It Happens Once In A Year

I'm a quarter century old! A precious dear person (u know who u r) sent me a birthday email, telling me that... I really appreciate it..SOunds really old...HOw sad..Ok but it's true! Can't deny, just that the mention of 'century' makes it sound a little terrible. At the end of the day, it is just another day (just that it is the day u were brought to earth)

Had lunch with Mr Alvin and Tingmei (thanks alv for the treat). Then went down to DFS (yes, birthday doesnt mean u don't have to work). Surprise surprise! I got a surprise celebration from my team members! Led me to the pantry & presented me with a super big chocolate banana cake from Secret REcipe (this is their famous cake). HOw sweet. Got a card from all members as well...Sweet..Made me happier...

Make a wish,make a wish

Time to cut the HUGE cake!!

Altogether smile!

Then my good clients wished me happy birthday (they wanted to buy cake, but luckily they didn't else I would have loads of cake) & treated me to champagne! Moet & Chandon champagne! Nice! Drank the whole 200ml bottle & felt abit tipsy ahhaha.. Thanks everyone!!!

THis is the bottle I drank..Nice though

As usual, peak period have to work even though it was my birthday. But I had to get back home b4 midnight (for another round of cake cutting) so left at slightly after 11pm, managed to just make it b4 12midnight! N that's the story of my birthday! Nothing special (i don't really celebrate) & cldnt do it with frens (cos i had to work). Friends, ur turn this saturaday! Let's Havok & have fun! Haha... but if u were expecting major big parties or celebration then u'r wrong.. It doesn't happen in my world..hmmm but if it did, i seriously DO NOT mind (hint hint....) Surprise me!!!!!

Update: 9 more days to my last day with EY...So Happy!!!

Girls Gotta Doll Up ThemSelves!!!

Yes, taking that advice in our minds, we signed up for the makeup course by Ettusia (don't know if i spelt it correct, doesn't matter). N boy do we need it!!

Of course, there were saMPLES for e'ryone in the class, and hands-on practice to doll yourself up with instructions and demonstration from the experts!

3 of us were like 'babies' to makeup, didnt know how to apply eyeliner, or how to best apply eye shadow. Luckily our instructor was patient and thought us the way to do it.

Preparation steps b4 makeup were horrendous! wash up, slap on moisturiser, essence, n god knows what else...it's like at least 1hr of preparation b4 u put on the makeup!!

Then comes the eye makeup. 1st, eye concealer, then highlighting the eye area, then eye shadow 1st layer, then another layer...Then eye liner, then eye brows, then mascara, then blar blar...damn tedious steps! N tat's just the eye area! Well, pple always say eye area is the most impt area, which I agree...

Then blusher, then lips..oh my god so damn tedious! In the end, walau! 3 pretty ladies transformed!!

Ok we had to don this stupid head band which made us look really terrible (like a chambermaid) N no pictures taken of that (thank god!!)

But at least we learnt the art of makeup! Maybe we shld do it more often...But we are lazy!! Hahahhahaha

What the heck! People say if u don't get sick easily, once u do, u'll have it HARD & TERRIBLE!! It has happened to me... Been coughing since I got back from SF, actually started coughing when i was in SF (the last few days) but it wasn't anything serious until i got back...

2weeks since & no improvement! Visited the doctor twice, but still... Damn disrupted my sleep (have not been able to sleep well since, always waking up in the middle of the night to coughing) Damn i hate this, bter get well this week, I don wana waste another wkend (heck i miss gym!)

On another note, been to 1 counselling session with my counsellor..well the usual, ask u why leave, wat's wrong, y unhappy in EY, consider to stay blar blar... watever, i'm done with EY. I don want this kinda life anymore, I don wana face another FRS or late late nites... New company seems good, at least better benefits (tho the pay increment is not incredible but good enuff). I get to travel for work & the boss seems nice! Biz class for long flights cool! Looking forward to starting my new job!

Countdown begins! Let me see, last day should be 12 Dec, about 25 days from now... Hahah I told cinderella man I'm not good at keeping up with too long a countdown. 25 days is too long for me, i very much prefer to start at 10 days hahaha...Soon Soon Soon....

Can't wait Yatta!!!!

Yatta!!!

