New Year Eve....

New year eve and i got to work as usual..

Morning, went down to Ang Mo Kio, HOH Law Corporation to collect my daughter's name change certificate.. Then i was thinking of call my best friend for brunch since i start work at 12pm, but because today was my pay day so, i rather go down to office early to collect my pay cheque and bank-in before the bank closed at 11.30am.. On my way to work my best friend called me.. and saying he is coming to meet me for lunch.. Manage to reach office by 11am.. got my cheque and rush to the bank.. Long queue at the bank.. after that meet my friend for lunch before heading to work..

My boss suddenly declare to release us at 7pm for New Year Eve.. I tried to call my wife and could not find her.. well.. after work i went down to OG, brought some toy cars, shop of toiletries and head home...

Reach home, open myself a can of beer, drink a bit and start playing my piano (still sober).. while my wife was clearing the Christmas tree... and putting up the Chinese new year deco..

That was my New Year Eve....

Travel Agency Ads Confusing...

I was browsing the newspaper's travel classified ads.. and this is what i saw.. One of the agent advertise: 3D2N Hong Kong fr$599 + Tax $59.. I just can't believe the tax amount of $59.. I called up and check, then i realised that $59 is only for Singapore and Hong Kong airport tax.. Excluding fuel tax & war risk tax.. and then i do a further enquiry, then i understand that the fuel tax & war risk tax is included in the fare fr $599...


Next i came across another advertisement.. 3D2N Hong Kong fr $555 + Tax $98.. then i compare to the earlier ads (above)..

(the above ads) $599 + $59 = $658

(the below ads) $555 + $98 = $653

There is a difference of $5..

BUT don't get carried away, this advertisements are on 29 Dec08.. and if you are to travel from 1 Jan 09 onwards, there is an increase of $7 for Singapore airport tax.. from 30Dec08 till 1Jan09 air seats are fully book.. so definitely you have to travel in Jan09.. thus another $7 more.. which is not stated in the advertisements..

The advertising ruling for travel agency is creating more confusion to the public and the travel agent themselves. At the end of the day, some travel agency have to make a small print "Taxes & Fuel Surcharges correct at the time of print & subject to change due to currency fluctuations" to protect themselves.. thus more words = more advertising cost...

My best period of 2008...

2 more days and 2008 will be in history... There are so many things happen in 2008..

Some of the great moments are the awesome opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic (everyone is talking about it), Singapore staging 1st Formula 1 Grand Prix night race, Singapore won the an Olympic after 40 over years, Obama won the presidential Election (first black US president), Camping with my family, Christmas Parties..

Not to forget the sad moment of 2008: Myanmar Cyclone, Sze Chuan Earth Quake, US Hurricane, Mumbai Terrorist attack, Political unrest in Tibet, Philippines Storm, Political Unrest in Bangkok, the collapse of Lehmans Brother Bank, raising Fuel prices, escape of Mas Salamat (retain terrorist)...

My most memorial moment of 2008 is the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix - Night Race.. it is the most unique race with a surprising race result.. Till now the roaring sound of the F1 engine still in my mind.. This event is a dream comes true for me.. It is always my dream to watch a Formula 1 race...

The Log Cake story.. which is real..?

The Christmas Day party at my aunt's place was great.. Everyone had lots of fun, we eat, we drink, we joke... and be merry... Many guests brought wines of different types.. there are Bordeaux, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Souvignon and Ice Wine... During dinner time it was like a wine tasting session, we open up the wines bottle by bottle and taste it one by one.. The alcohol content in the wine bring up the atmosphere...

Then after dinner came the log cake... And my dad and my aunt starts to talk about the origin of log cake.... Why was only Christmas then we are able to eat log cake? Why there is no log cake for birthdays and other occasions..? Everyone gave a different version of the log cake origins.. Here are some of the stories...

My dad says during winter time, many people are cold so some of the farmers start to burn logs to keep them warm.. and since in modern days we no longer burn logs to keep us warm.. thus the origin of log cake to represent the "Yule Log"..

My aunt gave another version of hers.. saying because baby Jesus was born in a horse stable, thus they burn logs to keep baby Jesus warm...

One of the guest gave another interesting version... Because baby Jesus was born in a stable and only have a blanket to cover, thus the log was lay in a cross position to act as a cradle for baby Jesus...

So what is the really origin of the Christmas log cake and who's version was correct.. I did a check in the Internet.. and here is the results from the Wikipedia:

A Yule log is a large wooden log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in several European cultures. It can be a part of the Winter Solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night.
The expression "Yule log" has also come to refer to log-shaped Christmas cakes, also known as "chocolate logs" or "Bûche de Noël". The Yule log is related to other Christmas and Yuletide traditions such as the Ashen faggot.

