It's now 9.00pm, our flight is with Asiana Airlines OZ754 at 0050hrs.

Everything was prepared and pack into 2 check in luggage with wheels to drag along and each of us will be carrying a hand luggage that contains our "LongJohn" thermal wear, winter gloves, extra long sleeve tee shirt (for Diana and Wai Leng ) and our winter jacket.
We try to minimise our clothing so that we do not need to drag along so much things.... so that we or rather Wai Leng can buy more things back from Korea. At first Diana wanted to bring one more check in luggage but I managed to convince her that that is how much clothings she can wear inside her winter jacket and by bringing more is absolutely no use. She can only put on her two long john, one sweater and then her winter jacket, that is all.

I just ask Wai Kiat whether he regrets not following us to Korea for this trip, he reply that it is only because he have to take care of the dog. Sigh...... I feels bad not bringing him along but he only feels bad that he have to take care of the dog.

It is now 9.15pm, we will leave the house at about 9.45pm latest to take a taxi to the airport. I intend to arrive a bit earlier so that we do not need to rush. I am feeling excited about this trip. Diana and I have been to Korea before but that was during our honeymoon after we got married. It have been so many years since we went to Korea, I am very excited to visit this place again to see all the changes.

Today is the day for our trip to Korea ( Sunday, 7 Dec 2008 )

Time flies, today is the day for our Korea trip. According to the tour leader of SA travel, there will be 58 people going for this trip and we will be traveling in two tour buses when in Korea. I did not expect this tour group to be so big. Hope that it is not a problem and there would not be too much delay waiting for each other.
We had pack our bags and I tried to convince both Diana and Wai Leng not to bring unnecessary things and especially clothing because we do not want to carry cloths that we will not be using. We are not carrying cloth for a fashion show and we are not going to change cloths everyday for other people to see. There is just so much space inside our winter jacket for our Thermal underwear and additional cloths before we put on the last layer of winter jacket. Bringing extra pants or knit wear serve no purposes at all because the winter jacket and thermal wear is the main cloth that will keep us warm.
I managed to convince Diana to remove a knit wear, extra sweater & pants from her cloths that she intends to bring.
Well, tonight we were be taking the 12.30am flight and we have to be at the airport before 10.30pm to check in. I am very excited about this trip and I am sure Diana and Wai Leng are too. I feels a bit sad to leave Wai Kiat at home but he just do not like to travel with us.

Diana company boss is so good to her that one of the director gave her $1,000 to spend for this trip and another director is giving her some remainder Korean Won that he have. Where can find such company boss. I really envie her and hopes that she can have a better carreer than me.

9 more days to our Korea trip

How time flies, we still have 9 more days before we start our Korea tour.
I am very excited and try to savor every moment of it before it is all over and we all come back to face the reality again.
We are fully prepared for this trip and all the things that needed to bring along have been bought but not pack yet.
I am beginning to pack this few days and hopefully we do not miss out anything important.

Wai Leng wanted to use her "Chan Brothers" red backpack that was given last time when we went for our China tours. Since Diana and I will be carrying our "SA Tour" hand carry bag to identify ourselves, I allow her to use the backpack.

Our 8 Days Korea Discovery + Jeju tour

Our Korea tour trip is coming up fast, we will be going for this trip in 12 days time.
Time pass too fast and sometime I wish time can be slower for us to enjoy it before it is all over.

We had plan and save for this trip for many years and decided to visit Korea once more before we were too old for traveling and experience snow.
I think I am still healthy for very cold weather but Diana might have a problem because she cannot tolerate cold weather. Her health is not so good and can easily catch a cold and fell sick.

This year we are bringing Wai Leng along as usual because Wai Kiat do not want to follow us.
Wai Kiat did not follow us the last time we went to Taiwan too. He had a weird character and a bit lazy and do not enjoy going out for walks.

Attended Uncle Seng's younger son's 1 year old birthday.

The whole family attended Ah Seng's son 1 year old birthday. They engage a caterer again but this year the food is not tasty at all. The only things worth eating is their fired prawns and spring rolls.

After the buffet lunch we went to Peoples Park to pay up the remaining cost of our December Korea tour of $4,000+.