I did it! Finally after 3years, 4months & 12 days, today is officially the day I submit my resignation letter! What a relieved feeling! So surreal! Actually, it’s abit of mixed feeling & jittery.. Suddenly, I’m leaving EY, a place I call home for the past few years (literally home), and heading out into the commercial world! No more comfort zone, no more familiarity, no more group of peer support… In a way, happy that I’m leaving the shit hole & the late nights.. But also feel a bit sad cos I’ll be leaving my colleagues & peers into deeper shit, especially those in my major portfolio, really going to struggle hard! But, well, opportunity is hard to come by, and when it comes, you really have to appreciate & grab it! Every man for himself. Can’t also be thinking about how others will survive. The world is cruel, if you don’t do it, there’ll be others who will be doing it…

1month from now, I will be free!!! Counting down from today.. 30days to go…

I'll have my farewell soon.....Pals, don't miss me..I know u will but don't cry for me, be happy!

San Francisco & San Jose

Finally after 3 years in EY, it's my turn to go San Jose for this job (which I have been on since year 1). Cool, now i can tour San Francisco!

Flew off to San Francisco 1 week b4 the job started, so I had time to tour around SF!! Nice little city it is!!

1st, it doesn't have the feel of States. Less hectic, less rush... Alot more European feel. Nice weather - Cooling in the early morning & late evening, but HOT in the afternoon. Luckily it is not humid (dry) so not as bad... Pple there are nice... I like the place!

Touched down ard 130pm, got to hostel by 2pm, checked in & started walking. Yes, i like to walk. So i walked to Chinatown (which is about 20mins walk). 1 thing abt SF, the streets are damn steep!!! 60 degree steep at least.. so it was a challenge to walk up the steep slopes but hey, it's me u'r talking about, so it was not a challenge for me!!

Fisherman's Wharf

Pier 39, home to sea lions

From Chinatown, i walked again down to Fisherman's Wharf! Enroute, i stopped by Coit Tower, with a great view of the ocean & city!! Then it was another maybe 20mins walk to the Wharf! I love walking ok...

Fisherman's Wharf - Nice feeling great view! Stayed there for the rest of the late afternoon just walking along the bay & enjoying the terrific view of Golden Gate bridge..Then started walking back to hostel again... Keke decided 'what the heck, just walk' & off i went, I think i walked for almost 1hr back home so it was dark by the time i reached back to the hostel..

Hoeshin was there at the same time, so we were sorta travel buddy with each other! Hah, she said I was crazy to walk to Fisherman's Wharf...But i like it & if i had not walked, I would not have discovered Coit Tower, I would not have had the chance to take a look at the town itself, the colours of the town, the little shops & just experience the feel!

View of the Golden Gate Bridge
Me with GG at the back

Sausalito!!

Finally, I get to do my biking trip this time!! Yes, set off for my golden gate biking trip for the entire day! Went with Hoeshin (surprise, surprise!!). Started off at ard 11am & all the way through Golden Gate bridge. Not an easy ride cos of a little slope but we made it (though hoeshin nearly died by the time we reach the GG bridge).

1st stop - Sausalito! Ah, what a romantic name & the little town lives up to that name! Nice little idyllic town, pretty houses lined the coast, facing the ocean.. Wow! What a fantastic feeling! Of cos u have to be RICH RICH RICH!!! If i become rich, I would love to buy a house & live there!!

Old mill park

After a short break, it's all go again to Old Mill Park for the Redwood trees! After a few lost directions, we finally arrived! It looked like Lord Of The Rings has become alive in SF!! Tall trees in the forest, with some houses within So Cool!!!

Sunset view of the GG Bridge

Then onwards again to Tiburon!! A long long ride over to the other side...Passed by beautiful scenery & park.. & i fell from my bike enroute. Ugly scar still remains... Tiburon, by the time we reach it was abt 6pm.. Not much time to walk ard the town cos we had to rush for the ferry back to return the bike b4 they close shop. Had wanted to bike my way back but no time & too tired so took the ferry. Reali great workout, my butt & thighs ached alittle..

Me @ Yosemite

View of Yosemite

Went for the 2D1N Yosemite Hearst Castle tour. Yosemite, a nice national park but unfortch on a tour group u don't have much time to explore. But at least we got to see the 'Must sees' in Yosemite...2nd Day went Hearst Castle. Now you wonder what do rich pple do with their money?? Build castle! This man spent most of his later years building this gigantic castle with european feel!! IT is really huge with 2 pools, huge residential areas on top of a hill, with a private zoo! Crazy rite...but it makes for good tourist attraction!

