6D5N Shanghai-Suzhou-Wuxi-Shanghai (Day 2)

The American was 6ft tall. That's my first impression when we met at the 21st floor lift lobby. He'd go back to the States with a crick in the neck (or back pains) as we Orientals are really not that tall. Haha.

Made him eat a tea-boiled egg. At least I didn't force a century egg down his throat, seeing how Fear Factor puts it in the gross food challenge.

It's confirmed, the American was a bit mad to be wearing just a cotton shirt, waiting outside for our pickup. In a 5 degC day. I was comfortably dressed in thermal wear, thick sweater AND a long knee length trench coat.

After stamping our feet for quite some time (the American finally succumbed and pulled on a sweater), our transport finally arrived and I got to meet the 2 Shanghainese girls I'd been emailing & calling for the first time. One of them said I looked more like I came from Hong Kong instead of Singapore.

The American asked conspiratorally, "Is that good or bad?" Haha.

Whatever, I shall take it positively.

Suzhou was much colder than Shanghai. 2 degC, and the wind was blowing madly. We could see lumps of snow on the pavements, still melting away. At least we did not come during the storm.

At 6.30pm, we left the factory to check into Holiday Inn Jasmine.

Plasma TV!

And the bathroom was much nicer than that of Hilton's. Suzhou is much more affordable after all.

Had local food for dinner, and we chatted over dinner till 9.30pm.

Read about Day 1

6D5N Shanghai-Suzhou-Wuxi-Shanghai (Day 1)

Shanghai, at 12 degC was refreshing. It was like being slapped on the face with an icy cold wet towel. I huddled into my jacket and tried desperately not to duck behind behemoth trucks/buses as I trooped along the driver to get to his MPV.

I was given a twin bed deluxe room at the Hilton. Oh well, another place to dump the jacket/bag/whatever things dumpable.

It was only 6.30pm but I was trying desperately to keep my eyes open and from falling face-front into the room service trolley. The 6.45am flight to KL had really tuckered me out.

Dinner: Grilled unagi, with charming pussy willow branches on the side. Non-edible:charming pussy willow branches in clear glass.

Dessert: Lemon yogurt in mousse (or was it yogurt in lemon mousse?).

The night traffic as seen from the room.

After making an appointment to meet a US colleague for breakfast the next morning (having declined to have dinner with him, breakfast was the graceful way to go), I fell asleep watching "The Mummy".

Tomorrow will be a 2hr ride to Suzhou, with 3 of my Shanghai collegues. Another bum ride.

Sigh

Flying to Shanghai in Less than 48 Hours

After my company travel agent f*cked up (again!) and left me uninformed about a previously-confirmed-turned-non-operational-flight to Shanghai, I am now to depart on Tuesday instead, 2 days later than originally planned.

At an ungodly 6.45am flight to KL, then to Shanghai. I'm expected to touch down at Pudong at 2.30pm.

Well, beggars can't be picky, not when all SQ flights are fully booked for days and the other alternative is flying on a China Eatern flight. Meals are not included in the CE flight. WTH? No wonder there are empty seats for ALL CE flights I've checked.

Another point was a question my bro asked me, "You wanna put your life on risk for the company?" Nasty, but very succintly put.

I'm not sure I'd even turn up at the Shanghai office on Tues, I'm scared of turning into an ice block the moment I step out of any solid, protective, enclosed buildings.

So it's Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi and back to Shanghai lugging my luggage, notebook backpack and 1kg of BBQ meat (for the China colleagues & CM) where I'd spend two nights before flying back to Singapore. And the week after, 2 days will be spent in Johor Bahru for pilot runs.

Too bad there's no FFP for the JB trips, or I'd be able to claim a free flight to the States anytime.

I desperately need a break from work.

What Is He Up To?

When my collegeau found out that Doraemon planned to tag along on my Shanghai trip, she did a double take.

I could see how hard it was for her to keep the questions from tumbling from her mouth as we were having lunch outside. After all, it's a silent agreement that only a few people know about my relationship (or lack thereof) with Doraemon. And my junior colleague was not one of them.

Then after lunch, she dropped by my cubicle, and sort of squatted down, munching a pineapple tart.

"Wanna be kaypoh a bit, what is the PM up to?"

I was stumped (after 3 hours of department meeting and non-stop calls), and was about to ask which PM (since at any one time, I'm working with at least 5 PMs), when it dawned that we refer to only Doraemon as the PM.

"I dunno, he's just taking an advantage of my trip to stay at a good hotel."

"But he has a girlfriend, right?"

Well, I'm not entirely sure about that as everytime I asked him about her, he'd hedge and change the topic.

"Seriously, I don't know."

Yeah, what's a 33 year old guy up to when he wants to tag along on a female's friend business trip, sharing the same hotel room?

And he has asked me a couple of times to go on business trip with him.

Am I mistaking friendship for something more? Or taking something else as friendship?

Sigh..

Are The Quizes Legit?

Holy crap, how do I get labeled as promiscuous??

* It looks better on a white background, but I can't be bothered..

:)

Crazy Bros

At work, I got along so well with a bunch of guys that they proclaim themselves to be my brothers. It all stemmed from from the years of working together and shopping for DVDs on our weekly working trips to the JB factories.

The 3 of them have moved out to a different business unit, but we are still occupying the same office complex. Thus tea breaks are always hilarious times where we trade insults and gossips, and a bewildering time for anyone not familiar with the trio.

Gosh, I love them, my bitchy brothers.

They bring levity into my monotonous, dreary working hours, and much needed pointers on my career directions.

Thanks, bros.

Shanghai Shanghai

I'll be flying off to Shanghai on 17th Feb for a week long business trip. While I'm excited about the chance of going off on company expenses (SIA, Hilton!), I dread the cold weather I'm about to brave.

Heck, the last time I was in China, it was -3deg C and my snot froze disgustingly. My fingers were aching and it was bloody misery anyone from a tropical country could encounter. I still remember the 5 layers of clothing I put on during the day and times I almost got burnt by the electric blanket at night.

Gosh, I hope the moisturiser wouldn't freeze in the tube or I'll crack.. all over.

Sigh.