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Monday, July 31, 2006
I earn stupendously little money in Thailand. Greatly underpaid and at times overworked. But this weekend, I realised why I continued staying here. It's for the adventures that I would never get back home, and for which I would have to pay a bomb just to enjoy. While I am still griping abt my income, or the lack of it, I have been compensated at times to justify why I am still here in Phuket and not easying it (as opposed to roughing it) out at home.
Was invited by the tour operator after I sent them some business (my previous group who went white-water rafting with them). so I took along my trusty and equally funloving colleague, Kaye, and the English teacher, Mr. Wes Baxter. Well, the original plan was that the PR Manager, Gem was supposed to go but she decided to go cycling instead so we thought to invite front office trainee from Germany to go but he has an appointment so we invited Mr. Baxter who is English and therefore stoic but happened to be there at the right time so we asked him. He said yeah and so we arranged to meet at 8.30 a.m. on a Sunday.
I have never been treated like a VIP before. These people greeted me by my name almost all the time. They gave me a private boat just for my group, and a private table for lunch. They had food set for 6 pax but there were only 3 of us, and we finished EVERYTHING on the table.
THe rafting took place at Tone Pariwat Wildlife Nature Sanctuary in Phang Nga. It was about an hour and a half to get there by bus. It was raining the whole day so much so that the roads were flooded along the highway. THank goodness our bus was the coach kind so we were high so we kind just splashed along. It was white water without the rafting. Quite an adventure actually. We arrived at the park entrance and had to change to a four-wheel drive vehicle. I had in my mind, when the guide was briefing us about changing vehicles to climb the steep dirt-road into the camp, those jungle safari jeeps in compulsory military green. I kinda imagined an African guy holding a rifle seated next to the driver, both in camouflage khakis, surveying the land as we explore into the jungle. Unfortunately, or well, it wasn't that unfortunate...I just have a very active imagination, the four-wheel drive turned out to be a pickup. With a shelter and benches along the sides at the back. With the great ISUZU branded into the back. NOw I feel like I'm going to the wet market. But hey, the foreigners loved it. But must say the car was impressive. We had to go up slopes at an impossible angle, the ground crunching with rocks and stones, climbing up up up. The view was gorgeous, with a cloud of mist shrouding the taller mountains and as we climbed higher, we got closer to the mist. We looked down into valley farmland, surrounded by steppe plantations (we learnt those in secondary geog!). It's the kind of scenery you come to expect of the Asian countryside. And somehow there is something rather thrilling about having your expectations met. Like knowing abt the pyramids, seeing the pyramids in pictures, going to Egypt expecting to see the pyramids,and finally seeing the pyramids in all its grandiose wonder. It is a very satisfying experience. One problem abt the ride up though, the seats for the pickup were sideways, so when you go up mountain, you tend to go the way of gravity. I was right in the middle of the bench with nothing to hold onto except these handlebars so high up I'll be exposing my underarm smells to everyone in the pickup and beyond. Thought I'll save them the agony and it's really gonna be a sight to have both your arms straight up for the entire ride. So I did the next best thing which is to grip the floor with my toes. Oh yes, I have some pretty powerful toes. But all the toes do is stop me from falling off the pickup as we go up, but it did not stop me from sliding big time into Mr. Wes Baxter next to me. So I was hanging downwards most of the time and rocking back and forth cos of the rocky road. And then there was so much to see, so I had my head whipped back and forth to the views front and back so much so that i was ready to go home after the whole journey up.
