The Best has yet to come.

"I want to spend the best years of my life with SIA."

I "lied" blatantly to the interviewers on 7th Jan almost 3 years ago. I thought that was what got me through. Whatever that happens after, is now in a blur.

From one end of the pacific ocean in Gold Coast, to the other in Santa Monica, California.

From Lunch with buddies in Turkey to Dinner with friends in Shanghai.

From high fashion in Paris' Champ Elysees to Taipei's street fashion at 五分谱。

From One week in Moscow-Huston to another in Frankfurt-NewYork.

From Marriot Hotel in Frankfurt to Hilton in Sydney.

From historical Athens to modern Tokyo.

From the Golden Temple in Amristar to Vantican City in Rome.

From snowy JungFrauJoch in Switzerland to the colourful underwater world in maldives.

From Great wall in China to Big Apple's Statue of Liberty.

..........................

Have i actually been there???

In fact, i don't think i was lying anymore. I do miss the good times a hell lot.
But that doesn't mean that i wanna spend all my life flying, i only want to spent some good years, defintely not my entire youth =9

There isn't any turning back now.
All i have got to do, is to believe that the best has yet to come......

Never say Die

Allow me to introduce Mr Energizer.

What are the odds that the SAME cheezy guy walk up to you and tries to pick you up TWICE in a year ??????????????

It didn't happened at Zouk or any clubs, which would have been relatively acceptable under those half drunk, half high, fuzzy ambience for his such-a-turn-off pick up line. But it was in freaking bright day light on the streets! Of course, it would have been a perfect fairytale if he looks half like Keanu Reeves, not unless u count Shrek & Fiona a fairytale too?

What is WORSE, is that he used the same pick up line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's always this "Hi you looked familiar! Are you from NTU?"
Instantaneously, i was soooo glad that i wasn't, and i felt sorry for those who was.

Whatever that follows was apparent that he doesn't care if i was his ex-schoolmate anot.
"Maybe we could be friends??" If you are that desperate, call the Friendship Line!!!

Now i'm torn between laughing at him or telling him off if (i am unfortunate enough) there's a 3rd time. Nevertheless, he still has some credits, for providing me a good laugh and his courage is something to applaud.

I wonder how many has fallen prey to his tricks. Little i hope? Cos he has to learn to blot his face b4 walking up to strangers!
>=/

BTW, If it was you, what would you have done?

Addiction

Addiction - the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

That's the definition of addiction taken off dictionary.com

That explains why i was melancholic most of the time since August, knowng my time left is short. I treated every flight as though it's my last. I was "diagnosed" with addiction to flying later on, coming from someone who has been hooked for a few years short of 2 decade.

I've used to complained about living out of a box, how tiring it is. Now that i have to stow the luggage(s) away for minimal usage, i felt a part of me left hanging loose.

So how do i cure an addiction of 951 days?

I don't know yet. I will find out in a few days now that i've had my last.

Why of all flights Hong Kong? Most asked.

Firstly, roster was as such.
Since September, i almost went bonkus trying to change for the flights i had to do. Frankfurt-New York, Seoul and Paris. 3 was enough to pull all my hair out. Usually i get messages from girls who are quitting giving away all their flights, whereas i did the exact opposite, working extra hard, fully utilizing my offs to get to stations to stock up my stuff.

That's the down side of flying. As much as it is a perk of flying, it could be a curse. The moment we stopped, the supply of international goods gets cut. This fss was telling me she uses only U.S' John Frieda shampoo and wonders what will she do when she quits. Bring one cargo bag extra for a year's supply of shampoo? The same for those Bath & Body Works, Abercrombie etc. fans. Morale of the story? Don't start.

Side-tracked too much. Back to story.

Secondly, it was all for the hong kong-nese food.
I haven't been to Hong Kong for 2 years! Wanton Noodles, Dim Sum, Milk Tea, Portugese Egg Tarts, 老婆饼, Congee, Pork Chop Bun, 水留山 dessert, Macaroni soup etc. and the list goes on.

Unfortunately, i didn't have space in my stomach and the time to makan all of them. So this was all i had, and mango hashima pudding drink from 水留山.


Thirdly, this is my last chance to make it memorable by taking my revenge, on pax.
That is every stewardess dream. After being a physical sponge for all sort of "assualts" for so long, we do get a little inflated with vengeance. And Hong Kong being a high complaint sector, it has the perfect setting.

Fourthly, from SNY to the last.
I thought it's a meaningful way to end. Although it could have been better if it was a long haul. But things would have been harder if it was helluva fun flight, making the addiction seriously hard.

