What I really think about shanghai

As reported in my fb/tweet/blog and word of mouth, my fiancee or affectionately known as my hubby has moved to Shanghai for almost 3 weeks now. I am still terrified by the fact that he's in Shanghai and I am moving UP there soon to join him. As most people understand, it is not good for newly married couples to be away from each other.. NOT GOOD!

Few days ago, I was blessed to be activated for a Shanghai flight (for work) as I miss him so much and I long to see how's his life there. I reached my hotel after midnight and was so thrilled to see him sitting at the lobby waiting for me.. Just knowing someone u love is waiting for you after work is like candy to a kid.. SWEET! We went to his apartment in the morning as he has too much to do for work and I have a big cargo bag to unpack to his apartment. XP

This was what I saw the first thing I step out of the taxi....

The apartment is a private area with guards and automated card-scan door.. Pretty ATAS (posh) compared to where I'm staying now in Singapore.. the rental here can cost u more than RMB20,000 a month (about RM 10,000) for a 3 rooms apartment.. And the apartment is not excitingly big at all.. Lets just say its cute and cozy! Of course, all these his company pay la.. we could never afford such high rentals.. We might stay in a wooden house with coconut tree leaves if we were to find our own place on our own expense.

I wasn't really thrilled with Shanghai as I had some bad experience with the busy streets, loud aunties, dirty-spitting-everywhere-uncles, crowded places and much much more when I used to fly there for work. Staying in Singapore for more than 2 years has accustomed me to a clean nice comfortable place and pretty robotic people who just go on with their lives everyday and do not scream and shout at people on the streets. Of course, there's no place like home-Malaysia. Malaysia is not exactly the best place to stay on earth, nor it has the best politic history, but I just love Malaysia for what it is! Especially my small little town- Klang, has the best food on earth! Like seriously ok!!! I've travelled around the world enough to say that confidently!

Back to the topic....

Went up to his apartment and greeted his housemates aka colleagues, he showed me his humble master-bedroom. It was much smaller than what I expected but it was cozy and fully furnished. The best part about the room is the breath-taking city view:
Hubby says the view is so much better at night, and it was true! Managed to peek on the night scene before I left to work back to Singapore!
There was a school sports event happening on that day and I can see so many events happening from the room itself. The students shouting 'Jia you! JIa you!' with so much enthusiasm can be heard from where I stood with the windows tightly shut! And I was very high above ground!
This was taken at the living hall... hubby's office is somewhere there... Try spotting it, and u'll get nothing! XP
The chinese (from china that works together with me) stewardess that saw my husband in the hotel lobby when we arrive last night says my hubby is handsome.. I'm proud but dam jealous! And it makes me worry more now...

We walked to his office under the super-can-melt-u hot sun which is less than 10 mins walk away from the apartment. The office is still under renovation and his boss has just bought so many furnitures from IKEA. Hubby has to go to the office and open the door to let the workers work on the furnitures..
The REAL Shanghai is not just about sky scrappers and beautiful scenery.. its about living and blending with the locals.. It was 10 in the morning and you can see the locals out and about doing their daily chores. The streets are not really clean and there are some parts where I want to puke just looking at it but i'm good...
Then we went to this tiny little shop which sells beef noodles that can only sit around 10 people at one time. This is one of his favourite shop so far as it is convenient, cheap, easy and 24 hours! Hubby ordered 2 beef noodles and frankly, I like it very much!
The beef is soft and the noodles (La-mien)are freshly made.. The soup is not too salty or too bland.. It was quite nice! The only down part is, the shop is not clean at all! But what do u expect from a small local shop right?
I was so hot that I must have a cold pepsi (no coke)to cool me down. If u know me well enough, u know that I dont take gas drinks often unless its necessary or unavoidable like when I order a meal in Mcdonald.. Pepsi and beef la-mien = AWESOMENESS for breakfast!
The things in the shop are very affordable.. 1 small bowl of beef la-mien will cost u RMB5 which is less than RM2.5 i think.. very cheap! Next time I wanna try their Egg fried rice with their beef soup... nyam!
This is a view of the apartment hubby is staying from the street that I will walk alot in the future.. Pretty magnificent..

Hubby felt bad to neglect me during the day (after breakfast) because he has too much work to do, he brought me to this nice japanese restaurant near his place..

