The Experience

Abandon the city landscape of cluttered skyscrapers and noisy traffic behind the stark white walls of the Raffles Hotel. In this unique piece of space, I'm all prepared to be lost in the lush greenery and the colonial inspiration of everything- from the jacquered arm-chair in the reception area, to ceiling fans at the restaurants or facade of a old-fashioned counter as the front desk. 

Named after the founder of modern Singapore, Raffles Hotel is not only the most prestigious hospitality icon in this country, but also regarded as a national monument. The hotel is an acclaimation of pure luxury.

Upon arrival, the well-groomed front desk staff greeted us and walked us to our suite. The personalised check-in is completed as we sign off the last bits on the guest registration card. From this moment on, I took time to inspect the fine details in the room- the deliberate furnishings, generous toiletries supplied by Amrita Spa, hand-written card from the management, sweet dose of praline chocolates.

Under the camouflage of luxury, what impressed me most was the diligent maintenance at the hotel. Despite the overwhelming mid-day heat, gardeners toiled hard in their beautiful, but stiff-looking and seemingly uncomfortable uniforms, to preserve the tidiness of the greens. On the other hand, painters busied themselves with dusting coats of purity white on spots that needed attention. Other housekeeping staff were frequently spotted along the corridors with their loaded trolleys to service guest rooms. 

Looking at the industrious workers reminds me that there are people out there who have much
tougher waves in life to endure. Life is never meant to be easy.

I'm somehow glad that beautiful things do happen once in a while in my life =) It's the rainbows I wanna remember, not the dark clouds that command rain!



 

Just back from walking in the cold, I'm enjoying the warmth in my villa, and stuffing out my hunger with leftover corn chips. I'm being totally honest- this is the best time I had in the week! 

Compared to the ever more demands from my job, being able to fufil the 
most basic needs
of a human has never felt better! I shouldn't be thinking too much about 
the mountain-high workload that is in store for me in the next 1.5 weeks. 

Time to relax a few work-stressed muscles and enjoy a good read for this weekend!

I'm trying to get hold of Oscar Wilde's Happy Prince.

‘When I was alive and had a human heart,’ answered the statue, ‘I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the palace of Sans-Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot choose but weep.’

As the sound tracks from Paul Cardall’s album resonates through my busy routine in the office today, I can’t help but wonder how much I find those melodies so sorrowful, and yet beautiful at the same time. Or perhaps it’s just me who is constantly looking at the world with a sad, pathetic perspective.

I have been drowned with much thoughts recently. Of all, I am amazed by the shit we human can put up with at work, just to have a roof over our heads, and warm meals to enjoy. It all boils down to our basic instinct to survive isn’t it?

Apart from those gloomy thoughts, I have really missed out a fair bit when I was last in Singapore. Time is never enough! I missed the extraordinary treat at the Raffles Hotel. It felt as though the wedding celebration has blown over so quickly without having enough time bask in what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. That’s the price to pay for being too caught up with the hustle and bustle of life! Or is it because, as humans, we are always preoccupied with thinking how much things could be better?

I feel kinda sad looking back at those pictures! To be exact, I have always felt this tinge of sadness when the time to bid goodbye to the land where my life has taken roots in.

It’s time for me to knuckle down and save up enough for another trip in late August. This time, it will not only be a physical journey to take, but also a journey for me to connect with my inner self!

Pictures for Melbourne, Malaysia and Singapore trip will be up soon (I hope!)

Melbourne Trip- A big Boo-Boo!

This is certainly what I have expected to do on a holiday- sitting in front of the lappy, in my hotel room, and winge about how disappointing this trip is.

I have not enjoyed the boring company of my travel companions at all. Their inconsideration doesnt help either! Planning breakfast at 8.30am in the morning is not what I would like to have on a holiday. Not even if the brekky is served by some top Hongkong restaurant! I haven't come to Melbourne for HongKong food anyway!

The unexpected mingling of work into my supposed leisure trip was annoying! Meetings that are fitted in almost daily have really shortened my days! 

In short, I will be flying back to Perth at 5pm this afternoon feeling empty- without the Great Ocean Road experience, not shopping at Melbourne Central or Victoria Markets, and not tasted the talked-about Greek culinary, or savour the aromatic coffee from the chic side-walk cafes! 

I can't believe how much waste of time my 7 days were! I was expecting to feel refreshed after this trip and now, without much rest, I have to combat the overwhelming workload that has built up while im away!

Now, I'm full of regrets for taking up this holidays! Arrggghhhhh!!! I could have done a lot better if I'm travelling by myself. 

Finally...

... all of the pictures from my Sydney trip!

Here's how the story goes. I woke up after a fulfilling rest on a beautiful Sunday morning. And mind you, it's RARE I would use the phrase "beautiful Sunday morning"! After dolling myself up for the day, I finally felt the hunger pangs in my stomach. I wolfed down a sumptous breakfast at the hotel's cafe, and washed it down with an aromatic cup of coffee. How much better can a Sunday morning get, with the allowance to take my time over breakfast (if I had not been so hungry!)

Waited for Fiona to pick me up and headed for desserts at The Rocks (an icon in the early history of European Settlement). The place was just swamped with people either looking for a cafe to enjoy lunch or
trying to cross over to the harbour to catch a glimpse of Queen Victoria before she leaves Sydney for the next destination. It's a lovely quaint place despite the crowd!



To help in the digestion of desserts, we girls decided to enjoy some retail therapy at DFO Homebush. It didn't look that huge, but surprisingly, I couldn't finish going through the entire building in even 2.5 hours! How disappointing! Nonetheless, I'm thankful that I didn't do much damage to my wallet!

I was dropped off at Harbourside for more shopping. I'm equally enthralled by the colourful Harbour view and its many pretty restaurants/ bars along the harbour!



I retreated with sore feet from trotting around in my heels at the end of the day!

Risk Management training on Monday was great! I'm glad to expand my knowledge in the management field and hope that will help me to beef up my resume! The training in the following 2 days were just as great! They do get me excited about the all the possibilities! =) Looking forward to implement the new structure in my organisation soon!

My last meeting ended at 5pm sharp on Monday, signalling the end of the working day! Still bouncing with energy, I took a little walk out, not having any particular location to go in mind. And... erm... I landed up at the same place as I have been on Sat and Sun! Unreal! But I have got an explanation now for the overwhelming repeated pictures of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour.







But well, looking back on the pictures, the views do differ with the locations I took them from.
Was rather amused by them. The first set of pictures from Sat were taken from the Ferry Terminal and also from somewhere in front of a gallery, the popular hang-out for baskers. Second set of pictures taken on Sunday was under the bridge. 
I was watching Sun Princess enter the harbour and couldn't resist snapping more pictures. The final set of pictures were taken within closer range of the Opera House. And of course, I managed to catch Queen Elizabeth II from Southampton. 

More...


Here's a piece of the view I enjoyed, while digging in.



I was strolling back to the hotel after dinner, with a cup of Robin Baskin Ice-cream in hand. Good way to work it all off! (I was actually glad that I didn't lose my way, since I was only intending to wander around, within close radii of the hotel. I'm also glad that I have chosen walking over taking a bus or even a taxi! It gave me chance to explore and examine the cool architecture as I come across them.)



The majesty of St. Mary's Cathedral! I love it!



The exterior of a hospital- A lot of government organisations like the Department of Education, the municipal building are contained in a timeless facade, such as this.