room, which we paid 15 USD per night, we set off exploring our neighbourhood. F.Y.I, we stayed in Le Le Hotel, the location was great, service and the staff were warm, however, our room was really, really tiny! For the same price or a little bit more, I believe you can something more value for money.

We had a wonderful dinner at a pricey French restaurant, which I have forgotten the name, but it was recommended in the LonelyPlanet. The food was really good and I had one of the very best foie gras and steak (done in the French style, of course). The restaurant had a colonial setting and everywhere was lighted by candles. Very romantic, indeed.

After the sumptuous (but very expensive) dinner, we decided to walk back to our hotel, which was a good 25 mins away. So, there we were, enjoying our romantic walk when suddenly, a woman, most probably in her 30s, ran towards the wall of the walk way, took off her pants, peed noisily and bared her bottom for the whole world (actually, just the two of us) to see!

I was shocked and disgusted. How could any girl pee in public?! Guys, I can understand since they can get away by peeing standing up. Girls…??!! Hello??!! So, there she was, peeing happily and noisily (she must had a lot to drink).

That is Saigon for you.

The next day, we visited Cu Chi tunnels, the area that was a stronghold for the North Vietnamese, the communists during the Vietnam War. This area was heavily bombed and countless of people died, both Vietnamese and Americans.

Crawling through the tunnels was rather creepy because I knew that just only 30 years ago, young girls and guys crawled through the very same tunnels, with their AK47s and grenades. Some were killed, while some killed others to stay alive.

Our very own guide, a man in his 60s, was a co-pilot during the war! He was fighting against the communists, together with the Americans and had lived and seen the horror of war. Having a war veteran and survivor to guide us through the tunnels, was indeed an experience of a lifetime.

Cu Chi tunnels, the place where thousands of Vietnamese died to fight for their country. It is the symbol of South Vietnam; so do NOT miss it when you visit Saigon!

After exploring Saigon for 2 and a half days, we took a domestic plane to our next destination: Hoi An, my favourite town in Vietnam.

Back from Vietnam

Yup… It has been 13 days since I am back from Vietnam and things have been busy, busy and busy. So swamped with work that I do not have time to blog at all.

Now that I have a breather, I can share with you the 9-days trip in Vietnam. My boyfriend and I traveled from the south of Vietnam, to the north. The order of the cities:

1) Ho Chin Minh City (Saigon)
2) Hoi An
3) Hue
4) Hanoi
5) Ha Long Bay

Haha… if you realized, all the cities start with the letter, H. I will pay tribute to each city in time to come because each city definitely deserves a post of its own.

As an overview, I did enjoy my trip tremendously. It was a backpacking trip, so no luxury hotels, spas or much shopping. The only aspect we did splurge on was FOOD. Yummy Vietnamese and French cuisine! From the roadside stalls to high end restaurants, we tried every local delight we could, and boy, were we delighted!

The Vietnamese are so warm and take so much pride in their country. For instance, one of our local guides sang a song for us during the bus trip, and it was a song about their love for their country, their hero: Mr Ho Chin Minh and about their road to independence. How many Singaporeans would want to sing “Count on me, Singapore” when you have foreign friends around? I’ll reckon not even one, even on our National Day!

Vietnam was once a country torn by war but now, it’s an up-and-coming economic power house. Buildings are budding everywhere and traffic is getting crazy, yet the people are just so friendly… and strong.

Hmmm, will tell you guys more about each city and my trip in details. So, till next time then. ;P