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31 May 2008 - Sat [Load Images from 31 May 2008 - Sat]
This is our dinner @ 故乡
30 May 2008 - Fri [Load Images from 30 May 2008 - Fri]
Home - 0241 hrs
Junbin helped to identify a few places in Melbourne. He said that it's advisable to take a day tour to Phillip Island instead of using a rented car coz the penguins only come out @ night. Those party animals! Driving in Melbourne also requires basic knowledge of the 'hook' turn.
Home - 0240 hrs
Everyting seems to fall into place perfectly. As if God's invisible hands were working overtime. Auntie Soo Loi came w lots of good food air flown from Penang. Mummy counted 4 packets of Fried Kway Teow and 2 packets of Penang Laksa. After dropping them @ Springbloom, Mummy & I were wondering what to do w so much food. As if on cue, Junbin called and asked me out for supper. He came over and it was surreal being @ Bukit Timah eating Penang food cooked in Penang.
Senai Airport - 2155 hrs
Came here w Mummy to pick Uncle Poh Teong & family up. Tok the opportunity to take a walk in the airport. It looks just like a mall. But not a single car rental company has set up shop here. I wonder why. Looking forward to the Fried Kway Teow that Auntie Soo Loi will be bringing from Penang.
M1, West Mall - 1720 hrs
Came here coz Ling neede a new phone. Checked out the Motorola Q9H myself. Quite disappointed that Windows Mobile still doesn't support Chinese Input and the Q9H has touch buttons.
14A - 1035 hrs
Will be going to Senai Airport to pick Uncle Poh Teong, Auntie Soo Loi, Kang Qing & Kang Wei tonight. The good news is Auntie Soo Loi will be coming over w Fried Kway Teow. It'll also be my first trip after the petrol ban on Singapore cars was announced. Just this morning, one of the Malaysian ministers said that the petrol ban in JB will start on 9 June instead of 2 June. That means I'll still fill up in JB tonight.
14A - 1016 hrs
Watched a show on Krav Maga last night on the History Channel. Krav Maga is an Israeli self-defence technique. History Channel sent 2 guys to undergo training there. They learnt how to react when someone points a gun at you and how to defend yourself when multiple people attack you with weapons @ the same time. You wouldn't want to mess around with the chief instructor. He looks 50+ but moves faster than a snake.
14A - 1015 hrs - Ling is back
Ling came back last night. She was visibly happy as she related her trip to Kulai to me. Original plan was to bring her out to eat food. But we were too lazy and decided to stay home. Ling cleared the remaining bugs in her Excel VBA Leave Management program.
29 May 2008 - Thu [Load Images from 29 May 2008 - Thu]
Tanglin Mall - 0920 hrs
Just finished my dental appointment. Dr Khoo didn't say anything much other than that my teeth are good. Rewarded myself w a McGriddles w Egg meal. But after eating it, I think I'll stick to Big Breakfast next time.
Office - 0750 hrs
I'm going to the dentist now and I dread the scaling coz I'm alergic to pain.
28 May 2008 - Wed [Load Images from 28 May 2008 - Wed]
Office - 0855 hrs
Feeling a bit lonely now. The internet and freedom that we are all enjoying has made everyone an individual. The ironic result is that with so many choices, everyone has their own unique hobbies. Even for a simple activity like KTV and drinking, different have different preferences in which to enjoy it. In the 80s and early 90s, everyone went to Zouk because it's the ONLY place in town to go to. Everyone went to Orchard Road because it's the only happening place. There was no internet so everyone basically watched the same shows @ night. As a result, there were many more common avenues where people can engage in conversations. The deluge of choices that was hugely boosted by the internet has made me lonelier.
Office - 0826 hrs
Thankfully, it's not so humid this morning. I actually felt cool after taking a bath @ Fitness First.
26 May 2008 - Mon [Load Images from 26 May 2008 - Mon]
This is what I see when I cue the ball
This is what Cue Room looks like
Office - 1805 hrs
Called Stephen and he confirmed the good news. Bi Shan has given birth to a healthy baby girl.
Raffles Place - 1735 hrs
Played Pool w Kihn during lunch. Today is the only day in which he is free. Was very happy that Ling brought the curry and porridge all the way from home. Really appreciated it a lot. I think this is worth more than a million repetitions of 'I Love You' or a million candlelight dinners.
