Charel's: 2015

Monday, October 5, 2015

My Driving Journey @ Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC)

Initially I was enrolled into Bukit Batok Driving Centre as a private automatic student, failed my first attempt for Basic Theory Test and subsequently passed the second time.

Thereafter, I had decided to convert to their school student and took manual driving instead. It was a tough decision but I wanted to learn the difficult way.

I remembered I took a few months before I started my practical lessons even though I had obtained my PDL after passing my Basic Theory Test, which I had to renew my PDL ($25 renewal) because I delayed a few months and the PDL had expired.

I took in total 29 practical lessons to clear stage 1 to 5, and 9 revision classes before my actual test date. Due to my work during weekdays, I could only learn during weekends, which means many weekends were burnt just to go for lessons and its actually more expensive! Majority of my driving expenses actually came from here, at the cost of $2,910.40! Not to forget the actual test date cost me $235.72.

Advantages of school is that they will let you go as many theory practices as you want before you book for your theory evaluation (like a mock exam). Once you pass the evaluation, they will let you take the theory test. During the initial stage as a private student, I have to self study and try to memorize as much as I can, heard that there are past questions for you to do but not sure where to find it.. Another plus point is school make sure you went through all the stages properly and guided you all the way until your test date.

And finally today on 28 September 2015... I have passed my driving test! I had gotten route 10 with 4 demerit points.

My experience at BBDC was great with my group 6069 especially Mr Lee B T and Mr Lee K H, and not to forget the forever friendly and helpful customer service personnel Mr Ching!

All in all, I spent around $3400 for a manual car license. Though it is really really expensive, but it is worth it considering I learnt from school, the safest way (especially for female drives like me =p)

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Staycation at Studio M and Ramen for dinner

My first staycation in Singapore @ Studio M!

This came at the right time because I was already exhausted with all the exams I need to take as well as attending work as usual, plus I still need to go for my practical driving lessons!

Best of all, it was a free stay given by a friend of mine, and I was honored to receive this. Initially my bf did not want to go as he thinks staying at a hotel in Singapore versus staying at home does not make any difference! (what a boring guy =X)

When we reached the lobby and trying to register with the customer service personnel, they requested me to give them my Identity Card for identification. As I booked the room under my friend's name, I lied to them that I did not bring my IC with me, afraid that they would not allow me to check in if they found out it is different person.

So I argued a little with the receptionist, and my bf was in disbelief that I actually argued with them, and said he was okay not to stay and just walk around the area for dinner then go back home.

I was so persistent that I want to stay, because I was looking forward to it, and I messaged my friend about the incident. So eventually she came over to help us check in and went off after that. My bf was a little embarrassed that I actually asked her to come over to help us check in... =/

We booked the studio loft but was upgraded to premier loft instead. :)

Reviews are raving about the full length windows, and I can see why it is a popular place for girls to take pictures with the windows as background.

This is the place where we brushed our teeth and washed our face in the morning, with a basic mirror and basin.

Up the stairs, was the bed with a flat screen TV mounted onto the wall.

This is how it looks like if I look down from the top. haha, pardon the silly guy in the picture as he was unaware I took a picture of him in it and even uploaded here.

The bathroom which looks like a storeroom space to me, and opposite was the toilet.

This is how it looks like in the toilet. Anyway, no big deal since we only spent 1 night here.

Requested to take a picture with him before we headed out for dinner.

We walked over to Liang Court where we were looking for Japanese Ramen. This ramen restaurant is famous for their volcano ramen I think? But we ordered 2 sets of ramen with side dish, total up was only about $30++, I find it very worth it especially when the extra side dish was a bowl of rice with pork belly! There were condiments at the side, free hard boiled eggs and cloves of garlic for us to add in our ramen.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Updates on Life

Wow.. It feels so weird that I am sitting down here typing a blog post like I used to.

Anyway, just some updates on my life... Overall life has been NOT BAD, but work has been stressing me up (like always) since my boss (my so called portable encyclopedia LOL) been transferred out. Oh well... Life goes on, and there will be a replacement soon in mid Aug. Have too much changes in the office since my employment for almost 2 years (coming Sep 11).