****************************

5 years, was the original plan. But when you've lost the passion for it, even a day is long.

Crumbling

I have laughed and cried,

over and over again,

experiencing emotions that went from crest to trough then back,

for the last 2 days.

********************


It is sheer torment

having to appear happy, crazy and fun loving,

pretending nothing has happened,

but deep inside,

I am crumbling.


Yet no tears can heal the kind of pain.

好痛.....

************************

ZY's live performance @ the Shakespeare & co, one which i couldn't shake it off since.
A piece of Elton John's.

What I got to do to make you love me?
What I got to do to make you care?
What do I do when lightning strikes me?
And I wake to find that you're not there?

What I got to do to make you want me?
What I got to do to be heard?
What do I say when it's all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word.

1st October

Still remember why i started this blog at all?

I was counting down to a brand new "high flying", supposedly glamorous job, away from the rigid, desk-bound debt hounding bitch i was, with peanuts pay.

2 years and 7 months on, I am once again counting down.

But instead of forward, i am counting it backwards.

In Paris now. 3rd last to enjoy the sweets that this job brings. Only Seoul and Hong Kong left to go. =(

It has been an extremely hectic September. I tried to squeeze in so much since i know that i do not have much time left, that i am suffering from sleep deprivation. I was hardly home for more than 48 hours.

Now i realise, time is so hard to buy.

I keep looking back, where all is 好吃好住好玩, minus the hard, manual work. I knew i am going to miss it a hell lot. Of course, with a new 'roster' of monday-friday 10am-8pm, it pales in comparison to my previous "one week in London and the next in New York" kind of lifestyle.

=/

"I am physically and mentally tired. Is this a sign?" reads one messenger heading.


"Lost the passion ....... For flying" reads another.


LOL~
I guess i am not alone.

Brings me back to those days early this year, those of confusion and angst.

Glad that it is straightening out for me, but fear of the uncertain future, i am.

~Lost Dreams~

"I can see the Joy on your face"

Came that geninue comment across me at D2R as i marvel at the beauty of the clear view of Singapore outside the window, just after take off as the aircraft climbs. Half of Singapore was spread nicely down under and i had a birdeye's view of the CBD and Sentosa. Smiling i may be, silently, i herald the regret that i couldn't see it out of the cockpit windows instead.

Never in my 2 years has anyone has anyone told me so. It was the reflection of what i secretly love, that came in words. Perhaps that's all i have been wanting to hear?

And little did i know, that sentence from him struck such a cord in me that it made my already disturb mind even heavier. A trip to Jandakot later that evening make it even worse.

**********************

I think i need to rewind the timeline a little.

8 months.

I thought i have given up on this little blog myself too. I wont be surprised if i am the only reader now Heh~

I did tried to post. But ideas evade me to make this an interesting read, thus i kinda gave up a little. Then came facebook, perfect for a lazy bum like me, just load the photos only and let the photos do the talking. Coupled with tiredness, new gym membership, people to meet, flights to chiong etc, blogging took a back seat.

Anyway, the main reason was because i had become disillusioned since the start of the year. Having to draaaaaaaag myself to work always, scowling at paxs (when he is not looking) if he press the xmas call for a SG sling. I found my smile waning as each day gone by, which is bad, knowing that i sell smiles for a living.

Somehow, all those were indication that time has come, or almost coming. I start to prepare myself mentally, change flights to do with friends or batchies, talk to people to sound out the market outside. Lots of plans, but nothing concrete.

And the bomb came. The so-called dream job offer came whilst i was in London, one of my favourite station. My little world came tumbling down, i was close to tears at many points. Then i realised that as much as i have been complaining, angry and all, i still love travelling, the benefit that this job gives.

Things was suppose to go according to plan, and by right it should be next year. But life has a knack of not going according to plan sometimes.

**************************

Further rewind.

Do you remember what is your biggest dream? Or your first dream?

For some people, they are already living theirs. Others not so fortunate, either there are more pressing needs like basic needs to fulfil or simply opportunities evade them.

I was a 18 year-old girl who didn't know what i wanted to be in life, until my eyes found that decade old commercial saying, "AirForce, Above All".

Considered and hesitated. Eventually i did not submit that application.

Obviously, nothing happened.

Wasn't fated to know about Singapore Youth Flying club until i was way passed my youth.

*********************

I need to apologise for the following sentence in advance.

I have NEVER aspire to be a kebaya-clad girl in my life. I just stumbled into it for the travelling and money.