Well, good thing I recover fast cos the white water rafting was worth everything and more. Of course it was worth it since I didn't pay anything for it. so it was more than worth it then. The services by the tour company at the camp was impressive. They have lockers in place for you to keep your stuff, they provide towels to dry yourself in case you forgot yours, and they have free flow coffee, tea, water and coke for the entire day. And they were very very very very very polite to me. I felt a bit weird at their special attention. Of course they are very attentive cos I had given them big business earlier and I might bring them more business next time, but I felt a bit....pai seh at all the fuss. Anyway, we had the pre-rafting briefing abt how to hold the paddle, how to secure yourself to the raft (through a cord in the raft where you slip your feet through) and how to hold on to your dear life to stay with th raft (with a tiny piece of rope in the middle of the raft) and how to distribute your weight to make the best progress (6 pax per raft, 1 paddler in front and 1 at the back, 2 heavier ones in front and the 2 lighter ones at the back). The instructor asked anyone besides the kids who are not strong swimmers. I slipped my hand up immediately cos I needed and wanted the attention of my paddlers (whoever they be) so that in case I fall, they have to come for me immediately. And it turned out I was the only one. Great. WEll, nice to know that I'll be going into the river full of strong swimmers then. THey had to split us up, 4 participants each raft but my group had 3 of us so we had to have 1 or 2 more members to join us, but the guide said no, my group will have the raft all to ourselves. WHich is good and bad. Good in that I won't be that embarrassed yelling my hearts out. Bad in that we have a super light raft (yes, be surprised that I'm not that heavy, at least not by white river rafting standards) so we ended up going in 360 degree circles all down the river cos the currents kept spinning us around. and the rafts behind us kept catching up with us and overtaking us cos they were heavier and faster. I think the winner of the group of us was this German couple (I think it's one guy and one girl, or 2 girls...I don't know...cos one of them was tall and huge and FAT and had a deep manly voice but he/she was ambiguously dressed in a leotard-like outfit and had long blond hair.) They were behind us once and they rammed into us down river, knocking Wes off his seat and his paddle crashed into my knee. That was PAINFUL. But the ride was so exhilarating. THe 4 km ride was supposed to take 40 minutes long but I think it ended faster cos we were going so fast with a swollen river after a night-long heavy downpour. We crashed into the water, we rode the currents and we even stopped our screaming to posed for the camera for like 20 seconds along the river. My arms are now aching from all the rowing I did, but seriously, with a river that strong, I didn't think I made an ounce of difference with my frantic rowing. THough must say I did rowing for like 5% of the journey down river since I was busy a) gripping the rope in the middle of the raft for my dear life and b) I was screaming too much to remember rowing. It was soooooooooo exhilarating that when it was over and we saw people climbing out the river, Kaye and I whine and whine about going another round. IT.WAS.GREAT.FUN.
Got back on the pickup aka four-wheel drive and headed back to camp to have a drink before heading to the waterfall. THey were always so polite to us. Even when we were the last to go cos we were still making tea, they said please take your time, we have a private car waiting for you so no worries. Even Wes said it was great travelling with me. Bwahahaha. I do like being buttered up like that, treated like a VIP....who am I kidding, I love bring the PRINCESS... So we had a ride up to the waterfall. It was bloody, ass-freezing cold. It was raining so the weather was cold, we were high in the mountain so it was cold air, we were already wet from the rafting so we were cold, and the water in the river was cold, and the spray from the waterfall was colder, so we were shaking like Ricky Martin's bon-bons just standing at the edge of the river. But hey, nothing ventured nothing gained and we've already made it this far so we heck it and decided to go in. THe initial plunge was intense cold but after a while, your body just settles into that vibration mode so you make do with simple shivering. Attempted to get near the waterfall but the currents was so strong and I couldn't anchor myself so I kept getting swept away. Luckily not closed enough to the edge where I could potentially fall over the next tier into the rocks below. After a while it was like enjoying a freezing cold jacuzzi except that you really cannot stay in one spot to enjoy the jets. Made friends with a couple of Aussies guys who really talked a lot. Headed back to lunch still chatting but they separated us as my group got a private table and they had to join another couple at another table. So sad. And as said, we were so hungry by the activities that we ate enough for 6 people. THe guide even came by and asked if we would like more dishes. I think they took some food out of their staff canteen and gave us a dish. So sweet.
again we ate the slowest. Everyone else had cleared off already for the next activity except my group. Once again. THe nice guide kept telling us to take our time cos we have another pickup waiting. Awww.... we headed to elephant trekking next. Since we were the last to arrive, we only had one elephant waiting. THe biggest one. And it just has to be the naughtiest one. But at least we didn't get the one with the bowel trouble. THough not sure if it's a blessing to NOT be on the bowel-troubled elephant since we were behind it so it was even nastier I think. We saw every thing that came out of that elephant in front of us. It must have unloaded 10 litres of acid cos it was still bubbling when we walked by, and it must have unloaded 50 kg worth of poop, as well as ate 50 kg worth of bamboo. Ours was called Pimpa, she was the biggest of them all. We were towering over the rest in our seats. ANd this one has an agenda of her own. She refuses to move according to the track at times, she stops when she wants to and she kept making noises when the mahout talks to her. The mahout (elephant trainer specific to each elephant) kept talking to it, nagging at it. I think elephant and mahout has a very special bond. It's like mother and child. Child is naughty at times and mum keeps nagging at it. ANd Pimpa is a fussy eater, as we found out. She'll stop by a bamboo growth and she'll search through the branches for the perfect bamboo branch. So she was rifling through and mahout turned to us with a deadpanned face and said "she's a fussy eater. sorry." THe trek was amazing. We trek through the jungle and as mentioned, Pimpa was the tallest of them elephants so we were about 5 metres off the ground, legs dangling and the walk wasn't exactly flat. Thank goodness there were 3 of us so we were a snug fit so I didn't slide abt and risk falling. One part when Pimpa was going down slope (like steep downslope) I was literally dangling in mid-air. Kaye and I were so excited by the whole thing we couldn't stop making thrilling noises. As usual our English teacher was his usual stoic self, managing only a chuckle here and there to express how much fun he was having. Pimpa even crossed the raging river. Our brave brave elephant. Wes took over the mahout's job, riding the elephant on the neck. We were going like "Tarzan and Janes"....At the end of the ride we get to buy bananas for our elephant as a treat. I think the elephants like being around people. They get so excited (I mean besides the food) and I think they like being the center of attention. I mean it's ideal that every animal lives in the wild. But we humans are so pervasive in wherever we go that the faster we get this animals assimilated into our world, the better chances of their survival. So for those who are against using elephants for our own selfish pleasure of riding them, think again. No matter what, the land they are on has to become a source of income for people because human population increases exponentially. So if that income can come from offering rides in their natural habitat, if that money can come from tourism that helps protect their habitats, then isn't it better than we chasing them off to make space for farms and plantations? Anyway, elephants are such gentle and happy creatures. I always feel happy near one. Though w the right sense of awe at such a grand and majestic animal. If only elephants were smaller, I'll keep one to love and care for.
