The Yellow Brick Road

Thursday, December 03, 2009

A Hamster's Perspective... Sitting Out The Race For Now

You would think that working in a multi-national means we're quite safe from the recession... but no, not really. A recent article in Fortune magazine about P&G wrote that for the top 50 assignments in the company, we have a bench of 3 replacement candidates. I'm too low in the food chain but our bench even for Band 3 assignments (that's where I am... a General Manager is Band 6) is pretty deep too.

That's great when you're the lead candidate for a position, like I was for this one. But with freeze hires, freeze promotions, over-hiring and basically no one being pirated outside... it's getting more and more competitive to be placed in a good job now, which is a problem when I'm due to change assignments or risk stagnation.

We have to go through job interviews, submit application forms and have our managers lobby like crazy. Sounds more like we're moving to a different company. Gone are the days when I felt like my career was actually being mapped out and planned up all the way to the top. To be fair, I did throw a wrench in the system by deciding to stay in Brussels -- still, you would think a well-oiled cog like P&G could and would adapt to that.

It's a bit stressful -- being at a crossroads but not knowing where the arrows point or when to start walking. I'm not complaining. After all, I'm in a cushiest spot to wait it out. I suppose once in a while, it's good to step off the wheel and watch the other hamsters running around for a change. The only thing is, staying off too long... well, you either lose the muscles to keep running when your turn's back up or lose the desire to.

In the meantime, I'm thankful for my job.
#1 - because I get to see my family and friends in Manila 2-3x a year for free.
#2 - because I get to see my sister in Chicago 3-4x a year for free. And do all my cheap shopping in the US, not for free, but definitely discounted.
#3 - because I get to still go to all these new places -- Prague, Abidjan, Lagos to name a few.
#4 - because I get to work with friends I sincerely like and hope to keep even when I move on.
#5 - because I have one.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Well Hello Again

I’m stuck on a 12 hour flight to Mexico and the entertainment system is busted… Groan. On the bright side, KLM gave me a 50euro voucher and time to write, a luxury I rarely seem to have these days.

Since the last time I blogged, my life has been, in a nutshell, crazily busy. I read somewhere that the 3 most stressful things in life are the death of a relative, divorce and moving. By that measure, the last three years of my life have been the most stressful as I moved each year, through 3 continents and 4 apartments.

I hope this is the last move though for a long long while. Steph and I finally took the leap and bought a new house – we found this incredible place (lovingly referred to as James Bond’s previous house) and the timing and more importantly, pricing, were just perfect. We moved in September and all our furniture fit like it was bought for the house, which reinforces our belief that bad feng shui notwithstanding, it was meant to be.

The final details – security, home theater system, wireless internet – weren’t fixed in time for the House Warming in October but that didn’t stop us from having a – wait for it – legendary party anyway (ok, yes, we also went through 4 seasons of HIMYM in 3 weeks). The key ingredients: our best friends from Brussels and Geneva, loud music and lots of alcohol (more than 60 bottles consumed). The Wii, Magic Mic and the PS3 didn’t hurt either – if it isn’t yet obvious, I live with a 35 year old man who turns into a 12 year old boy at night and on weekends.

We’ve rarely left the house since, partly because we love it so much and mostly because the mortgage payments mean we can’t afford much else. It does give us opportunity to be even more hospitable – so watch for more poker, rugby and football nights, PS3 tournaments, videoke singfests and just plain vegging together parties – if I can ever manage to be home for more weekends.

It’s not over yet but 2009 has definitely been our year for our families. All vacation time this year was spent introducing Steph to the family (duck fetus, chicken feet and soup #5 were all a huge success!), celebrating Chloe’s first birthday in Vegas no less (aww… I’m a god-ma) and visiting Steph’s relatives in Toulouse and Bordeux (I gain a few pounds and increase my alcohol tolerance every time).

I’ve also been pretty lucky to have one of my Manila business trips coincide with cousin Jo visiting from Canada and seeing Cathy in the last few days before she emigrated. And it’s truly been a blessing to see my niece Chloe growing up in all her adorable-ness every few months or so in Chicago – also gives me an opportunity to let my inner stage mother out when I accompany her to her modeling gigs. :)

Oh... I just arrived at my hotel room and found myself staring at a used condom in the Sheraton toilet. How's that for an ending?

