Where the Hell is Matt?!

Good recommendation from Mel!

Haha! This is pretty cool, and something that started out as fun but ended up being sponsored by a company. Read more at he's site.

This entry is dedicated to 5PF

Happy Birthday 5PF! Wishing you a life living your dreams. You may have just started and might not know what's ahead, but I'm sure this journey will be a great one and one you'll be really proud of when you look back someday.

Believe in yourself!!

Me = 5PF

If you know me well enough, you'll know my association with 5 petalled flowers. Water had forwarded me this site..and to my astonishment.....michelle brand and her works with 5 petalled flowers. Coincidental perhaps....but knowing it was like finding me...

I'm back!!

I'm back from Chennai. A day earlier than what was planned. Unfortunately other than having curries (mutton/chicken/fish/vege) everyday, I didn't really had a real taste of India these 5 days I was there. Not even the heat except for a day's visit to the local office. As it was all work no play, I didn't even spent a cent there. But one thing for sure, it is not as bad as I (we) thought it was and guess what, I'll be back in Chennai again on the 22 Jun.

• I used mineral water to brush my teeth and only drink from mineral water as I thought the smell of tap water was like soil. Bathing is from the tap water...I could not be choosy about that.
• The streets and traffic is similar to Bangkok. If you can go for shopping trips to Bangkok, Chennai is fine for you.
• The heat is similar to Singapore's so that is no big deal.
• People I met are friendly and speaks good english though the accent might be a little heavy to understand.
• It's curry and only curry for all meals (even breakfast). Luckily the hotel served a little more variety and we had a small selection of western food. Can't complain.

Overall, the place was not that bad. So I didn't use alot of stuff I brought there but nevertheless finished the 2 bottles of water I brought.

Was happy to be home earlier to celebrate dad's birthday. Home sweet home..

A snap from the car on the way to work. The busy traffic.

They have tuk-tuk like Thailand! Never tried though.

My parquet floored room. Not bad ....


Toilet was OK.

My Indian colleagues. I'm quite impressed with how they worked.

Dinner one of the nights when I had migraine.

Taking off to the unknown

Boy oh boy, I really don't know what to expect from this trip. The announcement of the business trip to Chennai left my heart feeling so heavy. Firstly, I'm tired and I'm not in the mode to travel and fit myself in a place I know I would not be able to adapt. This is really not the right time. Secondly, I'm not a BIG fan of the heat. I heard that it is scorching hot (> 40 deg!!) there and crowded with MILLIONS of people!! Thirdly, I've heard so much of the place and what to avoid that even thinking about it makes me wanna cry. When I tell people I'll be going to Chennai, their first reaction is always "What??!?!! Chennai? Better take care." Sigh....

But what can I do? I'm going and that's the final decision made. What's been done cannot be undone and I just have to brave the land of "darkness"...You will never imagine how heavy my luggage is now (it is as heavy as my heart). I stuffed with as much as I could for fear I might miss out something I potentially might need. Some things packed in for this trip are :

1. 2 bottles of home boiled water - luxury I guess?
2. 2 bowls of cup noodles - 1 korean and 1 japanese
3. Ayam Brand Chilli Tuna + plain jap biscuit
4. 1 can of Campbell Clam Chowder Soup
5. Snacks - Doritos, Tomato flavored Glico biscuit,
6. Pills for diarrhoe, flu, headache, nausea and lots of creams/ointments for various use and insect repellents.
7. Torchlight in case of blackouts
8. A portable fan for the heat..I really don't wanna get heatstroke or migraine
9. Wet tissues to clean whatever I need to...ummm...
10. Paper cups and disposable cutleries as I heard I can't wash anything using their running water

The list still goes on and that's to make me feel I'm ready/equipped for this trip. Though there'll be colleagues with me all these 6 days, but it's better to be prepared. Till then, I will definitely blog about the Chennai trip when I return. See you all on 14 Jun...I can't wait to come back and I'm already started to miss home .........