Angela birthday dinner @ Fusion

112 day in Shanghai (20/12/07)

Today is the 2nd I haven’t been doing anything at work. Yes, totally nothing. All I did was just reach office, check my mails, chat on msn and phone, play Friendster and Facebook’s games.

And it’s not that I didn’t do my work but they have got nothing for me to do. I am supposed to be doing GDS this week but because it’s Christmas period, the occupancy rate is very low and they themselves have got nothing to do.

So in the end they just did the GDS I am supposed to do.

After this week, I will be spending one week with my family and then back to F&B department on 31st dec… last day of the year.

Might want to go to B.A.T.S, one of the restaurant bar in the hotel but got no idea if the training manger allows me to go there together with Joanne.

Anw, after work together, I went over to the Lujiazui train station to buy my Nokia phone batt as the old one has got something wrong with it.

After that, went to 正大广场 to look for Joanne and Angela as Angela is having her 4th haircut in Shanghai at Tony and Guy Academy.

Met Yu Hong back in the hotel at 7pm and we headed off to HuaiHai road to this penang restaurant, Fusion.

Thought that it is a buffet restaurant as Angela had buffet the previous time she was there. It ended up to be A la Carte.

Was quite disappointed as all of us were already in the mood of having buffet, eating all the different dishes they have.. plus we were all supper hungry. So we were thinking of changing a place for dinner to celebrate Angela’s birthday.

But the service was very good and the waiter even allows us to have their set-lunch as a set-dinner.

So in the end, we decided to stay and all 5 of us ordered 5 different main dishes; Prawn Noodles, Curry Chicken Rice, Mice Meat Noodle, Mee Goreng Fried Kway Tiao plus one Malay Gangkong, 2 and us ordered different dishes to share Curry puffs and Spring roll.

Kim, Angela and Yu Hong ordered teh tarek and both Joanne and I ordered fresh orange juice.

Was super satisfied and all of us were darn full after dinner. We still thought that we wouldn’t be that full at first and wanted to order Nasi Lemak too.

And although the food wasn’t really that fantastic, it is much better then Crossroad in terms of the food and service. Heard that the chef is a Malaysian.. Maybe that explains =)
Thumbs up =)

After dinner, took a walk all the way to People’s square (one train stop away) to digest a bit and window shopped while seeing the Christmas decorations.

Walked pass one tunnel while going home and at first, I saw some people laying things on the floor. I thought they are those roadside seller so didn’t really bother about them.

Then when we walked pass the tunnel again because we went the wrong way, I realized that they are beggars that have no home and they are laying their blankets on the floor getting ready to sleep.

And the place gets smellier when they start to open up all their plastic bags taking out the blankets.

I think this is the first time I see a group of beggars together getting ready to sleep on the floor along the tunnel (like those I see in TV shows). Normally I will only see a few beggars sleeping on the benches etc…

Found our way and took the subway home. And while walking through the tunnel towards the train platform, we saw some people started running like chasing after the last train.

‘I don’t think it’s the last train. Maybe they are just wanted to catch this coming training. Chinese people very kiasu one what. Like Singaporeans.’

‘Yea, but I think Chinese are too kiasu that kiasu this term doesn’t suit them anymore’

hahah. I think it’s quite funny when Angela said that.

And in the end, we started becoming kiasu too and ran to the platform as Joanne thought that it was really the last train coz we saw 2 elderly running too. Haha (we didn’t realized that elderly people can also be Kiasu)

Reached home, washed my face and headed off to lala land.

Hotel's Staff Outing

108 day in Shanghai (16/12/07)

The initial plan was to sleep for 2 hours before waking up at 5.30am to get ready for the hotel staff outing. But in the end, both Kim and I got up late and we got to rush out of the house.

Walked a few levels down the stairs and I realized that I should bring my employee card so I went back home, got Jie Ying’s house key, went into her house and get my card.

By that time, we thought that we were super later already and started running down the stairs.

The moment we reached the street, it was empty. Not a single car or taxi. The only vehicles we saw were a few buses passing by. Walked out to the main road at a very fast pace and the moment we saw a cab, we ran all the way to catch it.

It was like some morning exercise. Got quite hot when we reached the hotel when it was supposed to be freezing cold.

Got to find the coach we are boarding where they paste a ‘name list’ on the door. Went coach to coach to find our names and we finally found ours; Bus 1

Board the coach and waited for the rest of the staffs to arrive. While waiting for the other staffs to arrive, I realized that the hotel’s welfare is quite good.

