Macau 1 August 2011

My Macau Hong Kong trip start very early in the morning. Our flight was 6.30am thus by 5.20 we already in the airport. Was a surprise that we met Choi Ling who is on the way to China for work....

Upon check in, we rush our way to boarding gate where we were ask to board the plane immediately. Blame all on the baggage check in that take ages.....I still don't understand what the point of doing self-check in when the drop off baggage take forever to settle!!!

Flight was delay due to some technical problem. Saw engineering jumping in and out from the plane and we finally take off 30 minutes later. Despite late depature, we arrive on time in Macau airport. By the way, I had my breakfast of Nasi Darca with Ayam Percik served with cincau drink and pineapple tart on the flight. It cost RM 13 only. Sadly, I am so excited that I forgot to snap photo!!!

Upon arrival, we take taxi to Emperor Hotel where we gonna stay a night there. As the room is not ready, we leave our luggage at lobby and we walk our way to Senado Square passing by Grand Lisbao casino.

The weather is really killing....We sweat like pig and our shirt is wet.

From Senado Square we explore the small township where there is a lot of tourism spot within walking distance. There is also a lot of shop selling souvenir and egg tart. However, be prepare to pay extra as the item there is selling at premium price.

We saw few landmark along the way and one landmark that we cant miss is the Ruin of St Paul. A must visit place in Macau.

As the weather is killing us, we faster explore our way to have a cooling treat....the famous 'kuai leng kou'....sort of herbal jelly....It was a refreshing retreat for all of us..

We then make our way to cafe e nata.....famous for its pastries and egg tart. The problem is we don't know our way....People in Macau is never friendly. We have problem communicate with them as their cantonese is different and they dun understand English. The street name are all in Portugese but they refer it to cantonese....So it was damm messy asking direction in Macau....

We ended up asking few people before we explore our own way to Cafe e nata. We then set down at cafe beside for the wantan noodles. Well the wantan noodle is just so so but credit have to be given to the prawn dumpling. The egg tart from cafe e nata also known as Margerate cafe is really good but their service suck big time....sorry to say that but the worker scold foreigner non stop....Thank god I am not scolded...

We then check into our hotel as it was already 2.30 and we have ourselves clean up for the rest of the day.

3pm we march our way to Lisbao hotel again to take bus to Taipa village. We stop by at Rua de Cunha a street famous for its cookies. We pass by a long queue of people buying cookies but we are too busy to bother as our attention is to find the famous pork chop bun.

Tai Kei Loi Kei Cafe, famous for its pork chop bun located a street after Rua de Cunha. There wasnt a long queue as what I hear and see from most blog but the place is consider crowded for 3.30pm. We order 2 pork chop bun and the so call famous curry fishball. Verdict : Over-rated. Do visit our food blog HarkauSiewmai for all the food we have in Macau and HK.

After a brief lunch, we walk our way passing by Galaxy toward the Venetian. Taipa look so much different from Macau Island. The casino here look grand and big. The place here are not as congested as the Macau city and landscaping was well maintained here.


We walk around Venetian shopping complex and then proceed to City of Dream.....From City of dream we take the shuttle bus to Galaxy. We call this casino hopping. Our mission is to collect the special designed mineral water bottle.

From Galazy we take the shuttle bus to Starworld. Then we walk our way to Wynn where the magnificient gold tree with 12 chinese zodiak performance take place. We also watch the water fountain show before we proceed to MGM. Our last stop is Grand Lisbao casino. The grand lisbao building look like a golden flower blossom in the middle of the city.



So here is our collection of the bottles - 7 bottles each from Venetian, Galaxy, StarWorld, City of Dream, MGM, Wynn and Grand Lisbao...

Never give up

Today i go to temple for prayer since it was 15th of the lunar calendar...

I went and light the joss stick and candle and went around the temple to pray. After placing all the joss stick, i pick up the gold paper and give a last chanting before i proceed to burn it away.

Out of sudden the rain started to pour and it was so heavy that everyone got half wet although we are under the roof. The wind is blowing so strong and all the candles are become lifeless...Except one!

