The Impromptu Holiday Series: The Misadventures of a Food-filled Holiday

These days, the thought of riding a long-distance-bus to anywhere would almost certainly gives you goosebumps. The accident toll is simply too high and loud to be ignored. Yet, it is still one of the more time and cost efficient ways to travel.

By plane?
Too expensive, especially when it's a last minute thingy.

By train?
Waaay too slow, unless you're departing from Ipoh which now has a relatively fast train to KL.

By bus?
Moderate in price. Moderate in travelling time.

So the least you could do is choose a better bus company I guess. In this case, we chose Aeroline. 'We' being me and my family. Yes, it is pricer than other bus companies but it arrives straight to the area (shopping centre) or your choice, 1Utama, Sunway Pyramid or Corus hotel for those heading to town. Sis is studying in Sunway College, so arriving at Sunway Pyramid is really a convenient thing for her especially with our aunt living in Subang Jaya as well.

So off I go on my way down to meet Bobby.

Except there were only six passengers in the bus, plus an attendant and the bus captain. *psst* When you pay RM60 for a trip down to KL by bus, you don't call him 'driver', you call him 'captain'. Ada stail, ada kelas, ada uniform, okay? :)

And you see what I discovered?!

A POWER POINT!

Which means I can have my laptop on throughout the bus ride, Yes?

NO!

Nonono. It's not that the power is not working. It's just that I was tooo dizzy to function myself, let it be my computer. One, because there's way too little passengers on board on a weekday, the entire bus was shaky with the empty seats swaying left and right with no weights on them. Two, obviously I haven't ride on a coach bus for a loooong long time. Probably since my university days. O_O

To be honest, I kinda freaked out a little because there was a time when I used to boast my high 'bus tolerance'. While my friends were all commenting on how uncomfortable and tiresome a bus ride can get, I gave the comment a shrug and said it was nothing. 5 years later, I'm getting 'bus sick'?!? Wait! It's been 5 years already!

*dies*

Maybe 4.

Okay, 4 plus.

*sigh*

The RM60 bus ride is inclusive of a meal-on-board and a cup of hot drink (though I'm pretty sure you can ask for more if your kiasu-self wanna make the most out of your money :P). They also provide you with a headphone set that you can plug in to the side controller to either listen to music (about 4 different genres) or watch the movie airing on screen.

Not bad eh?

Except I totally made a dork out of myself by attempting my "smell-before-drink" ritual whenever I am having a cup of coffee. One bump and one shake later, and my drink was all over me. Luckily I was seated so far away from the other five passengers that not one noticed, or at least I hope no one did.

*Wipes frantically*

Now, if dizziness and stained top are not misfortunes enough. Guess what? My camera battery ran low! Like WOOT?! I charged it overnight just to find out that it didn't actually 'charged' at all? I'm supposed to take awesome pictures tonight man.

*sad face*

Not exactly a good start to a holiday.

So when I finally arrived at Sunway Pyramid, I took the liberty to cheer myself up while I was waiting for my godmom to pick me up. With a handbag over my right shoulder and a computer-bag-turned-laggage-bag on my left, plus two boxes of tambun biscuits in my hands, I stepped into Fullhouse@Sunway Pyramid and had myself some Creme Brulee.

At a whooping cost of RM12.00 after tax.

-.-;;

Perk-me-ups certainly don't come cheap in KL. Oh and just before I left, the nice Mr Waiter-in-Charge actually pointed at the boxes of tambun biscuits and asked me where did I get them?

"Are they bought from outside?"

"Umm... no. They're from Penang."

"Oh."

Hahaha... and so I smiled, carried my laggage bag which was nicely tucked into a corner beside my seat earlier (hiding the fact that I'm from outstation) and walked off.

*phew*

I know. I know. What about the dinner, right?
We're getting there. :)

The Impromptu Holiday Series: In Which Size Does Not Matter...

... and relevance prevails!

There's a huge LED screen in front of me and yet I chose to stare at this smaller one for almost the entire day.

What does that say about me?

A. Big and huge do not impress me. *cough*

B. I see technology as a trend that comes today, gone tomorrow.

C. I paiseh use other people's stuff and prefer to stick to my own.

D. All of the above.

.

.

.

Answer: E. None of the above.

Because, obviously I need to enrol myself into an Internet addiction programme.