They sell japanese style BBQ meat...very nice also! But not too nice for the pocket...
Mr Jeremy Ng very serious reading and studying the menu.. He doesn't really understand most of it coz its either in Japanese or Chinese...
The liquors and japanese wine selection.. too bad I can't indulge in any because I have to work later... But will definitely give it a try in the future if I have the chance! Lol!
I ordered Oolong tea and he ordered some Japanese Grapefruit drink with 3.5% of alcohol.. Its really refreshing and nice!
I was confused.. this looks very like KIMCHI (suppose to originate from Korea) and I thought this is a japanese restaurant? But the bean sprout and cucumber was really good!

the hungry Me!

the tired jeremy!

We were suppose to cook the meats by ourselves but in the end the waitress helped us.. Maybe we were too slow.. hahahaha.. but everything was really good and both of us were really bloated after the meal! They gave us a mint chewing gum after hubby settled the bill.. This will never happen in Singapore (coz chewing gum is illegal here)... hahahahaha
Before we say goodbye to each other.. Both has chewing gum inside our mouth!

To be frank, this one day trip in REAL Shanghai hasn't gave me the IT factor for me to fall in love with other than the fact that my hubby is there.. But so far so good.. Many people told me that Shanghai is really happening and I dont need to worry about not being able to get anything I want there.. I can custom make my clothes there with a very cheap price.. I can get a massage just below the apartment or for a spa! There's so many shopping complexes in Shanghai to keep me entertained and the locals are not as bad as what I used to encounter. I look forward for my next LONG trip there to really stay and live there.. Who would ever thought that PAMELA SOO will be migrating to Shanghai soon? hahahaha.. from malaysia to singapore and soon to shanghai.. only God knows where I'm heading next!

p/s: Since I will be quitting my job soon, heres a picture of me in the uniform.. Its really iconic ok! I will definitely miss flying and the places it can bring me to.. but i know I have a better future with someone I love in a foreign land..
Adios!

My last saturday in singapore...

It was a bright and sunny Saturday morning in Singapore and as usual.. I was lazy and couldn't bother to get my ass out of the house. Then only I realise that today is going to be the last saturday I have in Singapore before I pack everything and go back HOME for good! I know I'm gonna miss Singapore.. the cleanliness, the safety, the convenience of public transport... Therefore, I decided to head out to Vivo City, the so called biggest shopping mall in this small little island.

I used to love coming down to this shopping mall because they have most of the major brands that I fancy. But as time pass, the crowd just getting bigger and bigger, especially weekends like today. It was insane! The moment I come out from the MRT (the train system), I dare not stop and stare, or else I will be one of the stampede victims.

There were so much frustrations I encoutered today:

1. Every shop is filled with people.. You wanna try something, you got to Q up for the changing rooms.. You wanna pay for something, you got to Q up for the cashier as well! You wanna go wee wee, you got to Q up for the restrooms as well!

2. Just getting a place in Starbucks/Gloria Jeans/Ben & Jerrys or any cafes is impossible too. Place is filled with family or couples.. I was abit self concious to go in alone and just sit there and relax.. I would do that if it was a weekday...or i'm not alone..

3. The things that caught my attention were mostly MADE IN CHINA! So, no point for me to buy coz I will be living in China soon enough.. why pay more right? (control control.. self control is important.. save for the wedding!!!)

But I encountered this new shop that wasn't there the last time I went to Vivo. It's very interesting and attracted many customers.

the FRUIT PARADISE CAFE.. originated from Tokyo..

One thing i noticed, Singaporeans love anything from Japan.. ANYTHING!

The shop basically sells fresh fruit tarts like the picture above.. It looks so yummy but the price is not that yummy to the pocket though..

It was havoc in the cafe but I managed to take away 3 different slices of their tarts for myself and my housemates. It was really good but abit too pricey for my liking.

Anyway, its just a once in a while thing.. So it was ok.. hopefully I can find this in Malaysia or Shanghai to satisfy my sweet tooth once in a blue moon..

Overall, my last saturday in Singapore was quite a pleasant one. Managed to get some nice necklace for myself and my sisters and some affordable tops. If given the choice, I wouldn't wanna go out on weekends in Singapore ever again.. Its just too scarry!

