Koh Chang

Koh Chang is really an idyllic beach resort town. Most people travel by motorbikes without helmuts but I suspect that its only recently that they have the automatic bikes. What else would your mode of transport be if there is just one single road around the island.

Except for the fact that we went during rainy season, its actually a very enjoyable trip. For those of you expecting those beautifully clear and blue sea at the beach, you are up for a disappointment. The beaches, although wonderful and stretches forever, its not as clean and clear as in Phuket or Koh Samui. However, the attractive trait of Koh Chang is that it is not as commercialized as the islands mentioned above.

Because it is a beach resort island, the whole island is packed with resorts, budget, cheap, luxurious, spa, grand resorts....there are just so many many selections. Seems that a lot of locals go thee for holidays too and everything is soooooooo CHEAP!!!!

Food, massage, resort, bikes.......

Well, we chose to stay in 3 resorts. We spend the first two nights in Koh Chang Kacha. Fantastic hotel with fantastic rates.....the location of the hotel is terrific as well. Its within walking distances to massage parlors, souvenier shops, mini marts and restaurants. Its also located at the White Sand (busiest) Beach.

Of course we mentioned that we were on our honeymoon to all the hotels so here is what they prepared for us.

{Koh Chang Kacha, Aana Resort, Bhumiyama Hotel}

I know, we are disgusting, right! I felt so ugly the whole time I was there due to my hair constantly getting wet due to rain, pool and sea. you know how newly weds are suppose to look really refreshed and in love......they must be wondering whether we are really newly weds.

The first day we were there, we visited both waterfalls on the island. Beautiful and I totally regret forgetting to bring my swimsuit with me. By the way, I bought a new bikini in Bangkok and finally got up the courage to wear bikini for the first time. I think it is totally addictive so there will be future chances of bikini wearing for me.

Back to the waterfalls.....we had to trek our way to the waterfalls as cars and motorbikes rae only allowed until 200 m before. Its wonderful actually because if people were allowed to drive up all the way to the waterfall, see the waterfall and come back out, it would totally not be worth the money. Yep, we need to pay 200 baht (about 8 SGD) to see the waterfalls and I did not even get to swim in the lake.

We rented a motorbike and travelled to one end of the island and I ended up with massive sunburn on my thighs and face. Yep, never never forget to wear sunblock even if the sky looks very very grey and there are interminnent light showers all the time.

Sidetrack: My sunburn has started peeling and its really gross......was debating whether I should take a picture and post it when RH goes:
"Ewwwww, don't lah"
I guess "don't" it is.

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Food in Koh Chang

If you ever go to Koh Chang, you have to try the Italian Restaurant - Invito......its fabulous......i know it is probably the last place on earth that you want to eat Italian Food but its truly fabulous.

Besides having a very romantic atmosphere perfect for honeymooners, it boasts a whole lot of pastas and wood fired thin crust pizzas (very very very thin crust). Not the normal type of pastas and pizzas you are accustomed to, we had the beef tenderloin pasta and meat pizza.....HEAVEN.......

The pasta sauce has a very strong wine taste but utterly delicious, I can't stop eatting it the moment I tasted it. The pizza was good too but not as good as the pasta. The wood fired pizza was roasted just nice and the crust is so thin its almost non-existent. Loads of toppings with a delicious sauce.

Then there is Bang Bao - the fisherman village. Seafood is both fresh and cheap..........Between the 2 of us, we ordered a plate of prawns, butter baked scallops and squid and it only cost us less than SGD $10.........woo hoo....

Back Finally!!!!

I am finally back from my Indonesian Wedding. Was on leave from 8th to 29th June. Soooo cool! Totally lost contact with the internet world. Kinda misss it though.

I am now feeling better but on Thursday (the day I just got back), I was nursing an upset tummy, got sunburnt patches on my face and thighs, felt so grimy with sweat and sand and was extremely extremely tired after a whole day of travelling.

Seriously, it was a WHOLE day of traveling. We woke up at 6:45am to check out of the hotel and have a light breakfast before catching the 8 am taxi to the pier. There is only 1 taxi in the morning. Look at the picture of the taxi below. I know.....not exactly 4 star....

And we had to get on this one to catch the 9 am ferry to Trat (mainland) in order to catch the 11 am bus to Bangkok. (This was the worst part of the trip) It took us 6.5 hours to reach the Bangkok Bus Terminal by which time, my butt was sore from all the sitting.

Then, we had to rush and grab a taxi (cos the bus was late in arriving) to take us to the airport where the last flight to Singapore leaves at 7:40 pm. Finally reached Singapore at the fine time of 11:10 pm........whoops, a total of 15 hours or travelling. I do not recommend this for anyone.

