Photos!!!!

Yup... The photos for my most recent trip are up....

These are from Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

There is a Crab Exhibition...

Outside of the Aquarium was this little squirrel nesting on the dustbin...

And... Just before my flight back to SG... Spent the morning at Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary, Schaumburg.

What a Day!!!

The flight is now over the Indian Ocean. with about 3 more hours before reaching SG. Surprisingly I am able to at least have about 6 - 7 hours of sleep. A feat since I only had about 2 hours on the flight out to Newark. Interestingly, the flight is such that SQ flies from SG to Newark over the Pacific (hitting Alaska, not sure if flew over the Artic area, but definitely Anchorage) and they the flight back from Newark to SG is flying through Alantic and over Europe-India. So, actually, I have flew over the entire globe in about 36 hours... All in a trip!

Well, time in Chicago is now past, into memories. It was a good 2 weeks. Hitting a hot spell till 2 days before flying back. It went back to about 65 degrees farenheit - considered as cold for my standard. At least it did not give me a cold front where it could drop to about 2 degrees celcius as my last trip in 2003.

Kind of funny to be asking for suggestions on what to do with 5 hours before heading to airport and nothing much I could do... In the end, I went to a Nature Scantuary in Scheumburg. Took some pictures including trying to get a good shot of bees busy at work... I find that bees in different parts of the world looks different... The ones that I have seen here, is really like those bumble bees that we see in the cartoons - yellow with black stripes... or was it black with yellow stripes? Whatever... It's those that are immortalised in Disney cartoons of the past... It's quite fascinating to see them flying from one flower to the other... Trying to glean pollen from those flowers... I think I spent about 30 mins trying to get a clear shot of the bee, but I have to admit the shots were not to my satisfaction. If I use the wide angle lens, I had to get near to the bee and that's not in my books. When I use the zoom one (75-300mm) somehow it does not focus that beautifully to get a nice shot... Maybe it's just me. Furthermore, I did not bring any tripod or monopod for this trip. Maybe I should have and could have done this better.

Well, they are about to serve breakfast... with about 2 to 2 and half hours of flight left... Get to taste a breakfast created for SQ by the chef better known as "Ah Yat" and his abalone dishes... I think... that's what written in the menu, if I remember correctly...

Boy my luggage is filled with huge boxes and not much goodies from my trip... 1 blouse from Ralf Lauren, 2 pair of Timberland shoes, Shure e2c in-ear phones, 2 CDs and a few DVDs... But did not get what my mom was asking for... belt and handbag. Hey, if I cannot find my own, what can I do to get one for her... I don't even know what kind of design would she like... Put it this way... if you want me to get something, please make sure I get the model and brand. Don't ask me to simply get anyone. It does not work with me - I need specifics, or you don't get your request!!! Lousy shopper... Can't help it... Unless you are talking about the stuff that I know very well...

Ok.. the turbulance is getting a bit out of hand and I am hungry... time to shut down...

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Well... Looks like my my gut feelings were right.... Apparently, my luggage loves US that much that it decided to stay another day or two (of course, courtesy of UA, who has been kindly agreed to hold on to it till then). Nice isn't it? Well, who wants to come back to a hot and humid weather where they could enjoy a much milder weather with nice humidity level....

However, to people like me, whose entire work clothes are in that luggage, well.... it's not a happy thing. Furthermore, it also housed my "presentable" t-shirts and jeans as well.... So... What am I going to do for the next few days till I get my luggage back is a very good question.... Have not decided yet, but I need to make a phone call to my travel insurance and see...

You know... I always thought that these things do not happen to me (for so many years of travel)... Well, I am sorely wrong! It's nice to know that you could be wrong at times isn't it? Makes you human and humble!!!

Ah well.... There isn't much to do or say that could reverse the situation... Next time, I think I would prefer to be an irritating customer than to allow such luggage delays to happen again... I rather pester the desk at the gate to ensure that my luggage is in or at least on the way into the carrier than to be sitting here, complaining about it and not able to do anything... Depsite the fact that I would usually hate to be a bother, but well, lesson learned.