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Ong Look-alike Meter

I thought I'd settle the debate once and for all... HAHA!! Take that Mama, I look equally like you! :)

Monday, November 24, 2008

Snow Does Not Equal Typhoon

I remember how I would be so happy every time it rained back home in Manila... the harder the rain, the more likely we wouldn't have school the next day.

That doesn't happen anymore now... We're like postmen -- come rain, sleet, snow or gloom of night, we trod to work and we stay the full 8, 9, 10 hours before making the trek back home. Never mind that it snowed so heavily the airport shut down yesterday. Never mind that I've taken to wearing 2 layers at HOME to stay warm. Never mind that ice cream stays frozen even when I leave it out (nothing stops me from eating Haagen Dazs strawberry ice cream! :o)

I miss being back in school. I miss bagyo. I miss playing hooky!

Monday, November 17, 2008

My New Zealand Top 10

There's really something for everyone in New Zealand. I super loved it and can't wait to bring the parents there as well. I'm sure they would enjoy the gorgeous views, the relaxed driving and the easy nights. It's also great for friends -- especially the adrenaline junkies out there -- and for meeting new people. The Kiwis are some of the nicest friendliest people on the planet.

If it weren't so far away, it would be great to retire there and open my own B&B. Maybe still someday... :o) We went at the best time, spring was just around the corner so the sun was always out, there was absolutely no one to queue with (low season) and we got pretty incredible deals for some amazing hotels.

Anyway, here's the top 10 things I enjoyed during my very short 2 weeks there and are definitely on my recommended to-do list!

1) Eat at the French Cafe in Auckland. This has got to be up there as one of my best foodie experiences, consistently voted THE restaurant of the year in NZ. We were extremely lucky to even get in, considering we booked the day before and thankfully they'd had a last minute cancellation. What an experience! Although we were probably equally at fault (on her mostly), the waitress who spilled wine of me never even placed blame. Almost immediately, I got a new glass and the first round of drinks for the table were on the house. They even offered to pay for my dry cleaning.

Marinated tuna with picked crab, aromatic herb salad, toasted rice and lime leaf dressing

Seared scallop with crispy pork, cauliflower and almond puree, apple salad

Roasted French goat's cheese with caramelised onion, beetroot and fig tart, red wine syrup

And if that wasn't enough to win my life-long loyalty, every time we asked what the wine pairing was, they would also offer us a glass of that for free! The food was just as great but the service was really truly mind-blowingly excellent, and a steal with the Tasting Menu (6 courses) for only NZ$100 (EUR50). An absolute must and the perfect way to spend our last night.

2) Zorbing in Rotorua. Who would have thought that getting shoved in a plastic ball that's then rolled down a hill could be so much fun... This definitely tops the list of the longest time spent giggling. It feels a bit like going down a water slide (not dizzying at all) until the ball hits a bump and you start tumbling around inside. Fun, fun, FUN -- cannot recommend this enough. Must... DO!

3) Helicopter ride + Boat trip to Milford Sound. I don't usually spend NZ$700 easily but where else in the world would you get the chance to ride a helicopter over 6, count them SIX, different types of scenery?

There's the view of Queentown (1),

Lake Wakatipu and other hidden alpine lakes (2), the Remarkables mountain range

including the view of Mordor (r) and Saruman's castle (l) (3),

the lush green rainforest (4), deep bush-lined valleys (5)

and finally, the piece de resistance -- Milford Sound, the 8th Natural Wonder of the World, carved by a massive glacier in the last ice age (6).

We seem to have been blessed with a fairy this trip because a landslide had blocked the roads going in to Milford and the weather had grounded all helicopter flights 10 days before and another few days after, except on the one day we had made the reservation! Talk about luck!

We also happened to be the only people on the only boat going around Milford. Thank you low season! Made for some fantastic pictures (until my camera died on me) and we even saw a rare Fiordland Crested penguin going for its morning bath.

