Whitewater Rafting!

Hello all!

Another fun- filled OFF day! Had to wake up at the wee hours of the morning to head back to Four Seasons for a "Thank You Overnight Crew Breakfast". It's basically a treat for us overnight crew from the top management to have the buffet breakfast at the resort's restaurant like any normal guest. Sweet. Haha. The price for an Adult to have breakfast here is US$27++ so you just convert it to SGD to see how much it costs. =)

The weather got extremly hot today at 25 DC and it will probably be the last day of such pretty weather before the thunderstorms start again. -.-' Sadi proposed going whitewater rafting a few days ago and since it was complimentary for staff from Four Seasons so why not? Hahaha. Grabbed Yinyin along for the ride too.

Because the rivers had high water conditions today, we had to rent wetsuits. But I just rented booties too to make walking easier. I look like Spiderman. Hahaha.

The ugly wetsuit. Now I know how I would look if I was flat-chested. Oh, and everybody meet my new friend from Turkey- Sadi. =)

And we're off for our 8 mile Whitewater Rafting trip! Started off with a 30 minute drive down to one of the violent parts of the Snake River. Then it was time to put on the life jackets, helmets etc. and to grab a paddle. Our guide was Wayne who has been rafting for 16 years. Being less experienced, we volunteered to sit at the back because he needed 2 strong lead paddlers.

Whoo hoo! Welcome to Lunch Counter! The area with the craziest rapids on this trail.

Overexposure. Not nice. Hahaha.

Whoa!

I thought the whole raft was about to flip over. Hahaha. A kid from the raft in front of us fell over though. Her brother jumped in after her to push her out of the water while he himself got stuck and couldn't come up. So drama but it was real and so touching!

I was in between a laugh, a scream and having water in my mouth. =p By the way, even though the temperature was at 25 DC, the water was at 5 DC. LOL!

And yay! We made it out alive!

My hair stank to high heaven because of the helmet but who cares? It was so fun I think I can go over and over again! Whee! Hahaha.

I'm going to Orlando again next week! Whee! Hahaha. Can't wait can't wait! So excited. =) And I'm finally going to have a visitor. Whoopeedoooooooo! I just hope United Airlines gives me a seat on my plane ride there and back if not I'll be flying on the wings of the plane. Definitely first class.

Tata!

5 months!

Hello all!

5 months! Just another 7 more months till I go home! Can't wait can't wait. Me want to eat Bak Chor Mee with lots of chilli and mushrooms. Yum. Ni Zhen, can you please takeaway a packet for me when you come? The one in the first coffeeshop. =)

They blocked blogspot at work. =( Now I can't visit blogs when I'm bored at work. Boooooo. And we've been having the weirdest stuff at work these few days because they changed the chef. Not to mention the highest calorie meals I've ever laid eyes on. Lemme list it out for you.

Night 1: Pork Ribs with Mashed Potatoes
Night 2: Beef Brisket, Sausages, Cream Corn, Mashed Potatoes and Beans

Night 3: Salad

Night 4: Spaghetti Carbonara with a slab of all- fat Pork Chop

Night 5: Scrambled Eggs, Potato Rosti and Sausages.

Stan was joking that one of the staff from the overnight shift must have died of a heart attack that's why the chef suddenly changed the dish on Night 3 to a salad. If I were to actually finish all the food every night, I think I would have been that staff. I miss Kevin's cooking.

Alright, off to bed! Tata!

Seychelles!

Hello all!

Missed me? Nothing much to blog about. Hahaha. Working and working. And it's been raining everyday. More than usual, they said. Why? Nobody knows. The cold and wet is depressing. And I need some hairfall control shampoo. Badly. Oh, and probably a hair cut too. Probably a piercing and tattoo to top it off.

I Skype-ed home today. I miss BearBear. I hope he comes in July. Stuffed in a luggage full of smelly clothes. =)

New show. Very cute name.

I wanna work in Africa. Not kidding. It looks fun. Hahaha. But I think nobody would support my decision because it's dangerous. But it's so different and exciting! However, since Africa is such a huge continent, I've narrowed it down to an off the continent country called Seychelles. And even narrower, the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles. I think I have a penchant for choosing the most remote places to study and work at. Look at where I am now.

It's so pretty.

Not the kind of wildlife safari kind of place you were thinking of right? Hahaha.

But I don't think they have direct flights from Singapore. Bummer. Oh, speaking of airlines, I was in an MSN conversation with Jaslyn, Bernice and Yan Qi. And they mentioned that Jun Wei wants to come to our houses to fold our bedsheets. -.-' Hahahah. Why? Cos he wants to practice for his air steward dream. o.O LOL. I don't mind him going to my house in Singapore to fold my bedsheets since my maid has temporarily gone home for 2 months. He can wash my toilet if he wants too as well. =)

Alright, bye bye! Oh, and you know I was just kidding about the piercing and tattoo right? Hahaha.

Eddie Vedder/ Pearl Jam

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life

I know you'll be a sun in somebody else's sky.

But why can't it be mine?

- Eddie Vedder/ Pearl Jam

Chicago!

Hello all!

Before you pause the music that's playing now, listen to it no matter how much you hate Miley Cyrus. And go watch the video that I posted on Facebook. I keep repeating it. So funny. Hahaha. So here's the entry on Chicago. Thank you Papa & Mama for allowing me to go (and your credit card).

Chicago Day 1- 7 Jun 2009

It was a super impromptu holiday. I realised that my OFF days are joined these two weeks so I went online and book my air tix + hotel on Thursday morning and left on Sunday morning. Hahaha. Nobody could make this sudden trip with me so I went alone.