The British Version: Herrick called the tradition a "Christmas log" and said that it was brought into the farmhouse by a group of males, who were then rewarded with free beer from the farmer's wife. Herrick claimed that the fire used to burn the log was always started with a remnant from the log that had been burned in the previous year's festivities. He also said that the log's role was primarily one of bringing prosperity and protection from evil - by keeping the remnant of the log all the year long the protection was said to remain across the year.
In traditional British rural culture, the Yule log was not only seen as a magical protective amulet, and there are many reports of rivalries occurring between members of a community as to who had the largest log.

The Europe version: The Yule log has frequently been associated with having its origins in the historical Germanic paganism which was practiced across northern Europe prior to Christianisation.

There are so many stories about Christmas log cake.. but my dad version is the closest to the British version... And for me i just loves to eat Log Cake...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Chrsitmas Eve Party.. It was FUN !!!

Christmas eve party was great.. many of the guest turns up.. and by 3.30pm i start working in the kitchen, whipping up Christmas dishes.. My mom also lend her hand, she cook her best Spaghetti.. and my wife was our assistance... she help to prepare the ingredients.. My buddy loves my Baked mashed Potatoes with cheese topping.. and my mom help herself with so many round of my Bread Pudding...

The party was so much fun.. with so many children... and on top of the gift exchange, every kids goes home lugging their many prizes from games organise by my wife.... Kids sing Christmas song accompanied by me at the piano...

Baked Mashed Potatoes with Cheese Toppings

My Mom's Spaghetti

Boiled Brussels Sprout with Carrot and Cauliflower

Corn Cob with coriander

Deep fried platters (Nuggets and Drumsticks)

Assorted Ham with Pineapple Slices

(Honey Baked Ham, Apple Baked Ham & Black Pepper Ham)

Deep Fried Platter (Onion Rings)

Roast Turkey.. with chestnut stuffing

There are also Log Cake (brought in by my buddy), Bread Pudding, Pizzas (brought in by my camp mate's wife)..... There are wines and mixed nuts for reception...

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone......

Upgrade to SCV Digital Box.

I just up grade my SCV analog box to the digital one.. and also change my basic channel to the Lifestyle group, Kids group and Education group... Me loves to watch documentaries and cooking channel and i start to love the lifestyle group..

Lifestyle Group has the Asian Food Channel (My All Time Favourite), Discovery Home & Health, Discovery Turbo (My Favourite), Discovery Science, E! Entertainment and The Biography Channel...

The Kids group has the Cartoon Netwaork (My childs Favourite, featuring Naruto, tom & Jerry etc), Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Playhouse Disney...
The Education Channel has Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, Discovery Travel & Living (My old time favourite), National Geographic Channel, The History Channel (i should be liking the channel soon)My wife is crazy about movies and drama, she got her own favourite channel.. like The Star Chinese Movie, Cinemax and VV Drama
On top of that we had add on the Star Movie Channel just for the festive period..

My brother back for Christmas...

Now i got another reason to look forward to Christmas Eve Party.. 1st, my brother will be returning back to Singapore from Germany today.. and his family will be here to celebrate Christmas with us this year.. The last time i saw my brother was at the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix in September 08... He email mailed to me on 11 Dec08 but i was too busy to check my email till yesterday.. and i quickly call my dad to inform him.. and to my surprise, my dad already knew about it.. Haha..

The 2nd reason to look forward to 24 Dec08, more guest will be coming to my place for the Christmas Eve Party.. My wife's both nephew are coming and maybe my in-laws will be coming too.. (Got to buy 2 more present for my wife's two nephews... And now my brother's family and my parents will be coming too..

This time my wife wants to include Spaghetti into the Menu.. And i will have a change to whip up a delicious Christmas feast.. I always love to cook for a big festive feast.. Tomorrow i will be going to shop for all the ingredients..

Hope to recover before Christmas Eve....

After so much preparation for the Christmas Eve dinner.. i really hope could recover from my sore throat and cough before Christmas eve... I want to eat Christmas goodies... !!!

Last night i went to see doctor again... My doctor said "You usually recover after completing the antibiotic i usually gave u, how come this time it won't work?".. i gave him a ??? look.. Then he said "this time i give you something stronger." Well true enough he gave me a more stronger and more expensive antibiotic which will take 5 days course to complete. Then i ask for a cheaper option.. and he did.. Stronger antibiotic (Clarithromycin) but will take a 10 day course to complete..



