Spatrachina Volume One

As I sat down to munch my lunch at Changi Airport, I was feeling this strange vibe of excitement. Strange? Yup, cos even though I've basically planned out my trip during the past 1 month, I've not really planned in details for several parts of the trip... I was going to jus play my luck card and bet against the odds. This is no ordinary trip for me. This is my 1st ever solo holiday trip (well, until my fren joined me 1 week later). The budget for this trip was set at $1500, all inclusive. Lotsa frens told me this budget is really cheap, considering the many places I will be visiting and the airline I will be taking. Well, I got my SIA ticket for free cos I used my Krisflyer points, paying only $250 for the fuel and taxes surcharges. My 6 nights in Shanghai were complimentary by my good friend Yufei. As such, I get to stay budget, yet be luxurious during the course of this trip.

My lunch at Changi, a MOS burger and a Barley from Burger King

Time to Board the Plane!

The plane that will eventually fly me to Shanghai

My fully seated SIA flight was a smooth one, landing at Shanghai 15 minutes ahead of schedule. The customs was a breeze, in contrast to the common view that 3rd world countries will have inefficient custom systems. However, the real drag was at the conveyor baggage collection area. I was waiting at the carosole at 10.10pm, and it was only at 10.45pm that I caught a glimpse of my baggage. I immediately rushed out of the terminal with my 18kg bag to catch the last bus out of the airport. And in a nick of time I did. Otherwise, I would be taking the Night Line which is usually very crowded. The bus journey of 45 minutes opened my eyes to the night of Shanghai, from Pudong all the way to XuJiaHui district.

Arrived in Shanghai!!

By the time I reached my final destination, it was already 11.40pm. I waited at the road for my fren, Yufei, to pick me up. She arrived with her father (a very friendly Shanghainess by the way), and drove me to their up market apartment. It was more than I had expected. The apartment was spanking clean and fully furnished with TV, bed, water heater etc. She even brought along some fruits and biscuits for my breakfast the following morning. With 2 boxes of mineral water containing 8 bottles of 4L each, I was virtually assured of a thirst free stay. This trip has definitely been a pampering start so far. Less than 7 hours of sleep later, I'll be embarking on my holiday plan, first to the river village township of Tongli. The night was peppered with too much excitement that I didnt really sleep much at all.

Post Trip Evaluation

Hmm.. A summary of my China Route Trip 2007 first. Did I fall ill during this trip? Yes I did. I was victim to flu and severe throat infection 1/2 way through my trip. Even with my mini bag of medication, I couldn't recover completely. Did I enjoy the trip? Definitely YES!! I would say this trip is as memorable as my Australia Roadtrip 2003. Great company to begin with, plus I met new foreign friends along the way. Was it the Spatraventure I expect it to be? For sure. With 4 spa visits during my 12 days trip, this will be the highest density of spa visit period for me thusfar.

I've taken over 900 photos and videos during my trip, done incredible things, experienced things I never thought I will encounter. Will be updating my blog with all the exciting glimmers of my trip over the next few weeks after I've completed editing my photos. Gosh, this is one big post-mortem project to deal with!

Spatraventure

The weekend at Bintan Agro Resort was less than satisfactory. Seems the service and condition of the resort went down-hill since I last visited in May. The rooms were not really up to the mark and the pool was rather dirty. Even the spa was lacklustre. Well, it was still a relaxing weekend getaway nonetheless.

Now standing in front of a free internet terminal in Terminal 2 of Changi Airport and getting ready to proceed to the boarding gate in 30 minutes' time. My Spatraventure is going to go from strength to strength really soon. My 12 days trip to Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Huangshan will be dotted with at least 3 spa sessions. I supposed it will be a real comfort considering it's really cold there now. Heard from friends it's now around 15 degrees and below.. Hope my big bag of clothes will be sufficient.

The feeling of strangeness kept popping up since I stepped out of my house on my way to the airport. The last time I went travelling alone was when I was still with Stamford tyres doing Biz Trips. This will be my 1st ever solo holiday trip. Well, not exactly solo. Afterall, i've got friends there in China to accompany me for at least 10 of my 12 days there. This is also my 1st long trip since my OZ Roadtrip in 2003, and planning was jus as interesting. Cycling round Westlake, Hotspring in Huangshan, Water villages in Suzhou and the buzzling city life in Shanghai. Sounds hectic but actually it's a pretty relaxing trip with lotsa open and free spaces in between.

