The Rays Of An April Sun ....

I am currently having mixed feelings. As April draws to an end and May Day begins again, I have to look at my life so far in the various perspectives from the beginning of the year. This year so far, coupled with the whole of last year, has been a period of growth, changes in perspectives, self-discovery and lots of fun.

When I was young, I had more problems - school, teachers, parents, siblings. Then growing up years, of teens and adulthood, which I feel I have never outgrown in some ways. More problems as I discovered the angst of first love, boy girl relationships and the commitment that comes, working life.

Then my mid to late twenties, more work problems, relationship problems, depression. It had been a very bad year once, emotional roller coasters, counselling, therapists. Since then I have become more cynical and guarded. I have lost my quirkiness, my craziness, my spontaneity, and started becoming "normal" for once. I have lost my ability to fall head over heels in love with every guy I came across and started closing people out.

I have become less receptive to others' problems, more "unfeeling" and "heartless". Just a few years back I was ever ready to lend a listening ear and got personally involved in others' problems, but now, all I do is to lend a listening ear, try to make others feel better and then shrug off without any care or worries whatsoever. Many a times I have also asked myself, have I really become totally unfeeling?

Last year to this year is a time of growth. A time of discovery. A time when communication with the people of various relations improve tremendously. A time when I start talking and opening up to others, a time of self-confidence and thinking highly of myself, instead of the low self-esteem I used to have and putting myself down all the time.

A time when my career jumps, so much that I feel like having a change. A time of new friendships and wonderful friends. Of travelling more than before. Of lessons learnt and remembered. Of resolutions made and tried to stick. Of having a closer walk with God.

So now with one third of the year gone, certain things need to be in perspective. Career wise, I have decided to take up the offer. It is a big and established company after all, and I am getting a pay raise. Maybe this time round I can get the challenge I am always craving for in a multi-national corporation.

Family wise, I have had my issues with my parents, still have, but they are my parents and we have started communicating well for quite some time. My dad called me from China the moment he heard I have a new job offer. I am really touched by that! My mum helped me research on the company and how it is doing. For once, I feel I am really going places!

Religion wise, I have started praying more. Praying on the direction I should go where my career is going. I have had problems in my work place since last year, culminating to frustrations the past couple of weeks. Then I prayed and now I have a good offer. So I am going to pray more fervently than ever, for my friends, for problems the world is facing like the economic crisis and the swine flu, for people who victimised me at work, and also, praying for direction in my own life.

Social life wise, I have met wonderful people and have never been happier. There are ups and downs of course. Everyone is different, everyone has their own issues and set of problems. Sometimes I feel sad and helpless that I cannot do much to help them. All I can do is to lend a listening ear, cheer them up, encourage them and try to be as positive as possible.

Now for my personal life. I have been focusing on other kinds of problems that my own personal life has taken a backseat. It is time to re-think what I want to do, where I want to go, where I foresee myself next year, or in the next ten years or so before this decade is over and a new one starts. I am still seeking answers to that.

So with this next half of the year or so, it will be a time of change - a new job, and hopefully new hopes and dreams. Happy May Day to everyone!

New Job Offer

On Monday, I took some time off to go for a job interview. The company interviewing me is a multi-national corporation listed in three countries, supplying information technology support systems to leading hotels around the world, including my company’s hotels and resorts. So they are kind of like our vendors.

I thought the interview was just okay, nothing impressive. So imagine my surprise when I received a call from my headhunter that the General Counsel wanted to see me today! He is based in Hong Kong, and is here for a week, so he stays at one of the hotels. Imagine my discomfort when he told me to meet him at his hotel at eight in the morning, but later clarified that he would be meeting me at the lobby instead.

So we had a nice chat over tea and breakfast. I managed to make it back to my office on time. An hour later, I received a call from my headhunter, telling me that the company is willing to offer me the job with a twenty percent increase in monthly remuneration! Wow, I can hardly believe my ears!

This could not come at a better time! The tourism and hospitality industry has been badly hit by the economic crisis around the world, coupled with the recent swine flu going around, so we are now being hit twice as badly.

Furthermore, I received a big white envelope a few days back, stating the unpaid leave scheme with effect from May. In other words, if I remain in this company, I will be having three days unpaid leave every month, but three days (equivalent to ten percent) pay deducted every month too! So it is a good time to move!