Fitness First - 0810 hrs
Traffic was perfect this morning. It's no surprise. Today is the first day of the school holidays. No jam @ Raffles Girls Primary School & SCGS as my Kelisa sped towards office.
25 May 2008 - Sun [Load Images from 25 May 2008 - Sun]
Brought my HDD instead of my phone out in the morning
24 May 2008 - Sat [Load Images from 24 May 2008 - Sat]
Office - 1606 hrs
Mummy & Ling are shopping @ People's Park. As always, I choose to stay in office. Just started working on Ling's Rubik Cube. Fished out old instructions on how to make the 6 colours. I think I'll try to do that.
23 May 2008 - Fri [Load Images from 23 May 2008 - Fri]
Office - 1505 hrs
Just helped Peck Hoon to take photos of those Making Life Great artworks. Got Xinhui to help me with it as I'm afraid that the photos will take up too much of my T7's battery life as well as it's space.
Office - 1420 hrs
Ting Wah couldn't make it for lunch again. So I went to the basement of China Square Central and ate Vegetarian Curry Chicken. Saw Michelle there but didn't wave to her until she waved to me coz I wasn't sure who she was. I then pampered myself with Laksa Cup Noodles and Instant Mushroom Soup.
Office - 1008 hrs
Tried out Excel User Defined Functions just now. Didn't know that it is so easy to do it. Ling has certainly learnt a lot from her 3-day Excel course.
Office - 1006 hrs
Song Jing sent me a powerpoint about the China Earthquake. Some of the stories and photos moved me to tears.
22 May 2008 - Thu [Load Images from 22 May 2008 - Thu]
Another plant spotted on my fridge
Saw this plant on the coffee table when I got home
Ling told me that someone gave it to Tania.
GE set up a room to collect donations
9A - 1406 hrs
Valerie, Kristine & Xinhui resurrected the 'Delete' button of my T7 during lunch using their fingernails. Might not be a good thing as now, photos can now be deleted and Kristine proceeded to delete the photos of herself.
Office - 1155 hrs
It's going to be lunch soon. Ting Wah couldn't make it for lunch. So we postponed it to tomorrow. Been reading blogs and blogging. Nothing much to do. Asked Siu Ming when will he bring his Excel file over. He told me it'll be afternoon. So the only thing on my mind now is lunch.
Fitness First - 0831 hrs
I'm thinking of what to do today. Maybe I should write a Java Console Method to handle the input of passwords.
Fitness First - 0830 hrs
Ling's phone isn't working as well. Nobody could hear her and she can only SMS.
Fitness First - 0825 hrs
It's a good thing I didn't even watch the Champions League last night. It was a 1-1 draw and it went to penalties. John Terry missed a penalty that would have won Chelsea the title. Manure converted the next one. Nicholas Anelka then got his shot saved to hand it the Champions League to Manure on a platter.
Fitness First - 0820 hrs
Went Henderson for Teochew Moi w Ling after dropping Song Jing off. It's only $5.80. And it's tastier too. Not like the rip-off @ Upper Bukit Timah.
Fitness First - 0815 hrs
I'm sitting @ the lounge now. A fitness first staff and someone in normal clothes were deep in conversation. The subject? Devil & God. Eh. What has that got to do w working out. I know God created everything. But nobody (at least I didn't witness any) became fit just be praying alone.
21 May 2008 - Wed [Load Images from 21 May 2008 - Wed]
Everything is packed
This is Song Jing's old flat @ York Hill
Someone's shoes were so worn off
The power points were taken out of CfE
The person who decided on this deserves to be sentenced to the 19th Century.
Office - 1605 hrs
Just completed my Euro 2008 program on Excel. Nothing much to crow about. It simply updates the tables and fixtures automatically.
Office - 1155 hrs
Renewed my Corporate Tariff @ the GE M1 Roadshow today. The process is so slow. Take 10 minutes to serve Inayeth and another 5 minutes to serve me.
CfE - 0934 hrs
Decided not to jog in the morning coz I felt very lazy.
