In-Principle.

One more item to tick off from my to do, to worry list. My immigration consultant confirmed to me that she has received my paperwork back from the Ministry of Manpower, and they have in-principle approved my Employment Pass application. Wonderful!
Now just need to book appointment at the MOM to get more paperwork done and get my biometric data registered and it is all done.
Now can then move to the next item on the list... but before that a relaxing weekend!
Time to get shoes on and head off to town for dinner and then for some cocktails. Yep, need to enjoy these few remaining weekends in London!

Tickets - tick.

Suddenly everything starts to feel more real and concrete.
Flight tickets now confirmed, all legs! Flying mainly with Qantas, but have few flights booked with Cathay Pacific as well, and one flight with British Airways. Really excited to try Qantas and Cathay as have not flown with them before. I really tried to wiggle my timings to get myself on the Qantas A380 plane as that is now serving lots of routes between London and Asia and within Asia, but of course with my luck I am missing all the services flown with that aircraft! My long hauls are either B747 or B777. Oh well, as long as my inflight entertainment thing works, there is a good movie, and they haven't run out peanuts, all should be fine! Bring on Australian hospitality! (I just hope it hasn't changed much from 1970s... They knew how to treat passengers then, if one can trust those archive pictures!)

Yes, peanuts! You need to have your peanuts during the flight! Most people, including me, wouldn't care about tiny bag of salty and fatty nuts when we are at home. Most likely they would look the person offering them with puzzled look on their face, however, have you see those faces of your fellow passengers if the flight attendant tries to walk past them without giving them that little plastic bag filled with 8 nuts! It is almost like their life would depend on that dose of salt and fat! 
Enough ranting about nuts...

Confirmed my flat booking today as well! So excited about it! One big tick on the list! 
The building looks lovely! (But don't they always make everything look so amazing in the marketing brochures...?) Just steps from the bustling Orchard Road in the heart of Singapore lies this amazing looking, exclusive enclave of Treetops. There is stunning looking swimming pool in the court yard, so I think will start morning or after work swims as my daily exercise! Few pics here, but these are from their website. I will post my own pictures when I actually get there! 
Now only waiting the confirmation on my employment pass from the Ministry of Manpower... and then all good to go!
(Or time to start working on the housing and visas for the next legs of the journery....)

Lists, lists and more lists.

Have started it now. Creating lists. 
One list for things to do at home before the departure day comes, one list for packing things at the office, one list for packing clothes, one list for the visa documents, one list for the travel arrangements, one list for the lodging arrangements... How in the Earth there can be so many moving parts and things to remember!
I know I like to be organised, but I am going far too granular (I guess)...
Or maybe it is just my way to reduce the actual stress to remember all those things and just be well prepared. It is also busy at work, and lots of friends to meet and things to do before I head off, being prepared should help. 
I did manage to find time last weekend to attend three day course and got myself finally fully qualified as an Advanced Emergency Services Cyclist :) Got the certification from PSC - Public Safety Cycling which is UK version of the IPMBA - International Police Mountain Bike Association. Had truly great weekend with guys, really great course - no tears, just few bruises and lots of sweating :)
Time to get some sleep now; busy day ahead at the office again tomorrow.

Reading list.

Winter cold caught me and had to stay home from work, but it gave me good chance to browse some books on www.Waterstones.com and found few books that I might have to add to my reading list for the upcoming year:

How could it get any worse? For the eleventh book in the phenomenally successful Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series, the authors have pulled out all the stops, harking back to the core appeal that made the first book a runaway bestseller and turning the intensity up to 11. Here are all new scenarios for living life on the very edge. Imperiled readers will learn immediate, hands-on strategies for surviving an elephant stampede, 16-car pile-up, mine collapse, and a nuclear attack. Discover how to take a bullet, control a runaway hot air balloon, break a gorilla's grip, endure a Turkish prison and free a limb from a beartrap. Whether stranded on an iceberg, being chased by a pack of wolves, spinning out on a motorcycle, held under by a huge wave while surfing, or being buried alive, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Extreme Edition is the ticket to survival.



You're driving on a deserted road when your car dies. Your cell phone isn't getting service. All you have on hand are a gum wrapper and a wire hanger

Or maybe you're living in a building without central air conditioning in July. You can't afford an AC; all you have access to are a fan and a bucket of water.
In such times of desperation, you need to think like MacGyver! What would he do?

Debrett's presents the definitive guide for the modern man. Embracing work, home, time off, women, sport, food and travel, this is the ultimate, aspirational guide to contemporary and stylish 21st-century living. A miscellany of information, from the fundamental to the arcane and quirky, equips today's man to confront myriad challenges and opportunities with savoir faire and panache.


However, afterall, I am not going to be secret agent running top secret mission in Hong Kong, so maybe should concentrate on more essential reading... 
 
For example the 100 of the World's Best Bars!

There will never be a shortage in demand for social meeting places and the burgeoning bar industry reflects this need. The original pub or saloon bar has come a long way from its humble origins. Today, people require tailored spaces with their own individual identities. These new bars must cater to different customers, from small groups to office parties, and accomodate a broad range of entertainment facilities.In this exciting publication some of the latest trends in bars from around the world are revealed, including themed bars, exclusive drinking establishments and renovated traditional pubs. International architects draw on their creative imagination and design skills to provide some truly inspired social spaces.
 
Oh and will need a place to stay on my days off...

The plans.

I have been offered wonderful opportunity at work and have accepted an assignment in Asia Pacific. 

I keep my position as a Sales Operations Manager, but instead of concentrating in European affairs, I am going to be looking after our offices in Asia Pacific region and running numerous projects there. I am anticipating to start my assignment in the end of February; firstly moving to Singapore and then continue to Tokyo via Hong Kong, then flying down under to Sydney to spend Autumn there, before moving more North again.

And as you might guess, I am planning to take full advantage of being in Asia Pacific; going to travel as much as I can and see more than humanly possible!

Some of you have occasionally compared my head shape and hairdo to Tintin, oh well all forgiven, and he also worked in media, and travelled the world, so I guess I am just living my life for next few months like him, never know might finally get fluent in French, and next destination might be the Moon!

But I will take my Swiss army knife with me and roll of gaffa tape, so in case get in trouble, can build my own airplane or save the world like MacGyver ;)

And yes, Indiana Jones type of jungle trekking and temple visiting on schedule, as is champagne and martinis on cocktail bars in Hong Kong and Tokyo in style of James Bond!

If you are heading to Asia Pacific this year, please do get in touch and let's try to meet up for either a jungle trek or cocktails on beach!

This is not a permanent move by any means and currently my plans are to return to London in the late 2010.

The journey is about to start, and this is your chance to enjoy the ride with me.  

Countdown has begun...

Here we go then! My first ever blog and first ever blog posting. 


If you found your way here, I guess you received my email update earlier! 


The countdown has now begun, so need to start this as well and start getting things ready...


-Jani