I have been given up to tomorrow to confirm the acceptance of the offer, but I think I will do so. I have dreaded going to work for the past half year, which culminates into sluggishness and a sense of frustration for the past two months. There is a difference between someone who enjoys the work and who does not.

I enjoy the work but I hate the working environment. Even then, projects have been frozen, so things are dying down, thus what I am handling now are but mundane stuff which does not challenge me anymore. In the new company, I will be one of a team of six, which means more work and more challenge! And people know I always crave for challenge!

Sincerity And Time Management

The “sincerity” of some people is appalling. During the Valentine’s Day gala dinner, I was sitting with a group of people, whom I do not have a good impression of. Which was why after the dinner ended, I went over to my friend’s table and met very nice and warm people. We have been having gatherings almost every month.

On the other hand, no one at my table had initiated a gathering. I wanted to, but there was no response. Then one lady planned a gathering all the way in late May. She sent out an email around mid February, and even followed up with messages to get confirmation, as she wanted to plan her schedule way in advance.

She said she had to study, taking examinations, church activities, family gatherings, thus would prefer to fix a day so she would be able to make it. She pressured everyone into replying. But frankly speaking, from February to May, who would know what would happen right? Besides, how long will a gathering last? Can she or the rest not spare even a Friday or Saturday evening a month?

Recently, she sent out an email saying the gathering is cancelled due to her own commitments. So she was the one who wanted May, and she was the one who wanted people to respond quickly, and now she was the one who called it off! I almost feel like replying with a strongly worded email, but I decided to let it go like that.

The thing is, she is not the only one with commitments. I have a full time job, part time studies, church commitments, family gatherings and other activities too. Yet I find time to do all these simply because I want to. I believe the rest of those whom I have been meeting up with also have their own commitments, yet they too find time to meet up.

So it really boils down to whether one is sincere or not. If you really want to, you will try to find the time. And not wait more than three months before you finally decide to meet up. The world does not revolve around you and your time alone. Which is why I much prefer hanging out with those at my friend’s table!

The CHOICE Weekend

I was away for an intensive retreat for the weekend. The workshops covered are rather common sensical topics on the choices we make in our lives with regards to the people we have relationships with (parents, siblings, employers, employees, friends, etc).

We had to stay in a retreat house and most of the participants have certain issues in their lives which they need to find answers to and make choices. Issues like boy-girl relationships, communication with parents and peers, forgiveness and healing, getting rid of their hurts and bitterness.

Come to think of it, at this stage in my life, I am pretty satisfied. I have started getting along with my parents since a few years back. I have great friends. I am enjoying my life, living a fun and enriching one. Work wise there is still ups and downs, but there is nothing to get me really cheesed off and bitter about.

Hence, I find it refreshing to hear how others rave and rant for once. Perhaps just a few years back, I was the one who would be raving and ranting, but this time round, whatever covered in the retreat are rather in sync with my values, so I see no further things to contribute. There are those who had gone through bad times so they were challenging some of the things covered.

People were complaining about family problems, relationship problems, lack of communication with their parents. After hearing their sharing, I realize actually I have been there done that. Who had not suffered a breakup, or numerous breakups, sometimes after a very long-lasting relationship? Who had not had communication problems with their parents?

Instead of feeling bitter and think the whole world is against you, one can choose either to wallow in misery or choose to move on. I was a mess for a long time, hence all my relationships failed, be it amongst parents, relatives, guys I have dated, friends. I lost quite a lot of friends because of my own actions as who would like to hang out with someone who took things so hard and personal?

Then once my relationship with my parents improved and I became a happier and more carefree person, I find that my self-esteem and confidence improve too. Once that happens, my relationships with everyone else improve. I found back my long-lost friends, I made new friends, I have never been happier.

Perhaps happiness is really dependent on ourselves? We can choose to remain unhappy or we can choose to move on and start anew. Once I moved on and started anew, things automatically fall into place.

Now if only I can have the same outlook and attitude towards any emotional problems in the future! Afterall, love relationships are the most complicating – they can make someone totally intelligent, logical and practical become depressed, moping around and frustrated all at the same time!