20 May 2008 - Tue [Load Images from 20 May 2008 - Tue]
Office - 1025 hrs - Great Eastern History
Read up on the history of Great Eastern. I've all along been curious where it's first offices were. Stephen said that the info has been on StaffNet & the main website for a few months already. Great Eastern was started in 1908 @ Winchester House. I think this was demolished in 1989 and is now Caltex House. After that, they moved to their own building @ Cecil Street in 1931. They stayed there until 1976 when they moved into the present OCBC Building. We then moved to this current building @ Pickering Street in August 2001.
19 May 2008 - Mon [Load Images from 19 May 2008 - Mon]
Traffic came to a standstill @ Jalan Kebun Teh due to the Vesak Day procession
We took a drive to Senai Airport and reached there @ 0730
Tesco looks like Vivo City
And Padini as well
More shopping @ Jusco
The meals here are cheap
Pizza Hut's Garlic Bread
We then went to Pizza Hut for food
Bought stuff from Watsons
Ling & I visited Tesco @ Johor Jaya today
Someone fainted near Telok Blangah Hill
It's very crowded today
Granny & Ling are quite similar in the BYOD (Bring Your Own Drinks) department
Tesco - 1700 hrs
Received a rare call from Val just now. She asked if we would like to go out today. But Ling & I are going to JB. So today cannot. Just had food @ Pizza Hut. It cost only RM18.35 for Ling & I. But somehow, the quality is not as good as Singapore's Pizza Hut.
Tesco - 1550 hrs
Just bumped into 八舅 @ Harris Bookshop. He's also here to do some shopping. I bought my KL & JB street directories. Hope to perform a complete trip to KL without paying a single toll.
Home - 1220 hrs
It's been a real hot day. Whole family went out in the morning to go to the Skywalk. There were too many people @ Alexandra Road.The sight of traffic wardens there was the last straw. So we parked @ Preston Road. The bridge was so crowded that I wonder when LTA would put ERP Gantries there. Anyway, we went all the way to Telok Blangah Hill whenwe saw someone on the ground w a crowd of people around her. Decided to turn back to Alexandra Road. We then went to Alexandra Village for Claypot Laksa before dropping Ling off @ 63B for her haircut.
18 May 2008 - Sun [Load Images from 18 May 2008 - Sun]
Here is a good picture of the Skywalk
We can view the sea too
Slope - It is wheelchair friendly, so we can bring Granny here
The whole Skywalk will be 9 km long after completion
The usual restrictions that is so Singapore
We went to the Skywalk @ Telok Blangah Hill
Tanglin Halt - 1010 hrs
Dreamt of our 2 PSPs being washed down a river and I chased it downstream to retrieve it. Ling woke me up and thankfully, there she was, playing Patapon.
17 May 2008 - Sat [Load Images from 17 May 2008 - Sat]
Thai Disco - 2200 hrs
Went to Ipamena and Thai Disco. I still prefer Thai Disco anytime. Cheap beer. Strong air-con. Good music. No Ang Mohs.
Home - 1200 hrs
Alex came over last night for impromptu drinks and we talked a lot of crap all the way to 4:20 am. It was a refreshing experience playing Chinese Chess, Othello & International Chess. Reminds me of my childhood when I would do the same with Daddy. I kicked Alex's ass in the games. But that was more due to alcohol than any other thing else.
16 May 2008 - Fri [Load Images from 16 May 2008 - Fri]
One Fullerton
Esplanade @ night
Our Merlion
Singapore Flyer @ night
We went down to the Esplanade for a walk.
Office - 1732 hrs
Managed to read my Microsoft Word files w Java. Progress is quite good.
Office - 1445 hrs
It's taking so long to download Apache POI. I'm trying to use that to read Microsoft Word using Java. In that way, my auto blog update tool would be complete.
Office - 1135 hrs
Spent the morning copying photos from 2003 to 2007. The lost years when my Seagate HDD crashed last year. From the 2003 photos, it's obvious how everyone in GE has aged. Copied quite a great deal of it to my HDD.
Fitness First - 0755 hrs
I realise that the sun does not always rise from the absolute east. Near the middle of the year, it rises from the North-East and sets in the Norht-West. If you were to stare @ the sun the whole day. It forms a path more similar to a rainbow. In January, it's the opposite. Being a regular @ Fitness First, I could sense the sun creeping north all the way since January.
