Han in the Motherland

Catchup Post

Yes yes, it's been a while, and yes yes, I've been swamped, and yes yes, that seems to be always the reason. BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT UNTRUE!

Anyway, here is an updated on outdated info. Not even sure who reads this anymore. Perhaps it's more of a way for me to remember things amidst the insanity =D

So my lease was up and despite the economic times, my landlord refused to lower the rent, so I moved... 3 mins away. Which actually is more painful than one would think. BECAUSE it's so close, you can't justify movers and you end up doing everything ourself (with wonderful parents). It's smaller than my previous place as I'm not expecting as many visitors as last year and with the financial crisis, I'm following the trend of downsizing. Given the amount of hours I work, I don't spend as much time as I'd like to in it anyway. Gotta note that it's totally different going from a one bedroom to a studio.

The first time I saw this new place there was no power, but I fell in love with it. The 2nd and 3rd time confirmed my affections. However, as is all things in China, once moved in, the problems surfaced.

Just to name a few:
- landlord refused to pay tax
- gas leak that almost killed my parents
- broken hot water
- dysfunctional telephone line

My colleague Tara is always trying something new in Beijing.

This is the time we went for Ethiopian food!

~ sauces served in basket type thing. the moist bread that the sauce sits on is dipped into the sauces

~ a closer look

~ intently watching the fascinating live dancing

Mid-January, our company had its annual party. A dinner & lucky draw followed by a casino night that ended with an auction.

I went home with a free Wii!

~ classic picture ruining

~ Leeyan & I

~ best teammate ever!

~ the essence of our creative department

~ the original trio. of those who helped start Enfatico Beijing, we're the only ones still hangin' on!

2009: it's gonna be, what it's gonna be

Starting in 2006, a good friend and I started naming the year as it began, in hopes of setting a tone for the next 365 days to come. Let's recap, shall we:

2006, it's gonna be huge (and it was)
2007, it's gonna be bold (and it was)
2008, it's gonna be ridiculous (and it truly was)

2009, it's gonna be what it's gonna be

Now, most of you must be thinking 'that means nothing, that's stupid', 'that's the most generic thing ever, that's stupid'. You're right, it is stupid in a way, but it's not nothing. It means that we forsee a lot of insanity to happen this year, but instead of stressing about it, the tone for this year is that we're going to take things in stride, everything's going to be ok, despite all that will/should go down.

This new year was rung in at a cozy cafe, singing songs in good company of friends.

~ Danny trying to take a group picture and cutting himself out

~ Ahh...that's better.

~ everyone's singin' the tunes!

~ Matt, Danny & Rich

~ the post New Year countdown extravaganza. after much walking around in the cold impersonating british accents and complaining no places were open, a toast, to it being whatever it's gonna be!

My Singmathai Vacation

After it only being a dream for about 7 years, I finally embarked on my vacation to Southeast Asia. Had to do the most common places first so Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand it was! 10 days, 5 locations.

Was a good time of warm weather (away from the Beijing Cold), clean air (away from the Beijing pollution), and 'never been to' places (away from the...china...china...).

It all begins with my ticket to....SIN.

~ literally....my ticket to SIN!

~ the view from Veron-the-best-hostess' apartment

~ i have no idea how she leaves to go to work everyday. i sure wouldn't!

~ chinatown! stall after stall of fresh eggtarts!

~ the oldest mosque in Singapore

~ Will Anstee, ladies & gentleman, realizing he was the only one around for Studio 54

~ with daniel (fellow Enfatican) & royati, the shoe lady

~Arab St. had me some good indian food here

~Botanic gardens!

~ sigh...reminds me of Canada...so green and ...green

~ ...i kid you not...

~ had i not captured this on camera, no one would have believed me! CEO & Biz Director in funny wigs!

~ only a month ago was someone mauled to death by these white tigers

~ a trip to the Singapore Zoo (some say the BEST IN ASIA) is not complete without the elephant show!

Part 2 of the trip: Malaysia

Met up with Yvette in Kuala Lumpur. Did the shopping and the sights and of course the eats. Then off to Melacca for the day on a quaint bus tour.

True to what people say, KL is in many ways 'another city', delightfully so, of course.