Yes this post is long overdue....again! I guess I have my reasons such as catching up with work, buying a new toy (in which I have had alot of late nights lately) and more work? Haha...not only that, I've also started my 'operation gigi' regime whereby it's trips back to Malaysia to get it fixed. But it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worth it than to get it done here in Singapore. I don't really trust the consultants here as a start since we moved here recently as they really are persuasive. I need more time to understand how they think....the joy of being a consultant and customer myself haha.

Anyway, it's not like I trust my country either. I guess thorough research needs to be done all the time to get the quality and trust you want on something. Yes yes, I do have faith somewhere lying in this mind of mind. But hey ho, I do know why people grow up to be cynical these days....

Ok, so I'm drifting off topic again. Back to Hong Kong....it was a buzz of a place, so many people at every corner and with the constant canton cussing projected from every corner sure added into the total experience. To me, it felt like I was in an overcrowded fish tank in an aquarium store the entire time. And we actually spent some time walking 'Kam yuee Kai' (Goldfish Market Street), where the boys got so carried away as they were amazed to see so many pet store and aquarium shops in a stretch of streets.

Other highlights would be:

• Seeing an actual Panda for the first time in Ocean Park.
• Chancing upon a Wan Tan noodles restaurant that was voted the second best (in something) in Hong Kong island and at a value price of HKD $17.00 p/bowl.
• Good fresh japanese sushi and meals (as good as NZ).
• Over consumption of milk teas and bubble teas (in BIG portions for cheap).
• Catching the view of Hong Kong island from Tsim Tsa Tsui at night.
• Bus ride up to Victoria Peak passing by all the ridiculously large mansions along the way.
• Watched Cirque du Soliel at Macau which was worth the ticket.

Mongkok, Hong Kong - wandering from Gjin Ow on Vimeo.


Here are some of our lovely snippits from hong kong on the first day! More to come....

To the malls and food bwahaha...

I haven't been updating much lately because there isn't much to update =P. Last weekend was literally spent on training (running), hanging out at home while waiting for the cleaner to clean up the place (yes we have one), window shopping at the malls and eating. Hmm, I guess the only thing different that I did was to checked out far west and there's actually a large sports complex that consisted a swimming pool next to a badminton hall. Kinda cool to go for a dip on a Sunday afternoon =). It also had other facilities like tennis and squash courts, a stadium for running and a sushi restaurant. It took about an hour to get there though but hey ho, all about exploring.

AnYwaY, weekend before that was spent at Underwater world and this time D came along! I'm super extra prouder of my sis and the way she performed and this round, I get to touch the dolphines! weeeeeeeeeeee...

Few pics from the event:


D loved the tunnel and we went around 3 times, so I did kinda 'hint' him about getting a scuba license mwahaha.

This weekend will be packed with relatives, which will definitely make us actually explore Singapore more ;)

Hey ho, time for an update!

Been spending the last week and abit settling down with me new job and place and it's going great! Despite the 'ninja' mosquitoes that I never knew until I arrive Singapore...yes, they are small and tiny and you don't see them and when they bite, they really bite! So we've taken some measurements...although we haven't actually bought a proper citronella plant but yeah, we've planted a few joysticks around our place.

One day of the weekend was spent with good ole sis, where we watched anime the whole day. Yes, we are sucked into Avatar! The last air-bender WOOHOO.

The other day of the weekend was spent on wake boarding for the first time...but unfortunately my camera battery is dead and I do not know where the charger is so we don't have a video camera :( . Was relying on our friends camera to help us out.

Wake boarding is becoming a more popular 'leisure' sport and it's pretty much like skiing but on a skateboard...as well as the spot people go to do it was very close to our new place, plus there was a sea food restaurant nearby. Heh, that says it all.

Punggol, Singapore - Wake Boarding from Gjin Ow on Vimeo.


I was the last one out of the 4 of us and was the only person who was able to stood up the first time the driver took off! Haha, and it lasted so long (about 10mins non stop). It's real fun because it's really like surfing and there is no hassle to 'catch' the waves since there is already one. I then got adventurous...started to ride left and right, tried jumping and riding with one hand. So want to do it again!

After a 3 hour workout, we headed off for Seafood dinner and then a poker session back at our place. The next day was spent at a German restaurant for lunch and we feasted so much that we were not hungry for dinner.

2nd week of work, but this time without the senior! Do hope I'm doing the right thing as right now there is so much catching up to do (9 months of design work is a real challenge). Short week since it was Singapore day on Monday (saw the fireworks on tv). Things are progressing well regardless, got my work permit, got a bank account and now am just waiting for my first payslip!

Today marks 2 years and 1 day since I first arrived London....

And it is a day before my tenancy expires...

So many friends made, so many things enjoyed, so many endless experienced gained mentally and emotionally, lessons learn, cherished and not forgetting, so many things accumulated =P.