尽量过着开心的日子

又是很久没写中文了！ 以前需要管理一些中国项目，没办法， 只好重修中文。 后来中国同事来了之后， 就全部交给她， 我做回其他国家的法律助理兼顾客服务生。 如今， 同事要离开了， 我得做回以前的中国项目。 又要再度讲华语， 写中文， 读中文， 翻译文件， 真唉呀！

有时我发觉， 内心有很多悲欢离合时， 而且英语沟不了通时， 用华语还能沟通。 有时我觉得， 工作归工作， 只要大家开开心心， 合体工作，为公司服务，不就很好吗? 为何要你说我闲话，我说她闲话， 他说你闲话得这么过日子呢？ 为什么要把一间好公司的工作环境弄得这么糟？

不过我自己已经很幸运， 因为如果工作累的时候， 烦恼的时候， 我身边还有家人和朋友的照顾与关怀， 所以就算工作怎么不顺利，不愉快， 我还是尽量地照样那么开心， 开朗。 以前我的烦恼会放在脸上，所以一 不开心别人就会来问候。 现在我已经尽量不这么做了， 因为想一下，日子开心也是这么过， 不开心也是这么过， 为何要跟自己过不去呢？

What Is Happiness To Me?

I read from my friend's blog that she spent a Saturday afternoon cooking. She cooked for her dogs and cooked for her husband. Even though it was hard work, it gave her great satisfaction to see how he and the dogs ate up the food. She concluded by saying that it is a real great joy to cook for people she loves!

That I agree! What gives greater joy and happiness than to see your loved ones and people you care about happy? If you truly care for a person, his / her happiness mean everything to you. This makes me reflect on things I have done in the past few years. So how do I derive my happiness in recent years?

Volunteering and Outreach. I have wanted to do something to contribute to the less priviledge for quite some time already. So I started out with carolling to the old folks, then sponsoring a child, then carolling to residents of some neighbourhood, then giving food to the old folks under the Boys Brigade.

Helping the less priviledge is always something I wanted to do, and somehow I feel I have not done enough. Perhaps when the chance comes, I will try to do something bigger, but for now, I derive my happiness from the little things I can do to help.

Cooking and Baking. I have always preferred baking to cooking, except I do not have the necessary materials / utensils at home. I do not really get to cook at home as it is my maid who cooks for the family, but once in a while, I do whip up simple dishes for my family. What I really love is to cook for friends, at gatherings or pot lucks. And of course, if I am to cook for just one person, it will have to be a very special someone. And it will give me no greater joy than to see him enjoying the food I cooked!

Organising and social events. When I found that I had not been making new friends lately, I started joining social events to increase my social circle. And I did manage to find firm friends from these, who introduced their friends to me too. So now I try to organise parties and gatherings for a group get together, hoping some romance will be in the air for some!

What greater joy to make others happy than to make matches of friends? Seeing others happy makes me happy too. It is good to hear wedding bells and attend a wedding of two people I really care about. Besides, I truly like organising get togethers and friends' outings. It is good to socialise and interact with nice people!

Happiness is not derived from what others do for you, but what you do for others. Thus, if you genuinely care for someone, you will want the person to be happy, because his / her happiness means everything to you!

Getting Personal At Work

I seriously need a break! Strange right, needing a break just two weeks after a break. I thought the Phuket trip is my long-awaited break, but it was such a short time that before I knew it, I was back to fighting gossip and politics again at some people in my office who get into cliques and gossip and back stab everyone else except themselves.

Why do people strut around thinking they are the kings (queens in this case) and everyone else have to bow down to them? I am not in the habit of sucking up to people! I give respect where respect is due, but not if it is imposed or demanded upon! If anyone is to want respect, then he / she should learn how to respect others first!

Thus I need a real break! One month, two months, six months, or even a year off! If only I can afford not to work for a year, I will sure take a gap year and go travelling, administering to those in need, see the world, helping others. Unfortunately, the opportunity cost is simply too great, so I have to contend with starting each day in the office, hoping things are better.

I enjoy my work. I like this company. I have learnt a lot, much more than what I have learnt in the previous firms I worked in. I like the top management - they are humble, down to earth and nice people who do not have their noses high up in the air, unlike other bosses. I genuinely like some of my colleagues.

