When Credit Card is of no use...
8th July 2005, Friday
My mood is on the high..things are all so chirpy...the weather despite humid but ok...the air was fresh when I strolled up the footpath to my workplace... and the swinging tunes of SMAP's earlier hits sure help elevate my spirits even more...
It's Friday and the fact that I'm taking half day off to go collect my air tickets and all associated documents for my impending Japan trip just made me delirious...
However something tragic happened to the freshly-assigned host city of the 2012 Olympics, London...
A blast that went off yesterday afternoon (Singapore time) in Central London is a sign of terrorist attack as opposed to the fact that they had been awarded the rights for hosting the grand sports even in 7 years time...It left 37 killed and hundreds more injured... sure is a bitter pill of irony for the British team who came here and in jubilant celebrations the night before to swallow...
So I left for Chinatown where the tour agency is located within the People's Park Center and my girl came really late after struggling to stay awake after her night shift the night before..
I had to waste my time away wondering around the area under the arid warm atmosphere...
I sure know why Chinatown is not a place I would like to hang out anytime...
My dear sleepyhead finally arrived by 2 pm afterwhich we just adjourned to the agency, trying to settle the payment for our tour package...
But I was taken slightly aback with the fact that the air tickets were not yet available from JAL, in which the staff who is directly in touch with us Jeanette, informed me that she would send it to us via courier...
Next as we wanted to proceed to pay via credit card, she said a surcharge of 2% would have to be imposed...
This forced us to seek ATMs to draw that lump sum; since the payment accounts more than 3K plus, we both need to make our withdrawal and this was when I found out that my girlfriend hasn't been avidly saving up ..but as long as she has a back up plan when cooped in financial problem, I'm fine with it...
After making the payment, my girlfriend had her belated lunch nearby with nice classic desserts to follow which was a wise choice as the despatch of the agency managed to deliver our tickets, JR pass and hotel reciept to the office which prompted Jeanette to call us to check if we are still within the vicinity. Fortunately we were and gladly went to collect the documents we had taken time and effort down to collect personally...
Between that time and the dinner gathering with my Japanese clique, we had to venture on foot from Chinatown to Bugis area...
As we strolled towards Clarke Quay area, a wild thought sprang into our minds..perhaps would be faster to scale Fort Canning Hill..Man the gradient was real steep at first but it was pretty an exhilerating experience since neither of us actually been to this part of the island...
The shade provided by the canopy and the sounds of birds with a few squirrels scrambling area the trees in search of food surely deviates from the hustle and bustle of the city.
But it was not an easy chore wandering around the place, seeking a way out to La Tendo which was not too far off the park..
Passing Registry of Marriage as we both teased each other to go for it with other partners (usual mushy couple flirting), we came upon this old mansion like museum sitting in front of a large field which a stage was put up for a performance (think is "Ballet under the Stars") later in the evening.
Finally descended to YMCA which was inches off from Sunshine Plaza and we both started to feel the effect of energy exertion and took a lengthy rest at La Tendo before we proceed on to Shaw Tower at Beach Road...
Creation Cafe was the place where we would be having dinner and they ahd a real steal in their dinner set which cost at $14.50 nett with a main dish, drink, soup and dessert...
Jack was first to arrive, then Cheryl who was followed by Foo who did make it afterall, and guess who was the latest...I give you a hint..her name starts with "S" and end with an "A" with "elin ~I'll be late~" in the middle...
My girlfriend had to leave for an appointment with her client, leaving me with my friends as we go all out for an overdued chat as we haven't each other for ages...
The Updates:
Cheryl: Got a job at OCBC..as she finally felt it was best of her interest and more feasible to get a job in the banking line and would starting work the following week..well she would be pretty preoccupied with work soon...
Jackson: Still at the same publishing house he was with since eons ago and still leading that "vagrant" style of life...
Selina: Same as usual...always seeking opportunities for overseas trips and excursions...would be going to States sponsored by her company (she is lucky, she's a star..and she goes to trip with a chocolate bar) She would be settling down with her long-time beau, Kevin soon as well...
Foo: Very much pasionate about his film art and really glad he has that vision to carve a name in such restrained and merciless industry...
So for the next few hours we just rambles about everything under the sun from our jobs, our love lives, rants about gahment and all the restrictions, movies, and of course our fave topic, Japan and everything about it..
It had been a long while since we gather for a hearty interaction and updates, so it was a real great time to hang out...
However once again my calculations backfired on me as the restaurant does not accept credit card payment and with only 2 bucks in my wallet, just had to get one of them to settle for me first..
Had to take a cab home as well..so more unscheduled spending but for the great I had, it was worthed every penny...