4) Black Water Rafting in Waitomo. Not as scary as the name suggests, this really is a sort of gentle adventure where you stick your ass in a tube and float down an underground river. We even had some 70 year old's doing this with us! What makes the experience is the presence of glow-worms everywhere that light up the ceiling cave like the night sky. Unbelievable...

The scariest thing to it is the cold, with the water just a little over zero degrees. They do offer wet suits which help regulate temperature, but try to do the first one in the morning so they're still dry before you put them on. Bring shampoo, soap, etc to wash off the cave water after.

5) Lunch at the Huka Lodge. One of the most expensive places to stay in the world... one night here is at least NZ$1000 per person and I don't care if the meals are all included, that's still frigging expensive. You might get the chance to rub shoulders with Queen Elizabeth II, Kate Winslet, Robin Williams, Barbra Streisand etc..., all of whom have stayed there before, but at a hefty price.

We did the next best thing which was to book a meal at the Huka Lodge, which is also recognized as one of the best places to eat in NZ. Maybe it was because of the low season, but again we were surprised that lunch was specially set-up in a separate part of the lodge. It's hard to beat a three-course meal for only NZ$75 with the ultimate in ambiance.

6) Quad biking in Queenstown - I'm not the most sporty person on the planet (and that's an understatement), I was the worst person in the group (poor coordination skills :o) and the guide had to move me all the way up front to keep an eye on me... but even I enjoyed quad biking. Don't think I would have had as good a time if the view wasn't just so freakishly awesome. Everywhere you looked was just picture-perfect out of a postcard. Even the sheep looked like they were posed!

Here's a tip: They give you the boots, overalls, helmet and even the shades to wear on the quad. No need to do like me and buy new stuff!

7) Mud bathing in Rotorua - Just getting in Rotorua, one smells the sulphur and knows we are no longer in Kansas but the middle of an active thermal area. Hell's Gate is a thermal park and spa and taking a tour of their park is like stepping into Dante's inferno, complete with steam rising from cracks in the earth, boiling mud pools and surreal landscapes.

The funniest sign ever...

Taking a dip in one their steaming mudbaths is quite an experience. Fantastic for the skin apparently and definitely very unique. Short of mudwrestling, I don't think I'll ever do this again though... the smell was in my hair for days after!!

8) Traditional Maori hangi - To be honest, the hangi itself was a bit of a disappointment. I thought they would actually cook the food deep in the earth, but now it's actually quite modernized as per government standards (there are apparently too many potential bugs in the earth for tourist stomachs).

Still, it was a good overall experience and Rotorua is the place to be to experience the Maori culture. Before dinner (which is included in the price), we are invited into the Marae by the chief and treated to lots of song and dance -- the women doing the Poi dance which I was crap at, and the men, the haka.

The evening culminates with a short ride (blankets provided) to watch the Pohutu geyser shoot up. All in all, an enjoyable evening and one you shouldn't miss after traveling all the way to NZ.

9) Scenic drive to Queenstown - In general, the drives pleasantly pass through pastoral scenes where one really believes there are more sheep than people inhabiting the country. But the most breathtaking one was the drive from Christchurch to Queenstown. Leaving the city we passed through lovely cherry blossom trees lining the route towards the highway -- I must have taken dozens of pictures, just of this.

I think I was stopping the car every hour or so to step down and take pictures. The view of the ice-capped mountains was just lovely.

But nothing really prepares you for the sight of Lake Tekapo. I was freezing my ass off but still had to take photo after photo, it was just beautiful.

10) It's a bit hard now to pick the last one -- 360 degree jetboating was fun too, but a bit dizzying after a while. Te Papa museum in Wellington combined a great educational experience but made it interactive and engaging. And the Sky Tower in Auckland where you can jump off the top, was terrifyingly cool as well.

So pick your poison. Like I said at the start, there really is something for everyone in NZ!

Labels: adventure, fun, New Zealand, vacation

What's up, ketchup?

Wow, it's been a while. Haven't felt much like writing these days and been really busy since my move to Brussels. Let's see... I went on vacation to Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and the Galapagos Islands with Ahia and Mama (still have to upload the pics to that one), went on another vacation in New Zealand, did a weekend in Barcelona, visited Yotch in Chicago, been traveling to Cairo (twice!), Mexico, Beijing (yey-to-no-pollution-post-Olympics!), Bali, Manila, and of course my uber-favorite Cinci. I definitely need to find some time to write about all these trips.