Then the rain become less heavy after 10 minutes and I proceed to burn the gold paper. Again the rain pour non stop and I run to the small area with roof while waiting for the rain to stop. I take the time to admire the decoration and the statue around the temple but one things that caught my eye is the one and only candle that survive the rain and stormy wind.



Well....after few second of observation, i realise the candle was place at good spot and good timing. Maybe this is call luck. Maybe it was also indication of survival of the fittest. No just that it was alive, the fire was burning stronger than the wind and the water. It was so clear that water still dripping onto the candle but the fire is still strong....

maybe in life, we should be like the candle....face the challenge strongly....

Well....i stuck in the rain.....but i learn a lesson.....

I am back on track....

I had started my new job....

Frankly I am dragging my death body to work after my Hong Kong trip....My nose is bleeding inside and the dried blood inside my nose is so itchy......

Barely 10 days after my last day of work....here I goes, in a company I have once have no confident in....Well....at least not now...

Within the past 10 days I have learn a lot....My Hong Kong trip open my eye to look for wider option.....that life is not easy as what we dream off...

I am getting my feet on the ground again....I can feel it is touching the ground but I am yet to walk on the ground....So many things had happen this few months and things just wasnt smooth.....but i know, it would get smoother soon...

Well....at least i know that I am working hard to get back on track....



Be prepare for my long posting on my trip soon.......Until then....have a nice dream....because with dream, u will have something to chase for...

My Journey with SETIA

November 2nd, 2008, was the start of a new chapter in my diary. I walk in proud into SP Setia Corporate tower as a permanent staff.

I had never blog about my work life as much as what I have done for my previous employment. I salute my ability to keep my working life and information confidential for almost 3 years.

The journey with Setia had never been easy but it was never a boring life. Live up to the famous S P SETIA tagline of Live,Learn,Work,Play, my life can be totally summarized in that 4 words

Along the journey, I knew lot of great friend who in deed a true friend. How many of us can really find a true friend at work? Not much, I guess…

Working in SETIA is like living in big family, the Team Setia. No doubt there will be masked human around, but life continue for the sake of earning enough for 3 meals a day. What more if one of the meal is provided free.

Learning can never be an ending in SETIA. Where else can you learn dancing, singing, art work, sewing and learn doing teh tarik for free….Well, at least that is something I learn beside from my zillion of valuable work knowledge I gain….

Work life is always tough. Being an auditor, I face multiple challenges. However, I overcome each and every difficulty in strong move. We are in line with transformation of property market and to add value to the organization.

Playing hard has been part of life. Well, we did play hard after working hour dude…Badminton? SSRC activities?

I couldn't’t stop thinking of the day I was dress up in Sari for deeparaya 2009 luncheon. How could I ever forgot that I almost been crowned the Teh Tarik Idol 2010 and the fun we have practicing for annual dinner 2010 dance competition. Every minute we spend on doing props for annual dinner and doing charity work is a treasure in my life now. Badminton and running is now part of my life and blood…opps..sound so dramatic..

Well, maybe in Setia I was known with a lot of name but one name that still and remain catchy would be Eddiela, the mermaid. Well, in my life, I never been followed by so many paparazzi and cameraman. My 2 hours of ‘sex confuse’ status have put me in limelight not just the whole night but I think for years….

Outstation audit was always something fun for me. How could I ever erase my mind on our Vietnam ‘home visit’…From beef to hindu temple….From Ben Thanh Market to Diamond Plaza….From funeral to accident….From wedding photoshoot to polish shoe boy….All this is part of memory….I believe the 2 others guys understand what I am saying.

I remember my first outstation audit to Penang. It was such a great time. We end up to Kek Lok Si and have the asam laksa beside the pasar. Well, sweet compliment the bitter, we end up getting scolded and work till our ass off till midnight. To be frank, I still don’t understand what mistake we have done that we end up working till late night. Anyway, it does not even appear in our report!!! How could I ever even forgot about the stupid rusty drain cover, the frog eggs and pesticide. Well, I know GIA staff will smile when read this….A real joke in my career with S P Setia.

How could I ever forget my first site visit to construction area. Been labeled as ‘City boy’ by then because my legs end up into a pool of muddy water!