I still remember the very first day of my STC life 2 and a half years back, i ran into Boon when he was still a cadet, he asked me,

"So what happened? I thought you wanted to be a pilot?"

"Well, this is the closest i can get to flying."

It does sound like all was lost.

*********************

Back to Jandakot, the cadet pilots training ground in Perth.

Fate is playing with me. Dream(number 2) job offer pending and then this.

It was liberating to just breathe the air at that airfield and watch the cute aircrafts skiing off the runways.

*********************

I am once again at the cross roads.

*********************

Lately, i have been into taking pics like this.

This is one over looking the indian ocean as we approach Perth.

But all i want is to enjoy the view from the cockpit.

Will there be such a day ?

**********************

Wouldn't it be silly to leave and to wish that i could come back to fly again?

=)

Words have been evading me.

I realised i couldn't carry on anymore.

Dwindling number of smiling faces snapped, and even lesser genuine happy-ness felt and remembered.


Some always say if you can't figure it out? Leave it.
So i am taking it seriously, 'leaving' to seek again, to fathom why am i writing this.

2007 - A Close

I am at a lost for words suddenly.

Yet another year has flown by.

So much has happened.

I need a fresh start.

But i have yet to give my new year resolution a serious thought =9 Probably do it in Seoul.

*********************************

29th Dec.

Today's probably the last day in 2007 i have in Singapore, and it has to be tainted by this verbally abusive tai tai early in the morning. She's palpably an autocratic freak who may possibly turn violent if the maid misplace the flower vase by an inch.

Never ending to our sob stories..... Simply just piling on the push factors. Hiak.

"It good to fly around and see the world, but it is even better to fly around on business." Someone said.

Been telling a few friends that I wanna work in Japan, and their unanimous answer was," Join JAL la...."

*Faintz* I felt 'condemned' to flying.

If i tell them i am considering London too, I have absolutely no doubts about their response,
"Join B.A lor..."

>.<"

I want to do more than that.

*********************************


In the changing room of MYER. Yet another nice dress that i can't buy.

Despite having my Christmas wish fulfilled by activating me to Brisbane for boxing day shopping with yen, it didn't justify the major disappointment with how my plans with TPE-LAX got F up.

I feel so exploited.

Least, now i am looking forward to counting down to the New Year with Shawna in San Francisco. =)

*********************************

I am sorry.

Hooked on Musical

Hooked on going to musical(s), i think i am.


Instead of going to the large productions, like Billy Elliot which i would really love to see, we chose a cheaper and smaller production, the "Herge's Adventures of TIN TIN". What a first for me!


Deprived of childhood you may say, but we think it's more of indulging in reminiscence. A rather expensive one of 24.50 pound =9.

Looking forward to the next London again, for the musical(s) and Mark & Spencers grocery shopping (I know that's very auntie, thanks). Though that's one hell of a happening flight, pushing my physical endurance to the limit, being there simply exhilarates me.

=)

I have always trust that a batch gathering @ Ding's will be good, which is why i always make an effort to go, even when i have to report for London at 7am tmr *YAWNZ*.... And tonight's the usual great food, great games and lotsa catch-up time, not forgetting to mention lotsa jokes too.

Hear this hilarious real life incident, quoting Ding:

Let character A be the male pax with West Asian accent.
And the other character was the gay steward.

Pax came into the gallery disgruntled, in his strong west asian accent (which Ding is also fantastic at mimicking)
A: I've been fingering your stewardess, but she never come!

The steward was stunned initially, not sure if he's heard the man correctly. When his senses returned, he didn't know whether to laugh or not, and said
"Sir, it's ok. You can finger me and i'll come."

************

=X

All for Doughnuts

Risking being stuck in a Traffic jam and having to endure a near-half-hr unpleasant traffic conditions cabby ride to Taman Anggrek Mall, all for J.CO Doughnuts.

The one that was rumored to be better than Krispy Creme?!

Thank goodness there wasn't any queues, unlike the crazy Doughnut Factory fever here.


Kawaii Polariod from Ann...


By the way, J.CO is "j-coing" to Singapore soon! Can't wait to see if the queue for J.CO will beat those of Doghnut Factory when it first started here... check out their website!
http://www.jcodonuts.com/

Invasion in Process

Mood: Frustrated.

While others are celebrating being a Mac convert, i'm here struggling being a new Sony Ericsson user. I am such a technology lagger.

I'm invading my new Sony Ericsson phone right now, trying to make it fit for habitation.