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle

Last day in SF spent at Alcatraz.. The isolated island in the middle overlooking SF. Weather was damn cold tat morning, which makes for an appropriate atmosphere to visit the prison. Kkekekek... None has ever escaped from Alcatraz imagine! A little rush cos i had to get to San Jose in the afternoon, if not I would have spent more time at the prison exploring the surroundings!

Alcatraz

Yes, San Jose... The 1st time in my life (after my driving test) that I actually drove the distance! Ok, the test drive with Superhose does not count! At 1st, it was nerve wrecking! I was shaking while driving!! N all nervous cos unfamiliar with driving & on unfamiliar grounds! Ok my parking sucks! In the states, pple like to park head in (unlike here, we always do back in) & tat's s'posed to be the easiest way of parking...but i sucked at it! Always had to reverse, go forward & reverse again & again, quite embarassing not to be able to park. 1st 2 days I was driving on my own so it was really scary but after the 2 days, i sorta got used to it & drove with more confidence. The good thing abt States is it's driver-friendly! Drivers all are very courteous & will give way to u! Not like here...

Sat came & my colleague joined me! So we just went supermarket shopping & dinner! I must say, in the states everything is big big big! Food portion huge, food sold in supermarket oso big! Nothing is small there..Even I wear size S in the States kekeke...

Student suntanning in school

I'm a student @ Santa Clara Uni

Stanford Uni, Really nice building

View of Stanford

Stanford Uni, the walkway

We went university visiting the next day & it was reali cool! I would love to study if our university is like tat! SO much greenery around, great atmosphere & feel to it! Undescribable feeling! U have to be there to feel it! The feel is not as stifling as here & with so much space & nice buildings, u'll fall in love with the school!

Stanford Building, so European feel

View of Stanford

Halloween Rodeo Party

Me, Tess & fellow partier

Me with Drag Bride!!

Oh, we were lucky to be there during their Halloween! It's a really big event for them! Everyone is dressed up & lots of Halloween party going on! I was fortunate to be invited to one such party by my client's HR manager. So cool! Everyone is really all dressed up, extravagantly! Superman, batman, guy fawkes, bunny girls..u name it, u see it! Ok i was the black chambermaid (costume from my client) Really enjoyed it! Now i can say I celebrated Halloween!!! On the day itself, u'll see all the children dressed up in shopping malls & everywhere else doing the "Trick or Treat".. It's really a tradition for them!

After 1 week of work assignment it's soon for GOODBYE to US & Hello to SG! So sad, would hv loved to stay longer but too bad... Did a little shopping in the states..Kekek it's our archilles heels man.. Not alot, just a little cos saw some really nice dresses & clothes..& i bought a pair of boots! keke short one, not those long ones so at least can wear in SG

Now am sick..coughing non stop...haiz i hate it! Must get well!!

3 Week Travelogue In Summary

Concluding Leg - Siem Reap Cambodia

Siem Reap, the famed Angkor Wat! After much bargaining with our tuk tuk driver, we finally reached a package price for the 3days of transport. Not cheap i tell ya, but what to do...USD29 for 3 days, transport to & from temples, include sunrise & sunset, include far away temples (like Beng Melea which is 2hrs away, Kbal Spean & Banteay Srei). Bloody expensive but well, what to do as i said..At least we don have to worry abt where to go, when to go etc..a driver will always be there to pick us from point to point...

Me@ Angkor Wat with my pass

Angkor Wat at dawn

Me with the face of Bayon

Our 3day Angkor wat tour started the next day with an early morning trip out for the sunrise. Had to wake up at 430am, left guesthouse at 515am for the sunrise. Paid USD40 for the 3day pass, complete with our photos taken digitally on the spot for the pass. We thought we could just submit a photo but well it's the age of IT! Ended up taking a really ugly photo with BAD lighting (cos it was too early, no sunlight, they used flourescent light to shine on our faces) Looked ghostly in the photo & i wasn't even looking straight at the camera! Well, as expected, it was a sunless sunrise (rainy season, so sky was damn cloudy) Disappointed but expected. So begun the 1st day. With tired body & mind, we embarked on the tour of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & the other great temples...

