Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Conference in Singapore


I finally arrived at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. This day started off fairly intense too. Arriving at the office this morning and straight away I had to settle a few papers work and meeting supplier for our new office.

After that was brainstorming with my sales director and marketing manager to our 2011 campaigns and company KPI. That took up till lunch time. I was so hungry by then and went to Singapore Chicken Rice Shop. The outlet we went serve really nice chicken rice. Not all places retain the same quality though...maybe is because of the francise.

Lunch over and back to office to catch up as much as I can before leaving for airport. By then the rain has started. Funny thing was all the way to the airport, I experience several raining condition. First, it was light rain falls, then it was thunder storm that my taxi driver can't see the road clearly. I don't think he can see past 1 meter. After that, back to light rain and then it stopped, just clouldy sky. After a few minutes, it's heavy rain again follow by few rain drops and stop totally. Just I was about the reach the airport, it heavy downpour again and by then I started to worried. But just before I reach the airport departure hall, the rain stop.

At the low cost airport, each time I wanted to check in for my trip to Singapore, it always brought me to different counter. This time, check-in through kiosk. Mind you, there are a lot of passengers don't know how to use the kiosk yet. People tend to kelam-kabut when they face something new. It's not easy to try something new for some people. After that, the gate has change too. The new area has completed and it's quite nice. Wider.

While waiting for my flight, there was a group of guests, I think they are on tour and they are so loud! I guess they must be excited to go somewhere. The flight was delay slightly due to the rain. During the journey to Singapore, it was raining with lots of cloud and lightings. It somehow remain me of a horror movie. Thumbs up for the Captain because he really avoid the heavy cloud the best he can. We basically went around the clouds. Touch down at Changi airport at 8.10pm.

After crossing the custom, I had to face a long queue waiting for taxi. It took me 50minutes until it was my turn to board a taxi. The elderly uncle still there ashering passengers to the taxi. I wonder if he's working to pass time or he has no one to depend on and therefore having to work at his age. He looks like he's 80 years old, but he's still look very healthy and strong. Strong than most people twice his age.

I arrived at the hotel almost 10pm. There were a lot of guests at the lobby area and dining area. Check-in by a front desk whose English is quite a bit to understand. I think she's either Koren or Japanese. I had to cut short my stay here by a day but since my reservation is through the organiser, front desk will get back to me tomorrow.

The room was really nice and cosy. Bathroom is clean and amenities are well prepared. Overall the room is really nice. View from the room was excellent too, although I'm not much the type who needs view from a room. I told Sugar I won't eat but in the end I was so hungry I order room service. I had spaghetti Bolognese. It arrived just after I took shower and the meal was 5 stars standard. I finished everything and the plate was squeaky clean. I even ate the bread. Even the bread was nice. I finished my enjoyable meal in my room with a cup of instant coffee. By then I don't mind the lousy coffee because I was contented.

Now I'm watching cable TV while entering my blog. Tomorrow I will have to wait up at 6am so I can go for breakfast at 7am before the iStrategy conference starts. I am hoping to network and contact from other attendees and leads for my company. Based on the schedule, it's going to be fairly tied. It's a good thing I stay in this hotel.

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