But it is some others who is making the working environment a torture. Despite everything, I find the working culture here getting more and more unbearable, more and more unhealthy. Yesterday I lost my temper. Problems have been accumulating ever since I came back to work. I almost broke down. I really lashed out at some people.

Some of you know I can have a fiery temper. I have mellowed down a lot through the years. I could not even remember when was the last time I actually lost my temper. Nowadays it is just to live and let live. But yesterday I really let out. It is not a good thing actually, losing my temper only makes me emotionally drained and then I get so tired the rest of the day. I hardly have any energy to ice-skate, was in such a daze the rest of the day that even my "coach" was unhappy.

Still, I think that person well deserves it. I am a human, not a rubbish dump! And I do not appreciate people practicing double standards, I find that so hypocritical! If someone picks on things I do, then why does this person allow people of the same clique to do the same things and more, and they can get away with it? If I cannot do certain things, then the same standard should be applied to everyone with no exceptions!

I have always been told not to be trifled with certain people. It is work, not personal. That is what I have always been telling myself. Work, not personal. So I have nothing against people personally. However, people are being personal to me, simply because I do not suck up to others. I see no reason why I should. I believe in showing my true self and not some faker who goes around bootlicking. So if people have issues with that, so be it!

Gosh.... I really really need a hug... An embrace, a pat on the back, just to comfort and tell me everything is all right. Any volunteers?

Experiencing The Holy Ghost

I hardly know how to say this, but when I was in church yesterday, something overcame me. I never experienced a sensation like that before, at least not in my church. Maybe it is something to do with the sermon, since yesterday was the second Sunday of Easter, thus the sermon was something about the Holy Spirit.

Okay, it is not that I was not paying attention, but the woman sitting next to me was nodding her head and I was kind of distracted due to that. However, once we started praying, I am not sure if I was praying in more earnest as compared to before, but all of a sudden, I felt a strange sensation coming into me, my hands automatically raised up while praying, and I felt something.

It is hard to even describe the full sensation. All I can say is, it seems like the Holy Spirit has come into me, as unbelievable to some people as that sounds. After that, all I felt is a sense of peace. All of a sudden, I felt as if things can only get better, that what I pray for will come true. Maybe I can finally have good news where my prayers are concerned!

City Of Glass

I re-watched this show again. Always love the show, and the song is touching too! I always cry whenever I watch this show, and whenever the song comes up! Alright, I am getting into another drippy sappy mood, but what can be sadder than a twenty-year love affair which ended in a disaster at the end?

Perhaps due to the disaster, there could be closure since they would really be together. I have always wondered if they would like to keep up their relationship, or just end it all together. After the car overturned, he was still holding on to her before he died himself. That is such a beautiful scene!

Somehow I get reminded of this song by Sue Thompson :

He said he had to work so I went to the show alone
They turned down the lights and turned the projector on
And just as the news of the world started to begin
I saw my darling and my best friend walk in

Though I was sitting there they didn't see
And so they sat right down in front of me
When he kissed her lips I almost died
And in the middle of the color cartoon I started to cry

Oh-oh-oh sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry
Oh-oh-oh sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry

And so I got up and slowly walked on home
And Mama saw the tears and said what's wrong
And so to keep from telling a lie
I just said sa-a-a-d movies make me cry

Oh-oh-oh sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry
Oh-oh-oh sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Sa-a-a-d movies make me cry-y-y

Actually, the first time I watched this show (cannot remember when it was), I remember lounging in the living room sobbing. I thought the title is just so beautiful, perfectly fitting for such a beautiful and touching show. I started thinking of my own Glass City. Sometimes I felt I was in a bell jar, and I wanted to escape through a city of glass.

That "Glass City" concept is now for this other dream I have, which I hope to make it feasible sometime in the mid future. But for now, it remains as just a concept. Until it has taken root, it shall still be filed somewhere in my cerebral (or is it cerebellum?) in bits and pieces. One of these days I must get down to draw something out of this concept, except I cannot draw to save my life!

Attack Of The Power Office Girls!