It is really amazing how they managed to build these temples, & yes how free they were! Plenty of time at hand during their time to spend tens of years to build the temples & carve the walls! Lots of restoration & renovation have been done to the temples to keep them intact but still retaining the traditional look & method of building..

1st day ended by 2pm cos we started out early. Took a short nap & ventured out for dinner near our hotel area. Ended up eating along the rows of hawker stalls selling the same thing. Yes, there were at least 10stalls & they all sell the same thing! Fried noodles or rice or soup noodles.. We ended up settling our dinner for the next 3 nights at the same place..

2nd day started our longer travelling to the further away temples. Worth mentioning is Kbal Spean. The road to this temple is so damn memorable for its bumpiness! Yes it was dirt road all the way, worse than the road to Phnom Penh. At the end of the ride, we both had sore bums... But also, Kbal Spean was nice! It was a forest walk uphill to the riverbed where carvings are made on the river beds... Amazing!

Carvings @ Kbal Spean

Ta Prohm

On our 2nd day, we were starting to feel burnt out by temple overdose. Hahha. Went for sunset viewing up a hilltop temple, but as expected it was a sunless sunset as well... But the view from atop was amazing!!

Me @ Beng Melea

Ruins @ Beng Melea

3rd day, we went to Beng Melea (not included in the pass but worth a visit). 2hr motor ride to reach. With 2 of us behind the driver, it was not a comfy ride, esp under the HOT HOT sun. Yes, it was HOT (whatever happened to the rainy season prediction). We wanted to save USD5 per pax, so opted for motorbike. Entrance fee of USD5 is required to enter but it was worth it. I like it very much! A different experience from the other temples cos this one is really inside the forest, left untouched. We could see all the ruins of the temples & had to climb up & down the stones & fallen temples to explore the insides of the temple. The temple was destroyed by mines (which have been cleared). We were fortunate to be guided through the temple with the help of a local police. It was an interesting visit & I highly recommend it!

On our way back, our motor broke down, & had to wait for abt 1-2hrs for it to be fixed. And so ends our 3day tour of Angkor Wat! It was alot of climbing & walking. The stairs up the temples are bloody steep & tiny in width. Not easy to climb up & even more difficult on the way down! And lots of sunblock is needed! You're on the move all the time & exposed to the harmful effects of the sun! Yes, the result of my 3wk travelogue was the slipper tan...Terrible..Trying to tan it away now...

My Slipper tan

Our last full day in Siem Reap was spent doing nth much. Shopping a little for souvenirs & massaging our tired feet... Then just lazed in our hotel room, watching tv & reading until the evening for our last dinner at our usual stall...

Our dinner spot!

A final packing of our bags & off to the airport on the next morning for our flight home... Guess what? My bag now weighs 16kg! Double the original weight!! Yes, all thanks to those tailored clothes. With my twice as heavy backpack & darker skintone, we flew back home...Back to civilisation, back to familiar home terrain, bye to our 3weeks of adventure!!

Me with my 16kg backpack @ airport

More pictures on my online album (& note that I only uploaded half of my total pictures. 300+ out of 600+ taken)...

Well, didnt meet many pple most prob cos this period is not the period of travelling for students from other countries (summer holidays over) so most pple we saw were couples or families. Hai, no 艳遇 so sad....But it was a great experience & eye opener. Vietnam is really very interesting, I will go back again! Every city is so different! Cambodia? Hmm maybe not so... But maybe i have not really researched into places in Cambodia...

When will be my next adventure? I have no idea!!!!

3 Week Travelogue In Summary

The Concluding Episode - Cambodia

Yes, after 3hr boat ride & 2hrs of Really Bumpy bus ride, we finally reached Phnom Penh city (1hr later than scheduled). Checked into our really cool & hip guesthouse (Top Banana Guesthouse) & went for a quiet dinner & slept... The guesthouse is really cool, with a hip chill out area at the top floor, & the owners are really cool pple! They don't look like typical guesthouse owners, & i actually thot our pickup driver was just a driver! Turned out he's the owner. Yes, he's the owner, pickup driver, city tour driver, chillout buddy etc all rolled into one!

2nd day started our tour of Phnom Penh - Killing fields, Toul Sleng Museum, Royal Palace & Silver Palace.

