Next Stop: Singapura

September 8, 2005.  I toured the main business district of Singapore with my then team lead in the previous company I worked for.  I have not had the chance to see the city closely.. like go to Sentosa, Orchard Road, Night Safari and the likes.  Now, after two years, if everything goes well, in two weeks I will have the chance to revisit the city.  IF, everything goes well..

I am praying for it (",). 

Janda Baik Adventure

 Last Tuesday our team had an offsite teambuilding at the highlands of Bukit Tinggi, where the famous Genting Highlands is also located.  The morning activity was held at Colmar Tropicale, a French-inspired resort hotel.  It was weird to have an offsite on a weekday, but later on we learned that it was our team's first anniv that day thus the reason they set the event on that date.  Wee!  Belated happy birthday to B2Bi CC!

The morning activity went fine.. and then prepared for the outdoor activity later on the afternoon.  Last March, when we attended our first all-hands, the outdoor activity they organized was raft-building (and a race in the sea while on it).  It was a first for me, and it's great… Now on our second all-hands, they organized a river tubing activity.  It is like a semi white-water rafting, but the raft is a rubber tire, which they call 'tubes'. 

We are to race along a 1-kilometer stretch of the Janda Baik river, thank goodness the water that day is perfect — not so fast and not so deep. Before going to the actual stretch of the race, one of the facilitators, Bryan, gave each one of us a minute or two of hands-on training with the tubes.  It was during that hands-on when I started getting nervous, watching my teammates on it while I'm waiting for my turn.  The training site of the river was shallow, but the water was fast enough to drag us.  Good thing my tube did not get to the critical area.  I earned a bit of confidence. 

So off went our team (there are 5 teams of 10 people each) to the actual stretch.  We rode on a 4×4 provided by the facilitators, and arrived at the start of the race after several minutes.  Armed with lifevests, helmet, and paddles, we took our tubes and lined to the river bank.. Us being the terrified first-timers, we really haven't thought of any strategy on how to get to the finish line fast, but just to survive the waters and get back to the hotel alive for the French dinner later haha! 

Well, it turned out fantastic actually.  I was able to balance well in my tube, battle some rocks on the way and pass through the rapids just fine.  There was a certain moment when I got stuck in a mild rock, but got myself freed some seconds later,  great paddling that was!

River tubing at Janda Baik  

Our team turned out fast after all — 2nd place to the race.  Oh di ba, wala pang effort yan! haha!  It felt really good… enjoying the rapids and trying to avoid the rocks on the way.  It is something that I would want to do again – maybe next time I could handle a much stronger current!

The vacation grandeur that was…

After 48 years!!  Finally, I got my good share of Krispy Kremes!! Wee!! Thanks to my friends who visited me here..  They stayed at our place for a week, up to Malaysia's celebration of 50th Independence Day last 31st of August.  It was a week full of activities making it perfect timing for their coming here.

    We spent my birthday devouring Kuala Lumpur, morning til night.  First stop was Petronas, naturally.  But due to my lack of preparation (and ignorance) we cannot climb to skyway because they are closed every Monday!  haha!  So we just went around KLCC… attempting to enter Aquaria but changed minds.  Then off we went to Eye on Malaysia, MY's version of Britain's London Eye.  And then.. where else but to Bukit Bintang, to shop for souvenirs and stuffs.  I was so exhausted when we reach home!  But happy of course! (",)

Thanks to all who remembered and greeted me on my 24th year of existence, as I look forward to what life has in store for me.. sigh. Lapit na ng scary age ko..

I think i'm missing some of them here but I sure am thankful for each and every greeting!  Mwaah!

Jun. Leandro. Rica. Ate Rueth. Aubrey. Sim. Carlo. Lola.  Angelica.  Tita Lei.  Tita lil. Deth. Ate Mai. Ate Armie.  Malyn. Joane. Cousin  Anna. Bespren Solance. Gracey. Ate Cathy. Sir Poli.  Russell. Tunz. Nelle. Yayey. Ivan.  Richard. Bianca. Ate Lee. Angelito. Li-anne. Ni-an. Spink. Joy. Jez. Ate Wems. Aimee. Alfin. Bong. Frank. Dana. Kris. Belo. cousin Joyce. Dreb. Renee. Precy. Dards. Elgene. M1. Jenny. Elaine. Ate Keks. Ninong Mike. Guna. Big Boss KT. Ms. Gina. Ms. Ana. Gerlyn

BTW, my CORE friends got me (aside from the KKs) a scrapbook! Thanks to SIM, who spearheaded the making that took him months.. and ate rueth who financed the whole thing hehe!  Ang ganda nya grabe naiiyak pa rin ako pag nababasa ko.  Thanks guys so much!

My housemates here got me a couple of red wine and a pair of pajamas!  The pajamas are my personal request from them since yes — i don't have any haha!   I only wear comfy boxers and shirts when i sleep  and that's it.

BTW, here is what Jun got me for my birthday present.. really really luv it!  May pang-jogging na ako hihi.  Terno pa kami.  He wanted a Nike Free for me too, since he got a pair and I don't.  So there he brought me to a Nike store and had me pick my choice of color.

nike free 7.0

I didn't expect my birthday to be this good, and I'm so damn thankful… Looking forward to my trip next month to Manila.