Cheesecake Factory revisited

Superb dinner, followed by their special cheese cake!

Eye in the sky

Did not expected this for the business trip in Mountain View, but I had the fortune of sitting in my colleague's Cessna for an aerial view of San Francisco!

I also got to tried out the 'flight mode' feature of my handphone. So here are the pictures I took...

Palo Alto Airport - people drive here to take
their private plane to got for dinner, or go home.

Front view of the Cessna 170B, made in 1954

The passengers.

Irene, the co-pilot, doing the pre-flight check.

Bayshore Freeway, aka 101

Bair Island

Intersection of 92 and 101

Foster City

Sunset view from behind the cockpit

First view of the San Francisco Airport landing strip

San Francisco Airport

Evening view of San Francisco

Sunset view, Pacific Ocean

We flew past the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz. Didn't get a good shot of these two landmarks as it was almost nightfall.

We made a stop over at Half Moon Bay Airport, where the pilot landed beautifully.

We took a 100 meter walk to an Italian restaurant next to the airport for a sumptuous dinner, before heading back to Palo Alto Airport where I parked our rental car.

Life at the bay area, what a night!

I ran and I flew...

On my way to San Francisco, after my first half-marathon of the year.

Genting weather forecast

Going to Genting highlands for the first time. But looks like its gonna be a wet and cold experience for me.

Stand up for Singapore

The Australian newspapers that I came across in my 3 weeks here reports mainly about local news. I could barely find any international news. Amazingly, I saw the word 'Singapore' appear in an entertainment news about a movie starring Joan Chen (Lead actress of Last Emperor) and local (Mediacorp) actor Qi Yu Wu.

But I honestly felt home sick when I saw the Singapore flag appearing right in my face in one of the local advertisement.

Nope, not this one.

Not this one also (Guess a jet fighter is million times faster than a rabbit)

Hacker's mascot?

Ahhh....that familiar crescent moon and 5 stars.

Australia Zoo

We had our longest road trip today, driving up to Sunshine Coast to check out the beaches at Caloundra.

But we first made a detour to visit the Australia Zoo in the morning. As I was driving along Glass House Mountains Road, I realised it has also been named as Steve Irwin Way, after the famous crocodile celebrity Steve Irwin.

At first, we thought we wouldn't be able to cover most if not all parts of the zoo if we wanted to go to the beaches. We had reached the zoo at about 10 am and had lunch at the food court after the animal show. But surprisingly, by the time we left the zoo at about 3 pm, we had actually seen most of the animals.

The Australia Zoo has a huge collection of crocodiles, kangaroos and last but not least, koala bears. I thought I would go gaga over the koalas, but I found another adorable animal - the fat wombat. The animal show at the crocoseum was more educational than entertaining, unlike what I see at the Singapore zoo.

Enough writing, here's some photos to add some colour to this boring blog.

Crikey!

Kangaroo dozing off

Wrestling with a crocCrocoseum

Graham, age 35, Length: 12 Feet, Vital Stats, 38-38-36.

Just another croc

Koala with an attitude

Fat wombat

Downtown Brisbane

Finally the weekend arrives and we can do some exploring in Brisbane!

My colleague and I had arranged to meet up with a few other colleagues for dinner near Brisbane downtown. So we decided to go to the shopping malls in Brisbane in the afternoon.

We wanted to settle lunch first at our favorite Thai restaurant but suay suay, the restaurant was closed for lunch. So bobian we went to next door's Sizzler for the salad bar instead.

Crispy cheese toast@Sizzler

After suppressing my stomach revolution (with soup, salad, pasta, potatoes, ice-cream, etc.), I took the driver seat and embarked on my virgin trip to Brisbane downtown. I missed a couple of turns and after some route re-plan (thanks to my fantastic VC), I reached the destination we were looking for - Myer Center@Elizabeth Street.

Parking is expensive in downtown Brisbane. But some malls, including Meyer Center, offer 10 AUD whole day parking.

We spent some time shopping in Meyer before venturing out to the Queen Street Promenade. Queen Street Promenade is similar to some of the Europe city's pedestrian mall, where there are outdoor eateries in the middle, flanked by shops along both side. It wasn't a big place so we explored the nearby streets.

Brisbane City Hall

Shops close very early in Australia, so by 6 pm we found ourselves loitering along the streets of Brisbane. Faced with the fact that night has fallen (sun set early in winter), we decided to go to our dinner place even though we were still an hour away from the meeting time.

We soon found out that the place - Breakfast Creek Hotel, was less than 10 minutes drive from the city center. The place is not what it is call now, it is no longer a hotel and we didn't come here for breakfast. :-P

The place was already packed with people and we were lucky to find a (free) car park lot.