Then we went to Peninsula Plaza for a walk but our main intention is to buy a pair of jeans for the girl to wear to Korea. Found a pair at Samuel & Kevin for $39.
Then we walk into a World of Sports shop and the boy wanted to look at a basket ball but he walk off after knowing that it cost $59 which is quite expensive.

We decided to buy it for him because he seldom ask for things that he likes. I think he is quite happy that we buy it for him.

2008, celebrated Diana birthday at Allson hotel.

This year Wai Leng suggested to have buffet for Diana birthday. Diana source out this hotel and found that their food is good so she book a table on Saturday 8/12/2008.
We went for the buffet and found that the food is indeed very good especially the "white chicken", soft shell crap, beef with potatoes, crackers, ice cream, steam fish was fresh and delicious, fried rice is tasty, salmon is fresh, cake is rich with chocolate and is expensive.
The only thing not fresh or good is their "oysters", they are not fresh and so they steam them first before serving.
We enjoy many rounds of food and I order a beer too to enjoy the night.

I think this is the best and most tasty buffet that we have tried, the rest only have quantity and variety but lack taste.

Had booked a tour to Korea for Diana, Wai Leng and Me on December 7th 2008.

We book a tour to Korea for 8 days in December for the three of us. Wai Kiat do not want to come with us. I think he just don't feel at ease going out with us and prefer to spend time at home sleeping or watching TV or playing computer games.
It is also good because we can save some money and at the same time he can look after the dog and tortoise.

This time our tour is during winter and our main intention is to experience snow and winter. Diana and I have been to Korea after we got married but that time we went during autum and although the weather is cold but there is no snow yet. We went in October when the temperature is around 10 degrees to 15 degrees. This time we are expecting something between minus 5 to 5 degrees celcius.

We are looking forward to this tour to relax our body and mind.

The Internet is not private after all

I have written events in my life in this blog that is very private and deleted it immediately because I realize that things that I wrote on this blog is not exactly private and the chances of it being seen by people that I don't intend to is there.
Not that I have lots of secret that I don't want other to know but somethimes it is better to keep private thing private just in case others chances upon it unintentionally.
I had just bought a notebook make by Lenovo IBM for $1699 and set up a Linksys router at home and is extremely happy with it because I no longer have to fight with the children to use the computer to go on the Internet.
I should have set this up long ago and save the trouble.

I am very disappointed with the children

The children are playing on the computer for 6 hours at a stretch like there is no tomorrow.
On a typical day, the girl will begin playing on the computer while the boy go to school for classes and when the boy comes home, he will chase away the girl and starts playing on the computer for a continuous stretch of more than 6 hours.
After dinner, the girl will continue playing on the computer as though it is her time to play because the boy had his time already.

This happen when they are on school holidays and it is understood that Diana allow them to use the computer.

After all the talks about their examinations results, it is a total waste of time because they just simply don't care. They are still not aware of the implications of their actions and just wanted to play. They have not understand why it is so important to have good results. To put it simply, their brains is not open yet. Sigh.............

Diana at the restaurant

Wai Kiat at the restaurant

Wai Leng at the restaurant

18/5/2008. Dinner at Ah Yat Restaurant.

We had a sumptuous dinner at Ah Yat restaurant because Diana's director had given her a $1,000 to spend at this restaurant as she pleases.
Diana had book a table for four today and when we arrives at the restaurant service desk and told them her name, we were immediately let to the 4th floor and into a room with a table for four.
We order a round of fruit juices for everybody and I went into the toilet to wash up because I am sweating in the heat outside.
When I came out from the toilet, Diana told me that she had already order our food and Wai Leng behave like she is so happy that they order the food without me.
I felt a bit pissed off because I am not involve in anything at all.

I check with them and found that they had ordered a dish of abalone with sharks fin but it is from the "economy" menu that is cheap.
I immediately check their menu and found another dish with premium sharks fin and change it.

