Wednesday, May 30, 2007

What a News...

I just came back to 'earth' yesterday.

And now, I received a horrendous news affecting the prospect travel of my job.

I have been selected to do at least 3 projects on Auckland, New Zealand every month! With an equipment leased from another company!

O man, I hate Auckland! It's terrible hard work & minimum rest!

I'm kind of on the denial moment. Hopefully this is a mistake. Hopefully it's really not so bad.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Alaska Cruise

Just came back from the Alaska Cruise with hubby on Norwegian Cruise Line.
O yes, I enjoyed myself thoroughly. My hubby, .. as usual.. is quite emotionless with the holiday. Even before I left for the trip, I was all so excited.

For the first time, I could relax. I didn't have to wake up or stay up for work. I don't have to unpack or pack within 2days of stay. I don't have to put massive make-up. (In Fact, I couldn't even put make-up because just after lasik operation) I don't have to walk or stand up more than one hour. I don't have to worry about time. I don't have to worry about anything! I don't even have to do anything.

Our flight to Vancouver (from Singapore) was quite long with a transit in Seoul. Of course, we utilized our transit devouring the Korean soondobu(spicy tofu soup). I watched movie till I stoned. I laughed at Diane Keaton in 'Because I said So' until people thought I was nuts. I laughed at the girl in '200Pounds Beauty' until the crew was startled with me. And then I cried on e same movie until the crew became even more startled with me.

Upon reaching Vancouver, it's a long queue at the immigration interviewing people this & that. Exactly like USA.

I was all excited going into the cruise. Immigration this time was easy. IT was very interesting though. USA immigration in Vancouver at e cruise departure.

The cruise ship was beautiful. Painted with the sun as the title 'Norwegian Sun', it gives me the feeling of bright & cheery. Indeed it did. But hubby has one complain. It's so full with elderlies, we were about the youngest people in the ship. I guess in between the lines, he was complainining of no chicks to feast his eyes on.

3port of calls. Ketchikan, Juneau & Stagway.
All existed for the same reason. Gold Rush.

The towns are very tiny. I suspect it's because they're just port towns. The profile of the people was very petite for girls & very slim for the guys. No, no, no. There aren't igloo or eskimos. These towns are at the tips of the Alaska geography. It's not even the mainland of the big Alaska yet. These are coastal area. They weren't even all that cold. Definitely nothing compared to Moscow in nov, 2006.
They looked & sounded regular British Columbian Canadian. Perhaps a little bit more American accent. Definitely minus the fat & obese issue.

And so we took the excursions of glacier visit & Yukon territory visit.

The glacier was an incredible sight. Now I truly understand why it's called 'as white as snow'.
Not only white. It's blueish white. When we were on the helicopter, the snow covering the mountain top looked so smooth, I wish I was a giant able to sweep my hair through the snow. Snapped a lot of photos.


But the photos doesn't justify the beauty on sight at all.

We were encouraged to try the water from the river running through the glacier. Tasted so sweet. What is Evian, man!!!!!!!!



Yukon territory is in Canada. It's a territory on its own. Once again the snow is incredible. But some of them look so smooth they can be very deep. So we weren't allowed to go too near snow land.
However it's so weird that there was a desert in the middle of the snow covered territory.
Carcross Desert. It's officially the smallest desert in the world. I touched it. It was really warm!

But funnily, the whole feeling of the environment's temperature wasn't too cold. In fact, when I returned to Vancouver, I felt that it was almost the same temperature.

The cruise?
I think it's nice. We had balcony. When we had the very near encounter to the glacier, it was simply amazing.. No words could describe the beauty & enchantment of the sight & experience.

And we were so darn free, we ended up sitting by the coin slot machine waiting for money to drop. Well.. it did. Drop, slot in. Drop slot in. Lucky strike, drop a lot. We had USD10 from USD1. Small fry lah us. But it was really funny.
We both agreed that there is no luxury of casino else where in the world that we could sit there & wait for money to drop.
Oh I forgot to mention. The casino is literally empty. With almost 50 jackpots machine, only about 10players. With almost 10tables, only 5players.

I like the cruise. I don't know if I'd go for another cruise. In Asia, cruising was mostly for gambling. I guess there isn't appreciation of sight. But here, it's genuine relaxation & appreciation for beauty of nature.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

I Don't Wana Go Back!

Today's my last day on cruise. I enjoyed myself just being away in serenity, I really don't wana go back.

There aren't any of my company's staff here. No Singaporean here at all. No people with Singlish or Sg lingo.

People here are always minding their own business. Yet, there are warmth & calm mood filling the air the whole time during the trip.

I dread going back. Where to all the rush hour & hustle bustle belonged.

I'm so happy here.