Anyway, after the ride we headed back to camp. The photos for the rafting were ready but we were dead broke. But I met the GM of the company who invited me and she so sweetly offered to give me the photos for free, and in such a lovely frame, better than those the tourists bought. It's so nice being treated like VIP, but I'd better not get used to it. Not for now.
And now I'm aching all over.
Posted at 10:03 am by SiMpLiCiTy
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Saturday, July 29, 2006
It's horrible working with anal retentive people. I shall not name names as I don't want to be liable.
I hate people who complain abt forgetting to dot an 'i' and dot a fullstop. THen make the biggest mistake of their lives with something important like contact details.
I hate people who criticise, (albeit diplomatically cos after all there is another supervisor around and you want to appear to be concerned, not judgemental), about the smallest things in the other office like not replying emails in time (try replying 40 emails a day!!) and then overlook the fact that YOUR office who is under YOUR direct control has made HUGE mistakes resulting in irregularities in the contract agreements with TOP SHOT VVVVVIP companies. If I lose the hotel business, fine, scream shout, abuse me. But don't come and nit-pick on my spelling mistakes, my tardiness in replying emails that take forever, my initiative to inform about the current events in Phuket, and then YOU end up doing a huge boo-boo that could have cost us millions.
Sometimes I wonder what anal pple do. He has so much free time to criticise and nit-pick, but no time to get information on GDP and inflation rates. Even I can find that on the internet in 3 minutes max. And you are supposed to be WAY WAY higher in position than me. Don't think we are all very free, waiting for your next email to give us work to do. If you have time to send an email asking us for the current GDP and inflation rate, you have the time to open up internet explorer and check for it under google.
And I think anal pple spend too much time checking for bits on their ass cos they're always using it. Maybe it's the constant pain of having something inserted in. Pain and pleasure. Maybe that's why they find pleasure in inflicting pain on others. Maybe tat's why this particular guy has a very gay friend...and apparently Mr. Anal stayed in the house of Mr. I-love-Anal-as-that's-the-only-way-I-can-do-it.
ARGH!!!!!!!! He has an opinion on EVERYTHING and he must ALWAYS make his opinions known. Irritating! Good thing nobody likes him much. So it's not just me...
Posted at 09:53 am by SiMpLiCiTy
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Friday, July 28, 2006
Praisie, you should pick your
You know who we're talking about — the person who always has their head on straight, who can sound reasonable even in the most unreasonable of times, and who makes you calmer just by standing in the same room as you. Whether you've known them all your life or recently met them in yoga class, there's just something about this calming companion that made you realize from the very beginning you wanted them in your life.
This highly evolved, kind, caring, and soothing sidekick has a contagiously peaceful presence. Their grounding influence and nurturing heart give you a spiritual boost you don't easily find with others. The two of you share an appreciation for individual expression that makes any time a perfect time to spend together. Ommm!
Di should take this test....
The Wedding Date Predictor
Social Factors | Emotional Factors | Sexual Factors YOU ARE CLOSE to finding "the one!" We have carefully calculated your responses according to our scientific formula and harmonized the results to the Venutian lunar calendar. But don't get your hopes up to hear those wedding bells soon, because your bridesmaid days aren't over just yet. YOU WILL BE MARRIED BY: Saturday, July 31, 2010
A number of different factors influenced your result. Check out the details below.
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| less likely to marry |
more likely to marry |
Social Factors On the social front, you are pretty serious marriage material. As you read this, forces beyond your control are aligning to put you on the altar with Mr. Right. It's you, girl. Your number is up, and someone out there is just dying to pop you the question. There's no need to book a flight to Vegas, but you might want to start thinking about your wedding gown.