In the meantime, I figured I'd do lists since they're good to ease me into writing again. So here's my top 5 things that I love about my move here:

1) Love the food -- my monthly Perroquet pita fix, 1-Michelin star La Truffe Noire (to die for) and even my trusty old Thai cafe just downstairs. After almost a year of living in Cinci, everything is savored, appreciated and enjoyed!

2) Love that I have a lot of stuff to do on weekends -- entertaining friends, watching unlimited movies (I have a monthly card), visiting expositions (Star Wars, da Vinci exhibits, Body Museum, etc...) and super being hooked on Civilizations on my PS3.

3) Love my apartment -- love the furniture, love the location, love that it feels like home. I can't wait for the whole family to come celebrate Christmas here next year!!!

4) Love that everything is so close -- Barcelona and Madrid: 2 hours by plane, Paris: 1.5 hours by train, Amsterdam: 2 hours by car, London: 2 hours by train, etc etc. It's great to see friends and visit new places every weekend if I wanted to. Of course most days I just want to veg at home after being on a plane so much but it's nice to know I have that choice.

5) Love my friends -- Sad that Karim and Rana moved to Beirut a few months after I came over :o( but at least I still have David and Carole, Marianne and Mirko, Sylvain and Marion, and a bunch of other lovely lovely folks. And it's always nice to have Ghi and Fab come over. :o)

On the flip side, it does take some adjusting that there are almost no English channels on TV (3 including CNN and BBC - groan...), the hot water is intermittent at best (thank you old 18-kopong-kopong pipes), weather's totally crappy (2 types: gloom and doom), I can't go anywhere because the street names are too supercalifragilisticexplialidociously long for me to remember (I live in Chaussee de Waterloo, that's the only thing I know) and Manila is still too far away (I can't believe I missed Italian themed dinner!).

For all that, and I'm not sure how long it will last... but for now, there's no other place I'd rather be than a Bruxelles.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Ode to Comfort Food

I always get these funny looks from people because I keep my watch set at Manila time. It was convenient for a while, since Cinci was exactly 12 hours away (without DST), it hardly made much of a difference. And with the amount of travel that I do, it just felt like a good way to keep being connected to home. Home for me is, has and always will be Manila. Like they say, home is where the heart is.

But moving now to Brussels, maybe there is space for a second time zone close to my heart. I've adjusted quite well to moving here. Doesn't hurt I got salary in Euros for the first time last week. :o) And last Saturday, I discovered the best thing... a Chinese supermarket. A huuuuge one. And not just any Chinese supermarket, they have practically everything I could ever want!

I spent a couple of hundred euros stocking up my pantry... Lee Kum Kee sauces, even Mang Tomas, Philippines sardines, sago, coconut milk, kaong, Mama Sita's sauce mixes, Q bihon... So funny that I travel halfway around the world and find all this stuff. Comfort food. Le sigh.

So yesterday, after getting tired of restaurant and travel food for the last few weeks, there I am in the kitchen (and for those who know me, this rarely happens) whipping up a storm. First up, lechon kawali (deep fried pork belly). I have no idea if the meat itself tasted good since I practically drowned it in Mang Tomas sarsa (gravy) but yum yum yum, I was in heaven. My culinary skills are practically non-existent but thank God for sauces to camouflage everything else.

Of course, this was after my hands got little boils from being splashed by hot greasy oil when it started splattering everywhere (stove, walls, floor, my hands...). Doubt I will do it again soon (the pain, the pain) but it was oh so worth it...

For dinner, I had chicken with black bean sauce. And today I'm making adobo and maybe some sinigang (tamarind) or sibut (um... black chicken?) soup. Damn, I couldn't be happier. Now if only I could get the recipe for Jollibee Chicken Joy gravy. :o)

Sounds so weird that I've finally moved my watch to Belgian time because of food. But no place can ever be truly home unless I can eat the food I like, which isn't all the time (sometimes yes :o) in a nice fancy Michelin star restaurant. Like any relationship, it's in the small things...