Side track: Pepsi has this huge campaign/advertisement at the MRT station and I think its really interesting...

p/s: So far, I have a big box of magazines, 1 box of my new unused facial and body products, 2 big boxes of winter clothes and dresses/skirts.. And i still got ALOT that I havent touch yet.. How on earth am i going to bring back EVERYTHING back to MALAYSIA la???????????????

My last 2nd flight- Sin to Shanghai!

Dear Diary,

After more than 1 week of haunting the office, they finally activated me for a shanghai flight! I was so happy and i was known as the Shanghai husband stewardess coz I call them almost every day to ask for a Shanghai flight... hahahaha... Talking about things u can do for love...

From Sin- Shanghai was a really smooth flight and the crew were great! Best part was, after a long and tiring flight, hubby was waiting for me at the hotel lobby when I reach there... It feels so good to have someone waiting for u after flights.. it really does boost up your motivation and everything..

Will talk more about shanghai on my next post as I would love to put on some pictures to COLOUR-fied my dull black blog... XP

The main point is, my luck couldn't get any worse yesterday night and this morning.. Everything went so well when I was with hubby till after dinner part.. Both of us were having a discussion till we sort of lost track of time and went down to the street to get a taxi for me later than what we have planned.. It was a peak hour and it was so darn hard to get a taxi... After few minutes of waiting beside the street, it started to rain!! Really heavilly!! Not just cats and dogs, i think its more like cows and bulls! It was so heavy that we have to run to the bus stand opposite the road for shelter. Hubby stood beside the street for so long just to get a taxi for me. Some empty taxis just went by, ignoring desperate people like us waving our hands like crazy! This will not happen in Singapore.... Sienz!

After what it seems like years, hubby finally got a taxi for me to go back to hotel to prepare for my flight back to singapore.. phew.. i was 15 minutes late than what I have planned.. I told the taxi uncle that I need to get back to the hotel that I was staying in chinese, and uncle told me he doesn't know where the hotel is!!! Its a 5 star hotel!!! How can u not know????? Panic and freezing, i search my bag for the hotel card and I couldn't find it! I'm not exactly great in handling stressful situation..Then when i finally found it, uncle said he doesn't understand english.. ARGH!!! Then I managed to point to him the address which was written in chinese, then uncle only 'oh.. ok ok..', I told uncle, pls get me there FAST!

Load of traffic lights, loads of cars! And of all time, we were stuck behind a van in the middle of the road which can't move when the light turns green! With so many cars at the left right behind, uncle had a hard time moving to the other lane.. the time ticks away...

After more than 20 minutes.. i finally reach the hotel.. I ran to the lift and slot in my hotel key and pressed '4', but it doesn't light up! shit.. the key doesn't work at this time!!!!! The lift moved to 3rd floor and I saw a man in the hotel uniform, I asked him to help me but he doesn't even know we have to slot in our key to get to the floor we stay!! ARGH!!! I went back to the lift, wanting to go down to the lobby to get a new key, but the lift moved to 4th floor where some china men were waiting.. I ran to my room, tried to open the door with the key, but it doesn't work! I found a man with the hotel's engineering uniform and asked him for help... He doesn't gave much help either. In the end, i ran down to the lobby to get a new one.. I was 45 minutes late than what I have planned...

But, I managed to shower, wash hair, make up and get ready in 45 minutes! I managed to go down early to check out from the hotel to work back to singapore! It was really a crazy night for me! At that time, it was still raining and there were thunders and lightnings.. I was wishing and hoping silently that weather is so bad that we might not be able to take off and i can stay in shanghai for another night.. hahahaahahah

My wish did came true, but not the whole thing.. seems like my wish n hope wasn't powerful enough (darn it!).. Due to the bad weather, all the aircrafts weren't able to take off and our flight was delayed for 3 hours!!! We have to board the not-so-happy passenger because, if not, we will not be in the Q to take off.. Most of the passengers were tired and cranky because it was a midnight flight and we crew were tired as well.. It was suppose to be a 4 hour and 40 minutes flight, turn out to be almost 8 hours! It was insane!