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| less likely to marry |
more likely to marry |
Emotional Factors Emotionally, you seem to show some inner hesitations about marriage. C'mon, you didn't think you could hide it from us, did you? You've got what it takes to make the plunge, but you seem to want a little more time. There is something more than the "jitters" at work here. Maybe you just want to enjoy your single status for a little longer. Go for it, Honey, and tell them Tickle says it's OK.
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| less likely to marry |
more likely to marry |
Sexual Factors It appears that you have a number of sexually motivated reasons for avoiding marriage. Perhaps you view relationships as a series of unsolved mysteries, and you are not quite ready to turn in your badge and weapon. It's clear that the carefree single life can pose a strong attraction, but don't forget that the right person changes everything. When the day finally arrives that you're ready to say "case closed", just remember that Tickle told you so.
Posted at 10:52 am by SiMpLiCiTy
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Thursday, July 27, 2006
Good dream but work sucks
Felt so intoxicated by a dream last night. Woke up drunk….maybe it was too intense and I didn't get enough rest and I so wanted to get back to sleep again when the alarm went off. More than usual. Cos I ALWAYS want to go back to sleep after waking up. Maybe the cure to insomnia is to trick your body into thinking it's supposed to wake up for it to crave sleep instantly. You know…Murphy's Law backfiring? You're always the sleepiest when the alarm goes off. Who in the world jumps right up awake after the alarm goes off?Your alarm must be a big pail of ice water right over your head.
Anyway, dreamt that I was a teacher in a school…actually it started really weird. I was going somewhere, to school maybe, where I was assigned to teach. Then I wandered into a very special swimming pool amidst the housing estate in Singapore. It had many layers and pillars, like it was built into the void decks of our typical HDB. The kids were all swimming there and they asked me to join in and I was just wandering around the pool. It was a nice feeling, exploring around. Then later I had to go to class and I realized that those kids I played with were my students. So I was going up to the classroom with my kids. I think Di was with me. Reminiscent of our English-teaching days perhaps. Then apparently they left out 3 gay students and the rest of the class did not want them to join in. Well, just their very discriminating class monitor who was very vocal abt not letting them join in and the rest of the class kinda kept quiet in silent agreement. and I was always one for fairness so I decided to create a great performance for them to perform just so they can show off to the world what they can do and how great they can be so they shouldn't be stigmatized. Anyway, I was showing the kids what they can do and I actually did a flamenco. Then Di said I had to wrong foot in front, that traditionally it should be the other foot in front. I was like, "Did you see how fast I moved those feet regardless of which one was in front?" I never thought I could do that! And the feverish tapping sounds that emanated from the feet!! Wow!! Anyway, we decided to dance to a rocked-up version of their school song. I have the song in my head and it was a nice tune. But I can't remember it now. I think Di and I were funking up the music, making electric guitar sounds and drumbeats. I think it was partly like School of Rock. Of course we had talented musicians in our midst of students who can do up the school song for the dance. And I was also conveniently and logically (who else would I dream of?) engaged to Mr. Jay Chou, and he has a studio and he was delighted to help arrange and produce the music w my kids. I was also planning my wedding to Jay as well. It was a GREAT dream. Then the alarm went off. I set it on snooze and dreamt a little bit more, about the recording part, then the alarm went off again and I woke up feeling so drunk. Sigh….good dream. Too bad I have to work. They should qualify good dreams as an excuse to take sick leave.
Anyway, yesterday had a big meeting with HR to discuss any issues we have regarding work. Well, I have one but I can't exactly say it out. HR manager says to vocalise any suggestions but please do not make complaints. Well, what else is left to say then? My suggestion is please, let my boss do what she has to do, not pass them over when things go bad. She handle things then when it goes bad, when she has to reject them or tell them bad news, she hands them over to me. I have to make the phonecall to apologise. I have to say no to the guest. Sometimes she'll give me an hour briefing just to keep me updated on this issue she was handling and that it has come to a point where she has to tell guest "No, cannot" so she tells me how to tell him. i find that greatly annoying. Why should i explain for her mistakes?
Just feeling a tad blue, thinking abt how much I'm not earning enough to take all this shit. apparently my salary is ludicrous for a foreigner with my language skills and that the hotel is rubbing their hands with glee at how they have cheated me to work for them at slave's cost.
Posted at 09:52 am by SiMpLiCiTy
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Tuesday, July 25, 2006
What's with all these tests, you ask?