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Quickie Update

Ok, what have I been up to? It's always a bit of struggle to get back to blogging once you've stopped for a while... and 2 months was a long stop. Not that I didn't have anything to write about. If anything, once a week went by, it seemed like there were too many things to write about that I didn't know where to start or which to pick!

Let's see... I suppose the biggest news is that I've finally settled in to Brussels. It took me quite a long while to get here, literally and figuratively. I've been waiting for this move to happen the last 3 years and just to make it even more of a challenge, I was lugging my huge fat 40kilo luggage around everywhere right before the physical transfer.

First, I was in 5 different cities each day of the week (Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New York, Chicago then LA) applying for visas, visiting my sibs (and Ezer!) and just gorging on food.

The best pizza ever at Pizzeria Mozza

One of the best lambs I've come across at Hatfield's

Best non-alcoholic mojito at LA Mill

Then it was off for 2 weeks of business trip in Mexico and Caracas before I finally ended up here.

Best seafood meal I had in Mexico was in Contramar

My new found friends in the Polanco Starbucks

Mexico and Caracas were a blast. Didn't feel like work at all and I got to hang out with a lot of old and new friends. I have a lot of good memories this trip, if only all work trips were like this. Plus, the food in Caracas was fantastic! I'd go back just for that...

And so finally, here I am. My stuff arrived two weeks ago and I've just settled in. The 2 long weekends almost back to back were perfect to get me all sorted out. I'll post more pictures of my apartment eventually but this is what I come home to everyday now. Still waiting for my couch to be delivered but it's home anyway.

I've arrived at the perfect time -- spring's here, all the avenues are green again and the sun is out till 9pm! I wish this weather would last...

I live in where the guidebooks say is "THE place to be seen" -- Place du Chatelain with a market every Wednesdays where I go shopping for necessities. You can buy everything there... meat, cheese, fish, fruit, any and all kinds of olives and virtually everything you can think off.

The most bad-ass strawberries I've ever ever had in my life. To... die... for...

It's usually packed as you can see, especially when there's a guy offering wine degustation out of his trunk! Now that's what I call entrepreneurial!

And of course, weekends here are so much easier, nicer and more fun. Last weekend was a road trip to Amsterdam which I hadn't seen in the last 12 years. It's much more alive than I remembered and I really really enjoyed the ambiance and the feel of the city. Smoked pot for the first time though I am disappointed to report it had absolutely no effect on me... guess I shouldn't be surprised considering somewhere along my genes, my ancestors probably invented opium.

Note to self: Just because it's only 2.5 hours away doesn't mean you don't plan the trip anymore... A lot of the sights now are "bookable" online so you can save time from queueing. Still, it does give one an excuse to come back for the Anne Frank and Rembrandt museums.

The infamous red light district

People-watching... the national hobby

In front of what I think is the royal palace :o)

life-size replicas of Rembrandt's "Night Watch"

Buying more tulips than I know what to do with

I had some more adventures after that -- a side trip to Moscow where the waitress threatened to call the cops on us (just because we asked to split the bill!) and of course, Bert and Andrea's wedding this weekend... though that's one that's better shared on pictures!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Some Things You Just Keep

So I'm moving again... for the 2nd time in 10 months. While being in Brussels is something I've waited for and wanted for a while now, I can't say I'm looking forward to all the packing and unpacking. Something about shipping your stuff a thousand miles across the seas always gives me the urge to clean out my closet, my desk, my drawers... weeding out all the old stuff I don't need.

Sunday -- There I was, spending the day going through old documents, old magazines, old clothes... Armed with Tim Gunn's advice, I begin to sort my stuff into the donate, throw and keep piles. But after the first 15 minutes, I had everything in the keeper pile! Even the really cheesy faded blue moon and stars bed sheet and pillow case set from SM that I have in common with at least 2 consumer homes I've visited.

I just can't bring myself to throw stuff away... I know I probably should. What is it that Eli Stone said? Life and the pursuit of Armani, accessories and ambition. Everyone else is showing off their new and improved car, their new and improved career, their new and improved selves. Trade-ins happen all the time -- the new Ipod, the new cellphone, heck, even the new wife. But I just can't keep up with all this improvement.

