I'm Not feeling Well

I just came back from Singapore over the weekend, and I'm not feeling too well:((..

I hope it's not related to that ubiquitous thing flying around whose stories fill up the newspaper pages now.

I hope I'll get well soon, by tomorrow preferably as I will attend a work-related seminar.

I don't feel well, and all I wanna do is get home and lie in bed all day...

Beijing (Part 4)

Ok I promise this is the last of my rambling on the Beijing trip. Heck, it took me longer time to upload stories about the trip than the trip itself!

On the second last day we were there, everybody's pretty much sick of going to those mandatory places, and jut itchy to do our own shopping. I heard so much abou the fun that is shopping at the Yashiow Market that I kept pestering our tour guide to hurry up and take us there.

But well, we spent the first part of the day going to the Olympic complex. Too bad we couldn't spend more time there, or even to come nearer. So it's the Bird's Nest Stadium from afar for us on that day. So is the Water Cube Stadium.



Just a 'lil family pose;)




This is the closest I could get to getting a decent and nice picture of the Bird's Nest Stadium:(..Would've loved to go nearer or even inside, but that'd mean additional fee.

So anyway after that we were taken to yet another shop nearby the Olympic Complex, purpotedly owned by a Malaysian consortium, specialising in gems and jewellery. I was quite irritated by that point, and it showed. Didn't really feel like layan whatever they were trying to sell us, but in the end, each of us walked out with a jade pendant:)..

After lunch and Zohor prayer, it's finally off to free shopping. Sorry no photo. It was hot, and packed and due to some foreseeable-problem-that-could've-been-prevented, I didn't feel like taking any photos.

But suffice to say Yashiow Market was not really as enjoyable as I had anticipated. As we were there in the afternoon, the market was jam-packed with tourists, and me and crowded places isn't exactly a love affair, so I couldn't really concentrate on looking at each item or have time to haggle.Our time there was also limited, so that's another thing pressing me at that time. The salesgirls there were also not as accommodating as I thought, and the worst thing is that once you've touched their item they'd force you to buy. In most cases one may have to resort to being rude just to be off their hook. But at least I knew what I wanted to look for, and that would be a winter jacket. I got one, a D&G knee-length winter jacket. Of course the original price they quoted was sky-high, but I asked for 150yuan only. Played all the usual haggling tricks in the book, and I got that price (although I would've loved getting it for 100yuan). But still, it's an RM75 jacket that otherwise would cost me hundreds of ringgit had I buy it here:). I also bought a blouse and pants set, a table runner and some silk pouch as souvenirs for friends.

After that we were off to Yangqiow Silk Market. Unexpectedly I prefer going around there, although as my money ran out, I could only look at them. They had better choice of items as the products were decently assigned on different levels. We were also there when it was quieter, so you could enjoy walking around and have a look at things. But one thing marred my experience there though. I wanted to buy this embroidered bed sheet set that I managed to get for 300 yuan. As I didn't have much cash left, I wanted them to charge my credit card. So they took it to their sister shop upstairs, and I asked them to check whether I can use my credit card there (I wasn't sure if I had to activate it for overseas use, you see) and they keyed-in the figure, we waited for a while only to tell me that the transaction failed through. So Ok I thought dah takde rezeki nak beli this set la.

But when I got my card statement 3 weeks ago, they actually DID charge me:((...Hey RM156 tu bukannya sikit tau...So now I'm trying to have this problem fixed with RHB.

So anyway, after that we left for hotel and it was the last night in Beijing. The next day, we were supposed to go to Russian Market and such but all of us decided to skip it to rest, pack our stuff so we could have ample time to travel to the airport.

We checked out at around 11, and another thing happened to spoiled our otherwise enjoyable Beijing trip. The hotel charged us for the items we never consumed. they claimed we drank the drinks in those little fridge, and the b*&*^y receptionist insisted we pay. Our guide argued our case with her but she wouldn't let go. Finally I said fine, paid the 20 yuan she wanted and we left. But not before my Dad gave her a piece of his mind.

So if anyone is reading this, if you happen to go to Beijing, DO NOT STAY AT LING DONG HUA HOTEL!!! I'm just launching my personal boycott on this hotel ok. Actually there were many other undesirable incidents involving Malaysian tourists staying there, so I think the boycott's justified.