15 May 2008 - Thu [Load Images from 15 May 2008 - Thu]
Left a message @ Geoard's laptop
Meeting Room 12A - 1105 hrs
It's another morning of training. This time, Daxin is giving training on Struts. I'm more awake today than yesterday. More because I was updating my poopyhead.net and reading about the earthquake in 四川 from Channelnewsasia's website.
Fitness First - 0806 hrs
Was so tired last night (coz I couldn't sleep the night before and ended up sleeping @ 2am) that I dozed off @ 8 am while watching Ling play Patapon. I actually dreamt and woke up @ 10 am. Took a bathe. Went back to sleep immediately after my bath.
14 May 2008 - Wed [Load Images from 14 May 2008 - Wed]
I hate powerpoint presentations
Office - 1715 hrs
My work day is ending. Went through Xiaxue's blog and Kenny Sia's blog. Xiaxue's blog talked about this Austrian Rapist and Kenny's blog talked about his stint as a judge on Malaysian Dream Girl. To cut the long story short, I'm just waiting for 5:30 pm to come.
Office - 1025 hrs
Raymond's PSP could be charged using my charger. So the problem lies with his charger. Got caught in the rain on the way back from Fitness First. Used my bermudas as my umbrella. I'm keen to find out which part of the Patapon Alicia is at.
Fitness First - 0850 hrs
Couldn't sleep last night for some reason. So I watched the National Geographic Channel on 2 DC-10 crashes until 2 am. I still made myself run on the thread mill today before lazing on the deck chairs. Didn't know that so many people in GE have PSP. Raymond & Song Jing both have. That makes it 3 out of 3 for the SSO team. Vicki walked by and also said that she plays her PSP. She also told me that Alicia plays Patapon. Brought the PSP Charger to office so that Raymond could test his PSP.
13 May 2008 - Tue [Load Images from 13 May 2008 - Tue]
Home - 2245 hrs
Brought the leftovers with me to the Kelisa. Collected stuff for Mummy @ Middle Road from Dr Chua. Alex called to see if he could catch a ride. But by then I had already left. Went home and attacked the Vegetarian Curry Rice first. Replied Hui Mei's email. Looking forward to the Melbourne trip w Ling. We can catch up w her and experience a true blue Australian winter.
Office - 1750 hrs
Fighting the urge to eat the leftover 豆腐 and Vegetarian Curry Rice from lunch. Still fighting....
Office - 1715 hrs
Managed to kill Shooshookle @ Level 12 without losing anyone. Go in only when weather is clear. Use only Yumipons and Megapons. Keep retreating when monster advances. Attack when monster retreats. Break fever constantly.
Office - 1541 hrs
We had our Application Development (AD) Competency lunch @ Seminar room. Ate nothing but rice and curry. Eyed the Vegetarian Meals but decided not to eat too much after reading about Stomach Cancer on Channelnewsasia. Asked Qin Penghong whether he managed to contact his folks @ 四川 after hearing all the big news about the earthquake. He told me that he could as his folks were quite far from 成都.
12 May 2008 - Mon [Load Images from 12 May 2008 - Mon]
Fitness First - 1550 hrs
Just made an appointment w Dr Khoo on 29 May @ 9 am. He's great except that he likes to nag @ me to use the electric toothbrush which I think is not effective @ all. For one thing, the motor will never be as strong as my hand.
Office - 1410 hrs
Seems like there's a virus going on around office. Stephen, Valerie & Raymond are all on MC. Tang Seng is on reservist. So I didn't get to see many of my friends at work. Wanted to eat the Fried Kway Teow @ Hong Lim. But they also decided not to turn up for work today. Nevermind. Curry Mee is still sufficient. Price has increased from $1 to $1.20. Wondering whether to go for my haircut later or wait till tomorrow.
Fitness First - 0820 hrs
Shucks. My PSP just ran out of battery. All the trouble of bringing it to office yielded nothing. Man United won the title. Yawn! Ferrari won Turkish Grand Prix. Yawn! I'm already looking forward to the next season. Watched some show on alien sightings in Comores, Brazil on History Channel before sleeping. The aliens show was more captivating than the 2 title races last night. Hwee Khim was the first person I met @ work today. She noticed that she hasn't seen me for some time. At least my absence in office is noticed. My desk is still there and my job is safe.
