Day 1

Depart from Singapore and landed at Tokyo Narita Airport. My first time there. The place look cool. Did not really see any pretty japanese ladies as describe from newpaper or TV. Saw many unique foodstuffs that the ladies are promoting. I and David keep trying out the foodstuff offered by the ladies as we slowly walked around the airport. As time passes, hunger started to creep in. We recced quite a few places before settle to eat beef rice for our lunch. The foodstuff around the airport is quite expensive. We paid 500 yen for the mini rice. Was not really full even after the meal. just wait for the boarding of the next flight to have our in flight meal. The flight to Chicago was slightly delayed for 20mins due to the windy weather. The ride was long and tiring from Tokyo to chicago. Imagine 11hour ride cramp in the seat. nowhere to go and furthermore no individual in flight entertainment. My whole body especially my leg is aching from the long journey. I dare not think how Kim is going to survive the long journey.

Upon reaching chicago, we have to make a dash for our luggages and to check in for the flight to St Louis. Eveything was messy and fast. Time is running up and the flight is going to depart soon. Some of the guys are unable to retrieve their luggages and by the time, we reached the check-in counter. We were told that the Check-in was closed and we are unable to board the plane. The next early flight will be at 0815am the next day. We were offered to stay at the nearest hotel and to catch the next day flight. Together with our luggages, we slowly boarded the coach to out hotel for the overnight stay.

Narita Airport Terminal 1 guide



Mini beef rice and mini raw tuna rice @ 500 yen each .




Taken at Narita airport.

Smoking room in the airport. Indoor aircon smoking room. Very smoking , poor ventilation

Felix, Jo and David

Took the chicago flight.

The hotel we stay overnight in Chicago - Wyndham hotel

This is a outdoor pool

Swim at your own risk

David outside the hotel lobby

Jo and felix

That's me with my ear protector and jo

Budget - where we rent our vehicle

Look at the spikes. that how they deter people from stealing their car



Waiting for the vehicle

Leaving for St Louis

The day have come for me to depart to St Louis for my oversea course. The feeling was bad. It was so much different from the previous India detachment that I went during Dec 07. The duration was the same but I just have the uneasy feeling of going away for that 1 months plus.
Maybe it due to leaving Kim all alone in singapore. This is our first time since married that I will not be seeing her for 1 months plus. I really hope that she can cope well without me around.

The previous night before leaving, I simply cannot sleep. Was so wide awake watching Tv and even manage to play some mahjong. Zhiwei , Racheal and joclyn was around at kim house playing mahjong to keep themselve awake so that they can send me off early in the morning. Was so touched that they and Deyong are sending me off.

Reaching Changi airport, saw many familiar faces departing for the same plane. Time keep ticking faster n faster and finally it's time for me to depart. Can see the sad faces of them, reluctant to see me off. Bid farewell to both the parent and giving Kim a hug before I walked into the departure hall. Can see that tears start to drip from my mum's face. She may seem to be a strong lady but deep inside she is a soft lady who is reluctant to see me off. Hopefully she can cope well.

I bid my final farewell before disappearing into the departure hall. My feeling of emptiness start to creep in as I slowing walking into the departure waiting area. I think I am going to miss them all.

2 day 1 night in Batam

Finally the day come for our organised tour together with the Bitching Inc couple minus Hedy and Alvin to Batam. Me and Kim have been waiitng for this day to come. We can relax ourselve and not think so much. This time round, we planned a fishing trip and a overnight stay in the Utama Hotel.We went to the nearby island called mermaid island to fish.

As planned , we arranged to meet 0800 at harbourfront Macdonald for breakfast before getting the tickets. After having the breakfast, we procced to the ticket counter to collect the tickets. Never know that the ticket counter have changed to the 3 floor and there was a long queue waiting at the counter. Dardar cut queue and managed to get the tickets without breaking a sweat. When we reach the entrance of the departure gate, we were told that we were 5mins late to the boarding time. Not another time !!! Was abit pissed off as this is the second time we missed the ferry.

Finally aboard the ferry. But the ferry only managed to depart 20mins later. We were stucked in the sea as the Star cruise Virgo was docking in and the ship was so big that it block the passage way for the ferry to go pass.

The sea was so calm and peaceful. Dardar playing the psp while I was enjoying the sea breeze. We reached the Batam centre at around noon time. Met up with Chris and drove us to the seafood resturant for our lunch. The lunch was so much better than the first time we had in Batam.

After the lunch, we proceed to the beach for our fishing trip. Got the boat ready and off we go to the Mermaid island. Found some spot and we started our fishing. The boat was rocking slightly and the gals started to feel abit nausea. So decided to leave the gals on the island and the guys carry on fishing.
John, soon chong and me continued fishing. while waiting for the fish to get hooked, we saw 4 dolphins and a turtle. What a great sight of the dolphins in the water. Did not managed to took any picture of the beautiful sight as I forgot to bring along the camera and the video cam. John managed to caught 4 fishes , soon chong 1 fish and poor me nothing. No luck for me.

After fishing, we went to Nagoya food court for dinner. The place was crowded with people and there was even a stage whereby a lady singing hokkien and chinese song. The scene was bring me back to Korat where they also had such setting at the outdoor food court.

After the dinner, we went to KTV at the hotel for singing session. it been some time we had went to KTV together with the Bitching Inc group. Me , dardar and john was having a great time singing our heart out. John was like having his own concert. Songs after song he keep belting out the songs. We spent close to 4 hours in the KTV. and spent around 50 buck for the drink. We ordered a jug of beer, a glass of Tie maria and rainbox. the room was free. What a bargain. If in singapore, the price will be more than $100 for 3 couple.

Went back to our own room after the singing session. We were so tired after the full day of activities. Almost drop die on the bed after the bath. Dardar was still active playing the psp while I was struggling to keep myself awake.

THe next day, we woke up and went for our breakfast. The food was so so only. Not really that great compared to the one we had in Batam view. But I had a very full breakfast. After breakfast, we went back to the room for rest before checking out. So we took a nap before checking out.

We proceed to Megamall after checking out. Did not managed to buy anytihng at the MEgamall. We took the 1530 ferry back to singapore. This time , we were so kiasu that we waited at the check in 45minutes beforehand.

On the way back to singapore, the weather seem to get dark and from a distance, can see that singapore side was raining heavily.

Finally, we reached Singapore. Dardar wanted to have ramen for dinner before going home. Went to Ramen teh for dinner. The food was not really nice. Will not go there again.

Overall, the trip was fruitful. This was my first fishing trip even though I did not managed to catch any fish. At least I experienced fishing in the open sea. Looking forward to the next trip with dardar.

Do you have the will???

Do you have the will to carry on ...

I'm so proud of their achievements and I feel so belittle of myself.

Well done to them. Cheers them on

One wheeler bike

What a cool way to ride your bike. Will it ever be in our market???

Scene you do not see in everyday life

Dangerour transportation

You will not find such mean of transportation in Singapore. Consider ourself lucky that the government do not allow such act to happen here. If not who will dare to take it.