Boss just brought for me a 8GB thumb driver.. Now i could back up everything.. 8 times more space then my current 1GB thumb driver... Yeah!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Things are looking bright again.. Yesterday one of my camp mate's wife call my wife and said she feel bad, since we already ordered the turkey and prepared so much present and she said they will come for the dinner (except for my camp mate because he got to work).. Well most of my camp mate's wife know each others after a few gatherings.. They do contact each other..

They will be bringing pizza.. so i got to change my Menu... I might narrow down the Menu since there are only 5 adults, 4 children & 1 Infant..

Menu for 24 Dec08 X'Mas Eve Dinner

********************

Appetiser

Apple / Honey Baked Ham wz Pineapple Slice

Main

Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing

*

Pizza (brought by camp mate's wife)

Side Dishes

Mashed Potatoes wz Green Peas & Italian Herbs

*

Boil Corn Cob wz chopped parsley and butter coating

*

Toast Onion Rings

*

Boil Brussels Sprout & Baby Carrot

Dessert

Logcake (Brought by my Buddy)

*

Bread Pudding with Cinnamon

Maybe i should invite my wife's both nephew to join us.. Got to check wz my wife then.. I need more people to help clear the Turkey...

Still not feeling well... Still Sick...

Well i still have not recover from my sore throat and cough.. There are so much phelms.. I have even finish the medicine doc prescribe.. Well now resolving into the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) way.. (Usually TCM works well with me).. I boil "Nan bei Xin" and China Snow pear in water... and drink it.. It will help reduce the phelms... Hope it works cos i want to eat lots of goodies during Christmas...

X'mas Party... not a good start..

Have been sick for the last few days.. sore throat, cough & loss of voice... After a day of good rest, manage to get back my voice...

During my wife's grandmother's birthday, one of the aunt announced that this year Christmas Eve party will be at her place.. thus everyone was looking forwards to it.. I manage to arrange a day off on that day and my wife begins shopping for X'mas present.. after a few weeks later, my wife cousin drop a bomb shell that the party was cancelled because most of the family members are going to China together with her auntie during Christmas period.. Well disappointed, my wife was.. Since all the presents are nice wrap and place under the Christmas tree..



To my wife so disappointed, I came up with an idea to invite all my camp mates for a X'mas eve party at my place.. I beginning calling my buddy, and we agreed to do a potluck party.. and we began to call our camp mates.. a few had confirmed and thus save the x'mas festive mood... I ordered a turkey from NTUC and planned some nice menu for the night.. My wife prepared some more present for games and exchange... My buddy says he will bring a log cake.. and the rest some other goodies.. eg ham, salad etc....


Then the next day, one said he will be in overseas and unable to make it... then yesterday another sms my wife to say he also unable to make it.. I quickly call my buddy to contact some more camp mates (re-enforcement).. He did but they are also not free to make it... Then this morning , another said he is not coming also... Now only me and my buddy (to battle it out side by side).. i text him and he called me this morning, i told him everything has been prepared for liao.. my family can't finish the whole turkey our self.. and guess we still have to carry on with just our both family.. Now we are having a 3.5Kg turkey for just 4 adults and 2 kids (who don't eat much).. definitely can't finish.. Luckily i stil got a buddy to count on (that is what buddy are for)... hope he also don't play me out...

Now i'm geting my wife to ask those of her cousin who are not going to China to come over.. That is our last try.. I still not giving up on this christmas party...

If not we will have a sit in dinner with my buddy's family..

Wet and Sexy Farrari at Pit Building...

Yesterday i went to the Singapore F1 Pit Building for the Ferrari Exhibition... It was drizzling and the lean mean red machine are wet and sexy... Entrance fee was S$5 and was donated to the charity.. Here are some of the photos i took....

The New Fiorano

Ferrari F40

Ferrari 360 Modena

The New 430 Mondena

Ferrari 355

Display of the sexy beast

Ferrari 575 Maranello

Ferrari 348

Ferrari Testarosa

Wet and Sexy Red Butt


Dino Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari

I was a bit disappointed not to see the brand new Ferrari California... But after all, these red sexy beast are good enough for my appetite.. It will be great if i could hear them roar...

Supersize Me.. you will never eat junk food again..

Last night i was watching this documentry "Supersize Me"....

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock makes himself a test subject of this documentary about the commercial food industry... He look into the Billion dollar advertising and marketing budget of McDonald and Coca Cola versus the budget from the government to promote healthy food...

To test the effects of such billion dollars advertising.. He put a test on a few children.. he show them a photo of George Washington and Jesus, but non of the kids knows who they are.. Then he show them photo of Ronald McDonald.. and every kids knows..