Firstly, the hotel made an effort to come out with this outing for her staffs, and then there was a coffee and tea booth at the entrance for the staffs (it was freezing cold so I think by providing hot coffee and tea a a very good ides)

When all the staffs board the coach, breakfast will be distributed. Everyone will get to have a bun, a hard-boiled egg and yogurt in a plastic bag together with a bottle of water.

Journey started off and it takes us about 1½ hour to reach Ting Lin Yuan, some attraction in Suzhou.

Slept all the way, reached there and it was toilet break then team-building activity.

We were all told to gather at the field and put our bags at one corner. Thought that it was totally stupid to be involved in the activity so we decided to just carry our bag and not be involved.

But in the end, in order to get warm, we decided to just join in the activities. At least there is going to be some jumping and moving around.

Every one of us was distributed with scarf. They have got 4 different groups so each group will have a different color; Grey, blue, red and pink. Ours were dark blue.

And although the scarf was just to differentiate the different groups, I think the quality is quite good. (Another welfare from the hotel)

Played a few activities and it seems like we are back in primary school; rabbit dance (shall not explain), passing the hula hook using your head/body and finishing a race by jumping (jumping to the other end and the last person got to ran back, hit the palm of the next first person of the next row and the race continues)

Had some fun there because it has been ages since I last got involved in all this kind of activity: team building. It’s really like back to school days.

And well, at least we weren’t that cold after the activity.

Having some free time after that, we explored the garden, took some photos and started cam whoring.

Find our way back to the coach and the next stop was lunch.

Lunch was at one of the restaurant by Yu Chen Lake. All of us have got our own private room and both Kim and I were to seat with the reservation people (just nice 10 of us)

Cold dish was there already then came the prawns, some seafood with shell, vegetables, fish, egg, noodles, chicken soup and the most important item; hairy crab =)

That was the first time I tried hairy crab and have got no idea how to eat it. Rainbow, one of our colleague started teaching us how to eat the crab; differentiate between the male and female, the difference between them, how to peel the crab open, which part can or cannot eat, etc.

Started eating the crab and vinegar was the sauce to it. I ate the crab the way I eat it at home; peel the meat out, dip in the sauce, etc but the locals here don’t eat them the way I do.

They will dip the whole crab into the vinegar and suck the meat out. I tried doing that but nothing comes out of the shells.

We took a super long time to finish eating it and when we went out to wash our hands, all the other private rooms are not only empty, the dishes are more or less being cleared away already.
Which means all the other staffs have finished eating and went out like long time ago?!?!

After lunch, boarded the coach and we decided to go back out along the street to see what the locals are selling.

Chickens, crabs, eggs and vegetables are sold in almost every store there. We even saw one of the workers skinning off a chicken. Kim took a video down and I think it is totally disgusting.

Headed back to the hotel and it was another 2 hours sleeping time on the coach. Reached back Shanghai and since it was too cold to walk home, we took a cab home from the lobby.

Reached home at about 4.30pm and I started finding food the moment step into the house coz I wasn’t full at all during lunch.

Watched Prison Break until 11pm before heading off to bed.

The Family is here & Dinner @ Gintei

107 day in Shanghai (15/12/07)

After waiting for 3 and a half months, my parents and sister is finally here =)

Woke up at 9am and while still deciding if I should take a cab down, Jie Ying offered to lend me her Big bag: orange in color.

Borrowed her bag and although it is still very big, it is better then what I have initially; my own big blue bag, one plastic bag for the coat and one more light blue (Hong Thai agency bag) ugly bag.

So in the end, all I have got is her big orange bag and a plastic bag.

Started watching my HK series show till about 10.30am and got myself prepared to meet them to pass them some scarf, hats, SIM card, etc…

Took the train to LongYang station and transferred to the Maglev Train (Bullet train). Bought the round trip tickets which cost only RMB80; I thought that it was going to be at least RMB100 as I have got no air tickets.

And luckily I took the Maglev train as the train wasn’t crowded at all and everyone got to have a seat (comfortable kind) and the best thing is that it is super FAST. It’s like the feeling of a plane taking off (that kinda speed).

It takes only 30 mins to reach the Airport from my house and it is going to take me an hour plus which cost RMB130 if I take a cab.

Reached the airport and just nice, the announcement made that SQ826has just touch down. Waited very eagerly for them but after 10 mins, I still didn’t see them. The excitement went away for a while and soon, I saw my sis walking out from the arrival gate.