Chicago is one of the few destinations where Jackson Hole actually has a direct flight too.

My first meal in Chicago. I wanted to eat the world famous Chicago hotdogs actually but I couldn't find it. So settled for a place called Wow Bao. The Mongolian Beef bao tasted funny.

And after that it was shopping! This shopping centre is called Water Tower Place. I bought a vest and jeans from Forever 21. Regretted not buying anything from Abercrombie & Fitch. Wanted to buy some body lotions from Victoria's Secret (on sale!) but couldn't because I was not planning on checking in any bags. (You had to pay additional for check in bags for domestic flights) I learnt to travel light during this trip.

The "Orchard Road" of Chicago. They called it "The Magnificent Mile".

Chicago Trolley!

Hershey's Chicago. So overwhelmed by the choco smell upon entering the shop.

But it was heaven. So many things to see and buy. The chocolate bar and syrup bottle were huge. Should have taken a further picture to show the contrast. And are you kidding me? A Hershey's Barbie?

The main attraction along the Magnificent Mile. John Hancock Observatory. I'm not sure if the movie has anything to do with it.

And my hotel which was located just a block down from the John Hancock Observatory. Checked in a few hours ago but my room was not ready so I went shopping.

I booked a standard room but they upgraded me to a suite FOC! Whoo hoo! Seperate living room from bedroom. But I overheard the reason why they did it. Overbooked.

Little kitchen and bathroom. I love the rainforest showerhead.

Rested abit and headed out to find dinner. Initial plan was to head up to the observatory to capture the night view but I dunno what happened. The whole top started to fog like crazy.

The company.

Mr. Singing In the Rain was standing right outside the hotel.

This entire street was filled with restaurants and pubs. Nightlife.

Dinner.

Looks like a scene from those movies when a major flood or a bomb is about to drop on the city.

Chicago Day 2- 8 Jun 2009

I bought some instant noodles for breakfast but right before cooking, I realised the hotel room didn't have a bowl or a fork. Just a microwave. Smart.

Time to explore the city on foot! I walked so many blocks till I stopped counting. All I know was that my feet were crying.

First stop, the popular Navy Pier. So many kids because it housed the Chicago Children Museum. The Ferris Wheel was modeled after the very first Ferris wheel, which was built for Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Did you know that when it was Paris to host the World's Columbian Exposition, they built the Eiffel Tower? What a difference. I would love to return to Navy Pier at night. It's like a huge themepark with fireworks.

Where's Singapore?

The Chicago River. So clean. It reminds me of the Singapore River because buildings line it too.

I dunno the signifance of the farmer and his wife being there.

The Chicago Tribune (newspaper), WGN Radio (the DJs could be seen through a glass!) and Mama, your Hard Rock Hotel Chicago.

The world famous Chicago Theatre.

A must visit in Chicago- Millemmium Park.

Wrigley Square and Millennium Monument (Peristyle).

Cloud Gate on AT&T Plaza. But nobody really calls it the Cloud Gate. They mostly called it the Silver Bean. Hahaha.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Hello from Chicago!

God created the world, everything else is Made In China.

The Crown Fountain. The faces change every few minutes.

And they sprout water too! Should have done a fixed shot so that it'll look more artistic. Hahahaha.

Wanted to continue walking on to the other must sees in Chicago including the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquariam but I was so damn tired so re-routed back to the hotel. Hahaha.

But first, not without making a stop at the Disney Store. Bought a Sleeping Beauty for US$3.99 and a Nightmare Before Christmas notebook for US$9.50!

Oh by the way, I took the public transportation to the hotel. It could have been a direct train ride and a short bus ride but the train route had to be under construction at this time. -.-' Had to get off the train and ride two buses before getting to my hotel.

After resting for a while, crossed over next door and bought a ticket for the John Hancock Observatory. Chose the Sun+Star package for $19 because it allowed you up twice. Normal entrance was already $15. The smaller Lego version of the tower cost $19.99. -.-' Collector's edition.

The view of Chicago from the 94th storey. Chicago is a beautiful city. They said that when it is a clear day, you can even see the states of Wisconsin and Indiana.

The ticket even came with this Multimedia Sky Tour that points out the POI in Chicago.

So lucky to capture this shot.

Hallelujah.

Went back downstairs for dinner at The Cheescake Factory. Heavenly. I took away the cheesecake because I was so full. The bread was totally unexpected. Didn't know they provided that.

Went up right on time for sunset. I never knew the sun could set so fast.

Right before the sky turned completely dark.

If only they had open air observatory, Chicago does have a pretty nightview. By the way, right after I took the last picture, the manager came up to me and told me tripods weren't allowed in the building because of insurance purposes. -.-' I think they're just afraid people would take nice pictures and not buy their postcards.

Souvenirs! I bought the photo at the top from JHO and it included a free email of the photo but it was listed as Junk in Hotmail and I went ahead to delete all of them and now it's gone forever. -.-' Anybody knows how to retrieve deleted junk mail from Hotmail?

Chicago Day 3- 9 Jun 2009

Time to head home. =( Too fast too fast.

While waiting for my airport transportation. Direct flight home again.

Home Sweet Home. The whole flight was full of old people.

My snowy mountains tell me that I'm home. While the rest of America is experiencing summer temperature, I'm still doing 15 DC and 3 DC everyday. Plus, it's raining. EVERYDAY. Save meeeeeee.

And Beilin's postcards have arrived! Haha. So cute! Thank you girl! More!

Alright, hope you love this Chicago entry as much as I loved the city. Wished I had more time to explore the other parts though. Back to work tomorrow. So nua. 5 days OFF. Hahaha.