It was an emotional journey visiting the Killing Fields & Toul Sleng Museum. Learning abt such atrocities & monstrous acts by the Khmer Regime - just undescribable feeling inside me. Of the 7 million Cambodians, 2mil were killed during the 5yr (1975-1959). It's just plain crazy to comprehend the rationale behind the massacre & the communist thinking.. To totally wipe out the whole country! Totally unforgivable!

Memorial Stupa @ Killing Fields

Thousands of skulls housed in the Stupa

Toul Sleng Museum

After a really depressing morning, we proceeded to some market shopping & palace sightseeing under the tortuous sorching sun.. Bloody hell HOT HOT HOT! Talking abt the palace...USD6.25 per entry to just see palaces (ok they are royal palaces) but that's just plain exorbitant! In addition, they impose a strict attire rule - No sleeveless, no shorts. Yes, anything above the knee = unacceptable, anything that does not flow over the shoulder line = unacceptable. And unfortch, I was at the mercy of such rule. Well it was bloody hot, I can't be wrapping myself in clothes! Ended up having to rent a sarong & t-shirt just for the visit. I look like a Malay...Evidence as below:

Me in the sarong. It was killing me under the heat!

Point to note - It rains at exactly 5pm in Phnom Penh every evening, at least for the rainy season. And we witnessed it happend 2 nights in a row. Torential rains at 5pm.

3rd day - 6hr Bus ride to Battambang

Phnom Penh - Well it's really very city like, not unlike Vietnam & things are not so cheap as what we would have expected. Comparable to Vietnam & some even more expensive! Water is an expensive expense in Cambodia compared to Vietnam... Food wise, expensive. Granted, we ate at cafes, but in Vietnam, food in cafes is not that much expensive. So misconception to think Cambodia = Cheap! Maybe cos it's such a touristy plc. ANyway PHnom penh really doesnt have much to offer. 1 day was sufficient for us, & i think for most pple too!

After a 6hr bus ride (that's s'posed to be just 4hrs), we reached Battambang. Yes, we have learnt not to trust any form of time estimation in these countries. You always have to add at least 1hr to the estimate. They are never on time! Once we reached the bus station, we were confronted by hordes & hordes of motor drivers, trying to sell their services & hotels they're affiliated to. Luckily we made arrangements with our hotel to pick us up, or else it would have been chaotic! Yes, this is a very impt travel tip, to arrange for transport (if it's free or if the price does not differ much from the normal way) so that u would not be swamped.

Battambang. Probably an unfamiliar name to most of us. It's a small (really small) town in Cambodia, somewhere between PP & Siem Reap. The town is so small that after 1hr of walking, we've seen the town. Nth much in the town itself. Very quiet town, not many bars in sight as well & the town sleeps pretty early! By 6pm, the night has fallen (yes, sun sets really early in Cambodia & vietnam as well) & the streets are sorta deserted. Luckily we have TV to keep us entertained at night with pretty great channels like HBO, star movies etc...

2nd day begins our tour of Battambang. We went to the Killing caves, Wat Banan (Pre-Angkorian temples), tour of villages & fruit farm (where we had fruits feast for USD1). Final stop a ride on the famed bamboo train! We had to pay USD2 each for a 15min ride on that thing, a great discount from USD5 per pax! Though it was still rather expensive, we went for it (well it's famed, so must try). It is faster than a train!! & it's quite interesting watching them dismantle the train when met with oncoming train to allow them to pass through. Videotaped them in action:

& the speed of the bamboo train - Really really fast i tell u!

Us with Ally, fellow backpacker on bamboo train

3rd day begins our 7hr boat ride along the Tonle Sap Lake to Siem Reap. Boat ride was great & interesting! Glad we chose this instead of bus (heard the roads are really terrible) but of cos, don't try this method during dry season, it could take whole day!

Floating houses along Tonle Sap Lake

Balancing loads of stuff on that miserable boat

Our boat met with an accident, bumped into an oncoming boat & caused pple to fall off the other boat. Drama drama! Spent some time at the water traffic police because of this. It was also interesting watching the locals on board the boat & how they literally bought the whole market back to their homes (floating houses)! Yes, they live on the lake & they really carried loads & loads of stuff from Battambang. Vegetables, tins of biscuits, styrofoam boxes (yes no idea y) etc...I s'pose it's the supply for the whole village for days or even weeks to come cos it's really far from the city (at least 4-5hrs by boat).