The moment I saw her, I ran and gave her a hug. Both of us got so excited and crazy. It was like ‘OMG!! I finally get to see u again!!! After 3 months!!!’

Went to one corner and we started like exchanging ‘gifts’. I gave her their stuffs and she passed me my Pandan cake, kuek, hard disk, hand phone and laksa paste. (They didn’t bring Ondeh Ondeh coz dad says that it is made of coconut and cant last overnight. So he ate it all at home yesterday!!! ARGH!!!)

Repacked some of the stuffs to make their luggage lighter and quite long later, I finally get to see daddy and mummy.

Walked them to their coach coz they still have got a tour to follow before coming back Shanghai and spend a few days with me.

Chatted with them for a while (5 mins?!?!) from the arrival hall to the coach bay.

Headed back home, ate the kuek, changed my phone, try out the hard disk and edited some photos before going out again to meet Yu Hong to go for the dinner with Maxim.

Reached the Japanese restaurant, Gintei and it is Tepenyaki buffet style. Ordered a lot of food; beef, chicken, fish, sashimi, sushi, tempura, etc..and the food taste real good.

Was half full already when Kim, Joanne and JieYing came after their shopping trip without me=(

And that place wasn’t cheap at all!!! RMB179 and I got to pay myself!!!

ANW, after dinner was to Babyface as we wanted to drink finish the half bottle of Chivas left there the other time when we were with Raymond and Denis.

And sad to say, our trip there is getting from bad to worse. The music sucks totally and I got hell no idea how the locals can dance with those kind of music. So not only we cant get the drink coz it’s a weekend, we got pushed hell lot of time in the dance floor as it was super duper packed in there.

And because Kim, Joanne and Jie Ying were too full (had 2 buffet in a day) to dance, almost half the time we were just standing at the center of the dance floor.

Reached home at 2.30am and I have got to wake up at 5.30am cox there is this hotel’s staff outing.

Lunch with the big bosses

104 day in Shanghai (12/12/07)

Today was another day of stress lunch. WHY?? I had lunch with my BIG bosses again. The last time was on Monday where we ate lunch at this Hong Kong restaurant in 正大广场.

It so happen that when Kim and I wanted to go for lunch at 正大广场that day, we saw them (Mr Pow, Raymond and Andy) at the lift lobby. Went off first as they were waiting for some other friends and we saw them again while waiting for the lift.

Mr Pow asked us to join them for lunch. Ate with him, Raymond, Andy and 2 other Chinese colleagues, Linda and Angel. And the whole lunch was quite weird but still not as bad as today’s.

Denis messaged to ask if we want to have lunch together. Met up at 正大广场and headed to Saizeriya, the cheap pasta café.

He was alone when he meets us so I thought only Raymond would be joining later. Went in and took our orders.

And after a while, Mr Pow, Andy, Raymond and Sharon (don’t really know her post but is quite high) came in to join us. Joined 2 tables together and we sat together. Linda and Angel joined us later on.

And all along, as expected, they were saying how cheap the place is; one plate of pasta for RMB 9 and pizza for RMB19. They called that place ‘9 dollar pasta’.

So because it was too cheap for them, they started ordering a lot of food!!! (Something like ‘I want this this this and that’ that kind?!?!)

Not long later, the whole table was full of pizza, pasta, salads, soup, chicken wings, sausages and pork rips. I think I tried almost everything in the menu. We even take away a plate of mushroom pasta and a plate of chicken wing.

The dinner was quite stressful coz I know that I am like a super small fry here with all the big big bosses around me. And when they start to joke, you know you got to at least smile even though u don’t know what is going on that kind??

Eating with Big bosses is just so uneasy (at least to me). Raymond told us that all these are part of networking and these are the people that I may need help from in the future.

And this Friday, there will be a Karaoke session with them and I think I cannot not go right?!?!

Well, at least I have got like mushroom pasta and chicken for dinner later??

When we get back to the hotel, Raymond and Denis even went in to RSVN with us as we overshot our 1-hour break and they wanted to explain to Nancy that we were having lunch with them.

But well, I doubt they will really do that and lucky Nancy wasn’t around.

Sometimes I think that we are just lucky to meet them. (I think more or less influential people in the hospitality industry)

F&B finance training. Shopping!!!

103 day in Shanghai (11/12/07)

Today was another training for the Singapore Interns and this round; F&B finance conducted by Maxim.

