FLYING & BEING A 'TOUR GUIDE'

I have been blessed with a trip to Penang and Singapore last week.

It's almost an all-expense paid trip by the client and so, basically, I just get to mingle and mix with people and make some new friends along the way, while experiencing a whole lot of stuff.

Though super tiring because it is still work, but it is no doubt super fun!

Last Tuesday brought me to Penang. It was my first time traveling by plane to Penang, because for typical students like us, we would usually travel 5 hours by bus rather than splurge on air tickets that, although save 4 hours of our life, cost a fortune (well at least to our student pockets, it does burn a lot).

Anyway it was an uber cool experience to board a plane for 50 minutes and arriving up North to another part of Malaysia.

However, the air-sickness is really killing me. The whole flying experience sadly reminded me of my first real flight to Liverpool, in which I traveled more than 20 hours across the globe to a wonderful place I learned to love.

So ya, I was flying in Mid-air and thinking about Liverpool as I tried to bear the dizziness. I mean this is not the kinda flight that I can actually knock myself out with alcohol, although with 20-hour flight, I was stupid to not have knock myself out with gulps of Bacardi! 

And so ya, it was really hard not to think of Liverpool at this time of the year, since it is actually our first anniversary since our experience last year in Liverpool. And it made it worst for me as I'm actually on the flights...traveling, made me miss Liverpool even more! I remembered last year that when I was air-sick, I was attended to by a hot steward named Francis. Oh how I wish I could go back then...

Anyway!!!

Back to my trip last week.

Once we touchdown, we headed straight for G Hotel, next to Gurney Plaza.

This could be shocking but I don't think I've ever set foot in Gurney Plaza before. Gurney Drive for a taste of delicious Laksa, yes, but not really Gurney Plaza. So this is officially, kinda like my first time visiting Gurney Plaza but seriously, when you are acting like a tour guide, minus the guiding, you basically don't have the chance to sight-see at all.

And this is the only Penang trip in which I did not go to Gurney Drive for Laksa! This is also the only Penang trip in which I did not hit the beach. But I experienced an alternate Penang - cool 5 star hotels and super awesome designed lounges. 

G-Hotel is really super awesome! I think the lounge looks freaking cool and beautiful. Sadly, I did not capture the awesomeness =(

Sorry la! But next time, you can treat me to a night at G-Hotel again and I'll make sure I snap a million pics for you!

I managed to cam-whore a little lar.

Forgive me but I was super ecstatic to find a bathrobe!

But then I dunno why these robes have to come in giant size....

What about Mini-me like me??

I also managed to meet up with one of my bestest buddies in Penang this time around. Although our meeting only lasted merely one hour, since it was pretty late and I was super tired (thanks Yean Fun for taking the time to see me by the way), but it was great to see my friend again. 

Yean Fun was my partner back then in Diploma; I'm not bragging but we were like the Dynamic Duo...any assignments done together with Yean Fun is a good assignment, assignments that gave me a sense of satisfactory. I mean, we do not necessarily score the highest, but those were some of the bestest times because we knew we've done our best.

So after spending a night in G-Hotel, we flew off to Singapore.

I think it's been easily 7 years since I last saw Singapore. Honestly, I don't even know if anything has changed because the last memory of Singapore is a total blur for me, and so, I can't even compare. Dad is surely going to kill me. After spending $$ on holiday trips to Singapore, I dare say I have vague memories of Singapore.

But of course I know that Singapore had welcomed a fair share of newbies - the Casino and also Clarke Quay has basically transformed into a whole new place altogether (not that I remember how it was previously, but I know it has transformed). 

My first night of tour in Singapore brought me to Clarke Quay. Seriously, Clarke Quay is amazing! The concept of each shop is so unique and different that each and every one of them captured my attention. 

There is one by the name of 'Clinic' in which they bar adopts a concept of the clinic. Imagine dining on wheelchairs and hospital benches and have drinks served in blood packets ...cool right? Oh well, maybe not. I keep picturing my grandma in my head, complaining about such "seating arrangements" when I pass by that shop. I mean, some people can be very superstitious about things like that, can't blame them.

Although the place is filled with wonders and colours, being a 'tour-guide' means that I have the unfortunate honour of doing more of counting heads rather than exploring pubs and bars haha. But Clarke Quay is the only place where I can't help but divert my attention a little.

That night also introduced me to a unique taste of Persian food and the delightful Persian belly-dance. Oh well, delightful more for the lucky guys I guess muahaha! 

How was Persian food? 

Okay let me be honest, it wasn't that bad but then, it definitely won't be my first choice for dining. 

I am however very grateful for the chance to savour such a unique dinner because obviously, even if I am rich, the last thing I'd think of spending my moo is on a Persian diner (no offense, it's just that I'm not adventurous when it comes to food). So I'm glad that I'm indirectly ushered into a Persian restaurant and was taught how to eat those meals.

The next day sees me touring ION Orchard, a high-end shopping mall in Singapore. Seriously, I am not very inclined to shopping malls because I'm not a shopper lar. But high-end shopping malls apparently caters to those who splurges on Gucci and Prada and the oh-so-expensive international brands whose names that one can hardly pronounce...so ya, that's basically what high-end malls means. For me, any malls in which I can watch a good movie and eat at the food court is a good mall. =D

After ION Orchard, we toured Raffles City and that wraps up our 3 day tour.

My 2 nights in Singapore had granted me the honour of sleeping in Swissotel, one of the top hotels in Singapore. Oh well, it is beautiful but call me crazy, but I still think the lobby of G-Hotel looks much more awesome lar haha. And G-Hotel grants us super high-speed Internet connection (though I didn't even get the chance to enjoy), while Swissotel charges us for Internet service, which, by the way, doesn't work.

The first day in Swissotel also sees a clueless me calling the operator on how to get the shower running.

But excuse me, it's not my fault that they tightened the shower valves so that only muscular hunks can loosen them. The most embarrassing thing is, I had to invite the mechanic up to my room to do the honours of officiating my bath.

So sadly, I'm giving G-Hotel a higher rating in terms of bathroom haha.

But the view from my hotel room is FANTASTIC and it made up for all the negatives!!!!!

I don't know what these hotel people did to the beds but the 3 nights I spent in the hotels, I slept like a baby. Seriously, the beds were so comfortable that when I woke up, I just felt energized, though I practically had less than 8 hours of sleep. I mean, it's nothing like home with mama and papa, but hotels are really coming close in competition.

I didn't have time and the money to buy souvenirs for my bosses and colleagues so I had to get creative.

It involves being super 'kiasu', while not come across as stealing.

Oh okay! What I did was ask the room-service lady if I can have more slippers and bathroom utilities. And the lady gave me basically a tonne of everything.

So basically, it is not stealing if those shampoo, lotion, body wash, coffee, creamer, sugar and tea are given to you right?

I am so happy with my pile of products and today, I gave them all away in the office. MUAHAHA!

Sorry, I mean call me cheapskate but I believe the right term is smart, innovative or creative - take your pick! haha

Anyway, it was a wonderful trip that got me flying the most times in my life within one week.

Never before had I traveled by plane 3 times in a week..Bravo!!

Got me really light-headed and spinning but I wouldn't complain. It is a fantastic experience.

I better get some rest. Shouldn't have stayed up so late since I'm not really in my top form, but I owe it to myself to update my blog with my first business/work-related travel trip. 

ps: Sigh...I still miss Liverpool okay. 

With Lotsa Love,

TammyC