As usual, we arrived in Siem Reap 1hr later than the stipulated time, but hey at least it's not tat bad! We would have thought it was going to take much much longer! Argh...Siem Reap, the ultimate last stop of our trip! No more repacking & unpacking!

More on Siem Reap in the ultimate concluding episode....

3 Week Travelogue In Summary

Concluding Vietnam - Part 2

Next stop - HCM city. Reached & checked in our hostel around 11+ and after a short break, we embarked on our city tour to the reunification palace & war remnants museum. There was a free palace tour which was educational. Next stop was the depressing war remnants museum, where we were presented with pictures after pictures of the atrocities of the American soldiers during the Vietnam war. Damn terrible the things that were done. The bomb, which caused severe after-effects & the inhumane tortures carried out to the prisoners. Deeply disturbing.

Next day was a tour of Cu Chi tunnel where we were brought to a channel of tunnel networks built by the Viet Comm (Communists) during the war time. It is amazing how they came up with such a wide network of tunnels, linking anywhere & everywhere, with traps & escape channels here & there! They were simply smart! The tunnels are really small & cramp & stuffy! Imagine the VCs living inside the tunnels! We experienced the feeling of walking through the tunnel for 140m, & it was quite terrible. Really cramp, & had to walk squatting throughout, with limited lights (almost pitch black most of the time). It can be quite scary esp for people who are afraid of the dark cos at times, u seriously cannot see wat's in front of u or wat u'r going to face in front! Thumbs-up, must go visit! Our tour guide - Mr Bin was a former American soldier during the war. He's vietnamese but worked for the Americans & he was pretty emotional when he talked about the past. Apparently, he's helped quite a number of authors & directors by providing information for their work! Must go search for his recommendations...

Emerging sweaty & hot from the Cu Chi tunnel

Street side food - Some noodle in dono wat soup Nice & cheap at S$1.20

HCM city - Seriously nth much to explore. Well of cos we had Pho (Vietnamese noodles) & actually the food is not too ex there! What's the best is - Fruit Shakes!!! For abt S$0.50, u get a big cup of freshly blended fruit shake! Nope they don't use milk, it's just fresh fruits + shaved ice + evaporated milk & wala! U have the delicious & thick fruit shake! Worth every cent! Highly recommended! Any street side stall will do!!

Gloomy weather @ Mekong

Us & the French, acting as Cham minorities

Our last stop in Vietnam was the Mekong Delta. We joined a 2D1N Mekong trip that'll cover our cross-over to Cambodia (Phnom Penh). The 1st day started out great but ended up raining heavily when we boarded our boat trip. Unlucky but the rain stopped after a while.. Our guide was great & funny, cracking jokes at us tourists (yaya trying to 'match make' us tourists). Our group consisted of Us, 2 french guys, an american lady & 2 aussie aunties. We separated after the 2nd day morning rowing boat ride as the french are continuing on the Mekong trip while us ladies headed off to Cambodia.

Custom wait was the worst... 1hr stuck at the custom waiting for the visas & checking to be done. Once done, we had to endure a 3hr boat ride to Cambodia & 2hr BUMPY bus ride to Phnom Penh. Yes, it was really bumpy, like rollar coaster without the ups & downs! Amazing... We splitted ways with the 2 aussie aunties in Phnom Penh. Abt the 2 aunties, amazing! They're on a long & adventurous trip in Vietnam. After cambodia, they're going back to Hanoi & travelling down south, doing abit of biking trip & camping in between! Imagine aunties backpacking, camping & biking! So happening right!!

Stay tuned for more on Cambodia...

3 Week Travelogue In Summary

Concluding Vietnam - Part 1

After Sapa it was back to Hanoi & onto Hoi An (The ancient old town). As i mentioned in the previous post, we were in the same compartment as the cute honeymoon couple from Europe! This time round, we learnt a few poker games from Robert which are pretty interesting & intellectual! Must teach u guys these games soon in case I forget...

