my quaint world

Man, I am a true technical tourist. But I'm so exhausted!!! Can I complain?

When I first arrived at Geneva, I barely could notice my surroundings. I just dragged along my poor feet out of the plane, to the train. In 2 hours, I arrived in Berne. (Consequences of saturday night out which landed me in bed at 9.30am on Sunday!!!)

Wow, its beautiful!. It gave me a very dreamy and romantic feel. The hotel I was in - Bellevue was fantastic. High ceiling with grand elaborated victorian finishing. The room was small but i really feel at home with it!

Well, I was so tired that during the 3 days, I've only been in my room or in the meeting room. Call me boring.

One of the nights, our nice hosts organised a 'Swiss' nite out. We went walking around the old town. We went inside the first clock tower of Berne. The cute lady who speaks in tunes as she sways side way told us about the history of Berne. Indeed, its a city built during the medieval time. She showed us the mechanism of the clock, how it works with every 5 mins to the hour, the jester will play, the cocks will run around crowing and the old man will tinkle on his wine glass.


There's a man who lives around the corner, he'll come up to the tower to wind up the clock everyday!


I guess, the city of Berne is really proud of this legacy.


Berne has only a population of 140k. Its free of traffic jam. Its free of air polution. The air is just fresh, clear and with spring just arriving, it makes my imagination of flower trails floating in the air.

There is also a museum of Albert Einstein. I just saw its shadow gleaming under the moonlight, across the green river behind my hotel.

It was a good trip though tiring. I ate well, I worked hard, I let breathe in the beauty of Berne into me...

Like I said, we went for our teambuilding. All 60 people from the commercial teams. Including the foreign offices. And we had a blast of time. Skiing. Eating. Drinking. No laptops. How could it be better for a teambuilding? :)

Well, it was a mix-mix trip. Why? We rough it out by making our journey with a 12hours coach ride. Though we had a captain, an open bar (where we emptied the drinks at the 6th hour), 4 very bad movies, a toilet and a poker table which ran for 10 hours. Yep, all on board...

Then we arrive at the tiny town of Villars. Its a such a pretty place! Picturesque! We room-shared in a typical swiss chalet.

They even organised a ski instructors for people like me. Beginners. He was really a good instructor. I skied before but last year I had a bad fall because I just keep going on faster and faster, couldn't stop, then crashed! You should have seen the look splattered on my face when I just kept pickin the speed. I think it would have made thru to the America Funniest.

Nevertheless, this time, I really had a good guidance. I could ski! I only fell once ;)

Just that, you should see the little chaps. Those kids put us to shame man!

But they were awww, so adorable that they make my heart flipped and moist like a hot chocolate brownie waiting to be poke on to let out the heavenly melted chocolate.

Ok, ok I feel like eating that now. That's why for that description.

In the night, we had a team-fondue-dinner. THough I choose the fish dish instead as I still couldnt accept the fact that I will only have bread and pungent cheese the entire night.

After dinner, all of us flocked down the street together hunting for a cool bar to hang out. There was none. THe only bar alive is a hard.core.biker bar. Though I guess no one mind it at all if the beer just taste the same. At 11pm, we hurried down to a club which was said to 'just open'.

Naturally, we dominated the place. But we had a really a blast.


There's a pole in the middle of the dance floor and somehow somewhere, people had the impression that I am a pole dancer (just because I learnt the flemish word - paal dansen) and embarassingly, I was being carried up onto that pole couple of times.

NgaH! Maybe I should pick up the dance to live up to the said reputation :)

The night ended late but I suprised myself by waking up very early and puttin on my boots for 2nd day of skiing. I think I am really getting a flair of it ;)

Next winter I will put myself to a week's course so that I will be shameless besides those brats.

And I will get me self my nice one-piece black/orange strip ski suit. Bah, women!

Just before I left for the 12 hour bus ride back to brussels, my ski instructor's last words were, "see you again. i will think of you". ????? hehehaha

I was in Istanbul for work. Here's the prove. Everyone just love this one liner poster, "some of the world's greatest things are made in Belgium". Of course, they also loved the goodies we brought with us ;)


Some colourful quick shots from the market.