But if you ask me will I stay on for long? Answer is, nope! Ever since my close colleagues aka lunch kakis left, I have been thinking what I want to do in life. Knowing that I will not do well, or looking forward to climb corporate ladder, I am really just work for the sake of working.

However, I already know what I want and with the passion, I know I will succeed and even able to help people. For the time being, I will do whatever I need to make my way there which I am very very excited!

Another exciting chapter is also to learn driving. Oh gosh.. sometimes I do regret taking up manual driving sigh. But I will just try and pass lor. Fail also wont die what. haha. In the near future, hope I can exercise and lift more weights (SQUATS baby!), take up pet grooming course and even do some community work at pets adoption center etc.

As for my love life, all I can say is its never smooth sailing. I will have to work out on my weaknesses and so does he. Though I can be very angry at him! Like asking for "sayang" or massage alllll the time. Been staying with him now, due to family and financial issue, I could not stay at my own house. Sometimes this can lead to many arguments with my boy due to my insecurities and low confidence. I don't know how people do it, and I am learning :) This is life.

Been catching up with my girls as well! I must say, I really thank them for their cheerfulness, always looking forward for meet up session even though it was just eating dinner and chillax. I hope to do this until we old, until we BO GAY.

Looking back my old photos, I realized I lost so much radiance as compared before working! Oh my goodness, what did work did to me? :'( I am a believer that happiness is more important than career. I don't want to be stress up for work get it? But if its for the passion and many upcoming trips, I will! Apart from the girls that I always meet, somehow... I missed the friends I had during poly days. I really did not know what happened that changed everything. One of the reason I heard was due to gossiping/talking behind their back. Who does not gossip? But all I know is, I mean no harm... I believe everything happens for a reason, those fond memories will always stays with me till I aged.

Anyway, that's all for now. Hopefully I can do more blog posts when I feel less lazy =P

Friday, April 3, 2015

Bangkok Trip: 26.02.15 to 03.03.15

Finally got some time to sit down to blog on our second trip - Bangkok.

Actually this trip was proposed by me to celebrate my 25th birthday there, so my poor bb has to follow "instructions".

This was us at Changi Airport early in the morning to catch our 7am plus flight by Tiger Air.

After 2 hours of flight, we have finally arrived at the land of smiles!

Checked in Glow Pratunam on the 15th floor, and proceeded to unpack some of our clothing for the trip.

The bathroom was clean and basic, no bath though.

This trip did not have much pictures unlike our Taipei since Bangkok is very common for us.
Note: Pictures are not dated in chronological order.

Forgot where this was taken, I think we were at Siam Station nearby..

Sat down and relaxed at the outdoor and took some pictures :)

Pardon my tired bare face.. hehe

As I wanted to take a clear picture of us with the sunlight shining in while waiting for the lift, we were in the rush to snap pictures!

But okay la it turned out not blurry.. thanks to me. ahem.

This stall is already there when I visited Bangkok few years ago which is near Pantip Plaza.
My boy had to eat this almost everyday! Imagine the cholesterol level :x

One of my best buy there! My hot pink bunny passport cover =3 Love anything bunny, which is also my boy's Chinese zodiac.. no wonder I love him so much.

Had A&W for lunch too, love that chicken strips *drools*

Got to know that Meifang was also in Bangkok, stayed at the SAME hotel on the SAME DAY but left 2 days earlier than us.

So on their last night, we met up at night to go Thai's club with her bro, brother in law and my bf.

Did not drink much as I don't really fancy alcohol taste anymore.. the feeling of my stomach churning.. don't like it..

Planned a day to Cat café while we were at Bangkok as my boy loves animal like dogs and also cats.
This place sells the cutest cat merchandises which I felt like buying almost everything there!

Their cute menu :)

This photo was taken with FEAR in me.

omg..... the cat actually stared at me and MEOWED when I was trying to stroke its back.

I guessed he didn't like it and I was being irritating =(

Thai milk tea in the cutest cup!

We bought 2 of this back for our own usage :D

Cats there are treated like kings and queens, whereby they are allowed to jump onto any tables to sleep.

Chocolate lava cake - quite reasonable priced but bb realised drinks are more costly than their food and desserts. Perhaps people usually order drinks and sit there whole day to see their cats..

Good thing is, there is no time restriction.