I know that probably makes me sound old and fuddy-duddy at a time when the world seems to like the flashier the better, the blingier the better, the younger the better. But some things you just keep. Some things you should keep. Like good friends. Old pictures. Fat husbands.
They're good for your soul, trusty, reliable and so much a part of you that to throw them away would be to lose a bit of yourself.

I probably get it from my parents. Mum who buys 2-ply tissue paper but separates the sheets to double the use, who in spite of the 1-ply-ness of the tissue paper we are already using, makes us tear only the part of tissue paper we need to blow our nose, who started the 1-square habit even before Sheryl Crow made it controversial. The same mum who washes aluminum foil after she's used it to use it again. I blame my bizaare collection of left-over Safeguard soap pieces stacked on top of each other on her, still hoping that one day they will merge and resurrect into a giant soap bar.

Pops is much the same -- we have a huge collection of empty boxes at home "just in case" we ever need them. He'd rather get food poisoning than throw away any food item even if it's expired. And he was never as happy as when he finally fit into a pair of old jeans he'd kept from years and years ago (from the high-waist era), when his hope that his tummy would get smaller came true.

Maybe growing up poor and having to work hard for what they have now, has made them value money. Or maybe they're just satisfied with what they already have. Whatever it is, I'm glad they taught me to value the same things they do. Because I realize that what they've passed on to me isn't a funny quirk. It's a way of life.

It used to drive me crazy when I was younger... I inherited my brothers' school books, kept wearing the same clothes till I got too tall for them, had my school uniforms mended and sewn back as new. I just wanted to be wasteful. My classmates only ever had new stuff. Throwing things away meant there would always be more.

But you get older, and with age came the realization that something new isn't always better than something old, that the familiar can be a million times warmer, cozier, homier than a stranger, and sometimes, well sometimes, there just isn't any 'more'.

So while I have what I have, I plan to fix it and mend it and use it till it's of better use to someone else. Some things you just keep... like comfy old pajamas, aging parents, bratty kids, balding husbands, annoying brothers (and sisters :o), nosy relatives, friends who live a thousand miles away... And a really cheesy faded blue moon and stars bed sheet and pillow case set from SM that reminds me what I have in common with at least 2 consumer homes I've visited.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

There’s Enough To Go Around…

There may not be enough water, clean air or food for everyone on the planet. But good will, THAT, well that there should be more of. Wouldn't it be great to have an unending supply of good will?

I mean, come on guys. We’re working in one of the biggest companies in the world. We’ve reached a level of success that shows we’re actually good at what we do. That even in the worst possible case, we’re still market-able to other good companies. That's not at all a bad place to be.

So shouldn't we celebrate this? Take some time to enjoy our success and the fact that other people can be successful too? We're at a perfect junction where it's not a limited pie... everyone still gets to have a bite. You don't have to eat my share, there's enough to go around. It doesn't have to be lonely now, we're not at the top yet.

And yet it very sadly is. Lonely I mean. Good people can show a very funny side sometimes when the pie is perceived to become smaller. Well, I for one, would rather eat a different pie than fight over the last piece.

All this talk of pie is making me hungry.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

When God Closes A Door, He Gives You a Blackberry

Having a really shitty depressing day today. Called D while in the middle of a nervous breakdown, both of us realizing that we're getting old. Not older. Just old. Bodies breaking down, hearts already broken, more yet to come, heads still in denial.

And we're just turning thirty.

I was contemplating taking the rest of the day off to wallow in misery. Walked back to my desk to pack up and ta-dah! I find my new replacement Blackberry, finally. A distraction, a lifeline, a reprieve. Fuel to keep chugging along. Till I start sputtering again.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

21 Days

I learned something interesting from a friend of mine the other day. Apparently, it takes 21 days to create a habit. Or 21 days to break one. I found that both encouraging and comforting. 21 days to get over my incessant email checking. 21 days to stop hearing Damien Rice in my head. 21 days to bottle up lightning.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Haiku

All my jeans are too tight.

Either it shrunk in the dryer,

Or I've gotten fat...

Damn.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

A little sad...

I miss my boys back home.