It's dangerous to say I have nothing to do at work, cos the boss might be reading in. So I'll say instead that all my work is done. WEll...MOST of my work is safer and more politically correct. Work is never all done is it? And saying that only brings about Murphy's wrath and then more work will descent upon me. so what I do is do personality tests....anything i can get my hands on and more. It's such a cute site with so many different cute and fun tests. What am I to do? I'm a Kermit! By the way, I updated the previous blog many times a day so you'll always find a new test to take and compare with me. I took a short IQ test and apparently I'm an idiot when it comes to Maths. So who's surprised?
| You Are Kermit |
 Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know.
You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems.
Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green.
Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies! |
Posted at 01:31 pm by SiMpLiCiTy
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Friday, July 21, 2006
More tests.....I'm insane
| You Have a Choleric Temperament |
 You are a person of great enthusiasm - easily excited by many things.
Unsatisfied by the ordinary, you are reaching for an epic, extraordinary life.
You want the best. The best life. The best love. The best reputation.
You posses a sharp and keen intellect. Your mind is your primary weapon.
Strong willed, nothing can keep you down. Your energy can break down any wall.
You're an instantly passionate person - and this passion gives you an intoxicating power over others.
At your worst, you are a narcissist. Full of yourself and even proud of your faults.
Stubborn and opinionated, you know what you think is right. End of discussion.
A bit of a misanthrope, you often see others as weak, ignorant, and inferior. |
| You Are 7: The Enthusiast |
You are outgoing and playful - always seeing the happy side to life.
You're enthusiastic and excitable. You love anything new.
Multi-talented, you do many things well... and find success easy.
You prefer to keep things light with others. Opening up is hard for you. |
| On Average, You Would Sell Out For |
$1,052,275 |
| Your Values Profile |
 Loyalty:
You value loyalty highly.
You're completely devoted to your friends and family.
Even if they totally screw up, you're still there for them.
Just make sure they're equally loyal to you!
Honesty:
You don't really value honesty.
You do value getting your way, no matter what.
And if a little lying is required to do that, no problem.
A few white lies never hurt anyone (at least, that's what you tell yourself!)
Generosity:
You value generosity a fair amount.
You are all about giving, as long as there's some give and take.
Supportive and kind, you don't mind helping out a friend in need.
But you know when you've given too much. You have no problem saying "no"!
Humility:
You don't really value humility.
You don't have much to be humble about!
And you might as well promote yourself, because no one else will.
You're a pretty special person, and you let everyone know it.
Tolerance:
You value tolerance highly.
Not only do you enjoy the company of those very different from you...
You do all that you can to seek it out interesting and unique friends.
You think there are many truths in life, and you're open to many of them. |
| Your Summer Ride is a Beetle Convertible |
 Fun, funky, and a little bit euro.
You love your summers to be full of style and sun! |
| Your Five Variable Love Profile |
 Propensity for Monogamy:
Your propensity for monogamy is medium.
In general, you prefer to have only one love interest.
But it's hard for you to stay devoted for too long!
There's too much eye candy to keep you from wandering.
Experience Level:
Your experience level is medium.
You probably have had a couple significant loves.
And you may have even had your heart broken.
But you haven't really dated a wide variety of people.
Dominance:
Your dominance is medium.
You tend to be the one with more power.
You aren't a total control freak in relationships..
But of course you don't mind getting you way!
Cynicism:
Your cynicism is medium.
You'd like to believe in true and everlasting love...
But you've definitely been burned enough to know better.
You're still an optimist, but you also are a realist.
Independence:
Your independence is medium.
In relationships, you need both "me time" and "we time."
You usually find it easy to be part of a couple.
But occasionally you start to feel a little smothered. |
| You Should Be A Gemini |
 What's good about you: witty and energetic, you're simply the most fun to be around
What's bad about you: you're flighty - losing interest in people and projects quickly
In love: you enjoy the "honeymoon phase," but after that it's hard for you to stick around
In friendship, you're: likely to have many groups of friends, with many different interests
Your ideal job: mime, guru, or cartoonist
Your sense of fashion: casual and simple
You like to pig out on: fast food, especially burritos |
| Your Power Color Is Magenta |
 At Your Highest:
You energize yourself and push others to suceed.
At Your Lowest:
You feel frustrated and totally overwhelmed.
In Love:
You are suprised by who you attract. You're a love magnet.
How You're Attractive:
Open and free spirited, people want to explore the world with you.
Your Eternal Question:
"What is my next source of inspiration?" |
| Your Personality Profile |
 You are funky, outdoorsy, and down to earth.
While you may not be a total hippie...
You're definitely one of the most free spirited people around.
You are very impulsive - every day is a new adventure.
However, you do put some thought behind all your actions.
Still, you do tend to shock and offend people from time to time! |
| You Are Jean Grey |
 Although your fate is often unknown, you always seem to survive (even after death).
Your mind is your greatest weapon, literally!