My Nokia LCD screen collasped suddenly yesterday, making me almost incontactable when i have things to be done. I wasn't ready for this. Now that i will lose all my precious SMSes and other data.... Hiak~ I feel so disoriented, sooo lost now... It's scary how dependent people are (me included) on mobile phones. My entire life is built on it.

Next time, I'll make sure i'm more 'mobile', i.e. moving on to the next phone without losing much data, without having your life still stuck in the old phone.

ShaBu-ShaBu-ed again

New discoveries each time, which is why I had no qualms about doing Taipei back to back.

Especially food-wise.

The ShaBu-ShaBu we took much pain to find, cos it was highly recommended by the locals. Absolutely love the 沙茶酱. It's something like satay sauce, only that it is non-spicy on its own and it's saltish.

Add a little of those cut garlic, chilli and spring onion, drown them in soya sauce: Ooola~ It makes everything so appetising. Got 1 bottle back fom the supermarket. Will make it for my family for CNY steamboat !!!
=9


So glad i found you.

I meant the Shin-ya dorayaki. Apparently it's a famous import from Japan and that's the only branch in Taipei. Check this out: http://www.sing-ya.com.tw/index1.html
Luckily i heed Bro's advice to find it.
Cuz it's ~Sinfully Heavenly~
The only troublesome part? It has to be kept frozen.

*******************************

Will be looking forward to the upcoming TPE-LAX over New Year, the one with high opportunity cost in order to "win the bid".

But it's all that i have been looking forth to ;p

很想家

Back from my 9 days 'Tour of Duty'.

Although i enjoy Taipei, didnt't particularly like this trip cos L.A is freaking boooooring without a car and female bosses' expectations are rather hard to please.

Perhaps, it's the boredom of being stranded overseas with very limited things to do (excluding Taipei) and with people whom you aren't very familiar with that make it abit the sianz.
很想家.....

After surviving the boring LA station and back in Taipei, the one i looked forward to.
On the cab to our ultimate shopping spree at WuFenPu (五分谱)


Shi Lin Night market, 士林夜市. And the famous ultra big fried chicken chop.




And all the 街边摊 delicacies.

I've tried the 臭豆腐 once and found the taste so-so only. Not a big fan of it, and certainly not a fan of the smell too =p

5 OFFs (No. 1)

The week (my 5 precious off days) flew by at such a hurricane pace.
Just like the ride on the topless Saab 93 convertible, sweet but waaaay to short.

The Saab was awesome, BM ultra sleek and comforty, but i like the mini cooper much better. No luck however, more like a hopeless case. Life's that way anyway.

Glad that i have the weekend around to catch up with people, and that it ended on a saccharine note. Cuz i get to spend the whole afternoon with bestie followed by an adventure to Mustafa on a crowded Saturday evening. Heh~ Yet, i still didn't get my new cargo bag after looking at the same old few models again. Hiak

Off to Taipei - LA tmr, which is Sunday.
A "tour" someone calls it.
Only to be corrected to "tour of duty", after my utmost protest. They make it sound like it's such a holiday!

The last one was Jay Chou, i wonder if i will meet anyone interesting onboard tmr... Hmmm... I'm aware that my expectations are getting rather steep ;P

Tokyo - Los Angeles

Disneyland - Where Dreams come true.

Soo Desu. As for the very first time, i step into the land of my childhood dreams and fantasies.

Plans were made for Six Flags Magic Mountain initially, but unfortunately it's only open over the weekends in winter. Damn! It's Thursday for us. *Sianz* With the big group of us, it was hard to come to an agreement on the next destination. Left it open for the rest to decide, as it's my first time that i can go out in LA, anything is fine. Anything is new.

Disneyland was so last minute that the 2 of us decided over the morning call at 7.15am. We weren't really enthusiatic about Disneyland and it was actually our last option to go for kiddy stuff, cos other places are rather out of bound and warehouse shopping aren't really on our to-do list.

Reached Disneyland @ about 10.30am after having a heavy breakfast of Garden crepe @ IHOP. Thank god we did, cos that meal last me till 9pm at night. Food inside Disneyland sucks and cost a bomb. Yucks!

Yooo Hoooo~ The place that'll transform all adults back into children again.

The Main Street. U.S.A. All dolled up for Christmas, in fact everywhere is.

After our first crazy starwars ride, we stumbled across the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, which was newly open, supposed so. The queue was damn long, took us nearly half an hour standing in the blazing sun despite it being winter, but it was all worthwhile.

It looks so nice beneath, wouldn't it have been nice if there were really living corals and fish there. But i guess the fish probably staring floating to the surface soon with the non-stop submarine rides.
The first horror of the day.

