New Year's Tag.

This tag came a little late considering that it is already 3 weeks into year 2008. Since I haven't been updating my blog frequently, I shall do this tag and tag it around (you know you will get it)

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Reaching Mount Kinabalu's peak. Will never ever do it again!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember making a resolution last year but I did make one (or some) for this year

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Sis-in-law

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no

5. What countries did you visit?
Shanghai for 2007 new year's celebration, New Zealand for graduation, Hong Kong for annual CNY stock intake, Japan for 'cultural exchange'

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Shorter working hours!

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July for conquering Mount Kinabalu and December for the best holiday ever!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Brainwashing myself to get my ass and wobbly knees up that stupid peak

9. What was your biggest failure?
Procrastination

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Besides the week-long muscle cramps from Mount Kinabalu?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Miriam Yeung concert tickets

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
A particular person

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Someone out there I prefer not to mention names

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food and traveling expenses

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Visiting Japan (considering that we planned 1-full year ahead!)

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
'혜성 (Comet)' probably. The song that made me like Younha, a young Korean singer with powerful vocals and piano skills. (It was in 1996 that I first listened to a song by Miriam Yeung and I've became a fan since. See how it works?)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) Happier
b) Some say I got thinner and some say I got more prosperous (read: fatter)
c) Slighter richer considering that I am saving up from work!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Meet new people

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastination

20. How did you spend Christmas?
By spending mega-Yen at Hakone and Gotemba premium outlet in Japan

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Love hasn't been around yet. Sigh

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Surreal Gourmet for its creative culinary ideas!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Don't think so

24. What was the best book you read?
The Choice - Nicholas Sparks

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing.

26. What did you want and get?
I want my way and I got my way

27. What did you want and not get?
A culinary certificate. Blame it on my own procrastination

28. What was your favorite film this year?
Ratatouille, for obvious reasons

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Work, dinner with family and lets just say early twenties

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
The same as 2006, 2005, 2004.......

32. What kept you sane?
Food, friends, culinary, internet

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Celebrity chefs!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Racial issues

35. Who did you miss?
Rescoe and everyone in Auckland

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Haven't met that many to compare yet

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Life's short

So there. Be nice and do this yeah, Jun.

Customer Courtesy?

For a carwash company as international as CARs International, I would expect them to find it rather common to have customers making advance bookings and for numerous cars at one time. We send our cars to CARs (sigh) annually prior to Chinese New Year to give them a good scrub and wax. Usually, we miss out on the 'VIP package' because we fail to do advance booking. This time I got smarter and booked 2 months (!!) in advance.

When I called the customer service last November, I heard snickers on the opposite end for making advance booking too....advance. Then another snicker for booking slots for 5 cars. So yeah, I know its too much but hey, if you are an international carwash company, you should expect people to send in as many car as they want.

That's that. I called in today to reconfirm my bookings. Not only did they not process the booking, the lady on the opposite end snickered again when I assured her that I made bookings for 5 cars. The fact that I am also technically working in the customer service line helped me keep my cool so I patiently told her the details of my prior booking and suggested that she resolve the problem for me.

So there. My bookings have been changed to next week and a new location has been selected. Fortunately the new location is Cineleisure. If it's anywhere further than One Utama, she's definitely gonna get it from me.

Yokoso Japan!

After sorting out the digital photo albums, I realised that we took close to 2000 photos. From there I narrowed down to about less than 200 photos so I could get them developed. Talk about eyesore! Here are some I intend to develop;

All the food photos showing what we've eaten in that 2 weeks can be viewed on my Facebook. If I have time I will upload more human photos. Meanwhile, if you have access to Yi Fan's Facebook, then check out the photos there.

Red Hot Baby!

While I was away for 2 weeks, this:
became this:

That's it.

Am finally home after spending 2 weeks in Japan. Such a wonderful trip, I would remember it for the rest of my life! Haven't check the total but I would suspect that we've taken over 1000 photos. Since I don't have the files with me yet, all of us including myself would just have to wait. Will post 'em up once I get them.

Yohei, if you are reading this I just want to say a big thank you for everything you and your family had done for us. Wouldn't have so much fun without your hospitality!