Brought 5 GB worth of SD cards for photography, and around 2 GB of storage space jus in case.. Will I take that many photos and videos? Hopefully it will be enough. Got to run to my gate now!! Yea! My 1st long trip in years!!

sofa for free

hmm saw this along the road while doing an inspection recently.. kinda interesting.. Free to take? or Free to sit? haha

Recently my fren CF was asking how come i didnt update any new entries.. Hmm didnt really answer her tat day. come to think of it, i guess it's work. Well, have an array of activities coming up to destress... the ICT which jus passed proved to be a moral boaster.. planning for a spa trip to bintan early OCT, and end OCT will be going for my 1st route trip in China!! haha. hopefully in the midst of all these, I'll get a job offer.. Fingers crossed.

military break

Yup, starting my annual ICT tomorrow, and will be in camp for 2 straight weeks.. To many, I guess it will be a bane to return to the army.. For me, it's almost a bitter sweet thing.. The sweet part is I finally can get away from work for a break I've not had for a long time. In fact, since I submitted my resignation letter in my ex-firm, I've not been able to take a break of more than 4 days.. Though this is not really a holiday, it's a blessing for my mental clockwork, chilling out far away from work. Of cos the bitter part is, this break is a stay in break..

Anyway, the ICT break seems to be working it's stuff.. Have been in for 2 days so far.. and my mind is getting a bit clearer already.. hopefully will be able to recover from my giddiness n headaches by the end of the ICT.. Also, with this ICT comes a break for me to plan for my ultimate leisure trip end of OCT... though i've yet to decide where to fly to yet.. But this is enuff to keep me excited at least for the next 2 months..

This ICT will also provide me with the time break to reflect on my current job.. whether it's time to pursue the nex level or to stay put for the moment.. Already, I've rejected to travel with my company on the annual company trip, this time to Tokyo. Of cos, the main reason is economics. Flying on thurs nite reaching on fri and returning sunday and have to pay $500 and sign 3 months contract thereafter.. not really much of an incentive trip lor.. The money i can spend more efficiently on my intended trip of over 10 days.. tentatively researching australia and shanghai.... and yes, travelling alone.. haha. My virgin Lone Trip... could be fun and exciting.. though the potential boredom looms.. but judging fr how my sis enjoys herself travellin alone.. i guess it's really up to the planning.. So hav to pick up speed on my research asap!!.. so exciting. haha.

Peanut Chocolate Cake

2 weeks ago, I made this cake for a colleague of mine, who was about to leave Singapore for Melbourne to be with her hubby. It has been 2 months since I last did any bakery and with severe time constraints, I conjoured up this new creation. The sponge cake was a dense chocolate, and the cream was a mixture of peanut butter, cream cheese and whipped cream. The cake was drizzled with white chocolate. I also melted some dark chocolate to write the words: AVRIL, on the cake, though it's almost unreadable. Not easy, considering I only using a spoon to help me out with the literally conquest. Star fruits were used to add some concealment to the otherwise unsmooth creaming of the cake surface.

Mentally Blocked

Dunno why, have been suffering from a daily dose of headaches and giddiness since last Monday, recovering slightly only yesterday before the twin attack swings back into full action today. Accompanied by the unnecessary 'harsh' comments by someone of a higher management level to us lower management people, it felt like applying salt onto a fresh wound.

Never worked with such emotional baggage before. Is it really due to the conventional wisdom that female bosses are more particular with stuff? Or is it the commonly acknowledgement that local SME work people to death with the most minimal pay they are willing to give, thus squeezing employers out of their bones? Or is it just myself?

Dont have the motivation to do so many things recently.. no more cakes, no more music, and now maybe even no more exercising soon if things keep up this way. Lesser of meeting frens cos no more motivation to call and organise any gathering.. jus laze on my arse and wait for people to jio me usually nowadays.. haiz..