But, i'm glad its over! And i'm back in Singapore safe and sound.. I'm happy that i finally can have a sneak preview of my hubby's life in Shanghai too.. The best comfort was to see him in good health and doing fine there.. I reach back my room in Singapore at 9 this morning.. I slept the whole morning and afternoon away and I'm going to have another sleepless night again! God, pls help me!

p/s: Shanghai shanghai.. I can't believe i'm going to move to shanghai next year! I never imagine myself moving out of malaysia when i was young... let alone, singapore and soon, shanghai.. its insane... pressure pressure....

What happened in the plane doesn't stay in the plane.. (anymore)

I was taking drink orders in business class to serve to the passengers after we take off... It was a Singapore to Bombay flight...

'Good evening again sir, I'm taking the drink orders now and what would you like to have? We have a selection of cocktails, wine, juices and also soft drinks.' I asked with a very genuine smile..

'I dont want alcohol drinks, what do you have?' The indian uncle looked at me...

'That would be juices, soft drinks and a selection of teas if you want. We also have perrier...' I answered, still with a genuine smile...

'What juice u have?' Uncle asked again...

(I wanted to tell him, 'Uncle, look at the menu la.. we give u menu for a reason! its for your reference and to answer your questions'. But, of course, I didn't say that)

Professionally, I smiled again, 'Sir, we have four types of juices, orange, apple, tomato and pineapple, which would you prefer then?'

Uncle ask me again, 'which one is fresh?'

'Sir, our orange and apple juices are from tetra packs, and our tomato and pineapple juices are served from cans.' My smile slightly weaker now...

'Do you have carrot juice?'

'I'm sorry sir, we do not have carrot juice on board.' (didn't I just told you what juices we have?)

'What about grapefruit juice?'

I nearly wanted to smack his head with the order board at that time, but, of course, I didn't do that.. that would be so unprofessional...

I gave him a weak smile, 'Sir, I'm really sorry but we do not have grapefruit juice either, as I mentioned, we only have orange, apple, tomato and pineapple juice.'

'What kind of airline is this? You dont have anything!' Uncle mumbled...

'Sir, i'm sorry about that, but i'll definitely highlight to the company about your comment. May I get you something else?'

'Get me a tomato juice!' Uncle said frustrated-ly...

'I will definitely get you that after the take off sir. Thank you!'

p/s: Packing the stuff that i've accumulated after 2 years in singapore is not easy task man! Where did all the things come from???? *faints*

I wanna keep this blog alive!!

Ok, so here's the thing..

I intend to keep this blog alive, I dont intend to delete it!

My life REaLLy has been like a roller coaster since my last update!

And I think my life is getting more interesting that I just got to write it down and laugh reading it when I'm old and ugly... (wait, i can still be old but awesome!)

So, today is wednesday.. I submitted my resignation letter on monday.. my last day as a cabin crew would be on 31st of august which is a tuesday.. oh, it is also gonna be Malaysia's independence day! Merdeka to my homeland and myself!

I got engaged to the love of my life on July 24th after he proposed on June 26th in his house after nasi lemak breakfast when we were watching ANACONDA.. yes.. the movie ANACONDA starring Jennifer Lopez.. not the kind of setting I imagined but who cares right? So happen, it was the day where my 1st ever god-son, Ethan Axel Tan was born!

My soon-to-be husband(which i've been calling my hubby) has moved to Shanghai for his career advancement last week and I have to migrate to Shanghai as well to be with him (and shoo away all the pretty Chinese butterflies that might be interested in him) next year after Chinese New Year. I'm so proud of his achievement but I'm scared myself.. what on earth am I gonna do after I move there? will i be able to have my own career there? Or should I just brush up my MahJong skills and win the money of the rich tai-tais over there? Although I know he will never complain about me being jobless, but deep down, I fear that I will be a HUGE burden to him..

Oh, my next month schedule will be even more interesting:

1-4th sept-CLEAR MY SINGAPORE MESSY ROOM! and move back to my little hometown

4-20th -choose gowns for bridal shoot, pick my hubby up from airport, bridal shoot, food tasting for our wedding dinner, catch up with too many of my lost touch friends since I moved to sin, unpack my stuff, make it look nice and tidy so that mummy wont nag, clean my hubby's room and loads loads more...

20-23rd - KL-Sin

23-30th - Sin- Pudong, Shanghai to visit my hubby and beautify our soon to be home as it looks like a bachelor pad now (through SKYPE la!)

1-4th oct- Last few days in Sin, pack and bid farewell to the place I have lived for more than 2 years...