11 May 2008 - Sun [Load Images from 11 May 2008 - Sun]
Tanglin Halt - 0845 hrs
It's the final day of the EPL as well as the Turkish Grand Prix. Ferrari has taken pole again but I'm glad Kimi Raikkonen is @ 4th. It's always boring to see 2 red cars in front from the start to the end of the race. As for the other race, I'm asking if Junbin will be free to come over and watch. I'm praying for Wigan to score first, so that I can get some ROI from the sports channels.
Tanglin Halt - 0840 hrs
Came early to Tanglin Halt coz Mummy & Ling had to do some marketing. The Traffic Police just came and out of nowhere, drivers came and removed their cars from the lane beside the hawker centre. I've decided w Ling to prepare pizza bread for dinner. I don't have a clue on how that would happen but we'll get there.
10 May 2008 - Sat [Load Images from 10 May 2008 - Sat]
Heng Kui treated us to dinner @ Rainforest
The fucking Tanglin Club didn't allow Tania to be in
I'm pretty sure that if she's white, she would be allowed to stay
Rainforest - 1945 hrs
Brought Ling's family here for Mother's Day dinner. Heng Kui treated all of us.
Home - 1546 hrs
We went Maplewoods to swim instead. Mei is trying to find a replacement for her so that she can be with us for dinner tomorrow.
Home - 1410 hrs
Idiotic Tanglin Club. They didn't allow Tania to be inside. It's fucking discriminating just because she is a maid. If she's Ang Moh they wouldn't question her.
Home - 1245 hrs
Woke up @ 12 exactly. That is the effect of jet lag. By then lunch was ready. It was prata w yesterday's curry. Ling is still trying to save Megan @ Patapon.
09 May 2008 - Fri [Load Images from 09 May 2008 - Fri]
Bought this perfume for Ling
Home - 0415 hrs
Finally updated my blog and uploaded all my photos from the Turkey trip. I even keyed in the detailed auto-roaming bills from M1. The figures are startling. $9.60 for a 1:23 call to Singapore.
Hwa Chong - 1740 hrs
Picking Ling up. It feels much better after a good bath. Mummy cooked curry for tonight. It's a good timing considering that the last curry that I ate was the crap curry that I cooked.
Changi Airport - 1550 hrs
I'm back. Waiting for Mummy to pick me up. First thing I can't stand is the bloody humid weather. I want my Istanbul weather!
08 May 2008 - Thu [Load Images from 08 May 2008 - Thu]
My immigration stamp after leaving Turkey
Shell station @ Antalya
Snow-capped mountains spotted on the way back to Antalya
Plane - 2315 hrs
Yes! I got my own 4-seater couch after all. My original seat had someone beside me. But I moved myself to an empty 4-seater next to me.
Ataturk Airport - 2240 hrs
Waiting for boarding now. Like Kiat said, 'Airports are boring' and I agree w it. They are not so boring when there's a power point. But I didn't have that adapter. So here I am waiting and waiting. I see more Singaporeans on this flight. I also saw a stupid Indian in front of me who let an Ang Moh couple cut his queue. My next hope is that there's no one sitting w me, just like what happened on the flight here.
Ada Pansiyon - 1250 hrs
That's it. I'm nearing the end of my Turkey trip. It has been a wonderful days. Without Yaren's translations, it wouldn't have been possible. There's a heavy downpour right now and temperatures are dropping.
07 May 2008 - Wed [Load Images from 07 May 2008 - Wed]
News on Myanmar's floods had front page treatment too
The village disco
Turkish Windows XP
I chose to play Patapon
We thought we damaged the side mirror
But it has already been indicated when the car was handed to us. We didn't even check what was written in the agreement. Luckliy the car company was honest.
My plug
My room
Ada Pansiyon - 1055 hrs
Slept early last night and had a good sleep.