Accomplishments!!!! (Not! :p)

I think I am feeling quite accomplished lately... I managed to drive to office from the hotel (and back) without the NeverLost navigation for this week. Just pop into the car, and drive off, like I have been doing this for ages and just drive off to office.... Then once the day is over, I jump back into the car and drive all the way back. Well, then again, I have been using the same route since Day 1.... So I should be very, very familiar with the route by now...

I have also got my Shure e2c. Order it from Amazon on 13 June, got it on 15 June, delivered by UPS. Order the animation DVD Star Wars: Clone War and the Star Wars Episode 3: Return of the Sith soundtrack... But sad to say by today it was still not processed yet, therefore I had to cancel the order - I doubt it can be processed and delivered by Sat morning... So, I will have to make a trip to Best Buy/Borders to see if I can get it at a reasonable price - only slight more than the online price.... That I will have to do tomorrow....

It has been quite an interesting situation that I have observed lately... My breakfast has been reduced to just a muffin or bagel with cream cheese; with a sandwich for lunch and then a hugh dinner, like the meal I had at the Japanese restaurant (Sakura) in Mt. Prospect. As well as today's Eat-All-You-Can Lobster at Pappadeaux Seafood restaurant... My stomach is still filled to the brim as I type this blog.... Feeling a bit blotted, then again, I think I have been feeling that since my arrival... Think I have to go on a detox diet for the next 2 weeks.... I believe I might just lose appetite once I get back home.... Oh yeah... I could only handle 3 whole lobsters in this meal and feeling rather stuff now... Had a nice slice of chocolate mousse/fudge cake along with a scoop of ice cream.... Hmmm... Did I make someone drool???? Heh.... I know... That very bad of me.... But well..... It was fun! Heh....

Nearly wanted to make a trip to the theatre here to watch Mr & Mrs Smith... I think I will have to catch that when I get back home... The other movie I think I would be interested in will be The Perfect Man.... Ah well, let's see what happens when I get back... Not sure if I will be able to catch up with movies... If not, there is always the movies on board the planes when I fly around. Not sure when will be the next trip, as I doubt I will be traveling that much as the projects gets into the critical path.... Unless offices in Aus/NZ or any other countries request for my assistance.

Anyway... My brain is shutting down... Think all the "juice" are now concentrating on the stomach, the brain just shut down due to lack of something.....

Till another time.....

Another Day, Another Experience

Another day, another experience. This time, it's driving in downtown Chicago. I have to say this... If you don't have a map with you and you are relying only on the NeverLost? DON'T! Why you may ask...

Well, you get lost, wrong turning and most importantly, the satellites don't seem to work in downtown Chicago. It took me a few wrong turns, some waiting on the side with hazard lights on, and also a "dead" engine at a traffic stop. Let see now, in the ideal world, you get your directions before you leave the car park (even if it's a building instead of wide open spaces)... Reality is that the car park blocks the acquisition of satellites.

In the ideal world, when you start the selection of destination, the calculation of route will be instaneous and the acquisition of satellite would be instaneous as well. Instead, you circle/drive aimlessly just hoping that the acquisition will complete and let you know where you should be heading.

Ok, if you are in a constant movement and the GPS does not seems to work well, then in the ideal world, you will pull up by the side and let the GPS acquire it's position and route it immediately. Reality is that... Well... You see the GPS searching and searching for satellite and even if it seems that it can find 2 satellites, the number can suddenly dropped to 0 - none. Thus making you having a frustration time not knowing where/what to do...