He eat a diet of McDonald's fast food, three times a day for a month straight. After one week of eating McDonald his Cholesterol level shot up (really scary)... Spurlock is out to prove the physical and mental effects of consuming fast food. While doing this, Spurlock also provides a look at the food culture in America through it's schools, corporations, and politics as seen through the eyes of regular people and health advocates.

"Super Size Me" is a movie that sheds a new light on what has become one of our nation's biggest health problems: obesity. You will definitely avoid fast food, ready to cook food and soft drinks...

And after watching it.. I will cut down my intake of commercial industrial junk food... especially McDonald and Coca Cola..

customers who appreciate.....

Well after blogging so much about customers who don't appreciate.. I think it is fair to blog about customers who appreciate service staffs.. We got one customers who told us that she understand about the situation in Bangkok and it is definitely not anyone fault... There is another customer who in the end told me on the phone.. "thank you very, you are very helpful" and yesterday we received an email from another customers who praise on our service. this is what he wrote

"It is unfortunate that such a situation has happened in Bangkok and caused disruptions to all travellers such as myself that I have to cancel my tour. The service I received from yourself and staff of XXXX travel is commendable and I would definitely consider this XXXX travel again for my future travel plans to other destinations"

With all these we feel a bit comfort... and it encourage us to work even harder to provide a better service to customers.. There are still some caring customers out there who deserve better service......

Honda pulls out of Formula 1...

Yesterday Honda made an announcement to pull out from Formula 1 racing.. I think it is due to poor finishing last season and also because of the economy downturn... Well it is sad to see Honda quit F1.. i still remember the days when Honda together with Mc Laren was ruling the podium.. in the 90's... Its engines have also been behind dozens of victories by stars such as world champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

I hope someone will buy out Honda.. and turn it into another team capable to compete with Ferrari and Mc Laren... If not next season another team will be missed.. just like last season, Super Aguri pull out in the middle of the season...

Some airline resume flight to Bangkok on 5 Dec08

Some of the airline like Thai Airways, Singapore Airline and Jetstar Asia are resuming some of the flight to Bangkok... But because Bangkok International Airport still unable to handle 100% capacity.. These airlines can only operate a few flights to Bangkok.. and in order to accommodate as much passengers as possible... some of the passengers are being transfer to another fight.. Thus is cause another problem for us...

We inform customers who flight are being change to another timing.. are unhappy about the arrange.. especially those who took the morning flight on Jetstar Asia and have been transferred to the evening flight... They are complaining that they lost one day because of night flight... Some are demanding us of putting them back onto the morning flight (which has already cancelled by Jetstar Asia).. As usual customers start shouting at us again.. and some are demanding us to compensate them one more day of their stay in Bangkok... and some demanding a full refund... and of course some refuse to pay for the admin fee to cancel or change date...

This time passengers are saying they want to travel.. but they are not happy with the timing.. wanting us to compensate them one more day.. Well it is neither our fault also.. nor the airline fault too... I keep on persuading customers to understand the situation in Bangkok International Airport.. Not airline don't want to fly but it is because Bangkok Airport is unable to operate at full capacity.. The Bangkok Airport needs time to recover... According to one of the airline staffs, the security still found some grenade in the airport when the PAD support are clearing out... It is a time for give and take.. Nobody wants this to happen.. We are just a middle person bridging customers and the suppliers.. And we are trying our best to assist customers.. and of course we don't sit and do nothing with the admin fee paid by customer, we got lots of paper work and requires lots of time to process any amendment or cancellation.. We have to set aside our work to work on and escalate these cancellation and amendments..

i really hope customers would understand the situation and stop putting the blame on us.. We already had been fired by so many customers for one whole week...

Consumer who don't appreciate......

After a week of handling customers who wants to cancel their Bangkok trip or change their departure date... I do encounter some good and bad customers... 1st let me blog about the bad customers in Singapore...

Due to the Bangkok airport closure, customers who brought travel insurance was not covered because it is due to political unrest... after the next few days, the travel insurance sales inform me that they are making an exception for this case. They will just consider the matter as the airport closure.. And allow customer to claim if they are unable to depart due to Bangkok airport closure... I manage to highlight it to the travel insurance sales representative that many customer who wants to cancel are departing in mid Dec 08 and end Dec 08.. And the travel insurance sales allows passenger who departure till end of Dec08 to make their claim.

So i spread the news to my colleagues.. One of my colleagues call up this customers to tell her of the good news.. then gave her the Insurance claim dept no to call.. but this customer later call back and told my colleague that the insurance claim company direct her back to us... i was curious.. and i highlight this to the travel insurance sales.. and i make sure the insurance sales personnel call this customer personally.. Than that i realised from the travel insurance sales who told me that their claim dept did not refer this customer back to us.. they only told her to get a letter of prove from us.. So i start working on the letter for this customer.. then send an attached claim form and email them the required documents and steps on how to do the claim... then my colleague inform her to come down and collect...