I am getting really pissed at certain people in my office. Their latest attack - spying! Of all the photocopiers in my office, on my floor, why must everyone start using the one that happens to be next to me, the one that belongs to our big boss, so only his secretary is entitled to use it?

I have this thing about privacy while I work. I do not like to be disturbed while working. I do not like to be bugged. And I do not like a sudden influx of people in my relatively quiet space, the drumming sound of the photocopier, and have people's heads turned towards my direction and glancing at my computer screen!

Honestly, do people really expect us to be working from the moment we stepped into office and then from the moment we stepped out? So if I am to take a breather by going to the washroom, are they then going to start fiddling around on my computer just to see if I am actually doing work? What else can I be doing? Alright, I tend to multi-task, but essentially when work needs to be done, I really get it done.

I can make a cover of sorts for my desk, but if I do that, then people will suspect all the more that I have something to hide. I do not have anything to hide, but I really do not like people coming by and invading my space like that!

Dining And Singing

It was a great dinner and singing session last night. Some friends and I went to this restaurant, where there is a personalised menu for each table. The dishes include soup, fried rice (Pregnant Lady Fried Rice to be exact!), beef (there was duck too for those who could not eat beef), spare ribs, soft shell crab, tomatoes and dumpling soup for dessert.

After that, we adjourned to a karaoke lounge for some lung belting session. It has been so long that I have sung that I am surprised my voice did not give way, even though I started belting out song after song! Coincidentally most of the songs are my favourite songs, or at least songs I like!

The night ended around three in the morning. For some reason, I could not sleep that much, as I woke up around seven this morning. Wonder if it is anything to do with the extreme humidity lately?

Knowing

Another of those "end of the world" kind of holocaustic shows! In light of "The Day After Tomorrow", this show is on how two kids in different eras are able to sense numbers, which turned out to be dates, number of casualties and latitude and longitude of the exact location of every major disaster in the world. The last date was set sometime in the near future, where everyone else would die.

The last date of the future holocaust indicates the effects of global warming, where finally the sun will burn out and destroy the ozone layer at one sweep, thus wiping out everyone else on Earth. Two kids were chosen by life forms of another planet to be "saved", something like the ground verison of "Noah's Ark".

Finally, Earth was all wiped out by a raging fire. The two kids, with two sets of animals each, were released back on Earth, and this time, Earth was like a garden of eden of sorts, with tall wheat and grass, a tree right in the middle, and the two kids dressed all in white like angels. The last part of the show is really beautiful!

The show was a bit draggy at some parts, but overall it was not too bad. Now with more nice shows coming up, I cannot wait to watch Wolverine, Angels and Demons and Terminator!

My Old Emotional Problem ....

My old problem is back. Right, I have lots of old problems, some not even old since they are also current problems. To be specific, my emotional problem is back, or rather, my problem of being too emotional. I have been pretty calm and collected for the past year and a half already, so I wonder why I am now so emotional again?

The good thing is that at least I can still feel. The bad thing is that I am liable to set myself up for hurts, disappointments and ultra sensitivity again. And that is not a good sign. After several hurts and disappointments from the various aspects in my life, I thought I ought to protect myself better, not to take things so hard or personal, and better able to handle things.

So why was I feeling down yesterday? Feeling out of sorts, insecure, needing assurance, attention and ensuring that history will not repeat itself? It is not healthy to be so emotionally swayed, but for the whole of my life, I have been trying to control my right brain from being so dominant. Looks like I need to refrain and protect myself again!

Under The Sea ....

I emerged out of my first snorkelling trip unscathed! Initially when I saw how high the water was, I panicked, as I kept thinking I would drown. This was the first time I went so far out to sea! Even when the various times I swam at the beach, I had never gone so far out before.

It was no trouble putting on the fins and mask. However, my life jacket was too big, so when I went into the water, the entire jacket flapped out and I was struggling like a fish out of water. The guy on the boat gave me a smaller jacket (kid's size) and then I went back to sea again.

This time round, I managed to calm down. I calmed down enough to put my head under water and saw all the fish swimming by. I saw the coral under me and some divers around. A pity my camera cannot be used underwater, otherwise I would have gotten some nice pictures!