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Our renovation is finally done. Now, I just need to wait for the furnitures and move all my stuff in. I can't believe how much stuff me and RH has. Its ridiculous. Time to throw out stuff which we do not need.

Anyways, my sofa came......its kinda small and we were totally ripped off by the salesperson because we changed the size of our sofa. But at least we have something to sit on now. Hee Hee.

We also bought our washing machine and vacuum........so happy. We bought a 7 kg Panasonic foam wash machine for $429 from Best Denki and got a Karcher wet and dry vacuum from Parisilk at Holland Village. Really happy with our purchases. Just realized that my fridge is also Panasonic adn we should totally have gotten a Panasonic Vacuum so that all our electrical appliances match....hee hee (totally irrelevant).

By the way, the karcher wet and dry vacuum is having a promotion and only costs $160 instead of $225.

{Karcher Vacuum A2204}

I tried out the vacuum last night cos RH complained that the apartment was still very very dusty and it was super great. Whether it was my imagination or not, I felt that the floor was less dusty......brooms totally cannot compare to vaccum. Only complain is the noise of the vacuum but I dun really mind as I dun plan to vacuum everyday......maybe RH will.... Hee hee

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After visiting our apartment a few times, I am really thankful for the breeze. Our apartment (although on the 2nd floor) is really breezy. Anytime of the day, its breezy and its great because it cuts out the need for unsightly fans......hee hee.

The breeze is really unbelievable. Even with a magnet door stopper, the breeze can slam our open bedroom doors.....(yes, it has happend several times).....gotta remember to place a stronger door stopper at all the doors.

I am a JUNK collector

A picture taken by my sister, DC, of my handbag.......it weighs a ton.....

Going to Surabaya on Thursday

Its another mad rush for me.....not so rush as to not update my blog it seems. I am leaving for Indonesia in 2 days for my wedding in Indonesia. Goodness......how many weddings can a person have?

This time, I am going away for 3 weeks so there is just a rush to do everything before I leave. Also, there is absolutely no internet connection in Surabaya......what am I gonna do?

Oooo, I promised pictures so I will post them up now.

{Living room with the wall painted already}

{with lightings in corridor}

{Lightings in the kitchen}

I hope that the renovations can be completed today so that I can get my keys back, and clean the place up. I need also to find a mover to move all my stuff to the new place.

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I went to the Comex on 3rd and 4th June.......at Suntec..... I think the whole of Singapore was in the fair. I don't understand why I go to each computer fair, squeeze with smelly people, get pushed around, stepped on by trolleys and heels.....and end up with nothing each time. I am NEVER going to another IT fair without the intention of purchasing something. Tadaaaaa, last weekend though, I bought something or rather RH bought something for me. Look at the number of things we bought....

{HP Laptop and Printer}

This is what we had to bring as we pushed through the crowds.....

Dad told us to get for him a HP laptop cum Media player (the sort that plays media without having to turn on the laptop) and a HP printer. RH got me a Canon Printer all in one.

Yahhhooooo! The all in one is really quite remarkable. We got the MP 530 which is like the king of "all in one" printers. It prints/scans/copies/faxes. It also does pretty good quality photo prints plus it has an automatic feeder (that RH insists he needs).

So, all in all, I am very happy with my purchase..........I can finally have a SOHO in my home and boy, am I gonna be sooo efficient and all. Hahahaha.

Lights are up.....

Our lights are going to be put up today. We went up to Starville yesterday to meet up with the defects team and also to receive our lights. Can you believe that the defects team have not completed their job till now. I received my key on 2nd Apr 2006, turned in my defect list 1 week after and its already June now.

In between these two months, I have had 3 inspections and all 3 with different people. Anyways, we managed to sort it out with the last person yesterday and he just called to say that all the defects has been recitified. GOOD.....

Anyways, we bought ALL our downlights on Sunday and they were delivered yesterday. Lights are going to be installed today. We bought total of 25 downlights, 1 hamburger and 1 ceiling lights for $680......expensive?

When we went there yesterday, they were painting the walls and ceilings. I love the Natural Cane color. Colours for my apartment!

Base Colour: ICI Dulux WW22617L - Natural Cane
Living Room: ICI Dulux SP20801 - Clam Shell
Master Bedroom: Nippon Paint 5003 - Orchid White
Guest Bedroom: Nippon Paint 5004 - Iris White

Was so tempted to take pictures but the renovation contractors were there and I was afraid that they would mistake us as not trusting them with the work. Hope they do a good job on the painting. Will take pictures this weekend to show you

I have to buy 5 more lights....