In the ideal world, your GPS will work fine, be to give you pinpoint accuracy... Welcome to the real world - your GPS can have fatal error and shutdown itself, leaving you not knowing what to do next and well, driving on the road trying to come to terms with the fact that you have no idea where you are and where you are to head!!! Mind you, it does not reset - it shutdown... So you had to stop the car, turn off the engine and try starting it again. Situation is, if you had been driving a manual car, it works fine. For an automatic, you need to place your gear into Parking mode, and then try starting the engine again - now the question is, if you are already panicking, how would you remember that you have to place it, at least, in neutral gear? Thus causing you to panic more because the engine refuses to start!!

Well, whatever, I am finally glad I am back safely at the hotel. The sad thing about this is that you know that you will have some difficulty in driving in downtown Chicago, but you can't do much about it as the train service only runs in every 2 hours and the last train is at 10.30pm???

Anyway, enough of the ranting there... Had quite an interesting afternoon at the Shedd Aquarium. Took quite a fair bit of photos of fishes and crabs. They happened to have a crab exhibition there, along with the aquarium, oceanarium and wild reef. They has this area (theatre) where they have daily dolphin (Pacific bluefin) shows, which lookout toward Lake Michigan. Nice...

After that, I took this 30 mins skyline boat tour. No idea why I did that, but well, I guess I had time to spare. Despite the warm weather, the wind turns a bit cold when it's further out into the lake - it was the coldest when the boat went near the lighthouse. Interestingly, Lake Michigan is freshwater and supplies water to Chicago. But what is the lighthouse doing in a lake???

Then it was a half hour sitting by the Lake, looking at what some of them are fishing. Apparently you can catch perch in Lake Michigan, at least that's what I was told by one of them there. Kind of interesting to find them throwing out their line trying to catch fish and then seeing different type of boats moving pass the area. But I have to say there are perch out there alright... There was even a kid fishing there with his father and he caught some...

Finally, time to head for Hard Rock, getting the shot glass for Mr. TehPeng. Thought I might as well have my dinner there... Well, it was not to be... They were close for some private party. So I bought the shot glass and then started to walk around to see what's there to eat around that vicinity. Nearly wanted to have it at the corner restaurant in the building that I parked. However, I saw another restaurant a few lots away and sounded interesting... So went to have a look.

It was a restaurant whose cuisine is fondue! Yep, you heard me right. Fondue. So decided to try it out. Boy, that was a treat... Had cheese fondue as an appetizer, followed by California salad, an entree of different meats, seafood and vegetables - which you cook it in the pot as well, and finally chocolate fondue for dessert!!! Took the pure dark chocolate which was so yummy... But boy was I stuffed! Even now, as I was typing this blog, the feeling is I have from my stomach is that I have been a big glutton!!!!

Oh well... Another day is gone. Back to office tomorrow.... Hmmm... Wonder what is install for me this week.... Oh yeah... Hopefully next time I won't have to drive in downtown Chicago again!!!

Oh... And for those interested in Blues music... They just had a hugh bluesfest in downtown Chicago in Millennium Park. So hugh that they had to close some roads for this.... But too bad, I am not a blues fan.

Walk, walk, walk....

Well, it's another day of walking.... Drove to Naper Settlement, walked around the buildings... Took quite a bit of flowers (since I could not take much of the inside of the houses in the settlement, except for the chapel)... It's quite a quaint little area where you get transported back in time, to 1890s - 1900s, if I remember correctly. One thing that is interesting is that I felt like a giant in those houses. Apparently the settlers are infact smaller size than I am. Now in America, I would be considered as shorter than normal and if I seems tall to those settlers, imagine how short they are. Even their beds seems to be a bit small for my size! The other would be that they bathe only once a week, usually Saturday so that they can be clean for Sunday service AND they share the same bath water starting with the cleanest to the dirtiest! Another interesting note would be that school children stay in the same classroom regardless of which grade/level you are in; which means the age range for the classroom could range from 15 to 7 years old!

