how time flew by so quickly that i can't even take a moment to pause. This time next week will be down at the airport handling check-in procedures and board the aircraft fly down to Sydney.
Marketing materials are done and sent to the respective printers. In the midst of tying up the final logistic and program details and really hope everything will go smoothly without a glitch. Yes, the H1N1 issue is really a pain. With all the safety plans in place i also hope that nothing goes wrong, back safe and sound to continue on with post-sydney activities. Sometimes we just have to go by gut feeling and I dare say that 80% chance of being back okay but then its that remaining 20% chance that can blow everything off track. Argh...!
Yup that's life now. That is to wake up, reply emails, make phone calls and slowly check off things on the to-do list. Things was thrown into uncertainty just one and half weeks ago when the flu took a serious turn down under but yah, since the decision is to carry on. I am just all smiles. =D
Can't wait to spend that 1 week there. Weets!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Hymne an die Jungfrau
Came to learn that there is two very different lyrics that have been text to Schubert's Ave Maria. "Hymne an die Jungfrau" or known as "Hymn to the Virgin" supposed to be the original text to the Schubert's Ave Maria. Pardon me if I am wrong and please let me know too. Thank you.
Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,
Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen,
Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild Soll mein Gebet zu dir hinwehen.
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,
Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind.
O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen,
O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Unbefleckt!
Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken
Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt
Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken.
Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen
In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft,
O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen,
O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Reine Magd!
Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen,
Von deines Auges Huld verjagt,
Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen,
Wir woll'n uns still dem Schicksal beugen,
Da uns dein heil'ger Trost anweht;
Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen,
Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht.
Ave Maria!
Acknowledge the source of the german text from Ave Maria music and lyrics . You will be able to find out more about Ave Maria on this website too!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,
Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen,
Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild Soll mein Gebet zu dir hinwehen.
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,
Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind.
O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen,
O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Unbefleckt!
Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken
Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt
Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken.
Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen
In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft,
O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen,
O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Reine Magd!
Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen,
Von deines Auges Huld verjagt,
Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen,
Wir woll'n uns still dem Schicksal beugen,
Da uns dein heil'ger Trost anweht;
Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen,
Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht.
Ave Maria!
Acknowledge the source of the german text from Ave Maria music and lyrics . You will be able to find out more about Ave Maria on this website too!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Sawadee Thailand 2
The next two days is an all out attack on the malls. No one will be able to resist clothes that flies off the shelf at wholesale price if you buy more than 3 pieces of course. Okay, bad idea to shop with the weekend shopping crowd. BAD IDEA! Why? Because you are there for a few days and the locals can go there everyday! So there is a tendency to missed out on things if you aim to leave every stone uncovered.
What is enjoying local delicacies without eating at the roadside stores? While there is no hygiene grading (like I care) and chances of getting an upset stomach is high, there is no harm giving it a try. The food served is not fantastic but overall its the experience of eating by the road where human and motor traffic zoom by. Sounds a little noobie here but the last time round, where priority is to feed small kids with french fries and burgers and adults whose face turned sour at the idea of roadside store. Now that's partly the reason why i stopped travelling with family and relatives. =D
While in an attempt to avoid the horrible gridlock of Bangkok, I made a good effort to check out early and get a ride as quickly to the airport. Its too good an effort that i reached the airport 40mins from the moment i stepped out of my hotel room leaving about 1 hr 30mins before the check-in counters are even open! Gosh! Thank goodness for the small range of cafe to choose from, I settle into one of them, ordered a nice cup of coffee and brownie (lovin' it).
The first sign that I am heading back to Singapore comes when there is a long steady queue at the check-in counters. Yes! "Kiasuisum" rocks internationally! Mind you that there is no signage displaying TR105 to Singapore beforehand. Soon the counters open and the check-in process began. Here comes the irony of a budget carrier operating out of an international airport. The boarding pass have been painstakingly paste with passenger's name cut into strips from the flight manifest and besides the standard Tiger baggage tag, a fallback tag have been issued. Would'nt it be better if we were to stick to the industry's norm to print a decent boarding pass and issue a standard baggage tag with the barcodes? Oh well... low cost eh? Security check was a pain in the ass with my bag going through the scanner a few times because they fail to get clear picture of an overstuffed bag. opps! And the security agent stared at amazement of something which is called a mouthpiece. For what i know, it won't kill anyone unless forces of nature makes it a lethal projectile. =S
Hmmm... walking home? 
What is enjoying local delicacies without eating at the roadside stores? While there is no hygiene grading (like I care) and chances of getting an upset stomach is high, there is no harm giving it a try. The food served is not fantastic but overall its the experience of eating by the road where human and motor traffic zoom by. Sounds a little noobie here but the last time round, where priority is to feed small kids with french fries and burgers and adults whose face turned sour at the idea of roadside store. Now that's partly the reason why i stopped travelling with family and relatives. =D
While in an attempt to avoid the horrible gridlock of Bangkok, I made a good effort to check out early and get a ride as quickly to the airport. Its too good an effort that i reached the airport 40mins from the moment i stepped out of my hotel room leaving about 1 hr 30mins before the check-in counters are even open! Gosh! Thank goodness for the small range of cafe to choose from, I settle into one of them, ordered a nice cup of coffee and brownie (lovin' it).