06 May 2008 - Tue [Load Images from 06 May 2008 - Tue]
There's even a signboard @ the top in case people climbed from the other side of the mountain
Our parking lot @ our motel
Ready for photographs
The no-price-tag guy cooked the best Omelette that I've ever tried
There's an old house nearby
The prices have been removed
Signboard @ Çauvoş
Pharmacy @ Çauvoş
Cat belonging to motel owner
Chimera - 2005 hrs
Went down to Çauvoş Village today. Had the best Omelette I ever tasted. Our 3 Omelettes & drinks cost 10 Liras only. Took some photos @ an old house before going to the shore near the village. Had an Ice Cream there. Went back to our rooms to rest. Tried unsucessfully to kill Goryl using Ling's army. Had a good bath in the shower. Had dinner @ the motel before driving over to Chimera. It's the place where fire simply comes out naturally from the side of a hill. Nobody told us about the part where we had to climb a mountain. We were all panting when we reached it. Yaren also discovered that the keys to the Renault came w a remote locking system.
Olimpos - 1055 hrs
We took a flight to Antalya and rented a car. It's the first time I drove a left-hand drive car. I had to remind myself constantly to keep to the right side of the road. Especially in Antalya I had to look out for one-way streets or two-way streets. Stopped by at a town called Berdigi. It's so touristy that there's a restaurant that only has Russian menus. The road to Olimpos is like a Malaysian PLUS Highway w very good scenery and good weather. 'Very good scenery' is an understatement. Kiat says that we just found paradise. Missed the turn to Olimpos and ended up @ a village. Yaren asked for directons and we found Olimpos. Checked ourselves into Ada Pansiyon. It's 25 Lira per person per night. For me it's 30 Lira per person per night coz I took a whole hut. Breakfast & Dinner are included. We went for a walk @ the Olimpos ruins before going back to the hut for more Raki and dinner. Heard music after dinner. We traced it to a party near our hut. Bought more drinks and got to know this German guy who wants to go to the beach. Got a lift from 2 Turkish guys who wanted to go to the Orange Disco near the beach. It was closed. They wanted to go somewhere else. But we didn't want to follow them. So we set up a campfire near the beach. I think it was still damn cold. We walked back and crashed out near 4.
05 May 2008 - Mon [Load Images from 05 May 2008 - Mon]
My dinner
Yaren's idea of an ashtray
River meets sea here
There are snow covered mountains nearby
Into the Mediteranean
The entrance is 2 Liras
Going to Olimpos Ruins
We stayed @ Ada Pansiyon
My hut
Çauvoş Village
We ended up on the way to Çauvoş
This is the junction to turn left
There was no sign telling us to turn left. So we went straight.
Jeeps spotted along the way
Our car
My lunch
Mountains near Beldigi
Approaching Antalya
Waiting for our flight
Taking the Ferry to the airport
04 May 2008 - Sun [Load Images from 04 May 2008 - Sun]
Yaren's House - 2345 hrs
It has been a quiet day. Played Patapon and lazed around. Didn't even leave the house @ all. We finished the curry. Necla converted the screwed up rice into Tomato Soup. It was wonderful. Spent the night trying to beat the flower monster @ Level 16. The PSP hung for a while after winning. Shit. I'm back to level 12. Turned to Ling's game and started hunting for her.
Yaren's house - 0355 hrs
Couldn't sleep. So I just woke up and turned on the lights. Some of the fridge magnets were on the floor. So I guessed that it's one of the cats. Prepared dinner w Kiat last night. It's the 2nd time in my life cooking. I would say that it was a better experience than I expected. We decided to cook curry. The onions made our eyes tear and we had to leave the kitchen for a while. After 2 hours of vodka, cooking and experimenting, dinner was ready. We screwed up the rice and Yaren had to cook rice all over again for us. Lumi came over and she loved the food. Necla too. We started to look @ some belly dancing videos. It looked so unreal that the dancers could keep their heads still and walk while shaking their stomachs @ 1000 times a minute. Kiat tried and he looked like a drunken ass.
03 May 2008 - Sat [Load Images from 03 May 2008 - Sat]
Our drinks
Our onions
Kiat's chicken
Our screwed up rice
We bought rice
We bought Rakı as well
There's coconut milk in Istanbul
But the Chinese translation is a bit off.