*sigh*

The Impromptu Holiday Series: Dinner with Bobby Chinn (Also Known as the Woot? Woot? Special)

Two Sundays ago, I came across an article on Bobby Chinn's upcoming World Cafe Asia series featuring the Middle East. At the end of the article was a simple contest which requires me to answer 2 questions and complete a slogan. Easy peasy right? And all you have to do is email your entry over. Ergo, no cost!

The Prize?
A free dinner for two with Bobby Chinn at JW Marriott.

The Catch?
Middle Eastern cuisine.

Duh. Not that I mind, I'm for one is up for anything when it comes to food. I mean, my colleagues don't call me "tamchiak girl" for nothing. That, and of course, the fact that I go hungry very fast.

Wait! Where was I?

Oh yes. So I joined the contest. Come on lah, it's dinner with Bobby Chinn! There's only one other person I might give a pass on Bobby to dine with, Anthony Bourdain. Hahaha.. but Bourdain's American charm doesn't strike my mom's fancy. So if there's really such a decision to be made, Bobby gets my mom's support, plus he kinda do hit closer to home.

Now, remember The Catch I mentioned earlier that it being Middle East cuisine? While, that's not half as bad since I appreciate food no matter how essentric they may get. The Problem however, was that the closing date for the competition was on the 15th, that's a Friday. The dinner is on the 20th. Minus the weekend and all that's left is a 3-day lead time for whatever plans you need should you win the prize.

And let's not forget the fact that I'm from Penang.

So I got a call on Monday saying that I won the competition. Freaked out a little, panicked a little and then decided "I want to going!" So I went in and see the boss.

Me: "Umm... boss, do you know who Bobby Chinn is?"

Boss: "No."

-__-

Well, that was expected. If I were to ask "Do you know there's a TLC channel on Astro?" I'll probably get a "No." as well. Totally salah channel lah.
Luckily Mrs Boss was around.

Mrs Boss: "Oh, he's that chef host is it?"

Me: "Yaya. Well, I sorta won a dinner with him this Wednesday... it's pretty last minute."

Mrs Boss: "Oh then you must go!"

Yay! Got support!

So after making sure my work schedule permits me to go MIA, I was let off for the rest of the week. And so it began. My Impromptu Holiday!

An Internet Connection That I Would Die For

or an Internet Connection That I Would Kill For?

Either way works.

Day 2 of impromptu 'holiday' and things are certainly picking up.

Lame pun is lame.

:P

The Late Birthday Post

Statement:
My younger sister attended BM High during her high school years.

Question:
How is that relevant to this post?

Well, there are only a few things I know about her high school. (1) We call it a military school because of its rule-abiding-ways, (2) It's Sekolah Tinggi Bukit Mertajam with Tinggi and Bukit being the keywords as you kinda really need to climb up a hill to get to school every morning, and (3) the school's motto goes something along the lines of "Accomplish or never begin!".

Item (3) being the answer to the Question.

You see, my posts might be fashionably late but at least I make the point
to finish them. *grins*

Can you believe I'm actually making procastinating sound like a good thing?
LOL. Even I can't believe myself.

Anyway, continuing from where I left off here. It's time to give credit to the lady who till this day, has never ever miss a single birthday of mine. The sassy lady I call 'kai-ma'. Wait wait! But this year the package came so much more special with 'kai-pa' and godbrother, each throwing a gift into the happiness bag, with a complimentary card from little sis as well.

Lookie at all the stuff in the package. Lipstick from godbrother, lipstick purse from godma, two seperate birthday cards. Okay you can't see the cards but they're there. :P



And a book on Baba Poetry from godpa, a book which was written by Uncle Johnny. The book came with an attached CD with all the traditional poems and sayings in audio. The entire family had a good laugh listening to it as it was full of quirky and interesting sayings that not only rhymes but have some clever advices in there as well.



Next up! Gifts from my colleagues. A box of Excel Tea?

Most Certainly Not!



The gift was nicely stuffed into the box.



It turned out to be a bag!
The Gifter? Cik Anai, Thank You!!



This one came totally as a surprise. One, I didn't expect to receive a gift from her and two, I didn't expect the gift to be what it is.

"For your trip to London next year!" she said.
Awww... Thank You Mrs Boss of Torch!

OMG! I missed out some photos. Two more gifts!
Shiatz! I guess this is not the last birthday post YET! :P