The first sign that I am heading back to Singapore comes when there is a long steady queue at the check-in counters. Yes! "Kiasuisum" rocks internationally! Mind you that there is no signage displaying TR105 to Singapore beforehand. Soon the counters open and the check-in process began. Here comes the irony of a budget carrier operating out of an international airport. The boarding pass have been painstakingly paste with passenger's name cut into strips from the flight manifest and besides the standard Tiger baggage tag, a fallback tag have been issued. Would'nt it be better if we were to stick to the industry's norm to print a decent boarding pass and issue a standard baggage tag with the barcodes? Oh well... low cost eh? Security check was a pain in the ass with my bag going through the scanner a few times because they fail to get clear picture of an overstuffed bag. opps! And the security agent stared at amazement of something which is called a mouthpiece. For what i know, it won't kill anyone unless forces of nature makes it a lethal projectile. =S
Hmmm... walking home? Maybe not..
Its "pleasant" to reach the boarding gate to find it without a plane. Okay, bear in mind its budget carrier where profits comes when they are flying not on the ground. A special comment on the pilot of this flight who is very informative and chatty sharing lots of stuffs about himself and the flight. We were delayed a little due to some paperwork so he began crapping stuffs over the intercomm especially when comes to the no smoking rule. "This is a non-smoking flight which is a rule not enforce by me but rather a law by the international civil aviation". lol!
Once the plane is airborne, majority just dozed off. Perhaps is due to the lack of inflight entertainment or just the all out shopping experience they had. I have my inflight entertainment, the kid sitting next to me. =( With his constant fidgeting its a distraction to my reading and sleeping. "growls.." And didn't the nice lady over the speaker announce not to litter on the aircraft, why are you shredding the info card on H1N1 and throwing into the front pocket? Well, I am just glad to disappear from his sight once the plane touch down and home sweet home.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Once the plane is airborne, majority just dozed off. Perhaps is due to the lack of inflight entertainment or just the all out shopping experience they had. I have my inflight entertainment, the kid sitting next to me. =( With his constant fidgeting its a distraction to my reading and sleeping. "growls.." And didn't the nice lady over the speaker announce not to litter on the aircraft, why are you shredding the info card on H1N1 and throwing into the front pocket? Well, I am just glad to disappear from his sight once the plane touch down and home sweet home.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Sawadee Thailand
After 8 hours of travelling and lots of waiting, i manage to plant myself on the comforts of my own bed. =) Alrights, 3 plus days in the land of smiles was a long awaited trip after the protest that left Bangkok Int'l Airport shut in december, finally get to utilized my ticket and a good opportunity to get away from everything (or i think so).
The idea of flying alone into Bangkok arriving at night is an idea that my parents won't buy, but hey, it's rather a thrilling experience trying to break the language barrier and get the driver to the hotel. Well... we "holland" (army term for getting lost during navigation) a little and after a costly call to the hotel to direct the driver, I found myself nicely settled into the hotel room.
Flying on a low cost carrier doesn't really sell to me but yah, I am game on trying this new form of travelling. The budget terminal is really... well... BUDGET! From the check-in counter all the way to boarding gates. The boarding pass resembles receipt that one gets when we sign for a bill, simply having your name, flight, boarding gate and thank goodness assigned seats! Most traveller add a little touch of "kiasuism" by getting into queue before the check in counters are even open and desperately trying to squeeze their way to the front with their extremely large baggage to only find out that they have to pay for excess baggage. Additional weight means additional fuel required means higher air fare.
The idea of flying alone into Bangkok arriving at night is an idea that my parents won't buy, but hey, it's rather a thrilling experience trying to break the language barrier and get the driver to the hotel. Well... we "holland" (army term for getting lost during navigation) a little and after a costly call to the hotel to direct the driver, I found myself nicely settled into the hotel room.
Flying on a low cost carrier doesn't really sell to me but yah, I am game on trying this new form of travelling. The budget terminal is really... well... BUDGET! From the check-in counter all the way to boarding gates. The boarding pass resembles receipt that one gets when we sign for a bill, simply having your name, flight, boarding gate and thank goodness assigned seats! Most traveller add a little touch of "kiasuism" by getting into queue before the check in counters are even open and desperately trying to squeeze their way to the front with their extremely large baggage to only find out that they have to pay for excess baggage. Additional weight means additional fuel required means higher air fare.
Does this remind you of a hospital corridor?
Well, on board, legroom is just right for me and since I was assigned aisle seat I could simply stretch out there if i want to. Downside is whenever the window seat passenger needs to get out, I would have to disrupt my reading or get out of my slumber just to stand up and allow them to get out. I don't like to squeeze. Food and drinks, costly. Since the flight is 2 hours I can manage to hold back my hunger till I get on the ground for more choices of food.
Part of the low cost strategy is quick turn around meaning upon arrival at Bangkok the plane is park at the furthest possible gate which is near the runway and so began a long trek down the concourse to clear custom and more walking to claim baggage.
Upon reaching the hotel, I immediately drop my luggage and head out in search for food. Since Tesco Lotus is minutes walk away and loaded with quite a number of fast food and slow food outlets, its definately a place to go! While I can't wait to taste local food, the thai written menu has left me dumbfound. Okay, plan B. There is a fast food outlet "Chester Grill" serving grill food which looks quite nice. After a few pointing here and there and Yes/No/OK, i get my order done and wait to be serve.
It drizzled and don't know where to go after that, might as well get an early night rest (my body clock is tune to Singapore GMT +8 and not +7) so in bangkok terms its an EARLY night rest. =S
To be continued...
Auf Wiedersehen!
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