Lovely seafood?

Warm and friendly waiters?


Belly... ops "boobies" dancer? She's only jiggling her boobs for 10 sec and asking for money again and again. Where's that original belly dancers made popular in Turkey?


Well, this is also where we got ultimately excessively screwed! Damn these tourist suckers! Taxi drivers. Market people. Boobies dancers. Restaurants.

Well, Istanbul has lots to offer I suppose. Picturesque old mosques towering at every corners. Its fill to the brim with history but I was just there for couple of days so didnt had enough time to read and to discover. Perhaps I will come back again some day? Sense the hesitation? I am not too sure anymore as I felt the insincerity of people I came across there just tarnnished the impression built before I went.

It was just a real turn off!

Sorry guys, I have been too busy to do anything here.

Was back to Belgium last week and off now in Istanbul for work (most romantic city in the world, they say). Next stop is Villars, Switzerland for Team Building (skiing!!!) then to Lisbon for work again. Phew!

I will miss March.

One of the little wonders in the world :)

Dip your first scope, aw the dark glowy chocolate melts your heart. You yearn for more.

Just as you thought it gets too heavy, you'll be surprise by the light refreshing tangy feeling of the crème brulee hidden beneath that oasis of chocolate.

Then you'll strike something hard, mmm thin frame of cookie with the mysterious crunch of hazelnut.

Phew you couldn't ask for more - only Pierre Marcolini's Chocolate Creme Brulee!

True bliss.

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone good health, prosperity and loads of happiness in this year of PIG!

I am sitting now in the BMI Lounge in Heathrow, waiting for the connection flight to Brussels. Well, lets just tell you about the ridiculous experience just now at the custom - crossing from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2.

I was carrying a laptop bag and also a plastic bag with my tins of kuih kapet (love letters). As we were all entering the queue to screen our hand luggages, an officer was instructing that everyone is only allowed to have ONE bag, otherwise we'll be thrown out of the airport. It was a chaos. Everyone was trying to figure. Well, so I placed my laptop bag into my plastic bag (with 3/4 of the laptop bag protruding out of the other). I hugged it because I couldnt manage even to hold the handle. But with that stupid idea, they accepted and I could pass thru the checkpoint.

Though I felt really silly huggin the plastic bag with a laptop bag sticking outta it. Its a funny sight! I'll have to take a picture to illustrate it.

Anyway, I think they are getting overly obsessed strict and ridiculous. We had to remove our laptops from the bag, our belts and even shoes!

So you can imagine the long queue due to the very tidious process.

Otherwise, Chinese New Year was fabulous! Lotsa eating, drinking, little gambling (i have no luck this year!), visiting and meeting up with the family, relatives and friends.

We went 2 days to Singapore to visit my Nam who has became so chubby. He looks like a fur ball. Very cute. I just wished I had brought him to Belgium with me. He'll be such a great companion. I do miss him so much!!

He had such a sad melodramatic expression when I saw him. I guess he misses me too.

We also went for 4 days to Langkawi. A very economicall trip booked via AirAsia. Lucky us that we didnt experience any delays for I've heard they are well known for their huge delays!

Though Langkawi island is rather quiet, the shining sun and the beautiful beaches are sufficient to make our holiday perfect. We sneaked into the Datai for a day. That was the most beautiful piece of beach. Fine white sand. Clear waters. And no jelly fishes (Urgh, I hate them).

Also, went island hopping for RM 35. There was an island we visited called Pulau Singa Besar which had a very beautiful beach and wonderful scenery plus clear greenish water. I thought it was very lovely except for the litterings. Sigh, I wish people will learn to love our environment more. Its a real pity.

It angers me also when I see the irresponsible tourists giving junkfood and can drinks to the wild monkeys. Firstly, its not good for their diet. And the monkeys are surely not smart enough to be sure the the packages and cans are to be dispose at the right bins.

Well, this trip has been more difficult for me to leave, perhaps its because of the thought for returning to grey cold brussels? thought to be again far away from the family and friends? I am getting homesick for the first time since I moved here last summer!!!

This is life! I have to work! And that starts tomorrow. Wish me luck for not falling asleep half way thru :S