Reached Hanoi at ard 4.30am & got the 'morning call' only 5mins b4 we were to alight. Best rite! Once out of the train station, chaos broke out with hordes of motor drivers & cabbies rushing at us, trying to earn our money... Clueless abt where we wanted to head at 1st, we loitered for quite some time b4 settling on 2 motors to our previous hostel for a short rest till our afternoon flight to Hoi An. & tat was how it all happened. Ting Mei was robbed! Yes, the idiotic motor driver stole her mp3 & passport when she was fumbling over her bag to pay. Unfortch, we only discovered like 30mins later when she was trying to sort her things.. Passport gone! Damn we were all so damn panicky ok.. Passport is damn impt & we had a flight to catch. I mean mp3 is expensive but not as impt as passport. Luckily, when the hostel opened, some sweeper found her passport & returned! What luck! At least the stupid thief realised how impt the passport is to us & returned, if not i dono wat will happen.. I mean it was only 4days into our 3week travel! Going by how slow things work in Vietnam, it was highly possible she might be stuck in Hanoi... Really heng ar! And i suspect my sunglasses was also stolen then, although i only found out when i reach Hoi An...After dragging our tired, zombie-like souls along the old quarter shops for hours, we headed to the airport & flew to Danang, and a 45min cab ride later, we reached Hoi An, checked in & just slept!

This is our hotel in Hoi An very ancient design

2nd day, brand new day, refreshed from our long peaceful sleep, we embarked on our tour of the ancient old town. Cars are not allowed into the town (only motor & bicycles) 75,000VND (~S$7.50) buys us the tickets to visit 4 places of ancient historical value. Walking down the streets of old town, the feeling is so totally different from Hanoi or Sapa. Everything is like so peaceful & old..& quiet with the exception of the lion dance troupes. Yes, we were there during the Mid Autumn Festival (which is apparently a BIG thing for HOi An) and the lion dance troupes were EVERYWHERE!! It just seems like every kid in town is a lion dancer. Every corner u turn to, u see them practising & the drums 'BomBomBom'. Noisy as it is, quite an interesting sight to see, cos in Singapore, only during Chinese New Year do u get this & not in such a BIG scale!

They have the Festival Night on 14th day of Lunar Aug and it was bloody hell chaotic!! Damn crowded & noisy. It was really damn difficult to pass through the streets. And the lion dance troupes are everywhere, intruding into every single shops for a short performance in return for some money... Quite irritating & u can see some shop owners trying to bar them from entering...

Lion dance! It's their Festival night on 14th day of Lunar Aug

It was quite a pleasant walk, weather was not too hot. The places we went were the museum of ceramics trade, hokkien association, Tan Ky old house, Japanese bridge to name a few. Tan Ky old house was interesting. The owner of the house (the 6th generation living there) explained the history of the house and brought us for a short tour of the house, explaining the various sculptures on the walls.

Then of cos, our main highlight of the Hoi An stop - Clothes Tailoring!! Yes, Hoi An is famed for tailoring & it is evident from the rows & rows of shophouses specialising in tailoring! So many that u realli have no idea which one to choose from. So we just chose one we had a connection with (haha okok we saw positive comments hung outside the shop). We thought it would just be a 1hr affair choosing what we want to be made, but we were WRONG!!! Once we entered, 3 thick books were thrown to us & we started flipping to choose the designs...Pages after pages & b4 u know it, we had already shortlisted loads of designs. I had abt 15 pieces made (each piece = 1 top or 1 bottom or 1 dress) & we were there for at least 3hrs!!! Yes, shopping is TIRING!!! This is the place where i spent the most. I think I spent USD280 making all those clothes. Quite worth it & am satisfied with the outcome. Seriously they can make anything & everything from the pictures! & it was all done in 1day! We collected them the next evening. Mass production! & the owner was very attention to our needs & requests. Highly recommended! Anyone interested in going to Hoi An, I can recommend this tailor!

The 3rd day was a tour of My Son, old temples made of bricks, sth like Angkor wat but on a smaller scale... It was quite interesting but of cos, compared to Angkor Wat, it's really minor...

Me @ My Son

Armed with the new clothes, repacking was a serious problem. Ended up just hand carrying most of the new clothes..Next stop - Ho Chi Minh!

p/s: I discovered my sleeveless T-Shirt tan in Hoi An, a result of the sun exposure in Sapa... It was realli terrible. I was shocked beyond words. Imagine the sleeveless T-shirt tan!! Eeks.. I was horrified! Luckily now, it has gone off quite alot, thanks to subsequent days' suntanning...