From 3.30pm till 5+pm, he told us things like budgeting, forecasting, Actual, P&L, etc about the hotel’s F&B department. The whole training was about figures and number. Got quite bored after awhile coz whatever he told us, we learned before.

It was near 5.30pm when the training ends and Kim, Joanne, Angela and I decided to head to Yi Café to steal some Fruit tarts =) their fruit tarts/desserts are just so nice!! Can’t wait to go there on the 26th (daddy’s birthday) to have a proper meal there!!!

After that, we went to look at the new F&B reservation room, the place where Joanne and Angela slacked most of the time.. haha

Stayed there till 5.45pm and it was back to RSVN to get our bags and end work =)

Head to CA go buy a turtle neck top for RMB 99 and accompany Kim to Tony & Guy Academy as Angela, Joanne and her wanted to book sessions for hair cut.

In the end, there weren’t any more slots during weekends and we only managed to book one session for Angela.

Went to H&M after that and I bought a new blue bag. Wasn’t really my kind of bags (got no compartments at all!!) but because Kim used her pink bag (same design) until like very convenient (throwing all her shopping bags inside it so she don’t have to carry anything on her hand), I decided to just buy it too since I have been searching for a big bag but in vain.

After H&M, the plan for the night was to go 八佰伴 for dinner at Papa John and shop at the roadside stores after that.

But since Kim wants to go to Citigroup building (just beside the hotel) to check out the air tickets availability, we decided to get Subway for dinner.

Helped Jie Ying to buy Jiao Zi on the way home and we started chatting with the fruits uncle while waiting for the Jiao Zi to be ready. And we can really crap with them. Haha (we are regular customers of the fruit stall).

And during the chat, I realized that we are the only ones that bargain with him on the price of the fruits. Haha most of the customers just take the fruits, pay and went off.

Reached home, had our dinner and went out again at about 9.30pm. Shopped along the street and bought stuff; a bag, a turtleneck, 2 earrings and 2 rings.

And now I am thinking if I should buy more stuffs back to SIN and start selling online because some of the things are really nice and it seems like it cost S$50 when it cost only RMB50.

Oh, and I guess both Kim’s and my bargaining skills improved. Haha. We started to talk nonsense like (in Chinese): ‘ it was fate that brings us to the store you know. Out of so many stores, I came here and pick up this item. It shows that I got fate with the item. So just sell me at a cheaper rate can?!?! I am very sincere to buy this thing. Blah blah blah’

Cool huh. Hahaha But I think this is how the Chinese talk. They always talk about fate and stuffs. Ha So I will just use back their style on them. Haha

But well, I will only use this when the seller don’t really allow people to bargain (some stores can’t bargain at all because their selling price is already quite low).

Another funny incident. Kim wanted buy 2 wallets for her aunts and when she asked the seller how much was it. Conversation goes like this (in Chinese)

‘How much is this??’

‘RMB180. But I can give u at RMB160’

‘Huh, so expensive. Forget it’

‘Then u tell me how much are u willing to pay?’

‘ Er.. I want 2 wallets. RMB 50 for 2. can?

‘WHAT!! Sorry cannot.’

So we just walked away

‘Miss, what about RMB250 (or sth like this) for both’

‘No. RMB 50 for both’

‘Oh, then too bad. Sorry cannot’

So we walked away again and he called us back again.

‘okie okie, y not 2 wallets for RMB220??’

‘No. RMB 50 for 2. Highest I can give is RMB 60 for both’

‘Oh, then sorry cannot. Byebye’

So we went off again and he called us back again. And this repeated like 3 or more times. In the end, he sold Kim at RMB 60 for 2 wallets. Bought the wallets and we went off. He then came chasing after us wanting to sell us another wallet

‘Miss, this is a better quality one. Just RMB500.’

‘Huh, siao ar.. I bought 2 wallets for RMB 60 and I think that it is expensive already.’

‘No no, this is very good. Looks exactly like the real one. Look at the quality blah blah.’

‘It’s not I don’t want. I got no money how to buy from u. I RMB30 for one wallet already bargain until vomit blood.’

And both of us went off quickly. I think that guy is just so… I don’t know use what word to describe. Haha. Telling us ‘bye bye’ already then coming after us again to ask us to buy.. it’s just his attitude I guess..

Headed home after that, packed up a bit, settle money and off to bed.. I think I am going to be broke again.. OMG!!