This is where we had our final meal in Beijing. Sorry the name of the restaurant's rather far, and I could not recall its name either. That's just me and Mum posing when leaving the place;). So by then it's sayonara to Beijing.

Here are some photos of the buildings there I took while on the way to the airport.




We reached the Beijing Capital Airport at around 2 in the afternoon, which is perfect. Just in time to check in for our 4.25PM flight back to KL.



The airport is big and nice, very modern. Not sure if it's clear enough here but just when we were getting there I saw a plane taking off:)

And while our guide was busy checking us in, sempat lagi bergambar:)



The last photo was of my tour group and our tour guide, Ah Ming. Thanks Ah Ming for a nice and enjoyable time in Beijing:)



The trip was a very nice experience. I would love to go there again, and of course, this time bring more cash there:), and skip those places I don't want to be at in the first place. I definitely would love to climb the Great Wall again, this time visit the Temple of Heaven as well, maybe try skiing which means a winter trip,go see and hold the panda and explore parts of Beijing I didn't get to see while I was there.

Next destination? Jakarta and Bandung in November!

Beijing (Part3)

I might as well hasten and finish my Beijing trip entries before I forget all the details.

The third day was the highlight of my Beijing trip -we went climbing the Great Wall! The morning portion of the day itself was uneventful. Basically on the way to the Geat Wall before entering the Badaling Highway, we went to a couple more 'mandatory shops'. See, they're so uneventful I don't even remember what they were now!! But I remember us stopping for lunch at this restaurant and meeting a group of UM students who were there for a study trip!! See?Malaysians everywhere!

The guide took us to the second access to the Wall, and as we arrived there in the afternoon, we missed the morning crowd, which suits us just nice as we had the place all to ourselves.

Anyway here are the pix:

The Wall from where we disembarked. That's the Badaling Highway. Our guide told us that the highway leads up north, all the way to Inner Mongolia and then to Mongolia, the country. Along the way we drove past truckloads of vegetables to be imported to the northern regions.


Mum and Dad at this large stone-statue thingy right before our climb. On the stone/boulder there was a carving of a popular saying in China. It said something to the tone of 'One is not a Warrior unless he has climbed the Great Wall'. Well, now that we've climbed it, then we're all warriors lah...;)



As with everything else ancient in China, one entry point is not enough!That's the outer entrance on the Wall, and inside you can find the real entrance to the place. And that's of me and my parents;) It was pretty windy there, so you have to bring extra clothing.




That's the guard post. Mum chose not to climb, so she stayed down there with our guide. Me, Dad, my sis and the other two ladies went up. The climb was pretty steep at some places, but towards the top of that section the climb got easier. They sealed off the top section as some points were ruined after years of changing weather, and it might get dangerous for the visitors.


This is the very, very steep point, it was practically an 80-degree climb. had to muster all one's energy to go up there. I felt miserable as I was also battling my asthma, but not knowing when I can get that opportunity again drove me to push myself hard. Thank god I exercise regularly;)


My Dad's quite a cam-whore hahaha...and that's the end point allowable for visitors. Beyond that point were ruins, so it was pretty dangerous to go on farther.

So after that we cautiously went down. I was the last to leave. It is often said that the climb up is actually easier than climbing down, especially on one's psyche. That's why I guess it's better to climb to the top of a mountain while it's dark and leave before it gets bright as the sight on the way down can be very very intimidating.


But I still ended up arriving before those two;)



After the Great Wall, we went to the Dr. Tea tea house (another mandatory place) before our return to the hotel.

It was great to be able to climb the Great Wall. truthfully speaking, I never dreamed that one day I would actually be there, but I did. Hopefully, the next time I go to Beijing I can climb it again by using the other two entry points.

I'm Not That Kind of Blogger..

I'm sorry if whoever reads my blog (ada kerr???huhuhu..) expect me to update everyday and detailing all my moves and things happening around me.

Sorry, I'm not that type of blogger la... I don't think my life is interesting enough to be documented, or that I'm too busy (otherwise make myself busy) to have many things happen around me that I could just stop and observe and even take photos.