Powers: telepathy and telekinesis, the ability to project thoughts into the mind of others, communication with animals |
| Your Love Style is Eros |
 For you, love is all about the passion!
And chances are, you're currently in love.
You have a strong physical response to love...
And you are great at committing
(As long as the person makes your toes curl!) |
| You Are An ENTP |
The Visionary
You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression.
You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything.
Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off.
You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments.
You would make a great entrpreneur, marketing executive, or actor. |
| You Are Lightning |
 Beautiful yet dangerous
People will stop and watch you when you appear
Even though you're capable of random violence
You are best known for: your power
Your dominant state: performing |
| Your Seduction Style: The Charmer |
 You're a master at intimate conversation and verbal enticement.
You seduce with words, by getting people to open up to you.
By establishing this deep connection quickly, people feel under your power.
And then you've got them exactly where you want them! |
| Your Ideal Pet is a Little Dog |
 You're both high strung, hyper, and cute.
You're one of the few people who can get away with carrying your little dog in a little bag. |
| Your Five Factor Personality Profile |
 Extroversion:
You have high extroversion.
You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends.
You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation.
Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!"
Conscientiousness:
You have high conscientiousness.
Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life.
Most things in your life are organized and planned well.
But you borderline on being a total perfectionist.
Agreeableness:
You have medium agreeableness.
You're generally a friendly and trusting person.
But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism.
You get along well with others, as long as they play fair.
Neuroticism:
You have low neuroticism.
You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.
Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.
Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure.
Openness to experience:
Your openness to new experiences is high.
In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.
You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.
A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything. |
| What Your Soul Really Looks Like |
 You are a wanderer. You constantly long for a new adventure, challenge, or eve a completely different life.
You are not a very grounded person. You prefer dreams to reality. For you, it's all about possibilities.
You believe that people see you as larger than life and important. While this is true, they also think you're a bit full of yourself.
Your near future is a lot like the present, and as far as you're concerned, that's a very good thing.
For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust. |
| You Are Cookie Monster |
 Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth.
You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around.
You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking
How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!" |
| You Are 28% Lady |
 You tend to make up your rules of etiquette, throwing all conventions aside.
And while you try to be a lady (sometimes), your behavior is often quite shocking. |
| Your EQ is 113 |
 50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick!
51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese.
71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely.
91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that.
111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.
131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin.
150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar. |
| Your Birthdate: May 21 |
 You're a restless rebel with an unpredictable nature.
Bright but unbridled, you tend to seek out wild experiences over new ideas.
People are frustrated by your great potential, but you love your unconventional life.
You're a heartbreaker. People get attached to you, and then you're gone.
Your strength: Your thirst for adventure
Your weakness: Not taking time for slow pleasures
Your power color: Hot pink
Your power symbol: Figure eight
Your power month: March |
Posted at 09:55 am by SiMpLiCiTy
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Thursday, July 20, 2006
Never judge a book by its cover
Ppppp...hhhh...eeee.....wwww.....
That is one big sigh of relief. Finally the group is gone. I've had my 2 days off to recuperate and refresh....
Must say though, that there is always a blessing lurking somewhere where you cannot see, cannot expect and cannot fathom how on earth could that have happened.
I really have to thank God for being everything and so much more to me.
I expected a lot more trouble from this group. Yes, they are disorganised and they gave me a huge headache. But at least they didn't complain in other areas. Like the rooms...thought maybe they would complain and give troubles abt putting some of them in king-sized beds cos twin beds were not enough. No complaints at all. Thought they might complain abt the location of the rooms, no complaints at all. And despite warnings about I****ns being very picky people when it comes to money matters....yes, this guy gave me a nosebleed when we were first negotiating the price, but at the end when he has to pay the bill, he just signed everything. Of course I had the book in order cos I thought he might be VERY picky abt the bill, but he just took a look at it, and if he used it he will pay. no more bargaining. Wow. Thank God.
And best of all, they were all so sweet upon check-out. Said they would love to come back, sorry for all the troubles etc...and then I got the biggest tip I could ever imagine. I got USD 400 from this guy....he gave the entire team USD 1600 but he said to split it 4 ways, my banquet manager gets one portion, i get one, the rest split as deem fit. Wow...but I know hotel policy. All tips must be shared. But still....I know money isn't everything but the compliments it can bring!! Now I feel justified. :)
Posted at 09:52 am by SiMpLiCiTy
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Saturday, July 15, 2006
I'm not sure if this happens to you, but when I hear a certain album, I'm reminded of certain chapters in my life.
Like now whenever I hear raggae, I think of Korea. now before you do a double take and ask "Korea???", it's cos it was the album in my CD player when I took a trip to Korea many years back. It was the album by Christafari. and I remember how embarrassed I was when the group tour leader ask me for my discman and then proceeded to take out the disc and put it on the main speaker on the coach we were on without telling me that was what he was going to do. Imagine the horror of the passengers when they woke up from their peaceful slumber to slurs of tropical raggae right in the middle of the Korean winterland.