1 nos Chandelier for the Living Room
2 nos hanging/ceiling lights for the Study room and
2 nos hanging lights for the Balcony

Hope I can clean up and move in next week.......keeping my fingers crossed but I believe that I can cos I pray to God everyday for the renovations to be completed in record time. And if I don't get to move in next week, I am sure that God has a plan for that too.

Grandpa...

RH's grandfather is going home today. Hurray! Cos it means that he is well and that me and RH do not have to visit him at the hospital everyday. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I think that it is our duty to visit him everyday and I even feel guilty if I don't but it is quite taxing to do it everyday and especially now when we are busy with house renovation and wedding.

But its GREAT that he is feeling so much better. It was a torture looking at him suffering each day. Oops, I forgot to explain how he got to be in Singapore.

Well, RH's grandfather, maternal that is, actually resides in Surabaya. (nope, thank goodness, its not affected by the earthquake). He was a healthy 83 year old who swims 3 times a week adn drives his grandchildren to school. One day, he had difficulty walking and had a minor fall while trying to go to the toilet.

So, he was admitted to the hospital to treat his illness. The doctors discovered that his nerves were caught between his spinal bone due to the 4th and 5th discs fracturing due to Osteoperosis (so, please drink your milk). The doctors in Indonesia decided to give him some medication for that and instructed him not to walk or sit, fearing that the nerves will get worse.

Aiya, big big mistake cos Grandpa ended up getting worse. He got intestine infections from the medicine and he could not get his bowels to work. The spinal doctor then referred him to the intestine doctor who could not cure him as well. He was in the hospital for 45 days with no treatment and ended up with severe lung infections, heart problems, minor strokes and heart problems.

Luckily, his daughter decided to take leave from work to accompany Grandfather (GF) to Singapore. Thank God and bless her heart. After just 5 days in the hospital, GF got better. And now after 10 days, he is able to recognize people, eat on his own and sit up. All these, he was unable to do before he came to Singapore, thus he had to be brought to NUH with an ambulance and an accompanying doctor from Indonesia.

The doctor in Singapore explained that his lung and heart problems were chronic and should have been detected in Indonesia. The MRI that was supposedly GF's are not his actually.

WOW, I am amazed at the inefficiency of Indonesian Hospitals once again. Its no wonder that the highest revenue Singapore earns from Indonesians are medical related followed by properties, of course.

This is really really mad because now, when we visit an Indonesian Doctor, can we really trust him? GF's doctor in Indonesia was recognized as the best doctor in Surabaya......dear dear......

So beware, anyone reading this should really NOt visit Indonesian doctors........

Meanwhile, I am going to send GF to the airport later and shopping for lights. Hee Hee

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Had Turkish food the other day after collecting pictures. I have always wanted to try the Turkish food in Bussaroh Street. It was not bad but just a tad too much olive oil for me. It was a tad too much eggplants for RH. He does not like eggplants. Not many people do actually but the Turks apparently love them to bits.

{Turkish Bread....it was delicious....crunchy with garlic flavor}

{Our appetizer, cold eggplant dip}

{Kebab, lamb kebab.......it was quite delicious too}

Except the cold eggplant dip, I think in general, Turkish food suits me fine. RH has complains about the coffee though. Although sweet enough, the milk had a funny taste.......RH thinks they use goat's milk.....hahahaha......

MOMO

I dunno if I have ever told that we had engaged Momo as our interior designer. Was attracted to their signature vintage styling. Went to their office and signed with them even without looking at their other portfolios. Big Mistake.

They are not so good. For one thing, they do not know have their own contractors or even regular contractors. They only design and do project coordination, or so they claim. However, I feel that they only design and leave the coordination part to the contractor. And, they do not measure the apartment before they start the design.

How on earth do they design then? Many of you must be wondering. Well, they took the floor plan from the condo's catalogue and blow up the measurement from there despite our repeated warnings that the measurements there are wrong.

I was very disappointed at that. Also, their designs are nothing to brag about. Certain areas are done quite well but most of their designs are very simple. Straight line wardrobes with not much designs.

Anyways, thought to show you all some of our apartment designs and some pictures of the apt till now.

{Floorplan}

{Living room cabinets.....full height and TV console}

{Mirrored cabinet in the living room}

{Study room....... }

{Master Bedroom.......with cushioned bedhead!}

My wall with the cornices is up already. Love it to bits. The cornices is really a cheap and efficient way of making your apartment look ancient european.

False ceilings are up.