So now, is my life interesting or what?

p/s: I can't wait to try on more of the beautiful wedding gowns awaiting for me!!! I'll be bringing mummy, my 2 angelic sisters with me to give me all the thumbs up and downs... too bad hubby will still be stuck in Shanghai..

bag bag bag...

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH MY NEW MICHAEL KORS BAG I BOUGHT FROM HOUSTON'S PREMIUM FACTORY OUTLET.. WEEEE......................

P/S: can't wait to go back singapore tomorrow coz i get to see my darling!!! weeee.......

Intersting facts..

Some interesting facts of USA which i managed to compile during my stay here in Houston...

They are having the Miss Teen Houston and Miss Houston pageant at the grand ballroom of Hilton Hotel where I'm staying.. Seriously, alot of them looked like plastic!

The biggest shopping mall in Houston is called The Galleria, which happens to be walking distance from where I'm staying now.. Imagine the temptation I have to go through for 2 nights!!!

The people here are much friendlier than those from San Francisco.. Dont even talk about those in New York..

APPLE is launching the iPad tomorrow morning on 3rd april 2010 and I am not going to Q up for it.. I'm one of the rare human species that doesn't have any APPLE products till now.. Not even their mp3 players.. XP

Must go to the factory outlets in States for really good bargains on American brands.. I shop till i drop this afternoon.. although what they offered there might be from last season, but who cares?

Ok, thats all for now.. I did say SOME interesting facts.. Not MANY interesting facts... Good night for now.. time to hit the bed and fly to Moscow tomorrow afternoon.. can't wait to go back Singapore on monday!!!

p/s: Gosh, i'm so confused with the days and the dates whenever I have really long flights like this pattern... Singapore- Moscow- Houston- Moscow- Singapore

the resurraction of blog..

Time flies and before u know it.. U have abandoned your blog (filled with spidey webs) for that long a time! Its crazy..

Its good friday today and I'm stuck in Houston, texas.. Its so laid back here, everything seems to be on a slow pace compared to to Japan, Singapore or even San Francisco. The land they have is so abundant, their roads are so wide and my hotel room is so big (yet empty). And I missed their annual Rodeo carnival just by one day! ARGH!!

Flying life has been pretty good for me. I felt blessed to be 'awarded' with reasonable rosters every month compared to most of the seniors above me that claims to always get 'shitty flights' (pardon my 'french') every time I ask 'So, how's yr roster eh?'. Many may look at my high-flying career as something really cool.. But, trust me, its not fun once u get your hand on it. Just like cheesecake! No matter how awesome sinfully rich and tasty a cheesecake is, u just can't have it everyday coz eventually u will get sick of it and will rush to the toilet to puke just by the sight of it after 3 days of cheesecakes.

Oh, dont get me wrong people (if there are still living beings reading my blog, that is).. I ain't complaining here.. the money we (cabin crew) earn is pretty good (especially if i convert back to RM.. DROOLS..) and the hotel we stay is usually 5-stars related but there's always a down side in everything we do or have.. Even LOVE. This is the moment where i'm totally homesick and lovesick and buddy-sick. The loneliness we feel sometimes facing the big hotel room generously given by our company is beyond bearable. I'm not sure about other airlines but for my company, we have this system that we will usually be rostered to fly with different people on every of our flights. Call yourself lucky if you are rostered to fly with your friend. So, look at my 'happy pictures' i posted on FB (its short for facebook, where have u been alien?)whenever i travel around the world, the 'happiness' is short lived and most times, I can't remember the names of the people on the pictures after 2-3 months if they are not under my FB so called 'friends' list.

It is always this time where insecurity will struck me....not so much of my family because I know better than anyone, my family will NEVER abandon me no matter what and we usually try our best to stay connected and close-knitted. Its always about my long distant relationship with my one and only workaholic boyfriend (BF). Ok, my malaysia-singapore (and around the world) whirlwind romance is not as bad as some malaysia-UK romance but it is bad enough for me already. So, in order to not let myself think so much, I shall go to the nearest factory outlet here later to give myself a big massive shopping therapy treat.. muahahahaha...

shall update my prized possesions if I feel like it... (and if i can get anything)

p/s: Feel good to be able 'pen' down my thoughts here again.. i hope I will be consistent...