1. It's the second day of a junior tournament in Riau. Yeah, my first time in Pekanbaru. It turns out that there's not much to see here. When I asked the hotel concierge about what sightseeing that I can do, he just shrugged and said, "nothing, you can go to the mall". I'm just shocked! I'm not really sure whether there was really nothing to see here, or if they see a mall as "something to see". Cause I certainly don't. There are heaps of malls in Jakarta. I don't need to see a mall in some small cities in sumatera. Really.
2. On the first day of the tournament, they held an opening ceremony. The announcement said that all the junior players HAD to participate. It was supposed to start at 12 and end at 2. The junior players were all done around 11.30 and then had lunch. We waited and waited and waited. Nothing was happening. Then about 1.20 they announced that the kids should go to a place near the starter and line up. The kids reluctantly went. And I fully understand that. I mean, who wants to stand and line up after four hours of golfing? It was plain ridiculous. Okay, we thought then that the ceremony would start. Big mistake. We waited and waited again. Nothing happened. The kids were restless, and some went back to the restaurant and grab some drink. My daughter ( who has a mind of her own) was getting furious. She thought the lineup didn't make sense and what were they waiting for?
Wel, I just can't stand it anymore. I went to an official and asked her when they would really start the ceremony. I told them that the kids were tired and hot. It was already late. And it wasn't clear at all when it would start, what are we waiting for? It turned out that they were waiting for a VIP, the head of the official golf association ( and a well-known businessman). His plane JUST landed. She said that if my children couldn't wait then it would be okay not to attend. After I sat down, then she announced that they were waiting for him (apparently my complaining did some good) and that the ceremony would start in 15 minutes. My kids couldn't stand it any longer, so we head back to the hotel.
This is so typical. Children are not appreciated in this country. They are like second class citizen. Which is sad.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Diaries from US
OUTBOUND FLIGHTS
Lora can't sleep much. I think it's the excitement of going (AND MOVING) to the US. I remembered my own first flight and move to the US. I was a newlywed, but I don't think much about my being newlywed. I thought more about US. How my life was going to be, how the people are, what I was going to do, etc.
Too bad that on the second leg of the long trip there was no personal entertainment. And it was the longer flight! And I can see now why Singapore Airline is the best. The stewardess always smile. And I mean ALWAYS! They never forget when you ask for anything. When you sleep, they would never wake you up. The service is flawless. I flew SQ from Jakarta to Singapore, and they serve WINE in economy class!! Unbelieveable.
My daughter and I spent a night in the airport hotel. It's a big mistake. The hotel is not cheap. It's old, shabby, the bathroom is ridiculously small. Everything was bad. To add to that, we did another mistake. We were not supposed to clear immigration if we want to stay in the transit airport hotel, but we did. We went out, and spent some time in orchard. (Where else?) So when we're coming back to the airport, we had to spend about twenty minutes dealing with the immigration and stuff. But the airport officers are pretty helpful, and we could eventually go to our hotel and went to sleep. Phhewwwww!
San Fransisco
It was plainly COLD. We were not properly dressed. And Elizabeth and Linden tried to take us to as many places as they could, but we were just tired, cold, and jet lagged. I think the city is overrated. So much hype. But then we probably would have a better opinion of SF if we weren't that cold and jet lagged.
First Week in Minneapolis
We arrived at around 3 in the afternoon. When we got to the guest house and settled down, Lora fell asleep and continued sleeping for 14 hours non stop!! First day Lora felt intimidated. I can surely understand that, with the numerous big buildings, the many and vast lawns, the people (almost all bule!), the language. Until that time she had only seen those in the movies, and in much smaller size in Singapore.
But as time goes, she felt better. I tried to encourage her. People are just people. What matters are what on the inside.
Lora can't sleep much. I think it's the excitement of going (AND MOVING) to the US. I remembered my own first flight and move to the US. I was a newlywed, but I don't think much about my being newlywed. I thought more about US. How my life was going to be, how the people are, what I was going to do, etc.
Too bad that on the second leg of the long trip there was no personal entertainment. And it was the longer flight! And I can see now why Singapore Airline is the best. The stewardess always smile. And I mean ALWAYS! They never forget when you ask for anything. When you sleep, they would never wake you up. The service is flawless. I flew SQ from Jakarta to Singapore, and they serve WINE in economy class!! Unbelieveable.
My daughter and I spent a night in the airport hotel. It's a big mistake. The hotel is not cheap. It's old, shabby, the bathroom is ridiculously small. Everything was bad. To add to that, we did another mistake. We were not supposed to clear immigration if we want to stay in the transit airport hotel, but we did. We went out, and spent some time in orchard. (Where else?) So when we're coming back to the airport, we had to spend about twenty minutes dealing with the immigration and stuff. But the airport officers are pretty helpful, and we could eventually go to our hotel and went to sleep. Phhewwwww!