One things that I cannot forgot when I talk about Johor, would be how much suffering I had in Johor audit. I remember I was been ask to hang myself with white cloth or even jump into the pool of water. Haha….thank god I am still alive. But I still can’t forget the lesson I learn from hugging a tree.

One of the worst experience would be rawang audit…Well, not the people or work that make me hate it so much but it was the food… 2 of my colleague had labeled it as prison food and for the very first time in my life, I opt for vegetarian food for 2 continuous week.

Today is most probably the emotional day I had in Setia. My tears almost drop bidding goodbye to good friends and wonderful colleague I had. S P Setia is a good company, well so good that they become the best employer in asia pacific beating multinational corporation. Well, maybe is not my fate to work for such a great company. I am just not good enough for them…..well, maybe…..

In and out of the company is part and parcel of human resource of a company. Well, maybe is my turn this round…But for sure, I remember and will treasure every single moment whether sweet or sour in S P Setia Berhad.

Life continue….and I am closing yet another chapter of my life and every full stop, there will be a new beginning…..Lets look ahead, as future will be brighter…

Bye bye Setia….

Finally the white envelope appear

Quote 1 - Anonymous (13 July 2009) - "You so loyal....I think you will stay there forever"

Quote 2 - Collueague (27 August 2010) - "I think I tender dy, you will still here lo...

Quote 3 - Anonymous (9 January 2011) - "How long you can 忍?.....You no longer the Eddie that I know"

Quote 4 - Anonymous (1 April 2011) - "You still young, why would you want to mereput in the company"

Quote 5 - Anonymous (11 May 2011) - "Nah.....you must be joking because you love the company so much..."

Quote 6 - Anonymous (13 July 2011) - "When one door close, thousand doors will open..."


Well, all this are some of the words that people had told me when ever I want to tender my resignation for my current company.

15 July 2011, 10.10am - Group Internal Audit Department saw yet another staff tendering his resignation letter. This round it was a young guy holding the most junior position in the department, Mr Eddie Lim. He had render his service with the group for 2 years and 9 months and have undergo various audit in the group. His job scope include assisting in audit planning, perform audit fieldwork and reporting of audit finding to the management.

15 July 2011, 12.30noon - Group Human Resources accepted the resignation. ESOS is been freezed. Final calculation of annual leaves - 13 days.

15 July 2011, 1.00pm - Department celebrate the resignation with advance farewell party at Pizza Hut. Farewell speech, the tradition of GIA was delivered.

15 July 2011, 3.30pm - It was confirm that the last day would be 26 July 2011.

21 July 2011, 1.00pm - Farewell party with finance department and corporate affair.

22 July 2011, 1.00pm - Farewell party with human resources department

22 July 2011, 5.30pm - My future destination have been confirmed. Rejection done to certain company. Letter of offer signed for my future company. 8 August 2011 would be the first working day

************************************************************************************

The phobia of white envelope is finally been overcome. It have been a long time that I have consider to make a move but it was recently that I take the neccessary action. My action would be classified as emotional move to someone. Well, I do not deny it was emotional nor do I agreed that I make the decision after a certain tragedy.

In a company, the biggest assets and resources would be human capital. This is why all company would have human resources department. Winning awards and good branding would not bring success to the company but it was the staff commitment and the integrity of the staff who work hard to bring the company to what it was today. No doubt managing staffs is not an easy job. Thus staff come in and going out is norm in the company.

Well, if a staff feel that he / she is not happy with the current position, is either he/she find a better place to go or try to make the workplace a better place to work on.

Well, decision make.....
what i can do now is....

I wish the company continous growth and success.....

Blur case

This few days my mind is totally not attached with my soul.....I feel like i am soul'less that I keep on forget things and I am very blur...

Blur case 1:
Bring laptop to lunch and never take down from car. Realise it when arrive back office....Then the same night put the laptop at passenger seat while I park my car at shopping complex. When I complete my gym, I still do not realise my laptop is in the car. Back home, park my car and straight back to sleep......I only realise the laptop in the car when I arrive office!!!!