Yaren's House - 1420 hrs
I made Kiat & Yaren play Patapon and now they're hooked on it.
Yaren's House - 1010 hrs
We basically ate, drank & walked. Ate, drank & walked around Taksim Square until Yaren finished her course. Her friend Hazal joined us. She know English & French and a little Mandarin. We then went to a private birthday party @ Babylon. Was quite bored until I started buying drinks. The drinks here are real expensive. 18 Lira for a house pour and 9 Lira for a beer. The birthday girl later came to talk to us. Too bad she knows limited English and my Turkish is still atrocious. Later on, a guy named Altan came by and spoke to me. He also knows some Mandarin. Just when I was starting to enjoy myself, Yaren suddenly asked me where Kiat was. I then realised that he has disappeared for some time. We went round looking for him not knowing that he's in another toilet talking to 2 Turkish guys who knows English. The party ended around 2 am. We headed for some supper place. I somehow feels that it's no different from Singapore. Certain things remain the same in everypart of the world. If we switch the language to Singlish, we'll be in Singapore. Took a Dolmus home later. Kiat & I cooked Maggi Curry and we had a good talk outside @ the Balcony. I still managed to wake up @ 10 am today.
02 May 2008 - Fri [Load Images from 02 May 2008 - Fri]
A cool hole-in-the-wall cafe
Below the cafe is some hardware workshop.
This contraption is built in 1453
Busy Jetty
Looking across to the Takzim area
Takzim Square is the 'Orchard Road' of Istanbul.
Kiat took photos @ this hotel
The dog and the cat are very close
The dog took care of the cat since it was young
There are commercial shops @ the Blue Mosque as well
Not allowed to enter the garden
Tourists @ the Blue Mosque
Some many tour buses here today
Tourists entering a very old mosque
It's from the Byzantine era.
Some tourists @ the same old palace
Some old palace
Street @ Katikoy
Takzim Square - 2000 hrs
It's been a tiring day. First we walked down Bagdat Caddesi coz the traffic was heavy. We then went by Dolmus to Haydarpasa before taking a ferry to Eminonu. From then on it was all walking. Old Palace, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar. This was followed by a steep hill climb to Takzim. Hung around there w Kiat while waiting for Yaren to finish her course. Kiat & I had dinner @ one of the cafes before patronising another one to chill out. The drizzle made it more difficult to enjoy walking outside.
Yaren's house - 0945 hrs
Pleasantly surprised by Ling's email today. Read about the leaking water tap in the front yard and the KTV trip. Junbin also commented on the blog. He SHOULD be here man. The the weather is so nice. We decided to go Antalya next week and rent a car. It'll be exciting having my first left-hand drive experience. Though everyone thinks that it is impossible to drive here, I think that it is just the same as China. There's an organised mess on the streets. In fact, Singaporeans are a weird lot. Keeping to lanes and still having a high accident rate. Veronica and Annie dropped by to have tea. Annie is an American teaching English here. I thought she was a Turk from the way she spoke. We went down to Katikoy and had dinner @ a seaside restaurant. Walked to a pub nearby and had a few shots of 'Üç maymun'. It's this sweet and spicy drink that'll burn your mouth if you drink it too slowly. Yaren's Romanian friend (Lumi) also joined us. She's teaching English in Istanbul but sounds more American than Annie. She's from Reşiţa. It's a town in the western part of Romania. Lumi left early but we arranged to have a house party on Saturday. We then went to the waterfront for more beer before taking a Dolmus back.
01 May 2008 - Thu [Load Images from 01 May 2008 - Thu]
Fenerbahce, one of Istanbul's suburbs
It is also home to one of Istanbul's big clubs
The seagull is eyeing our food
They've got Toto here as well
Streets of Katikoy, a shopping district in the Asian part of Istanbul
Sitting in the Dolmus
Cat lying on bed
Yaren's House - 1215 hrs
Today is May Day. But it's not a public holiday in Istanbul. However there are protests right now arguing over a wide range of issues. So we are not going to town today. Just cooked myself another bowl of Maggi Mee in the morning.
Yaren's House - 0700 hrs
The cats have all woken up and they seem to be hanging around me, hoping that I'll open the door for them to play. Sorry cats, I don't have the key.