Was it due to the mask or was the water really murky? According to the divers, the water was not as clean as some other diving spots. But it is amazing to see life under the sea, the corals, the fish. A pity no rays and turtles though.

It makes me want to learn diving, then I can explore the other dive places and see how beautiful the under water world is!

Attending A Cell Group Meeting

I went for a Christian cell group last night. It was the first time I went for a cell group after going to church for so long. It is a good thing I went actually, because I have to admit that I have backslided a lot for the past year. I start focusing on other things instead of what is most important - religion. Hence, the renewal.

Thus when my friend asked me along for his cell group, I agreed, as I needed to pray for my friend and her husband to be during their difficult period. It was quite an experience. My impression of a cell group is those charismatic kinds where the people do praise and worship and speak in tongues, but the one I attended was not too bad.

There was singing, then sharing, then praying. I swear, the speaker put his hand on me, I kind of felt my hands go wobbly and just had to sit down! It was as if something powerful overwhelmed me, something I had never experienced before, or rather, had not experienced for a very long time! The feeling was like, wow! Whoosh! And I just started crying after that!

Then everyone broke into groups and started praying for everything else, their heart's desires, matters that are closest to their hearts, matters which they really care about. Some prayed for their jobs, some for their personal life, some for their friends. All in all, it was a pretty good experience! I really should start to pay more attention to the religious aspect of my life, after so long!

Note Of Appreciation ....

On Monday, upon my return, I have a few concerned friends who wondered if I returned safely. I am grateful to them and appreciate their concern. When I was in Thailand, there were protestors in Bangkok and Pattaya. Luckily I was in Phuket and returned via Phuket. The airport was not closed, so I managed to come back unscathed.

Think I must have a guardian angel (or God) watching over me. I have been relatively lucky these few years that I happen to emerge unscathed no matter what happen. Seems like life is pretty good after all!

Easter Getaway

I am back, and got a painful sunburn! What surprises me is that I never get burn, even when everyone else is red, but this time round, I got quite a sunburn. Well, when age is catching up, everything starts breaking down!

In any case, the trip is great! Seriously! I will highly recommend Banyan Tree resorts for everyone! Alright, it seems so propaganda, but from personal experience as a guest, I really have nothing to complain about. So do my friends, whose standards and expectations are even higher than mine! We were all well taken care of and truly pampered! This is what world class service standard is!

Kind of makes me feel ashamed actually. After all the gripes about office politics, boredom in job and whatnot, this is what everyone is working for - to give the guests and customers a truly great time! I feel more renewed in my passion (whatever I have left) for my job now!

In any case, I woke up early on Friday morning to catch the flight. This time round, I took the local domestic airline to Phuket. Since there was still time, I waited a while in the departure lounge before going into the gate to board the plane.

View from the departure lounge at Terminal 2

The same kind of plane which I took

Indoor garden of the departure lounge

Taking off!

Phuket in the distance

Sights of Phuket

It took slightly more than an hour and a half to reach Phuket. Upon arriving, my friend and I met up with another friend, and we all took a cab to Phuket. One tip - go to the end after coming out of the arrival hall and get the taxi meter service instead. It is much cheaper than taking those solicited cabs outside the airport.

In any case, we reached the resort in about half an hour. The entire resort is built on an abandoned mine field around the western part of Phuket, along one of the beaches. It consists of all the Laguna properties (which we hold some stake in), Allamanda and finally the main resort around the end.

And here we are!

The moment we reached the main lobby, we were greeted with an orchid lei put around our wrists. Then we were ushered to a couch in the lobby, where we were given wet towels to wipe our hands as well as a welcome drink.

The lei of flowers

Display on the table in front of the couch

The wet towels

The welcome drink

The pond at the main lobby

The main lobby (overlooking the Watercourt Restaurant)

The signature tree (few in a row)

The reception counter

It was about eleven (local time) when we reached. Since we could only check in at three and I had to go for a working lunch with the Phuket colleagues, I talked to my colleague (from my office who was having a stint there) and he kindly allowed me friends to use his villa until it was time to check in. He is staying at the one bedroom deluxe villa next to the main lobby, so we went in to take a look.