In Australia, its quite common to have a drink before dinner, which is what we did when we met our colleagues at the bar. We then proceed to our table for dinner. The place we were at is famous for steak, which was what everyone at the table ordered, except me. I was more of a fish person so I went for the Barramundi, and the way it was done wasn't really worth the price tag. After some wine, and more beer, we finally make our way back to the hotel in quiet Ipswich.

To be continued...

Ipswich

Ipswich is a little city located in south east Queensland of Australia. It is some 45 minutes drive from Brisbane. As Queensland's oldest provincial city, Ipswich has more than 6000 heritage-listed sites.

Within the Ipswich CBD, is Ipswich International Hotel, probably the biggest hotel here, with 80 over guest rooms and 8 service apartments.

Ipswich CBD

my room

Food in Australia is expensive, even in this tiny city. A simple lunch, such as a chicken kebab, will set you back by at least 6.50 AUD. A MSG-filled Chinese fried noodle cost 9.50 AUD.

Egg Benedict (14 AUD breakfast)

But good thing about dining in Australia is what you see is what you get - the price on the menu is what you see on the bill. There is no +++ like what Singapore restaurant practice. And tipping is only encourage for excellent service.

Weather is very cooling as it is still winter season. Guess I will miss the weather here when I go back Singapore.

To be continued...

Sudoku@airport

I was on the way to the gate C17 on Sunday to catch my flight when I saw this game been hosted at the transit hall.

I checked my watch - 8.35 pm. My flight was 9.20 pm, so I thought a game wouldn't take too much time....

Little did I know that the game has 3 stage and I got into the final round with a Korean and an Indian contestant. I beat them and won a pen ;-)

I checked my watch again - 8.57 pm. I started running to my gate...

Down Under

White February@Alexandria

View from my hotel room

Nowcast as of 6:11 am EST on February 14, 2007

32 °F / 0 °C Light Freezing Drizzle Mist
Snow Depth: 2.0 inch / 5.08 cm

Moderate sleet mixed with freezing rain to continue this morning across the DC and Baltimore Metro areas. The precipitation will taper off over the DC region between 7 and 8 and...and between 9 and 10 am over the Baltimore Metro area. Additional sleet accumulations of one quarter of an inch is possible before the precipitation ends. Additional glaze ice accumulation will be minimal around one tenth of an inch. Driving conditions are hazardous. Expect north winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts of 20 to 30 mph this morning.

Minus 3@Alexandria

Weather was cold today. By 2pm, winter storm warning has been announced. Citizens were advised to go home early and avoid driving. Unfortunately life goes on, as meeting continue all the way til 6 plus (and I dozed off half way due to jet lag :P) .

By the time we got out of office, the showers throughout the day has caused thin ice forming on the road and cars that were parked in open space are coated with ice.

Our rented car covered with ice.

Back at the hotel, we tried to get the hotel shuttle bus for dinner but was told that due to safety precautions, the service is suspended for the time being. Not wanting to risk driving in such conditions, we took a short stroll to a nearby restaurant in the chilly weather.

Cars in front of the hotel.

After dinner, I found out from the news that snow storm is sweeping northeast of US. Flights from Washington D.C. has been cancelled for tonight and tomorrow morning. Hopefully my thursday flight don't get cancel. Don't want to spend my chinese new year here or in mid-air.

Cross my fingers and pray hard....

District of Columbia

Took a walk in downtown Washington D.C. before heading for dinner. Took some photos in the chilly wind.

Washington Memorial - he the one who cuts the tree.

White House - Bush wasn't at home.

Flags around the memorial

Capitol Hill - where the senators are.

X degree below zero

Going to Washington D.C. on Sunday. Checked the weather forecast, and already got the shiver even before I go there....


Hopefully I don't freeze my butt off...

飘洋过海去美国 - Across the pacific ocean

Had to travel to US for some training this week. Cos of the marathon, I got a flight out of Singapore on Monday evening. I went quite early to the boarding gate but almost missed my flight - the stupid SIA changed boarding gate. Fortunately a caucasian lady passenger noticed the change on the right corner of LED announcement board and informed those around. So we quickly went to search for the new boarding gate which was at the other side of Changi Airport Terminal 2. Fortunately we weren't too late.

On board the plane, I tried to watch Miami Vice but found it unwatchable and quitted after 20 minutes. Then I tried watching Pirates of The Carribean Part 2. Turn out to be a better choice than Miami Vice. Johnny Depp was despicably cool as Captain Jack Sparrow. The show was entertaining, unfortunately the ending was a cliffhanger, signifying a Part 3.