One thing which struck me is the remark that the person make, about children are usually on their best behaviour... They do not want their siblings to tell tales on them if they were disobedient in school; they will get punished by both parents if they do - more importantly is that the parents in those days felt that how the children behaves reflect back onto them. If the child behave badly, it means that the parent is not able to teach the child to behave properly - so it reflects badly on the parents! In today's context, such preception seems to have changed. We see children rudely running around, screaming and shouting while their parents seemingly looked the other direction; not making any effort to control their children. Some even have got to the point where the children are rude to them as well. Aren't they worried about how bad it reflects on them anymore? Guess not, or they would have done something to ensure their children be mindful of how to behave.

As written in Proverbs 13.24, He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Perhaps it's time for parents to ponder on this.

Anyway, by the time I had finished going through the settlement, it was time for lunch. Had this nice Lobster Bique (Apparently, it's a hugh bowl of it) and Homemade crab ravoli tossed with mushrooms, tomatoes and shrimp (prawns) in a garlic sause... Loverly lunch.... I really enjoyed it.

Then it was back in the premium outlet again. This time going through all of the shops as well as getting a moccasin for Mr. TehPeng at the request of Mrs TehPeng-to-be. At least that was available. Got sms from my cousin, send on behalf of mum and aunt asking for belt and bag... Now this is going to be a tall order as I have no idea who the belt was for - I am not a shopper, so I have no idea how much the same stuff will cost back home... And their design was not appealing to me. I doubt I will want to get it for them and then get comments that it does not look good!!!! However, I have to say this... I don't seems to find anything that really appeals to me. Now I know that the polo tees could have cost 2 the amount you get from her, but it's will still be at least SGD40... which I don't think I am now willing to pay for it as I could get a good quality for half the price back in SG. I guess I am not as brand conscious as most and I am as comfortable with a SGD20 polo tees from Giodarno or Hang-Ten. So spending at least SGD40 for a polo tee is not cost effective for me.

Because I could not get my shoes from this outlet and finishing walking round the outlets that I drove over to the Woodfield mall. Funny thing is that in the website for Woodfield, they had listed Timberland as one of their retailers. Well, I have to say that is no longer true. Instead I had to move a round just to make check and see if they sell the type of shoes I wanted. Was happy that I was able to find a suitable pair, and thus currently you will find 3 Timberland boxes in the hotel room.

Ok... Time to go... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz time. My eyes literally could not remain open and kept yawning again....

Another Trip - Part 2

Ok, did a google on "be-all" (have to put them in quote and as what I quote or you can't find the info) and found that according to the website it's a Transgender convention - according to their website, it's a Transgender convention (all are welcome - Crossdressers, Transexuals, M2F and F2M, Wives and Partners; as written at the bottom of the website). It's quite amazing that I get myself in places where I get to "see" weird (not being offensive here, but it is weird to my environment/system) stuff which I would not be able to back at home. Hmm... M2F, F2M???? Oh... Ok, now I get it... But, wives?!?!?

Interestingly, most of the weird situation that I get into, it's always been Chicago. My first introduction/encounter of gay (ok, for lack of better word in my limited dictionary) community was in Chicago 2000. Now, it's transgender community, again in Chicago... What next?

Anyway, it's weekend! Yeah! I should be able to get my cam out and start shooting some photos... Not sure what/where I am going... I know I am heading for Chicago (Aurora) Premium Outlet this evening, hopefully I can squeeze in the entire mall in 2 hours... Tomorrow will be heading for Naper settlement, then afternoon, will go over to Woodfield Shopping Mall. Just checked, seems that Naper settlement is very near Aurora Premium Outlet, but I would prefer to see if I can get my shoes from the outlet before heading for the actual store in Woodfield. Oh well, tough luck I supposed. Then I believe it will be too late to head any other directions... So that leaves Sunday. Will try to see if I could attend a service near the hotel. That would be an interesting experience as well... Then head for Chicago downtown to Shedd Aquarium. I seems to be having this thingy where I would visit the aquarium of the places that I travel to. Started with Seoul, then Melbourne, and now Chicago... Where to next? Anyway, after that, a trip to Hard Rock Cafe to get a shot glass for Mr TehPeng (Maybe that should be my present for his new home heh.... But then Mrs TehPeng-to-be would have been left out... Ah well... Nevermind...) And if I could not get my shoes by then, I would be in the Magnificient Mile to try and get it as a last resort. Hopefully, by then I would be walking with my new shoes!!!! :p