The one-bedroom villa consists of a gate, then we passed by a small area where the jacuzzi is, before going in to the main door where the area is partitioned into a sitting room and bedroom, before finally leading to the end where the shower and bathroom is. Oh, and there is an outdoor shower and small tub too, to commune with nature so to speak!

Interior of the one bedroom deluxe villa

The jacuzzi of the one bedroom deluxe villa

Leading to the bathroom (shower on the left, toilet on the right)

Exterior of the one bedroom deluxe villa

Outside the one bedroom deluxe villa

Part of the grounds of the resort

I went for a lunch and discussion at Banyan Cafe at the Laguna Phuket Golf Club (just next to the resort). Lunch was great! I had a local dish which looks suspiciously like fried noodles, then coconut ice cream for dessert. The ice cream is really delicious! It consists of three scoops of coconut ice cream, black sticky rice and chestnuts. I then dropped by the office where that particular department is situated.

The coconut ice cream

Trying to enjoy the coconut ice cream

The office is further down the resort, facing a river which overlooks to the Sheraton Grande Laguna resort. The view is really good! How I wish my own office can be like this!

View in front of the Phuket office

The office building (the steps lead to the river)

Posing outside the Phuket office

Since it was about three when my colleague drove me back to the resort, I went to my villa immediately. It is a two-bedroom Pool villa, which, as the name implies, has a living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a swimming pool, sun decks, jacuzzi and our own massage hut which we never used in the end. We girls took the main bedroom of course (with the very comfortable king size bed), and the guys have to take the second bedroom (with the two big twin beds).

The pool of the villa with the massage hut at the end

The main bedroom (the doors open right into the pool)

The second bedroom

The living and dining room

The side of the villa where the pool is

The pool with the doors to the main bedroom

The jacuzzi

The massage hut at the end

The mattress for spa / massage

Reclining in the couch in the main bedroom

Posing at the basin (bathroom / showers behind me)

Posing on the couch in the living room

The end of the living room leading towards the bedrooms

The second bedroom

Opening into the pool from the main bedroom

After everyone has arrived, we went on to Canal Village to pay for the diving and snorkelling trip the next day, and wandered around the place a bit. Canal Village happens to be the small shopping alley for the staff and residents of the properties under the company. Then we went back to the resort for a dip in the pool!

Part of Canal Village

Edge of Canal Village facing Sheraton Grande Laguna

View of Sheraton Grande Laguna

The Allamanda Condominium

Having a dip in our own private pool!

We met my colleagues for dinner after that at Canal Village. I ate something that looks like fried thick noodles, with orange juice. My friends ate a variety of local fare, like banana blossom salad (which is quite spicy), tiger prawns, lobster, coconut drink. We then went back to the villa where we opened up some bottles of wine we brought and played cards.

The next morning we went out to sea! Before that, we had breakfast at the Watercourt Restaurant, where we had a variety of buffet dishes to choose from. The restaurant is at the main lobby and overlooks the small fountain in the main hall.

The Watercourt Restaurant

The fountain behind the main lobby (taken from the Watercourt)

What a spread!

Part of the golf course

We took the shuttle to the Laguna Beach Resort, where we were supposed to meet the dive master for a diving / snorkelling trip. The Laguna Beach Resort is also part of my company. The guide brought us along the long stretch of hotel rooms (rather confusing actually, I would have gotten lost myself!) and went to the dive center situated along the beach.

While my diving friends chose their suit and tanks, my friend and I who were snorkelling chose our fins and mask. We waited for our friend to finish her refresher pool before going out into the boat. Only thing was that the boat did not touch the shore, so we had to wade in the water before reaching it. I almost panicked as I could hardly touch the bottom!

We went out to sea after that. The diving / snorkelling spot is at this two rock islands called Wae Islands. While my friends started diving, I got myself kitted up for snorkelling. But the moment I went into the water, I panicked! It was the first time in my life I ever went so far out to sea before! I was so afraid of drowning!

Luckily my friend encouraged me and I managed to tread water a bit and just followed him around. I even mustered up the courage to put my head under water and saw divers and corals, with lots of fish! I put my hands out and the fish swam by me. The fish started s"sniffling" (if they have a nose, that is) my fingers and then just swum by. This is one of those experiences that make you go "Awww...." :-)

We finished the snorkelling after half an hour, as the sea water was getting into my mouth so much that I had to keep taking out the breathing tube. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience snorkelling! Perhaps I should really take up diving - it is really so beautiful under water!