This is what we ordered in the end :
Sea Garoupa $48.00
Vegetable $22.00
Prawns $20.00
Mutton stew $32.00
Braised Prime Sharks fin soup $300.00
Bird nest $112.00
Roast pork meat $8.00
Alaska crap $75.00
Fruit juice $52.00
Beer $15.00
Rice $2.00
Dessert $6.00
Bird nest egg tart $15.00

Total cost for our lavish dinner is $748.20

Lastly a photo of the whole family together

Diana with Daphane, Alice, Marry & Teck Seng

Diana and her sister Alice & Marry

Wai Leng at the restaurant

We celebrated mother's day for Diana's mother

11/5/2008, Daphane's daughter Lee Lian suggested to celebrate mother's day for Diana's mother in a restaurant in Orchard road.
She have some unused dining coupons and so take the opportunity to have a gathering.
We were most surprise that when she suggested the lunch outing at a restaurant in Orchard road to her grandmother and she agrees to it.
Most of the time when we suggest something, she will always says that she prefer to cook at home.
Anyway, everybody turn up for the event except Wai Kiat because he wanted to stay home to study for his mid year exams.

Barnes from Bikersfrenz got himself a BMW GS1200

He sold away his previous bike, the Honda STX1300 and got this bike from PML.
According to him, the STX was not stable at high speed and so he don't quite like it and also for the fact that he is planning to do a ride to Koh Sam Mui in northern Thailand later this year and he wanted to do it with a "proper" bike for the job.
Anyway, he claims to have sold his STX for $19,000 plus and bought this second hand bike from PML for $23,000.

Last night, 23/5/2008 we were at Circuit road attending "Chicken" George father's wake and we crowded around his bike to admired it.
We play around his bike and someone even tried to start his bike before the bike did it's diagnostic check. Barnes was quite protective of it and we actually had a good time meddling around with his bike. I purposely press buttons for ABS and another button just for the fun of it.

Blogger getting a income from blogging?

I never knew that blogging can bring in a monthly income for the blogger.
And I am not talking small sums here, I am talking few hundreds to few thousand dollars of steady income for almost nothing but blabbing on the internet.

Too bad I am not a pretty girl or else I can also take some photos of myself and post them on the Internet too and bring in some decent dole.

2008 CNY reunion dinner at United Square.

Yesterday 14 person turn up for this year's reunion dinner. My son did not attend because last night he sleep in our bedroom and had a fever this morning due to the air conditioner. Ah Mun and V Keen also did not turn up. My younger brother came alone without bringing his son or wife.

Younger brother changes his mind.

My younger brother changes his mind and telephone me in the morning at about 9.05am to tell me that he had recovered from diarrhoea and is able to attend this evening reunion dinner after all.
When I hear that my heart sank. Not because I don't wish him to attend but I feels a bit pissed off because he had told me last Sunday that he is unable to attend but now changes his mind.

Anyway I told him to get ready and wait for me below his flat at 5pm for me to pick him up.
I am a bit reluctant but have no choice. I think he was looking forward to the "Hong Bao" that we might give to him and the sumptuous buffet dinner that he seldom have the chance to eat.

Youngest brother decline my invitation to attend CNY reunion dinner.

Youngest brother call my hand phone in the morning on 20/1/2008 to tell me that he is not attending this year's CNY reunion dinner. When I ask him why, he tells me he is having diarrhoea and so afraid that he would have to look for toilet at the restaurant next Saturday.

I was like, huh? you got diarrhoea today but worry about next Saturday?. How long are you going to have this diarrhoea?

Anyway, I did not ask further and just says "OK" and hang up the call.

Since he is not willing to attend this reunion dinner and decided to give me a stupid excuses, I will just accept his decision. I am not going to beg him like last year because I had already done my part to invite him to our family's reunion gathering.

Transferring of petrol from bike to car


Since the price of petrol was sky high, I have been transferring petrol from my bike to my car. The price of petrol in Malaysia is RM1.92 per liter whereas in Singapore it is S$1.90 per liter. With the exchange rate at S$1 to RM2.30, I am actually paying less than half the price for petrol even after incorporating the toll charges on both sides. I save about S$80 per months on petrol.

I am using a plastic pump costing S$1.50 bought from a DIY shop and a 5 liter plastic container to transfer petrol. First I suck the petrol from my bike into the container and then I suck it into my car. This way I know how much petrol I transfer each time because the container capacity is 5 liter.

The only downside is when I am transferring the petrol, people give me a weird look as though I am stealing petrol or I am being so low class. Therefor nowadays I transfer the petrol in the afternoon on weekdays, usually on Friday after I woke up.

