Another trip came, another canceled

From the pretty empty weekend schedule in the last 2 years, my weekends now are demanding and tiring. With my master program on, I can not have much time for myself.

Sob, sob sob...

Then one plan came, another canceled.

Initially my travel plan for this year was

Family trip in Bali on 13 to 19 June 2010
VTSM gals in Hanoi on 16 to 24 October 2010

with 1 or 2 other short weekend getaways

Then suddenly came my business trip to Folsom from 15 to 30 May 2010. As I was just in the transition mode, trying to cope with new work allocation and study, I have to cancel my trip to Bali :-(

I can not make it to join my department in our quarterly teambuilding. It is so not cool to be able to plan and prepare but unable to join in the very activities. So no teambuilding for me on the 26 June 2010.

And now, I got selected to represent our country to Korea in the Malaysia - Korea International Exchange Program from 2 to 11 July 2010. I will have to skip 2 more weeks of class and a little more money to spend and less annual leave left. With this, I am uncertain if I can still make it for my Hanoi trip. However I will keep this option for now.

To summarize my annual travel calendar

• 15 - 30 May 2010 - Business trip at Folsom, California, USA
• 13 - 19 June 2010 - Family trip to Bali, Indonesia (PPKed)
• 26 June 2010 - Teambuilding at Cameron Highland (Withdraw)
• 2 - 11 July 2010 - Malaysia - Korea International Exchange Program in Seoul, Korea
• 16 - 24 October 2010 - VTSM gals to Hanoi, Vietnam (tentative)

Happy for some to happen :D and sad that some got canceled :S

16 May: Surprisingly cold

I did a lot of research about California prior to my visit. However weather is just beyond my control...I only brought along a jacket, a shawl and 3 scarves. These were not enough to keep me warm.


We started our day quite late. Worse was we were stuck in the middle of the city due to the road closure for the Bay To Breakers and the Hertz Never Lost system was not helpful at all in this case. We were on the 49-Mile Scenic Drive. We took approximately 1 and a half hours to reach the Palace of Fine Art/Exploratorium.


I really felt in love with the magnificent Roman Greek architecture, Palace of Fine Art. Behind the palace was the Exploratorium. I was as excited as the children here. This place really explained why American kids were so smart. There were a lot of answers to answer to their curiosity. Parents educate their children unlike back at home, Malaysians teach their children and mostly in the copy exactly practice.


We also dropped by golden gate viewing point, Fort Point and the Presidio point. The weather was extreme for late spring. It was so cold at the Fort Point and the viewing point. The Pacific Ocean breeze was super chill.


We were cold and hungry. No decent place for us to fill our stomach. So the best we got were a cold pasta. Another round of meal at Burger King....really a huge burger :P


I was checked into room 313 at Hilton Garden Inn Folsom. This soom has the same setting as the one in SF. I enjoyed the soft bed.

the longest day of my life, 15th May 2010

15th May 2010 was a super long day. The longest day of my life with a total of 39 hours with a total of 22 hours spent on transit and on flight.

The journey was very bumpy on our way above the Pacific Ocean. Luckily my pill took effect and I managed to doze off despite the unpleasing economic seat. It was more spacious on window seat and safe to have the cabin wall and window to lean and look out upon.

Best of all about this trip was that all the immigration and custom clearance procedure seems so smooth...not a single beep from Penang to Singapore then to Hong Kong and San Francisco.

Oh...not to forget, Changi Airport deserved all the extremely good reviews. So much to see and so much to do there. There were activities and spaces for everyone! But Hong Kong airport has more stores for shoppaholics.

I better go on bed now and today is going to be a long day. SF 49 miles scenic here I come!