I don't even have a decent camera, I rely mostly on my two trusted phones. But then again, I can't even upload the photos from my Omnia as its software so far's been only installed in my sister's laptop, and since I don't have one, and since she's moved back to Kuching, so that kinda leave me in a lurch of not having anywhere to install it in, you see? Maybe ada rezeki then bolehla beli that HP mini I've been eyeing for a few months. Maybe I can check it out in the upcoming PC Fair. That's one of my big wish actually.


It's small, it's mobile, and I believe it caters to all my multimedia/blogging/web-surfing needs. I don't need it for my design works as all can be done at my own work station. But even if I need bigger space, I can just jack up an external hard disk.

Another wish-a camera. But with two phone cameras, should I get a real one? I don't know. If only money grows on tree, I'd definitely pluck it and buy me one of these babies:

Too bad the price tag alone can burn a hole in my pocket. But hopefully I don't do anything...unwise (stupid more like it la) and go ahead and buy. Errkk...Kena pikir banyak2 kalau nak beli benda mahal2 ni kan...Kalau tak nanti bajet larik...Abis nak makan apa nanti?

So we'll see how it goes. PC Fair will be held in a few weeks, so I think I'd better shelf the netbook-and-digicam-buying thought at the back of my mind. For the time being la yer...Just wish me luck (and big profit, murah rezeki) in any venture.Amin..

I'm Buying An Apartment

Rehat jap dari bercerita tentang Beijing trip.

I think the title itself is self-explanatory. Anyway, yeah about a month+ ago I bought an apartment. The thing is, the place where I'm currently renting is just...overwhelmed by the presence of foreigners especially. I reckon it's turned into a slum. Some more with the increasing number of crimes there, and the lack of parking, I figured maybe it's time for me to finally get my own place. Ye la..kalau tunggu lama-lama pun takut susah nak dapat favourable loan rates from the bank kan.

But I'm telling you, being a house buyer is not easy. Being a first time buyer even more so. And since I'm buying this place all by myself (sob...sob) I have to bear all the costs.

Originally I planned to buy second-hand apartment or condo pun fine by me. I've looked into a few places near where I'm living right now, but none so far yang betul-betul menawan hati. I've also looked up on the net and made enquiries to view some properties, but well, let's just say those agents are not really eager for commissions they might get out of selling me a house. But anyway Lily, an agent for this place actually called me so I agreed to view it. Problem is the property is still under construction in Puchong. Alamak kat Puchong le pulak, because actually I was not eager to find any property there since kalau nak pegi keja kena bayar tol, and LDP itself is really notorious for it's traffic jam. Dahla tol mahal!!! Tapi bila mengenangkan since that area banyak lagi freehold property which is within the price I can afford I just went for it la and set the appointment.

Anyway masa pegi tu dengan my good friend Nina I didn't have any expectation sangatla, sebab ingat I won't be buying property there.

But dipendekkan cerita, we both fell in love with the place!!It's currently around 60-70% completed, so I expect to move there middle of next year. The place is called Desa Idaman Residences, it's a mid-range apartment with resort-style facilities. Anyway here are some pictures I've downloaded from the developer's website:






The exterior of the property, taken from the actual site. Some blocks are nearing completion, whereas some are still very much concrete and glass. They've also started doing the landscaping, so I know the project will be completed on time, if not ahead (cross me fingers)



This is the flor plan of the house. I just bought the unit with 955sqft. Kalau lagi besar lagi mahal la...




These are the exterior photos, and again taken from the actual show unit. Of course show unit mestila diorang buat cantik-cantik kan?But I have a vision of having my place looking like this;)

Well, not exactly, but close enough. So now I really, really have to work hard and earn more and save up for my new house.

The nice thing is every unit comes with free kitchen cabinet, cooking hood and hob, then in the bathroom free marble top and sink, shower screen in master room bathroom, as well as timber skirting, porcelain tiles, and 3 air-conds!! Also free maintenance fee for one year after handover, I think kira Ok la kot, at least no need to pening-pening kepala buying those things when I'm moving in later kan....

Now, though I'm having a different kind of pening kepala because ada lagi urusan yang nak kena habiskan. So far Alhamdulillah I got a loan from CIMB, S&P Agreement pun dah signed, just tinggal nak submit application to EPF je lagi to withdraw my money there to add to the down payment.