I have no other choice because the standard of living is so high and I have to save whenever possible. In fact our home air conditioner setting was increase from 25 degrees Celsius to 26 degree Celsius to cut down on our electricity bill.

Melvin our wine "specialist" preparing wine for us to taste.

Our wine glasses and mineral water for tasting our wine.

The conference room where the wine tasting was held

Wine tasting at Yew Tee CC last night with Diana

We were late last night because Diana over slept when she took a nap in the afternoon at 6pm. We were suppose to be there earlier because she have to help out in the preparation for the event. Anyway I woke he up at 7pm and we rush to Yew Tee CC.
However everybody was late when we arrive at 7.50pm. There are still people who are suppose to attend but haven't arrive yet. What a relief.

Wai Kiat reading his school book.

First time seeing him take out a book to read on the sofa.
But about half an hour later, he put away his book and switch on the TV to watch..... *sigh*

An hour later he went to sleep on his mattress. Mind you, that is just about four hours after he woke up in the morning....... *faint*

CNY reunion dinner preparation.

Received a call from younger brother in the morning at around 10.30am while I was asleep. Woke up and check the display and found that it was from him and pick up the call. He wanted to ask me how to solve his computer problem because had just bought a computer and wanted to watch YouTube but got a error message asking him to install Java software or something. I told him that I don't know how to solve his problem because whenever I have problem with my computer, I use to call a repair man to solve it for me unless it is very basic problem.
Then when he wanted to hang up the phone, I ask him whether he is coming to the reunion dinner that I organize on the 26/1/2008. He immediately tell me that only he is coming. I felt relief that he find this function meaningful and wanted to attend. I think he is looking forward to this dinner since he came last year because he can have a good meal and some "Hong Bao" money to spend.

Chinese New Year Reunion dinner arrangement

Officially informed all members of my family of the bookings at the restaurant on the 26 January 2008 and request all those who can make it to be present at the restaurant before 6.00pm so that our reserved table will not be taken up by others.
I did not force everyone to attend but instead request those who can make it to attend.

I also tell them that as usual I had invited our youngest brother and his family to attend this year reunion dinner and stress that I will pay for their bill if they were to attend.
This is to let them know that they do not need to bare the extra cost of his family because some of them thinks that $36.80 per person is expensive.

After sending out the invitation, 2nd sister Helen and Sister Har reply OK. Sister Har reply that she will be coming with her husband and daughter because her son is in re-service.

It is extremely difficult to organize when there are so many people involve because everyone have their own opinion and expectation. Some people wants food that are cheap and good, while some people wants places that are near to their home for convenient sake. And then there are people who are plain lazy to do anything. I almost give up organizing such gathering but if I don't come out to do something then nobody will. Just like last time when I keep quiet and say nothing then Chinese New Year come and go without any event at all. Everybody just care for themself and don't even bother to give a Ang Bao to the children of each family. Although it is very bothersome, I will still organize this event once a year to gather everyone around to meet each other. Just like what Diana says, when I passed away, then this tradition will also stop completely.

I am not sure how many will attend but hope more can make it for this once a year gathering.

2008 CNY reunion dinner booking

This year Diana suggested a buffet restaurant call VIENNA International Seafood & Teppanyaki Buffet Restaurant at United Square, Thomson road just outside "Novena" MRT.

We went to this restaurant to check it out on 29/12/2007 Saturday and found the food quite good. However the price for dinner during weekend/public holiday is more expensive at $36.80 per person. The ambience of this place is also much better than the place we held our reunion dinner last year.

I decided on 26/1/2008 Saturday and immediately send out sms messages to all family members to ask for their approval.
However only Kar Yee, Har, Karen & V Keen reply. I have to call up elder brother and 2nd sister on the phone to ask for their opinion. 2nd sister feels that the price is expensive while elder brother have no objection but just wanted to take his own sweet time doing things at his own pace. Really cannot stand his attitude.

We decided to book a table first because Chinese New Year is next month at the 7th Feb 2008 which is one month away.
I book a table for 18 person for dinner at 6.00pm at 26/1/2008 and place a deposit of $50.
I will wait till next Saturday for their reply and then inform them that I had book a table for this year reunion dinner.