Had to transit at Hong Kong and went through a baggage security screening that applies to all the passengers. Started second leg of my route watching Superman 2 and thought it wasn't that fascinating. Watchable, but not very exciting. Managed to catch a few hours of sleep before I woke up for breakfast and watched another movie; this time a Hong Kong movie - Election 2. It was worst than Superman 2. Enough said.

The flight was early and touched down at 4.50 pm pacific time at San Francisco International Airport. I got my luggage and went to take the Sky Train to the Car Rental Center.

Blue Line to Car Rental Center.

Got bit of navigation problem initially when trying to get out of SFO but eventually found my way to 101 south. Traffic was heavy but I survived my first lonely drive to the hotel and check in around 7 pm. My colleagues weren't in the hotel so I decided to walk over to a fast food restaurant and grabbed a quick bite there.

Wendy's, opposite Wild Palms Hotel Sunnyvale

Spicy chicken burger. Taste bit like KFC.

When I got back to the hotel, my hand was freezing. I told myself that I should drive instead from now on....

100 places to see before I die

I was at Wheelock place to register for the Terry Fox Run on Saturday. After which I went to browse through the books at Borders bookstore. That's where I stumble upon an interesting book title call "1,000 Places to See Before You Die". The notion of 'die-die' must see before your soul depart your mortal body before going up (or down) was captivating. I couldn't resist the temptation to do a quick scan of the book and found the short description in the book not too fascinating. But nonetheless, the title had kept me thinking since then.

What were the places I wanted to see me I die?

I don't think I have a thousand places I would like to visit. Firstly, I doubt I have the time and secondly, I don't belong to the rich and famous.

On top of my head, here's the top 10 places I would like to see before I die, in no order of preference:
1. Great Wall of China
The greatest achievement of the first Emperor of Ancient China, Shih Hwang Ti. It's definitely a place I would like to visit before I die. But I doubt I will attempt to conquer the whole 10,000 li. I probably die before I completed it.

2. Forbidden City, BeiJing, China
The palace where the Ming and Qin Dynasty Emperors stayed and rule China. Featured in so many of China and Hong Kong movies and drama serial, I really wanna see how this ancient palace of so many historical events looks like.

3. Yosemite, California, United States
A nature park that many of my colleagues visited during their trip to the United States. I got to go see how scenic is that place.

4. Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States
One of seven natural wonders of the world. Standing anyway in the Canyon is comparable to looking at Singapore on the globe? Hopefully I have a chance to go there and indulge in mother nature's creation.

5. Hokkaido, Japan
I always love snow. Don't ask me why, but everytime the word snow comes into my mind, the word Hokkaido would pop up. I don't ski, but I think I would still love this part of Japan.

6. The Sagrada Família church, Barcelona, Spain
Saw this in the Meteor Garden, a Taiwanese drama base on a Japanese manga. Any architecture building in Europe always amazes me. This is one that I have yet to visit and its top of my list for historical architecture structure.

7. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
I always wanted to see this metallic tower that Superman saved Lois Lane from her fall. Hang on, that's from a movie scene. Nevermind, I still want to visit and take a picture of it.

8. Las Vegas, United States
A city in the middle of the desert that survive base on human's indulgence in 'entertainment'. A city that never sleeps. Sounds familiar?

9. Shanghai, China
One of the most 'happening' places in China right now. So must go and see lah.

10. New York City, United States
The Big Apple. I would never forget that night when I saw on TV how the plane crash into the World Trade Center building and how the 2 towers collapsed into rubbles.

So what are the 10 or 100 places you would like to see before you die?

Desaru Trip: Part 3 - Relax, dinner and home sweet home

After all the tiring games, it was time for tea to replenish our energy. But the gals got there first, so the guys had no choice but to look on.

A bunch of hungry ladies

After that, some of them went to play beach volleyballs.

Asking for compensation?

The game started...

But Jeremy couldn't take it anymore

Ball: Were you looking for me?

Danny doing the gymnastic pose

Dinner by the pool

Some girls doing meditation at the water fall

Kevral must have offended Danny, he looks like he's gonna kill her with the ball

Dinner in preparation

And it happen to be Audrey Wong's birthday

After dinner, we went to play american pool, table tennis and karaoke. Then a few of us continue to the wee hours playing 5-10 drinking games. I was amazed that I could wake up the next morning for breakfast. It was an uneventful morning as most of them were resting in the room. I was hanging around the lobby and saw my fellow ladies colleagues.

"Don't take leh! I don't have my makeup!"

Panda Shih Keen without her make up

Siew Yen pondering over life...

Finally, we checked out and boarded the coach.

Audrey with the V-sign. (Why all the gals like to do that?)

Finally, we board the ferry bounded for Singapore!

P.S. More pictures at this site