My dad came out to wave goodbye from the balcony as I left for the airport with mum. Made me cry. You just never outgrow your parents.

It's 2 degrees in Brussels today and I have nothing to keep me warm.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

The Year of Moan

Another year has come and gone. I was lucky enough to have the chance to spend Chinese New Year here in Manila, probably my last one for a few years to come. :( So of course I had to snap pictures with my trusty camera phone (my blackberry and Casio camera have gone to heaven as a result of a tragic drowning accident).

Folding paper money for Ama... My stash is on the right

Offerings for the Kitchen God

I made the artistic arrangements for the chips on the Lazy Susan... :)

Offerings for Ama

Mum and I ended up having lunch at 2pm after folding all the paper money. We ate really light because dinnertime was bound to be an extra special affair with Chinese lauriat food and Mom's famous Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup complete with mounds of shark's fin and abalone! I must have had 4 bowls. Hello food baby!

Anyway, all this New Year stuff has been making me evaluate the year past and the year coming. It doesn't help that the Year of the Rat is not supposed to be a good year for me -- Mum says if I don't control my bitchiness, some jail time or getting sued will be in the cards for me. I will also lose money, have a bumpy road in love and not do so well at work. Wah... they sure don't mince words... So what better time to try and think of being a better person than now, when faced with the threat of such misery.

I started with a gigantic list but since close to 30 years of existence hasn't managed to change me, I figure I have a better chance of success if I focus on just improving one thing. So this year, I resolve to be more patient. Which means, less lip, less dagger looks, less taray. Argh. This is going to be one difficult task.

Goodbye 2007! You were one hell of a year. I don't think I've ever quite had so much fun...
... traveling the world with my sibs

Photo contests in Essaouira as part of a crazy Egypt, Morocco, Dubai tour

The super funny and unforgettable India adventure - go Wong cherry panties.

Freezing our asses off in the drive from Napa to San Francisco

Under the bean with Yotch in Chicago

Feeling the magic of the red rocks in Sedona, perfect to reenergize after Vegas, and then the Grand Canyon

... traveling the world alone or with friends, holidays or even for work

In Colmar, my first French road trip

Madrid with the gang

My last trip to Japan for a while - I'm sure the deer in Nara will be happy

New York is always lovely, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time around...

In front of the ruins in Crete

Chilling in Budapest... that is indeed lil ole me

... giving my sister away (sniff sniff) and getting a new brother in the process (yey)!

Yotch's despedida

Yotch's bachelorette party - unforgettable cake!

Mr and Mrs Palmes but not before a harrowing almost-didn't-make-it cruise departure!

... reuniting with cousins I haven't seen in ages!!

Missing my beloved cousins from Canada (Jo, Sherwin, wonderkid Stefan), New Jersey (Noreen-tsi), Baltimore (Lynn)

The always fun Christmas reunions for A-i's birthday

... food-tripping in more Michelin-star restaurants than ever (Thanks Ahia)

French Laundry (drool...), Cyrus (my fave!), La Mere Poulard (orgasmic), Dry Creek Kitchen, Spago, Cut, Lucques, Providence, Zuni, Chow, La Strada, Saint Julien, Chez Panisse, Kobe beef, sheep brain, chicken tagine at Riad 5 Sens, Mama's home cooked Put-Thiaw-Choo...

... spending my first New Year's Eve away from home in Bora

... finding a fantastic apartment twice!
... finding out I'm moving to Brussels (at long last!)
... discovering I'm going to be an A-i (come soon Chloe!!)
... singing on the best invention ever -- the magic mic!
... failing my driver's license test 3x... argh
... saying good-bye to old friends

Leaving my Singapore family after 5 years together

Goodbye Ezer

... saying hello to new ones

My new GSP team

the "fun" crowd (haha)

... making sure to keep the good ones

The constant never-changing Sex and the City Chinese-style ladies

I can always count on Christmas lunch with my ex P&G gang

2007 is chock-full of memories and chock-full of change. It was one of the best years of my life... a time of bonding, learning, undiluted fun. I'm looking forward to 2008, with all the potential misery and all the guaranteed passion, excitement, travel and love this year will bring. Kung Hei Fat Choy!