LOL~ Do you still remember the terrible girl from Finding Nemo?

That's all, the rest are captured in video with my companion Jess. Will upload if i ever receive it from her Haha.

"It's a Small World"

Both day or night, i just love this sweet little place.

And we are thrown into a land of international friends of Chucky =)

The Chucky-look-alike dolls didn't look so scary with the loud, engulfing festive Christmas carol, and us singing along on the little sailboat.

Mickey's ToonTown Next. Where we took a quick less than an hour look around Mickey's and Friends of Mickey's houses.

Donald's Duck Bunk. Donald Duck actually wear duck feet boots????
Visited Mickey Mouse's House and he was there to take pictures with visitors! Yeah!

Minnie Mouse's House. Unlike Mickey's house above, which was rather dark and a typical man's house, we adore this house.

Her kitchen is sooooo sweet and Kawaii neh ~

The fridge is actually cold and the dish washer moves!

Dropped by the ToonTown post office to mail the ToonTown's residents. =P

Which there aren't many. Only a pathetic 6 Haha....

Literally dashed to Fantasyland as time is running short, it's 2 pm and we barely have 25% covered.
Been eyeing the Mad Tea Party ever since we came in. Our favourite since childhood, and still is. LOL~

"I'm spinning around

move out of my way

I know you're feelin' me cuz' you like it like this

I'm breakin' it down

I'm not the same

I know you're feelin' me cuz' you like it like this...."

After getting ourselves dizzy on the Mad Tea Cups and the King Arthur Carrousel, we joined the queue of people waiting to catch their flight.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant!

Both Jess and moi agree this ride is a must take, cos it entails the very essence of our job, i.e flying on Jumbo. =9 *Duhz*

Even more dashing around to complete the kiddy rides, like the one below.

Plus Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Pinocchio's Daring Journey etc etc.

Lots of elbowing the adults, near accidents of tripping over trollers and even knocking over kids. Told you we were kids again.

The not-so-haunted Haunted Mansion.

To think that we'll get freak out, we decided to go early so that we have other rides to occupy our mind after and that we'll be able to sleep at night. Turned out? It was one hell of a joy ride as we amuse ourselves with all the happy ghosts dressed to the occasion and dancing to Christmas carols. *Phewz*

The rest of the day was more fun as we took the more happening rides like roster coaster, Pirates of the Carribean, Space Mountain and Indiana Jones etc etc, of which the last 2 were my favourite.

Jennie Garth from Dancing with the Stars made a special appearance that night. Honestly I didn't have any idea who she was then haha~ But the latest news was that this popular pair of competitors (with Derek Hough) had been eliminated. Awwwww~

Sianz. Must be suay la.... cuz no fireworks that night. Can you believe it ??????!!!!!!!

How can a Disneyland trip be complete without fireworks???

At most, i'll go crew room and view it myself next week on my TPE-LAX... Sianzz....

Hiak.

Back in Tokyo.

The last and most important leg to me. I am a Ji Pun Kia (eh... that sounds so vulgar), absolutely adore anything Japanese, minus the Hentai part =9.

Fancy having crepes now?

A packed Harajuku on an early Sunday morning.

If i have a dog, i'd love to splurge !!! Wouldn't mind my dog to be as cool neh~

But come to think of it, it'll probably die of heat wearing it here in Singapore >.<"

Shibuya. Luuuuuuuurve the shopping here.

My eyes were automatically dilated the entire day as i am so bemused by their fashion sense. Confused, but yet intrigued and impressed how this society is so adventurous, esp in their dressing. However, the Japanese are still a very traditional group of people in other ways too.

Finally fulfill this foreigner dream of mine. Beating the traffic and human congestion to risk capturing moments on the busy streets of Tokyo.

In Yun's new term for me, i think that's also Dangerography. *wink*

Finding a place to rest our tired feet and fill our growling stomach at the end of the day. So into one of those tiny store selling yakitori. My first time. The chinese speaking lady kinda of like cheated us in cos she could converse with us. Turns out to be a 黑店 at the end of the whole experience. Talk about helping each other in 人在异乡。

The pathetic 6 sticks each person cost us about 1700 yen. That almost 20SG$ per person!!! Never tell us exactly how much each thing cost etc...*mad*

What's worse? Invite some Ham Sap Ji Pun men who were also dining in the same squeezy shop with us, to make some indecent suggestion (so we think) in japanese which we couldn't understand at the end of it.
Blardy hell. *Tsk*

That's all folks.

If you get a chance, i now think that Disneyland is worth going.