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Well, back from the premium outlet. Darn, due to the traffic, I only managed to get after more than an hour!!! Of course, I did take the alternative route... Not sure if I could get there faster if I had use the shortest time route.... But I have to say, they really got to update the GPS program. They don't even have the road that this place is at... I had to try using the nearby road to get a fix on the route... And got a bit lost due to this navigation system... I mean why would you be programing it to tell you to continue on this highway??? I mean, won't it be if you need to turn left, right or getting out of the highway then you will get this notice isn't it... It causes a mini-panic as I have no idea what they mean by that and of course, got off the wrong track, so I had to drive another 3.5 miles so that I can turn back!!!! Maybe it's also because it's late, and dark....

Anyway, I am deliberating if I should get back again as I realised that I only had like 1 hr or so to shop (as I got to eat as well, and well, most restaurants here seems to be closing at 9 pm... Either that or the ones that I know do close by then. Even the restaurant in the hotel closes that early!!! And the room service? The kitchen close at 10.30 pm... So if you happened to be late in arrival and without having dinner yet, you most probably got to do with crackers and whatever that is available in the vending machines that they provide!!!! Oh I did get myself a pair of Timberland shoes at 49.99 + 7.5% tax which comes up to about 54 USD - About 100 SGD!!! Now that is cheap compared to what you need to pay to get the pair of shoes in SG. But, it's about half a size bigger than my usual size. Looks like I've got to Woodfield Shopping Centre to see if I can get another pair, but this time it might go up to 70 USD or even 90 USD. Still, it's cheaper than what it will cost in SG - at least 40% cheaper!!! Oh yes, I do shop - WHEN necessary!!! :p

SMS my cousin about the Coach outlet.... Bad mistake there... Suddenly I had sms asking me to get a Coach bag for them... Now how am I going to decide which one to get when I don't shop for such stuff??? Well, still, I guess it will have to depend on when I will be running back to that place... I am thinking of making that Woodfield trip during one of the week days instead. However, I need to know if I could get another pair of shoes there.... If not I will have to get it from the shop at the Magnificent Mile, a vicinty near the Shedd Aquarium, or at least within walking distance. That would be my Sunday trip.... Hmmm.... Oh well, let's see how the Naperville settlement trip goes....

Ok... Time to go... Feeling very, very sleepy. Have not been able to get much sleep as of today.... Not good at all....

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On one note.... Still thinking should I or not get the Shure e2c in-ear earphones to listen to the mp3s in my Zen Micro... Which I am currently listening to God is Great, stilling in the lobby, typing this.... Darn, why didn't Shure have outlets as well?!?!? So that I can get it cheaper?!?!?!?! Haiz......

Another Trip (Again?!?!?)

Ok... Here I am in Chicago (Yes, another blog in another trip again...), started this blog by sitting at the lounge area logging into my office network via VPN for a training session.

Why sitting at the lounge I hear you ask? Well, simple - cheapskate! Heh... It's complimentary wireless access at the ground floor and 9.50 per day (I think) in the room. So, I guess I would not want to pay for the access, so here am I sitting in the lounge. Imagine this... Sitting at a table, pounding away at my laptop keyboard, with a handphone at my ear with my shoulder proped up to hold the handphone to my ear... having the training in session on the background of the notepad... Weird eh? Yeah, I know... That's life I suppose...

Well, it has been, what, five days since I'm here... Have not done much walking around and the place I stay is at least 30 - 40 mins from downtown Chicago.