My mood is on the high..things are all so chirpy...the weather despite humid but ok...the air was fresh when I strolled up the footpath to my workplace... and the swinging tunes of SMAP's earlier hits sure help elevate my spirits even more...
It's Friday and the fact that I'm taking half day off to go collect my air tickets and all associated documents for my impending Japan trip just made me delirious...
However something tragic happened to the freshly-assigned host city of the 2012 Olympics, London...
A blast that went off yesterday afternoon (Singapore time) in Central London is a sign of terrorist attack as opposed to the fact that they had been awarded the rights for hosting the grand sports even in 7 years time...It left 37 killed and hundreds more injured... sure is a bitter pill of irony for the British team who came here and in jubilant celebrations the night before to swallow...
So I left for Chinatown where the tour agency is located within the People's Park Center and my girl came really late after struggling to stay awake after her night shift the night before..
I had to waste my time away wondering around the area under the arid warm atmosphere...
I sure know why Chinatown is not a place I would like to hang out anytime...
My dear sleepyhead finally arrived by 2 pm afterwhich we just adjourned to the agency, trying to settle the payment for our tour package...
But I was taken slightly aback with the fact that the air tickets were not yet available from JAL, in which the staff who is directly in touch with us Jeanette, informed me that she would send it to us via courier...
Next as we wanted to proceed to pay via credit card, she said a surcharge of 2% would have to be imposed...
This forced us to seek ATMs to draw that lump sum; since the payment accounts more than 3K plus, we both need to make our withdrawal and this was when I found out that my girlfriend hasn't been avidly saving up ..but as long as she has a back up plan when cooped in financial problem, I'm fine with it...
After making the payment, my girlfriend had her belated lunch nearby with nice classic desserts to follow which was a wise choice as the despatch of the agency managed to deliver our tickets, JR pass and hotel reciept to the office which prompted Jeanette to call us to check if we are still within the vicinity. Fortunately we were and gladly went to collect the documents we had taken time and effort down to collect personally...
Between that time and the dinner gathering with my Japanese clique, we had to venture on foot from Chinatown to Bugis area...
As we strolled towards Clarke Quay area, a wild thought sprang into our minds..perhaps would be faster to scale Fort Canning Hill..Man the gradient was real steep at first but it was pretty an exhilerating experience since neither of us actually been to this part of the island...
The shade provided by the canopy and the sounds of birds with a few squirrels scrambling area the trees in search of food surely deviates from the hustle and bustle of the city.
But it was not an easy chore wandering around the place, seeking a way out to La Tendo which was not too far off the park..
Passing Registry of Marriage as we both teased each other to go for it with other partners (usual mushy couple flirting), we came upon this old mansion like museum sitting in front of a large field which a stage was put up for a performance (think is "Ballet under the Stars") later in the evening.
Finally descended to YMCA which was inches off from Sunshine Plaza and we both started to feel the effect of energy exertion and took a lengthy rest at La Tendo before we proceed on to Shaw Tower at Beach Road...
Creation Cafe was the place where we would be having dinner and they ahd a real steal in their dinner set which cost at $14.50 nett with a main dish, drink, soup and dessert...
Jack was first to arrive, then Cheryl who was followed by Foo who did make it afterall, and guess who was the latest...I give you a hint..her name starts with "S" and end with an "A" with "elin ~I'll be late~" in the middle...
My girlfriend had to leave for an appointment with her client, leaving me with my friends as we go all out for an overdued chat as we haven't each other for ages...
The Updates:
Cheryl: Got a job at OCBC..as she finally felt it was best of her interest and more feasible to get a job in the banking line and would starting work the following week..well she would be pretty preoccupied with work soon...
Jackson: Still at the same publishing house he was with since eons ago and still leading that "vagrant" style of life...
Selina: Same as usual...always seeking opportunities for overseas trips and excursions...would be going to States sponsored by her company (she is lucky, she's a star..and she goes to trip with a chocolate bar) She would be settling down with her long-time beau, Kevin soon as well...
Foo: Very much pasionate about his film art and really glad he has that vision to carve a name in such restrained and merciless industry...
So for the next few hours we just rambles about everything under the sun from our jobs, our love lives, rants about gahment and all the restrictions, movies, and of course our fave topic, Japan and everything about it..
It had been a long while since we gather for a hearty interaction and updates, so it was a real great time to hang out...
However once again my calculations backfired on me as the restaurant does not accept credit card payment and with only 2 bucks in my wallet, just had to get one of them to settle for me first..
Had to take a cab home as well..so more unscheduled spending but for the great I had, it was worthed every penny...
Japanese word of the day: 久しぶり~hi-sa-shi-bu-ri~ (It's been a long time) since I had a gathering with some old friends who shared my passion for Japan...
posted by Kei at
10:46 AM
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