Anyway, this morning I dug up an old album of Jay Chou's (yes, i'm still pining for him....I pine and I whine and I wish he would bloody come find me and marry me.) It was the album with that weird "Orange mandarin flower thingy name". If it was up to me to do the translation, it will be "seven miles fragrance." qi li xiang.
Oh yes...memories. It was the album I got when I first came to Phuket. It took me back to a place back in time where I was innocent and naive and still new to the big big world out there. I miss my friend, Dian, who was with me through thick and thin over there. Even though we grew independent as time passed and when work separated us, I miss those earlier days when we were inseparable. We were both bewildered and exhilarated at the life back then. Our room in the car-park next to the housekeeping exec with the aircon which we only got to enjoy for 2 months. I remember planning for our lessons there, sitting in the barber chair snacking away while discussing what to do for lessons next day. Watching the volleyball action from our bedroom. Gossiping abt guys. Listening to Jay Chou in that room. Walking to class, running from snakes, doing catwalks at the back of the house, playing volleyball and badminton, watching the mist shroud the mountains at the back-view of our room....I rambling but I'm suddenly so nostalgic.
I really miss Dian. I'm now here in Phuket alone. I miss this friend who took care of me through my sickness and all. Me dislocating a toe at the poolside (that was embarassing), my food poisoning episodes, my operation...I miss the friend with whom I work through the day and night during the tsunami, when our family and friends were panicking for us, we only had each other and if anything had happen to either of us during the tsunami, it would have been unbearable to go on. When i was sitting at the mountain, I was so worried for her, kept calling her but kept getting the line was always busy as the network was jammed. In the end, I couldn't take being away alone and not knowing that if anything happens, how will I find her, my only connection to home. If anything happens,I would rather be with my friend so we can face everything together. But now we are all grown up and we have to close one chapter to start the next.
Amazing what music can do to stir up memories.
Posted at 11:04 am by SiMpLiCiTy
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Friday, July 14, 2006
Crowd control, or rather the lack of it. Not to be disrespectful or what, it's just something I noticed, or at least with the group I currently have on hand (yes, the I****n group)I realise that computer people have no skills in organising people. I'm sure their outlook express is fantastically neat with logical folders and subfolders, I'm sure their blackberry keeps them updated right to the seconds, I'm sure they can use their excel to tabulate how many stars there are in the sky at a random time, but they sure suck with handling people.
Upon the group's arrival, I found out that in actual fact there are like 10 people in the working committee, all of whom except one (the idiot) i have never met and suddenly I have to re-tell my story and plan all the activities with these people. Great....but luckily I'm good with people (chey-ba) and I tried my very very very best to accommodate them...but really...first of all, they can't even confirm who is coming and who isn't. Secondly, they have no idea what time flight they are coming until the morning itself and then it becomes a game of catch who you can at the airport and send them here...then see if you sent them to the right hotel. Great....so I had my arms and legs full trying to accommodate their guest. They suck at getting information from their pple and getting datelines met in submitting namelist and flight details.
Fine. Now it's been 2 days so now everyone is settling in fine.
NOT.
First night they checked in, their organiser actually planned dinner for them. BUt guess what, they didn't put it in their agenda so pple started going out and having dinner everywhere except where it's paid for already. I was shocked to find an empty restaurant waiting for guests. Thank goodness they are paying anyway. If not I'll have hell from my FB.
Second night, they had a dinner party at another hotel, all paid for and all arranged for. We spent years on the menu (if you remembered my whinings) and guess what, his guests actually booked tickets to go see a show in town, skipping the dinner entirely. Talk about crowd control! You can't even get your participants to go for dinner.
Then tonight they have a party with us at the hotel. We changed meeting time from 6.30 p.m to 7 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to whoever comes, come. At 8 p.m. they were still hanging around the lobby talking and checking their computer.What is it abt their laptops that they cannot leave for a few minutes?? So there goes our plans, our welcome dance, our big surprise and our programme. And they have no emcee among their pple so the whole program is like...er...ok...what now? And they don't listen. They have people making announcement up on stage and they are pleading their hearts out to be heard but no one is bothering. THe poor girl is up on the stage going 'excuse me, excuse me' and then one table is loudly cheering away (you know our chinese dinner "yam seng!!!") and then another table starts and the poor girl was like blabbering what her announcement was. (It was abt white-water rafting and I think I can forget abt pple turning up on time tomorrow since no one could hear the time)
I have been in several group committee and I know how important it is to get your pple to move to your agenda. I'll flip if I found out my participants are booking taxis on their own to go out to town when I planned everything for them at the hotel. I can't believe they bought their own package tours to go to the islands when white-water rafting is provided for tomorrow. Don't these pple know?? Don't they inform their participants what activities they are organising??