In the evening, they came, 3 educated ladies (i was wondering why 3 educated ladies who speak good English don't understand what the insurance claim dept instruction?). i saw them giving my colleague a hard time.. and my colleague ask for my assist to talk to them... When i came over.. the first thing one of the lady told me right in my face "You don't even know your product well, how could you assist us?" i was stunned.. and i replay politely "Miss, this is the first time we met and i have not spoken anything to you yet, what make you so sure that i don't know the travel insurance product well?" and i gave them a smile... Then she said "you should not not 'non refundable' in the letter, like that how can we claim. You should put refundable.".. then i reply "Miss, i have been witting this letter for so many years and base on my experience, if i write refundable then the insurance will not allow you to claim, so i must state non refundable".. Then they still keep on arguing with me on that point.. i mean common sense will tell you that insurance only let you claim for irrecoverable cost that arise... Their tone was not pleasant.. But i try to keep my cool....

Then i also explain to them that i had also email the attached copy of the claim letter and the documents to submit for claim... They keep wanting me to assure that they can claim full amount.. and i told them, that is the insurance claim dept to decide, not me.. i cannot reply on behalf of the travel insurance claim dept... But i told them most of our customers manage to get their claim promptly without hassle... As they were leaving, one of the lady pass a comment that hurt me deep... She said sarcastically "Ok, we will use this letter to claim, if we were unable to get full amount claim, then we will go to CASE and file against you." My heart really sink when she said that... then i was feeling very upset... and don't have a chance to tell her off...

I'm here assist them to make a claim from the travel insurance and instead of saying thank you or appreciate... they in turn said such hurting words... As if i was suppose to help them without obligation... Actually they should talk to me nicely because i was trying to help them... I was upset the rest of the day... But i do encounter some understanding customers who said "Thanks for your help"....

Bangkok unrest = more cancel booking

The Bangkok political unrest at the International Airport have been 1 week liao... And the situation is getting tense.. many customers still being stuck at Bangkok.. Jetstar & Singaproe Airline are operating flight out of Pattaya.. and we are transferring our customers to Pattaya Airport for those taking Jetstar and Singapore Airline....

Over here in our office.. we have been getting call from customers who wants to either cancel their trip or postpone their trip... I and my colleague have been very busy with.. (That is why i have not blog for a few days..).. Many of the customers are due to travel in mid or late December.. and as usual customer will scream at us.. or finger pointing at us for such things that happen.. The most popular quote by customer is "Not that we don't want to travel, the airport is close and the situation is so chaotic in Bangkok." or "This not we want to cancel, but the situation in Bangkok do not allow us to travel there."

Well before they throw their frustration at us.. they did not realise that it is neither our fault also.. nor the airline fault too... Hotels are losing business and travel agent are charge cancellation fee and amendment fee.. and many customers are saying why agent still charge... Hotel are charging cancellation fee and we agent also got lots of paper work to do, if customers want to change departure date or cancel their trip..... It is not just a press of a button and every changes will be in order.. there are lots of communication to all parties in writings and overseas phone calls.. And all my colleagues have to put aside their work to assist customers who want to make changes or cancel their Bangkok trip... Means they will have less time to closed sales..

These are the things customers do not understand.. Airlines are more concern in trying to bring customers back from Bangkok safely.. These are their top priority.. they do not want to waste too much time to entertain those who wants to change or cancel their trip.. Airlines are issuing statement day by day, because they themselves also don't what will happen the next day... Will the Bangkok airport open soon? Nobody knows.... But customers keeps on bugging us for an answer.. ... ...

I will blog about understanding customers and unappreciative customers that i have encountered during this period..

Not a Merry 2008 Chrsitmas...

This year 2008.. will end with a not so merry christmas... oH.. Oh.. oH... ....

After the US financial down fall... Came the retrenchment of some companies.. Many people are putting their year end holiday aside and tightening their belts.... Recently came the Bangkok anti government protest which blocks out all the flight to/from Bangkok... that creates a massive slowdown to the economy.. and many cancellating their trip to Bangkok... (Already sales figure are doing badly and yet have to cancel somemore bookings).. To put the nail to the coffin.. came Mumbai terrorist attack... Lucky we are not promoting Mumbai yet.. The Mumbai terrorist attack now is the main headline and over shadowing the news of Bangkok's anti-government protest...

Well i guess.. i would not hope for a big bonus this year... :-(