jAnE jAnE’s bLoG

Well, it has really been a long time since my last blog. Decided to write  it down as i think that the story is quite funny…

Beginning of this year, Cindy & I participated in SA Tour Challenge to Japan. First have to cut coupons from Straits Times, then need to drop the coupons into a box during SA’s road show. 10 teams were drawn, our names’ were last to be drawn (so still quite heng!). Each team given 10 questions, eg what does ANA stands for? What is the national attire? What is Japan’s national food? Initially both of us thought that we stand quite a good chance since both of us likes Japan alot. But apparently like is not enuff, we were not in the finals.

In Jul, SA organized another challenge, this time round to Korea. We mobilized some of our friends to cut coupons for us… I remembered the draw was on Sat & both of us went to St James on Fri, reaching home abt 4am. Cindy called me at abt 10am on Sat, while i was still in bed, asking me what time is the draw & i replied "i think it’s 2.30pm". She replied, "not 12.30pm meh? Ok i’ll crawl out of my bed to double chk. Call u later…". She called me 10 mins later, saying "wei, it’s 12.30pm leh… So how? Want to go or not huh?". I said "Ok lor, we go… I pick u @ 11.30am".

On our way there, she was saying "I think there’s a part that we need to dance Rain’s moves & a few Korean phrases will be asked lor?". I replied, "never mind, we anyhow dance & Korean phrases I only know 3. Which’s hello, thank you & i love u. Other than that, don’t know liao". She said "do u think we’ll win huh? We lost the Japan one leh. I think chances for this very slim leh…"  I replied "don’t know leh, anyway we try".

So we dropped our coupons into the box & wait for the draw. While waiting, we were doing some last minute preparation. I was reading on "Lonely Planet" that Cindy had borrowed from the library. Then i saw a lady sitting besides Cindy busying scribbling some information onto her hand. I turned to Cindy, "See what she’s doing… I’ll go bao dou her if she’s one of the five teams. Haha!".

The draw started 5 mins later, the host drawn out of first team "Jane & Cindy!!". Orh! Last time last team, this time first team. Hmm… Not a bad start! Subsequent teams were drawn out, "Jane & Cindy" were drawn out a few more times… The host asked how many coupons we put in… Well, not too many lah. Abt 30+ lor… Thanks to the contribution from our friends. Hee!

Total 10 teams were drawed… Round 1, a Korean guy (from B Boys, don’t know this grp. But realized that this grp is quite popular when i was in Korea) danced a few hip hop moves… We are supposed to dance exactly the same as him. But the moves are not easy, so we anyhow dance. Round 2, Korean guy said 3 Korean phrases, we have to translate into English. 1st one is Hello, 2nd one is Thank You & 3rd one is Nice to Meet You. Wahaha! Not too bad, at least i know 2 out of 3. Round 3, each team was given a bunch of Kim Chi. We have to eat as much as we can in 1 min. One of the team, which consists of 2 ladies, managed to finished all. Whereas the rest finished abt 50-80%. We later discovered in Korea that the 2 ladies really love to eat Kim Chi.

So the points for the 3 rounds are added & the top 5 teams will go to Korea for a small "Amazing Race". The 1st, 2nd & 3rd price will be 5K, 2K & 1K of travel voucher.

Hoho! We were one of the five teams to go to Korea!

Story TBC…

Hey Folks!

Guess What?

I have won a Peugeot 1007!!!

I have participated the "Her World" lucky draw & have won a Peugeot 1007.

I have been saying that i do not have lucky draw luck, but i might need to change the statement now.

This year, i have won a Nivea hamper, also "Her World" lucky draw. And yestheday, i have won a car.

Hmm… 哪下一个我要拿什么奖呢??? WaHaHa!!! 会不会很欠打？

Went to London 1st before proceeding to Swansea for business.

