Farewell Singapore.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good bye Singapore.

Last day at Singapore office now wrapping up.
It has come time to me to say farewell to Singapore office.
It has been absolutely pleasure to work and live here for the past nine weeks and with suitcase full of fond memories I will continue my journey.

Now out for few drinks!

Tomorrow time to finish the packing, settle the bills with my residence, have few farewell drinks with friends and that's it!

Next blog post will be from Hong Kong!!!

Thank you Singapore Team.

Just got surprised with lovely leaving do presents and card!


Got two lovely books and red envelope! (Click the link to read more!)

           

Thank you Team Singapore for your kindness and hospitality!

Night Safari.

Nearly ran out of time to visit the famous Night Safari in Singapore, but last night did it!

Took but from Orchard Road and got there just after 8pm and was greeted by quite exciting fire show!

As dusk falls, the night is just starting for over 1,000 nocturnal animals. It is wonderful experience! you take a electric tram or more likely a train through barely lit forest areas where the animals are living in fairly open and natural spaces.
It does feel a bit of amusement park, sitting on a tram and watching animals and having a present telling you about the creatures, but still very nicely done. 

There is possibility to go for number of walks as well, which are more interesting, as you can stop whenever you feel like and enjoy the sight of animals in front of you.

I did both, did the tram ride first and then went for walks along the paths. Unfortunately didn't have the tripod with me, so didn't manage to take that many pictures. Oh well, except Slow Loris was enough slow for me and my camera... 

Slow Loris

Overall, great place to visit, and could have spent even few more hours wondering around, but at the same time, seeing these animals in their real natural habitat is even more exciting.

Time to clear my desk.

Gosh, time does sometimes fly!

I have been now over two months working from Singapore office, but it has gone past so quickly! 
Just when I have got used to my route to work, started to know where to go for lunch - it is suddenly time to move on again... Hong Kong here we come!


Computer: Engage relocation sequence - T minus 5d 3h 15m and counting...

Kuala Lumpur.

If you are heading to a city that you have never been before and that you don't speak the language, it might be good idea to take a map with you and maybe some local currency...
Anyway thank goodness sometimes my sense of direction holds and somehow remembered the layout of the China Town of Kuala Lumpur in my head, so managed to find my hotel without too much trouble last Friday. 
Second lesson, saving money is good, but there is a limit... if you are heading for a weekend break, it wont make any difference if you extra ten dollars on your day rate as you going to be spending money anyway. I mean it was OK, but wont be staying in that hotel again.
Got up early early on Saturday in order to rush off to the KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) and the Petronas Towers, the famous twin towers of Malaysia. Loved the taxi ride through quiet morning city and enjoyed the views!

Arrived to the Petronas Towers Skybridge ticket booth to 7:45am and still thought that I was arriving at ok time, but what a shocker it was to realise that there was already over 200 people in queue in front of me! And ticket booth doesn't even open before 9am! Oh well, sat on the floor and enjoyed my book...

Got ticket for the 11am tour and yes, it was worth it even though the tour is only about 15 minutes. First you get to see corporate video about Petronas Oil Company and you are take to the level 41, which is the lower level of the bridge. Very interesting building and fantastic views from the bridge! (For a moment felt like being on the Entrapment!)

Spent rest of the day enjoying a city sightseeing as couldn't bare the thought of walking around - too hot!
Later in the afternoon made my way back to the China Town and started looking around the hawker stalls and shops! Jalan Petaling is just amazing experience, whatever some people say about it, I think it is great! Yes, lots of people shouting and selling you stuff that you really, really don't need, but there is no need to buy anything, just keep smiling politely! 
And managed to even order myself a lunch from non-english menu even though the course that arrived was something totally different what I was expecting... But it was tasty.

After all the excitement of the day, had a quick nap before took train back to the KLCC and walked over to Traders Hotel. My plan was to enjoy glass of nice wine, read my book with the night lit Twin Towers next to me, but no... Sky Bar is great, but not designed for chilled evening... So after Espresso Martini headed over to the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur that managed to deliver exactly what I needed! Cumfy sofa, pianist, nice drink and privacy to enjoy my book. 

Later on had a bit of energy left so took taxi over to JW Marriot to meet Corinne & Shirley for night cap as they had just flown in from Singapore.
Sunday was much more relaxed, slept late and then a bit more shopping on Jalan Petaling before met Corinne and Shirley for afternoon walk around Suria KLCC Shopping Centre.


Overall lovely weekend! And yes I recommend to spend a day or two in KL if you ever have a chance to have a stopover there!

Weekend bag.

I have decided it is time to bin my trusted wheelie bag and get new, more stylish and still functional weekend bag!


I have focused my eyes now to Prada Weekend bag... just love it! I know it is last last year model, but maybe could still find it somewhere...


Heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this weekend for some shopping... I'll update you later on the results...

Image from Men of Mercury

Sunday Brunch.

What an amazing Sunday!!!
Met Nellie and Steve for Sunday brunch yesterday, we have been talking and planning it for such a long time, so was really happy and excited that we finally managed to do it!
And it turned out to be a full day of food, champagne and laughter!
We met at the Four Seasons Hotel on Orchard Boulevard for our brunch. The Sunday brunch includes free flowing Veuve Cliquet Ponsardin champagne... and we did take full advantage of that... I totally lost count of how many glasses/bottles we consumed...

The food was wonderful as well! Marvellous seafood buffet, salad table, asian buffet, grill, desert buffet and cheese table! We barely managed to try a small selection of the dishes such vast the offering was!

It would have been silly to head back home after such a wonderful lunch so continued to the Boomerang bar in River Valley for couple more bottles of Bollinger and Perrier Jouet....

And as we were on such great party mood, the decision was to finish the evening with night cap at Andy & Pam's place as they have an amazing view over the city from the balcony of their penthouse apartment!

Singapore Sling.

Tick! Done it. Been to the Raffles Long Bar now and had my Singapore Sling. (S$30!!!!)
And yes, ate some peanuts as well, and yes dropped the shells to the floor.

Siem Reap.

What an exciting place and amazing trip!

Arrived on Wednesday evening to Siem Reap and checked in to B&B called the Golden Banana. Absolutely fantastic little place with great service. The staff organised tuktuk with driver and guide for me for the following three days and I spend evening planning where to go and what to see over the next few days. It was really, really hot! 40C whole time, but truly enjoyed exploring the temples and visiting the amazing Angkor Wat, but favourite after all was Beng Melea!

So here is selection of photos from the trip... Enjoy!!!