Bangalore Trip

This is the first time that I am travelling to Bangalore, India. And I am definitely grateful to my bosses for giving me the opportunity to be selected for this great inaugural annual Asia Finance Development Day.

This is the second year that I joined TI, and by God’s grace, it’s also my second year to attend the event.

In case you wonder why, its because not every finance person will get to attend. Apart from the finance directors and managers, and the number of attendees from each site will depend on the decision of the finance directors. So I count myself blessed to be selected twice in a row.  

Actually something really very unpleasant happened on sat, the day I was supposed to fly off. But I will not bring that in to this entry.

Our flight took off from SG changi airport at 805pm and when we touched down at Bangalore airport, it was 950pm. They are 3 hours behind SG time. Took almost an hour before the whole group of us retrieve our luggage and we move on to the bus that took us another 1 hour or so, to reach the hotel that we are booked in. The Chancery Pavilion.

This is one of the best Business Hotel in Bangalore. And look at the breath-taking welcome that they gave to us!

By the time we got our rooms and checked in, it was past 12 midnight…. which means…. SG TIME 3am!?!? OMG! Tired tired tired…..

So finally by 430am, i was ready for bed. Yawns~~~ Actually we are not the worst. My friends from taiwan and Hongkong and Shanghai only checked in the hotel at India time….. 5am! So can you imagine how tired most of us were at the breakfast table at 930am this morning… kekekekekke

I believe India is one country that I will never choose for my own holiday destination. Apart from the language barriers and the food, I confess that the hygiene is a major concern for me. Prior to this trip, there are so many things in office that kept me busy and on my toes 24 7. So barely had time to do research and much preparation. So I came with the mentality to just look see and learn and enjoy the place to the best that I can.

I learnt that Indians are actually very friendly people, if not all, but at least the people from Texas Instruments India. They have taken the effort to arrange a 4 hour shopping tour for the group of almost 50 of us. Not easy to coordinate and bring 50 people around the busy streets of India. But in the midst of all, they were still friendly and smilely towards all of us!!

Of cos, on the streets, I also met some not so nice people and shop owners. And it seems that the “culture” here is that when you want to buy anything, even in those proper shops, as long as you are a non-India, you must learn to slash the price and bargain with the shop owners. Otherwise, you will be just like a carrot placed on their chopping board. And mind you, the prices usually can be slashed to as much as 50%!!!

This is one trip that I brought very little money, because I have no intention to buy things actually. Good in a way too…. to prevent myself from buying unnecessary things back to Singapore. In the end, I did use up my money to buy 2 shawls and got 2 free fridge magnets. Not too bad deal… of cos, that came after a long session of bargaining!! Kekekke…

The highlight of the trip however, is definitely the friendships and networking and bonding that was built with all the regional peers, finance managers and finance directors. Who says finance people are a bunch of boring people? After this 3D2N event, I conclude that finance people can be really wild and fun loving when we are off work!!! My bosses really show a very different side of them during this event and the message put across: Our bosses actually do like fun as much as we do!!!

 

All in all, the 4 days in Bangalore was a great shortaway trip with the colleagues in the midst of the busy packed schedules. Even though it was extremely tiring especially after the midnight flight back to Singapore. But I greatly enjoyed myself and am so looking forward to the trip next year in Malaysia!!! Cheers!!!

Birthday celebration

I guess when you get older, you don’t really fancy big woohaa birthday celebrations. At least that is what I feel personally.

I prefer something quiet and prefer quality time spent with family and even if its just a small simple celebrations, i think the presence of support and love are ingredients that I really look forward to.

This year, I have been very blessed once again. Cos I have various surprises and great fellowship.

Started with a family BBQ steamboat dinner at home with my parents and auntie 2 saturdays ago, as I had to fly off last sat for business trip.

So they brought forward the celebration. Totally enjoyed the time spent with my family.

And after dinner, my sister bought me an awesome almond longan cake from Rive! Yummy!!

 

My family!

  my pride and joy!

Second cake was actually with my in laws, celebrated together with Audrey and Edward, my sister and brother in laws. My father in law gave us 2 dinner treats! Yummy! Just a waste that we did not take any picture. And so that was my second cake.

The third cake was another awesome awfully cake from my beloved finance team members!! really love them a lot, cos that day, i just causally made a remark that I like the cake from Awfully chocolate. And they really made it happened!!! They went all the way to Ion during lunch and bought me a cake from there!!! 超感动！*tears in my eyes*. I remember last year, even though I was very new to the team, they also brought me a cake to celebrate my birthday for me, and the pictures even went up to the video presented to the financial leadership team of Dallas. Our team birthday celebrations are just going from glory to glory!!

And when i was in India, I was given a mega surprise when they actually arranged a birthday cake for me on Monday night while we were having our team dinner in the fine dining restaurant. Totally caught off guard and felt a bit embarrassed cos 70 over people were there and the whole lot of them sang me a birthday song, and my Asia FD was seated just opposite me that night!! Too bad i dont have a picture of the cake with me now… will wait for the photos from the india team. :-)

And yesterday, after I landed in Singapore and went back for a 3 hour nap, Dear had a day off and we went out for a mini celebration, even though i still felt like a zombie! A result of the severe lack of sleep in Bangalore.

Nevertheless, still a very enjoyable quality pak toh time and we went feasting at Seoul Garden! LOLz.

After that, went to get the birthday present. Tada!!!

And this morning, i receive my birthday bouquet from my dearest Hubby!!! Sweet to the brim!!!

This year birthday has been a super special one for me. Simple and yet memorable. :-)

Which theme should I choose?

Looking at the calendar, time is running out!!!

Remembered a few months back I told myself that I must start early this year,

but everyday was so busy for the last few months and now in the

twinkle of an eye, I am left with

Only 1 month and 2 days to start planning for Justin’s birthday party!!! *panic attack*

Why panic attack? Because my schedule for October is packed to the maximum limit already.

Meetings, presentations, business trip, deadlines……..

GASP-ing for air!!!

Ok, at least we have settled the venue and date.

So now, got to decide the theme and then start to source for the rest of the items.

But this librarian mother is confused with the choices available.

Elmo?

or his favorite Barney and friends?

or Thomas the Tank?

maybe i should just toss a coin? or mi-ni-ma-ni-mi-ni-mo??

*confused* mummy…….. :-(