26th Birthday

Definitely feel a bit old now, gosh, 26!! 

Mark is away on business trip in HK this weekend so I had my birthday celebration without him.    Woke up this morning with a horrible hangover, I swear, I will not drink for at least a month or two!!  I felt really sick, this is not an ideal way to wake up on birthday!! 

Last night, Jane organized a little something for me to celebrate my birthday.  We started at this really nice Japanese restaurant at 8.30 for dinner.  Jane, Rebecca, Joanne, Lee, Ben, Sue, Kirk, Anthony, James, Jake & gf were there.    Food was very good and Rebecca and I managed to drink a bottle of wine between us two.  After dinner, we went to this really cute little bar, Tara 57.  Kai Wing, Phil, Kim, Hoai, Alessandro, Rufus, Ollie, Stephen..etc were there.  It was really nice to see so many friends.    We chilled and chatted, very relax!! After an hour or so, we moved to Glamour Bar.  It is my fav. place in Shanghai, always good music and always bump into people we know.  Shanghai isn't that big afterall.  The crazy night started at Glamour.  After couple of martini, a few tequila shots & champagne...  It's not a good idea to mix that many different kind of drinks..  This guy, Chris, came up with the idea of me drinking 26 shots..  Thank god that did not happen!! 

After Glamour, we went to Attica again.  Truthfully, I don't remember much what happened at Attica.  I remember dancing but that's all.  I think I left the club around 4am and managed to get myself into the taxi and went home. 

Thanks to everyone who were there last night & also thanks for my overseas friends for the birthday wishes. Love you guys!!   Although it was a rough night, I had loads of fun. 

With Anthony & Sue at the restaurant

My girls!! 

Crazy night began at Glamour Bar with Jane & Kirk

Yeah.. this is my birthday treatment from Jake & Kirk

With Annabel

Birthday kiss from Joanne

With Kai Wing

At Attica dance floor..  looking wasted!!

Detox in Koh Chang, Thailand

Marky talked me into a 7.5days of detox program in Koh Chang, Thailand.  Koh Chang is such a beautiful island so I agreed, thinking it would be good for my body.  We arrived at the 'resort' on Saturday, 17 Feb and started out program.  Detox program = no eating, drinking yucky stuff & taking pills!!!    I did not realize how difficult the whole process is!!  After 4th days, I felt horrible and couldn't even get out of the bed!!    I never felt so ill in my life that I got scared and wanted to end the program so I did.  Today is the first day that I had something to eat..  Had a really nice fruit salad (we are suppose to eat raw food only, ie. salad & fruit).  I now value food a lot more than I used to..  I don't think I am feeling any better at the moment...    Anyway, Mark is still on his day 5 and he feels great!  I guess it works for some people. 

Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year!!  Everyone is eating loads and getting fat and I am eating my mango in a resort on a small island. 

Farewell Party

Last Thursday was my last day with the British Chamber of Commerce.  I left my small office of 6 colleagues and decided that it was time to move on with my career.  The Executive Director, Ian, took the office out for lunch to celebrate the Chinese New Year and also a farewell lunch for me.  It was a nice Shanghainese restaurant and the food was pretty good.  It was typical farewell lunch that there were short speeches and I was given a token of appreciation.   

On Friday, the girls (Rebecca, Jane & Joanne), took me out to a really nice dinner.  We started the evening at 8.30pm at the restaurant bar then had dinner around 9.30pm. We chatted away as usual and the food was amazing and the champagne was good!!  Later on, we went to Le Meridien Hotel's Lipstick Night (ladies night) to continue the drinking.  More girls came to join us and we got a table of 10+ girls and loads of champagne and strawberries..  Mmmmmm!!  Of course, since it's ladies night, Le Meridien's special was HOT bar men!!  Some yummy European eye candies there..  Girls told 'em it was my birthday so I got two European "models" danced with their shirts off at the dance floor.. hhaha!    It was a bit awkward but I survived...  We left that place around midnight then went to the Glamour Bar at the Bund.  Saw bunch of friends there..  Since I was the one who was leaving the Chamber, people kept buying me drinks.  Got a few martini there and the party became even better!!  After Glamour, we walked to Attica..  Need I say more?  I drank more and danced and again, saw bunch of friends there..  I pretty much just danced and drank my evening away and don't even remember what time I got home..

It was a GREAT night and I haven't had so much fun and laughs in a long time.  Thanks to my girls who organized this and I will miss seeing 'em everyday.  Best wishes to my BritCham girls!! 

I will be joining Standard Chartered Bank in March as their new Marketing Manager for Wholesale Bank.  I am very excited about this position as this is a newly created and I will be the first marketing manager in China!!    Can't wait!! 

Back to Shanghai.. AGAIN!!

As I was writing how much I dislike Shanghai - the internet was down and I lost everything that I was writing!  Typical of China internet connection, it's SHIT and it's super slow!!!    Earlier, I was writing that everytime I came back to Shanghai from a lovely holiday, I immediately went into a I Hate Shanghai mood.  It's very obvious that I'm not happy, my colleagues can see it, I can feel it and of course, poor Mark gets it.  Living with me while I am moody isn't the best.  My poor Marky...

I have a such a mix feeling about Shanghai.  I am here for good career opportunity and nothing else.  Certainly not for the life style - it's polluted with bad air quality, people are rude and unfriendly (unlike the Taiwanese), traffic is awful and it's impossible to get a taxi when it's wet and cold.  I hate to sound so negative but I can't help it.  I already live in a nice place with a great boyfriend but we both dislike Shanghai.  We are here to learn and to shine at work.  BUT if I don't like the city, does it matter if I have a good job?!   I guess I need to try to be as positive as possible and take vacation every 3-4 month to time out.  I will start my new job in March and hopefully this will be a new start to my life in Shanghai. 

Summary of my Taiwan trip:

Two weeks was too short but good enough to see my family and friends.  Some highlights:

Xmas Eve Dinner @ Tiffany's

Anya, ME, Emma, forgot her name, Luka, Tiffany's hubby & Tiffany


Craig with the girls

Peking Duck Dinner - THE BEST I ever had!!  YUMMMMMM

With Emma


Brian & Anita - thanks for organizing the dinner!

Many of dinners & drinks with friends

@ Barco


Brian being his usual silly self... GROW UP!!  Haha

NYE gathering at Elaine's

@ Rooftop at Elaine's place


@ Da An Park watching the Taipei 101 Fireworks.  Yes - we did bring our own wine glasses there.. haha

SHOPPING
   

Mark's Birthday gift 

And of course..  many other stuff - boots, jacket, sweaters, dress...etc.  I am very broke at the moment and welcome for donation... 

Thanks