Our bags are packed and we are ready to go. I am again anxious, scared for the uncertainties of my life / phase ahead, yet excited and happy. Contradictory, as well as it seems that everything fell through and it's too good to be true. I've got lots to catch up on my roots, for I have been away far too long.

The journey towards this decision only happened in less than 2 months. Devastated initially, I cannot believe how amazingly fated to come across one shut door and then spot the open door without hesitation even without knowing. Cheezy, I know but maybe I should tell the story.

Everything was going well after my bike ride from London to Paris. We won another job, team is all busy, I'm was given confidence to be given more tasks. So we took steps to get our visa renewed. After one night of seeing the consultant, it went downhill (but I was thankful). It got more and more complicated and the chances of us renewing for the next 3 years became slimmer. There was a 'jolt' to the system, after hitting a brick wall when we have exhausted all resources. And then we come across asking ourselves: Do we want to stay, are we happy leaving, do we want to sacrifice our pay for this visa. But the questions of wanting to stay all stopped when one of us have to leave the country regardless.

So where to go? We asked ourselves next...and thus emails and our CV's were sent out to friends and family over the globe, seeing where the wind blows. One event that sparked me to explore the alternatives was that there was a 1.2bn job in Australia, and that job needed 400 engineers like me. That really opened me up in relief, and in curiosity to go find out more.

NZ - In the hopes of getting a citizenship was turned down due to a new rule
Aus - Visa applications were place on halt until end of June
Dubai - Slim chances as it's not picking up
Singapore - haven't tried before and it could be as bad as the UK

After finding out that we have to completely forfeit one of our 2 flights to Asia which took a bit of a chunk of our money, we finally decide to head to Asia to take a breather, use the other flight and try our luck for a couple of months before heading home to NZ. And I can't believe how things fell into place from that decision. It's like something we didn't ask for but came without us trying too hard. Friend mentioned that there is a job opening in Singapore and needed someone exactly like me to be on board. Phone interview came and went and they offered immediately. I was solely relying on this as it was difficult to look for jobs on the website. I never knew that although Singapore is small, it is not like the UK. There were jobs 10 times bigger than what I'm doing, clients who are top in the corporate world and this company is also well known for being part of the Beijing Olympic Games.

And to sum everything up with one final 'spice', D also landed himself with something promising =)

Yes, I write to remember, to remember that as sappy as it sounds, I am so thankful just to follow my intuition, to have faith lead us when the unexpected comes. I write to share the experience that I haven't come across, write to tell about a change in phase, a change in life, the chaos, the excitement, the sadness, the people that effected me and how I have effected them, growing up emotionally, mentally, I write before I have no more time to write. And I love to read back the times where I was young and fresh.

I find that keeping your heads up, being positive, staying happy, knowing that things will always be better makes a difference to preparing the unexpected future. I have stop believing in cynicism, for I'd rather call it optimistic and believing. I am stubborn to be one to be honest, and I don't believe that the world is bad even though there was attempts in people pick pocketing us, insults, political dramas. I just see it as a mere reminder to be weary, to acknowledge that they are around and that it is up to me to make the decision: a lesson to be more alert or a negative thought to tell us that the world is dangerous?

London has made me stronger and tougher in a way, and yet more caring and generous in another way. It has made me get to know myself more, it has brought the best out of me and yet my life ahead will bring out more surprises about me.

I don't know where I'm going with this so I better stop...spent about 2 days just trying to write this post! Crazy, shows that my mind is not settled as yet haha.

Anyway,onwards to a new journey!!

Haha, after some short moments of pondering, I've decided to change this blog right away :P

My new blog link is now http://www.travel-genial.blogspot.com

You'll get the email updates anyway...enjoy!!

I know this post is late as the photos are already up but I haven't told you that the videos are also up too heh.

Anyway, click here for the photos again and here for the videos :)

The trip took 8 days and it was basically one day traveling in the bus and the other traveling though the city itself. There is just too much to tell about the trip, so I shall summarise each city in one sentence....

Paris - Fat Bike tour was absolute fun, The Louvre museum was HUGE, Mona Lisa was tiny but she had a GIGANTIC drawing of the Last Supper in front of her.
Switzerland - Lauterbrunnen, a couple of hours away from Zurich, mesmerized by 10 waterfalls merging to one river, waterfalls surrounding all around us, postcard photos, separate road for bicycles and walkers.
Florence - was raining but beautifully decorated by famous statues and artists, apparently very famous for road trips as the smaller towns around Tuscanny are much prettier than Florence itself.
Rome - was glad to get it over and done with, tour guide took us through the famous spots and Vatican City was just grand.

Lots of packing and bidding farewells now! In the mean time, I shall be thinking of a new name for this wonderful blog.

"Be prepared for model elephants in London, as over 250 of the giant beasts invade the capital’s streets in a huge public art exhibition aiming to raise money for elephants throughout the world. The model elephants in London are part of the Elephant Parade, organised by the Elephant Family charity that have set up similar events throughout the world in an effort to raise awareness of the plight that faces many of our big-eared friends."