1st impression of UK Heathrow Airport, very old & not much shops in the terminal that i touched down, sianz… There are 4 terminals in Heathrow Airport, but understand from friends that in other terminals, there aren’t much shops either… London underground (aka tube, similar to our MRT) is a truly  unique experience (or nightmare). In some of the stations, you can’t find any escalators. Just imagine you have to carry your luggage up & down the stairs, really xiong! But luckily, i have 2 friends with me. They are studying in UK & made time out to bring me around. Really appreciate it! As we know, the repair work of MRT is usually done after the last train of the day so as not to disrupt the system. But as the labour cost in UK is very high, OT till late nights will be very very expensive. Hence the repair of the underground is usually done on weekends. Don’t ask me why, as to us repair on weekends is impossible since it will affect a lot of people. But this is being done is London. In the stations, there will be notices to notify you on which part of the tracks are being shutdown for repair, hence you either have to detour, take bus or take cab. Here comes the worst nightmare… There are NO aircon in the underground!!! This is due to London underground was built long long ago, it’ll be very expensive to retrofit. Furthermore, the weather in London is usually breezy hence aircon is unnecessary. I was very unlucky to be caught in the hottest period of these few years, hence it was a torture to take the underground. Very hot & stuffy… Soon i realized that there are no aircon for many places in London. FAINT!!! Hence folks, better be sure what is the weather like in London before you make your trip down…

After the 1st day in London, i agree that things in London are really expensive! Irregardless transportation, food, clothes, petrol blah blah blah. My UK counterpart told me that this is due to high taxes. Hence their pay is high (compared to us) to offset this… They hope that they can find a job in Asia but paid with the salary they are getting in UK. Chay! Fat hope!

Basically, i have to agreed that there is indeed nothing much in Swansea & Southampton. Life here is more R&R compared to London. Same as people in US, people here likes to relax in a big field of grass or just sit in an outdoor cafe to spend their day. I believe that this is due to there is nothing much to do hence no choice but to idle around… Opps! 

Necessary places to cover… Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Stonehenge, Greenwich, London Eye.

Wonder when / where is my next trip…

Just been to San Francisco (SFO). 1st time to US, a new experience to me… Nice weather, just like Genting.

1st impression was, alot of Starbucks! Able to see one Starbucks in every street. With this kind of weather, coffee is indeed necessary. No of coffees i had during this week is a record! Hee Hee!

Beggars… Can’t believe that there are so many beggars in SFO. One in every junction. Am i in the correct country? Understand from my colleague that US government provides these beggars shelter & $$$, abt US$500 per mth, to keep them out of the streets. But seems like it’s no working. The reasons for begging is kind of innovative, "for alcohol / for grass / my wife is being kidnapped, i need a quater for the ransom". Ha Ha, will you give them $$$ for being so innovative?

Giving tips in US is compulsory, taking cabs / eating in restaurants / drinking in pubs. 15% of the total bill! I remember i took a cab, abt US$16, i gave US$50. The driver asked "change"? I thought he was asking me if i had small change, hence i shaked my head. Immediately the driver flashed a big smile & started to thanks me. Then i realised that he’s asking me if change is required. I clarified with him & he gave me my change. What a narrow escape! US$34 as tips, NEVER will happen in my life. Another incident, took a cab, abt US$34. I gave US$40 & there’s no change back… So automatic… Hence lesson learnt, it’s always good to have some small notes in pocket.

There’s alot of slopes in SFO, really test ppl’s driving skills. Better think thrice if you choose to walk to the Fisherman’s Wharf!

Alcatraz Island, the infamous prison. Though the distance to the mainland is short, only 1 man managed to swim to the mainland. The rest died in the sea due to the sea’s current, tides & temperature…

Vending machine selling Apple’s stuff (including ipods), Cool! When will we have one in S’pore?

Life in US is indeed R&R. Hmm… When can i also relax in a big field of grass?

1st baseball game in my life. My colleague said that to experience real American, i have to go to a baseball game. Indeed, a gd experience! P.S: Guess What, the big cola is a slide for kids…

Cable car from the city to tourist’s sites. As the railway track is only one way, once it reaches the terminal, the personnal has to turn the cable car around. So traditional…

Really an eye opening trip!