This trip has allowed me to try out SIA's non-stop flight to Newark, New Jersey. It was advertised as Singapore non-stop to New York, but the actual airport is the Newark Liberty International which is about 1 hr (I think) away from New York city, which in such a hugh land mass, it's considered as "in its vicinity". Anyway, from there I was supposed to take the 8pm UA flight to Chicago which would be a 2 hrs flight. Well, by the time we got off the ground it was 10pm. The plane only arrive at 8.30 pm and because there was some engine problem, we had to wait till 9.30pm before we could board the plane. I have to say this is the first time I had such problems with flight in US. Anyway, by the time I got the hotel, it was almost 1 am Central Time - nearly got lost due to a reset in Hertz's "NeverLost" GPS system. And perhaps due to tiredness, I drove on the wrong side of the road for the 1st 100m. Then it hit me that I got to get to the other side so that I would not be on the "wrong" side of the road...

So far, have not got a chance to whip up my cam to take pics yet... Yes, I know I had Sunday, but man, that day was a "dazzled" day for me. Since I only had like a max. of 3 hours of broken sleep, I only managed to get about 6 hours of sleep before getting up on Sunday. Had some breakfast and then decided to find my way to some mall, hoping to find Timberland outlet so that I can get my hands on another pair of shoes to replace the current one that I am wearing... Well, I got to the outlet mall but no Timberland. Perhaps due to the change of timing etc, I can only managed to have a cup of soup and a bit of biscuit for lunch... Then bought this pack of popcorn (which is actually rather large in comparision), kept eating it... But within 2 hours I got so tired that I could not walk anymore. Drove back to the hotel to leave the cam behind and then had my lunch and then did my first lounge sitting to get my emails. I have to say this, I seems to be having withdrawl symptoms when I don't get to do some web surfing and reading of my emails... Not a good sign...

Started my week at the office here, which was supposed to be 2 training weeks, but have to say, by now, which is currently Thursday night, I am not sure what I had really learnt. Yes, I get to see what they do in Technical Support here, get to know some issues that the customer are facing and also the bugs in the systems... But what skills am I supposed to learn? How to take customers' calls? Am I to learn how "bad"/buggy the system is? Not really sure, but I do know this... I have to get to know those people in the Engineering team so that if I face hugh and difficult issues, I know who to approach! For, there is no way I can learn everything about the system within 2 weeks, when even Engineering team does not even know the whole system themselves!

You know, the hotel I stayed seems to be a conference centre, thus there is this constant stream of people and companies having conference/events here. One of them, which is currently on, is this "Be-all" conference/gathering (not sure what that means). I guess after my previous introduction (don't ask, I'm not stating what it is...), this has not been a hugh shock to me. But still, it's a new situation for me...

Why this "distinction" on this convention... Well, basically because there is this disparity that I am having. The sound I hear is different from my sight that I am not sure if it because I am suffering from jetlag. Then again, it has been, what, 5 days since I landed... Nevermind... Simply I hear a guy's voice but it does not match with what I see (Then again, it's a very masculine face shape). Now if it has been in small dozage - 1 or 2, it would still be fine. A hugh group (well, not like it's thousands, but at least hundred) of them? Now if you have been living in a country where you don't get to see these in regular doses - "sheltered" (Well, some would have said it's "strait-jacket" then again it has changed, how far it will change, still a question...) - it's something new/weird/whatever terms you will want to use... Wait then again, with Kumar and the famous Boom Boom Room being around for years now... as well as Jack Neo as Liang See Mei in Chinese variety shows... Not forgetting the old notorious Bugis street (which till date I have no idea what was like then)... and seeing Dame Edna Everage in British/Australian(?) variety shows for years... Should be used to it, I supposed. Then again, well, these people/celebrities may not be in character 24 hours/7 days/52 weeks... But imagine yourself encountering about 100 or more Dame Edna all at the same time... I know I am still skirtish about it, not sure how would you feel....

Oh well... Time to sleep.... Been lacking of sleep lately... That's an entire story of its own....