Blur case 2:
Walk to my car and unlock my car using the car remote key. Hear the sound that it was open thus I put my hand on the door handle and open....Open and open still cannot open....So i unlock the car using the remote key again. Hear the sound...OMG, my car still a distance away....Blush....2 gals standing beside me and smile "Sorry this is my car"........

Malunya

Tribute to Teresa Teng

Last week I attended the Moon Speak for my Heart musical in KLPac during my company corporate night.

Of sudden, I am addicted to Teresa Teng's song again.....

As what people say "All chinese will have listen to Teresa Teng".....Chinese out there, if you dunno who is Teresa Teng....Here is the tribute

Teresa Teng (Wikipedia)

and many many of his nice song

Tian Mi Mi

Goodbye my love

Moon represent my heart

Small town story

Thanks for remembering me

Lover (japanese version)

Yua Lai Xiang

No one can replace her until now...She is really legend....Tonight I have a nostalgic night listening to his song

Winning without winning

Have you guys come across lucky draw prizes that you received it but you cant use it?

Well, this can be quite true if you get voucher such as hotel stay, air ticket, cruise coupon, food voucher and so on....

Normally this kind of voucher come with thousand and one clauses and term such as you can only use it during non peak period, non transferable, can't exchange to cash and so on. So by the end of all the clause, there might even be hidden clauses that you had never come across. What about the clause on 'the organiser can change or terminate the coupon without prior notice'.....

Scary huh....

So when you get the lucky draw which you consider yourself as lucky, now you have to re-strategies on how to redeem the stupid lucky draw especially if it was travel coupon or free hotel stay that come with clause of non peak season and limited to current 2 months. OMG...how to arrange trip in such a short period and involve lot of working leaves?

So by the end........you incur more worries....more time to re-think.....and most people will end up let go the lucky draw voucher they win....

Well, that life...hehe.....is just winning something as if you never win it....

So lesson learn: Lucky draw that give out vouchers are not generous. They just want to do free publicity....Hehehe....Am I right?

Tegal Sari

Are you a fan of 'Eat Pray Love' movie?

Do you know where was the place the scene in Bali was filmed?

During my holiday in Bali, I get to stay in Ubud, the place where movie 'Eat Pray Love' was filmed. The movie was filmed in Green Field Hotel while I was just staying a door beside.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me bring you to the best hotel I ever stay in Bali....Tegal Sari.

Surrounded by lush green paddy field, patron greet every morning with fresh air and green view of paddy field. From time to time, you can hear bird chirping from the tree trunk. A morning walk along the paddy field will bring you to more exotic flora such and huge lotus.


You will be welcome with a refreshing lemonade with pandan leave drink. It was so refreshing that the super duper heat of Bali was just wash away in seconds!!! While waiting for the check in and resort tour, our camera just cant stop taking photos!!!

Swimming pool overlooking paddy field and open gym is also available. The staff is so friendly that I have to rate them as 'OVER FRIENDLY'. Just take out your camera and they will rush to you and offer you to help we guys take photo.

I make a booking 6 months earlier and I was left with only 2 room which was available. This is how famous the hotel are. Only 24 rooms available and about 14 of them are facing the paddy field.

Since we have 7 people and 2 room left, we have no choice but to squeeze ourselves into room of 3 and room of 4. Mind you that I have to put extra bed for both room due to the shortage of room.

If you are asking me why do I keep on changing hotel during my Bali trip, well the culprit is Tegal Sari Hotel. I plan to stay 2 nights here but despite my early booking, they only left with the 2 rooms I specifies just now.

We have one 'Wooden' Room with personal garden. The room was for 3 but we squeeze in 4 person with additional bed.







Another room is for the gals. It was a superior room for 2 and one extra bed also overlooking garden with some paddy field view. Sorry forgot to snap photo of the room. :-(


As we check in early, we were brought to visit some of the room such as the superior deluxe, the most expensive room available. From the bed that you lie down, you can see a view of 180 degree of green paddy field. It also come with jacuzzi over looking the paddy field.




I strongly have no regret spending more for this hotel as it was one of the most memorable place I ever stay in Bali.

Enough for grand mother story here, enjoy the photo that won't cheat you!!!! No editing involve. No photoshop involve.....

The sweetest family potrait we capture in Bali