San Fransisco
It was plainly COLD. We were not properly dressed. And Elizabeth and Linden tried to take us to as many places as they could, but we were just tired, cold, and jet lagged. I think the city is overrated. So much hype. But then we probably would have a better opinion of SF if we weren't that cold and jet lagged.
First Week in Minneapolis
We arrived at around 3 in the afternoon. When we got to the guest house and settled down, Lora fell asleep and continued sleeping for 14 hours non stop!! First day Lora felt intimidated. I can surely understand that, with the numerous big buildings, the many and vast lawns, the people (almost all bule!), the language. Until that time she had only seen those in the movies, and in much smaller size in Singapore.
But as time goes, she felt better. I tried to encourage her. People are just people. What matters are what on the inside.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
US
I've just spent three weeks in US. The country may be in a big economy mess, but from what I've seen and experienced, it is still a great country. The public facilities are phenomenal, the people are friendly, life is relatively simple (but not easy, especially for the people who are so used to nannies and helpers and drivers, yeah, you know them).
One thing I've learnt from my travel is, I'm not such a happy loner. Especially when my eldest start her classes at the university, I remembered that when I came back to the guest house alone, I was standing in my bedroom and said to myself, "what am I doing here all by myself?" But I snapped myself back. I've always taken pride in my ability to enjoy myself, so this is the time, right?
So I planned my own adventure. I went to a concert in one of the many lakes in Minneapolis (you HAVE to go to a lake in Minnesota, after all it's the state of 10,000 lakes). I went to a very nice modern art museum in the city. I visited my sister in a small, small town one hour from Pittsburgh.
So, I guess, I still can do it by myself. But I don't know, perhaps, when you get older, you tend to want to share the experience.
One thing I've learnt from my travel is, I'm not such a happy loner. Especially when my eldest start her classes at the university, I remembered that when I came back to the guest house alone, I was standing in my bedroom and said to myself, "what am I doing here all by myself?" But I snapped myself back. I've always taken pride in my ability to enjoy myself, so this is the time, right?
So I planned my own adventure. I went to a concert in one of the many lakes in Minneapolis (you HAVE to go to a lake in Minnesota, after all it's the state of 10,000 lakes). I went to a very nice modern art museum in the city. I visited my sister in a small, small town one hour from Pittsburgh.
So, I guess, I still can do it by myself. But I don't know, perhaps, when you get older, you tend to want to share the experience.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Self-importance
Several days ago my son and I were in the car together going somewhere. I don't even remember where. I was driving on my usual way, through small roads (gang)where there is only enough space for two cars, when we were heading into a small
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Welcoming or ????
The church that my family and I go regularly have four stories. We always use two for Sunday service. The first floor has five doors. The main door which is the first door we see when we enter the church's premises, two side doors on the side, and two doors that open to the first pews.
One thing has always confounded me. In the last ten years or so, after the first five minutes, they've always locked the main door. People who come late then have to use the side doors. I've never understood why they do this. Is it to discourage people from being late? I don't think so. Because a lot of people just go to the second floor. Is it because the church doesn't want to distract the elders in the front that are on duty?
Furthermore, if you are late, then you go in through the side doors, wouldn't it only distract the people inside? I rarely find churches who locked the main door. I find it really odd that they do this.
One thing has always confounded me. In the last ten years or so, after the first five minutes, they've always locked the main door. People who come late then have to use the side doors. I've never understood why they do this. Is it to discourage people from being late? I don't think so. Because a lot of people just go to the second floor. Is it because the church doesn't want to distract the elders in the front that are on duty?
Furthermore, if you are late, then you go in through the side doors, wouldn't it only distract the people inside? I rarely find churches who locked the main door. I find it really odd that they do this.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
2010
Yeeeaahhh, first entry in 2010!
I can't believe that it's already the third month in 2010 and I haven't made ANY entry this year. Gosh, I'm sooo lazy.
It proves the old sayings that:
1. where there is a will there is a way. and when you don't have the will, it's no way!
2. I forgot what else.
But yeah, having all these facilities (time, internet, laptop) don't guarantee you writing. Discipline guarantees it. Well, I guess, it comes to another saying, better late than never. The old excuse.
I can't believe that it's already the third month in 2010 and I haven't made ANY entry this year. Gosh, I'm sooo lazy.
It proves the old sayings that:
1. where there is a will there is a way. and when you don't have the will, it's no way!
2. I forgot what else.
But yeah, having all these facilities (time, internet, laptop) don't guarantee you writing. Discipline guarantees it. Well, I guess, it comes to another saying, better late than never. The old excuse.
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