We spent the rest of the time in the boat, feeding the fish and waiting for the divers. The aftermath of the water, with the hot sun, and being stuck in the middle of the sea, was what caused me to have a burn. In fact, my tan lines are still pretty obvious!

Part of the Laguna Beach Resort

The dive center

The Laguna Beach Resort hotel in the background

The dive pool

Statue in the grounds of Laguna Beach Resort

Mother elephant with baby elephant

Out to sea!

In the boat

Wae Islands in the distance

Aftermath of snorkelling

Rock structure on top of Wae Islands

The bigger of the Wae Islands

Fish scrambling for food!

Going back from sea

After coming back from sea, we went to one of the beach shacks for lunch, then a beach massage! Lunch was chicken with basil leaves with steamed rice and fried ice cream for dessert! The beach shack reminds me of the one in Malta, where we could see the Mediterranean sea while eating!

The beach shack for lunch

My lunch - chicken with basil

My friend's pandan leaves chicken

Tom Yam soup

What a crab!

We then went down to Canal Village again. This time, there was an elephant there, and it was so cute! It allowed us to stroke it, and shaked its trunk, and even gave a hi-fi to us!

Hi-fi-ing the elephant

After that, we went back to the villa to shower and change, as we went to my friend's boss's place for a sundowner. He has a villa around ten minutes from where we are, so we joined him for pre-dinner snacks and drinks. His place is around the stretch of Kamala, and from his place, we could see the sun set!

We went for dinner after that at Baan Rim Pa restaurant, which was highly recommended. It is situated at a cliff around the Patong Beach area. The resort hired a van for us to bring us to the restaurant. From where we were seated, we could see the waves crashing on the rocks, as well as a full moon in the sky! We ordered a la carte and shared a few dishes amongst everyone!

Waves crashing on the rocks in the moonlight

Part of the Patong Beach area

Appetizer Platter

Full moon in the sky

View of the back garden from the main toilet

View of the back garden from the main shower

View of the outdoor shower

The next morning, we rested a while in the villa while the divers made another round. Then we took a shuttle to Laguna Beach Resort and indulged in the Angsana Spa massage! Since it was going at a promotional price, we figured why not? How can we go there without any spa session?

The massage place opens onto a stretch of woods leading to the river. There is a bed and the place opens out into a balcony with a reclining sofa, that gives us some down time after the massage session. The entire massage place is in a small private villa of its own!

Laguna Phuket Golf Club

Angsana Spa

Restroom of the spa

The reclining couch at the balcony

The private room where I had the massage

Entrance to the spa room

Grounds of the spa

View of the exterior from inside the spa room

View of the river from inside the spa reception

The spa reception

We then went to Canal Village for lunch and took a boat ride to Sheraton Grande Laguna before taking the shuttle back to our resort.

View of Canal Village from the boat

Sheraton Grande Laguna

Part of the Sheraton Grande Laguna

The lobby of the Sheraton Grande Laguna

Fitness Center and spa of our resort

The communal pool of the resort

My friend's "cocktail" by the pool - Gin Tonic with apple

The back garden from the open shower

The open shower from the back garden

The open bath tub

We then went to the Silk Restaurant for dinner. Initially I wanted to book the Lotus Restaurant, highly recommended by my colleague, but in the end, we had to settle for Silk Restaurant instead since the Lotus was fully booked. It was okay, the ambience was fine, but it would be better if it was facing the sea instead. The food was not too bad though.

The Silk Restaurant

The interior of the Silk Restaurant - alfresco part

A structure in the restaurant

The next morning, we had to check out, so I woke up earlier to go and explore the beach. It was still dawn when I reached the beach, the sun was about to rise, but since we were on the western end, I could not really see the sun rise. I had a peaceful walk around the beach before going back to the resort for last minute packing and checking out. Hence, that concludes our short Easter trip!

Walkway to the beach

Some of the beach shacks

The deck chairs along the beach

The crashing waves

Foot (paw) prints in the sand

Sun rising in the distance

Our own beach!

The river along the resort where people can dine on boats