And don't mention teambuilding yesterday. My poor guest activities manager almost screamed her guts out giving instructions to the pple abt the games(like telematch with beach volleyball and kayaking), only to have them ask if they can play tennis and jet-skiing. THanks. For all that crap when we took so long to plan for you. And then....the silly organisers did not tell us they have senior citizens mostly....why in the first place did they agree to kayaking as part of teambuilding????!! WHY???? All the wheezing and panting at the end. Thank God we didn't have to make reservation for the Bangkok Phuket Hospital.
Sigh...it's an eye-opener. I think i've stopped complaining once I've accepted the fact that these organisers suck. It's not me. It's them. Please...take my advice. Please hire an event organiser if you are a computer company planning a meeting. They are paid to take headaches like you. THere's really nothing I can do. I think they are made that way.
Now I know why they sway their heads the way they do. WHen you meet one, you take a look at them, heave a deep sigh and swaaaayyyy.
Posted at 10:41 pm by SiMpLiCiTy
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Monday, July 10, 2006
Sigh...just realise I am really wasting a lot of energy on things I cannot change. So the organiser is an idiot. Now that everyone knows abt that, I should breathe easier cos anything that goes wrong is not my fault because I have done my best to prevent it but I am only human and limited to what I can do. I just feel bad for my team cos they are the ones receiving my instructions and I cannot give them until the last minute (because of certain brainless people) and they have to rush things through at the last minute. Maybe that's why i'm so pissed off with that idiot. He does not think abt others at all, just about himself and what he wants. Just a list of what idoitic things he has done just so I'll feel better this Monday morning (after Les Bleus lost the World Cup)
- He told us to plan for teambuilding activities on saturday 15 July but 2 days ago he sent the latest agenda which he printed to all his delegates that teambuilding is on 13th July. It's not easy to shift the entire logistics to 2 days earlier for a group of at least 150 pax.
- He is checking in today but he sent the namelist 2 days ago. Group is at least 160 pax and we have to quick assign rooms in the space of a few hours.
- then he changed the rooming list so everyone has a different rooming partner so we have to find the original reservation, match it with the name and find who to replace and where.
- He wants 1 minute check-ins for his group but he did not give complete passport number so guest has to spend time filling it in. Too bad idiot.
- Then he provided the passport number in a separate excel sheet but not in chronological order with the rooming list so he must be insane to expect us to search the names one by one for 150 people to insert the passport number.
- He told me he needed extra 20 rooms to put in his excess guests but despite me chasing him for exact number for a week, he only gave me the numbers 2 days ago. I had to confirm the 20 rooms with another hotel and in the end it ended up a WAY smaller number so someone's gonna scream at me for booking so many rooms.
- He does not read page 2 of the menus so he keeps sending me 10 emails a day starting from 2 weeks ago saying not enough vegetarian food dishes when it's all in the second page. (tu es fou!)
- Now he wants me to rent 2 printers and a copy machine. I gave him the price (if you go through the hotel, you pay the service charge to the hotel for our services.) and he complain too high (stingy asshole) and has not confirmed with me yet and he is coming in today. Bon chance, monsieur.
- He told he has 180 pax coming so we set up the entire meeting room to put 180 pax. Not easy to shift chairs and tables for 180 pax and then now it's only 150 so I have to make the team re-arrange the meeting room AGAIN.
- THE FACT THAT HE CONFIRMS EVERYTHING SO BLOODY LATE THAT EVEN IF WE CAN DO IT, WE CAN'T DO IT WELL AND IT'S IRRITATING TO DAMAGE MY REPUTATION LIKE THAT.
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Next piece of news. Was at Oceans department store yesterday when I met my old qik, Chai. The guy I was head over heels when i first came to Phuket. We saw each other and we chatted a bit and I realised one thing. I am over my crush on him. And I feel so sad over that. Nothing is the same, EVERYTHING CHANGES and I realise IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE GIRL, to fall in love, to fall in love. so I PRAY that I'll NEVER FORGET that LOVE AIN'T HERE ANYMORE, BABE, and maybe I should come BACK FOR GOOD.
**Sorry there,was in for a little Take That crap.
anyway, yeah...I think I stop expecting anything when I see him. It's over. It's a relief and it's sad at the same time. Now one more crush to get over. If i can get over this, i think I will be truly happy with my boyfriend.
Posted at 11:04 am by SiMpLiCiTy
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"Know Thyself, O divine lineage in mortal guise!" ~ Marsilo Ficino"One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing." ~ Socrates
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