Friday, November 6, 2009

The End of an Era

….well not quite an era, but it has been a pretty eventful 15 months!!

The last few weeks, things haven’t stopped in particular. From my previous emails, you’d probably not believe I’d only used 8 days of holiday (neither did my boss!!). Thankfully I got a chance to take a couple of final trips. First stop was Hong Kong for work, where I managed to catch with (va)Nessa (“what’s occurring?!?!”). Also met up with Oli and spent the week in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Great fun, cracking food, very friendly people and a really buzzy and edgy atmosphere – I recommend a trip there once in your life.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120416&id=512991087&l=a9b0cbf668

Then Dave Brill and I had our “divorce party” – he’s leaving for Sydney and I’m moving to the exact opposite side of the world. The theme was “Mustafa Chic”. Mustafa’s has been our favourite department store to go to for anything and everything. Open 24/7 and if you can’t find it in Mustafa, it’s probably not been invented yet!!! I think the pictures tell a better story than I possibly could in text!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=122715&id=512991087&l=ca39b82758

The day after this, Dave and I got to experience a dream come true, thanks to a very successful poker night the week prior. We went diving in Sipadan and just as above, only the photos can do the place justice. From the first plunge into the water, there were fish everywhere. One shark, another shark…oh, there’s a turtle and another turtle. If I never go diving again, I won’t be disappointed!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=122730&id=512991087&l=82a43dcfe2

Now it’s barely 24 hours until I fly out of Singapore for potentially the last time and I’m pleased to say I’ll be leaving with a smile on my face. Not that I want to leave however. Singapore, like any place in this world, has its faults. Shocking customer service, shocking drivers and a very conservative society. However, I have loved every minute of it and there are very few places in the world I’m happy to be leaving it for.

And thankfully, New York is probably the top of that list!! I fly to London tomorrow for the week to do a bit of work and catch up with friends and family. And then start my new life in New York from the 15th.

Obviously, if any of you ever come through, please please please get in touch

A teary sign off for the last time in Singapore

J

Friday, October 30, 2009

Tokyo ho ho and a bottle of sake

Just got back from a great week in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Definitely recommend the trip. Here are some tips…

TRANSFER from the airport on a hotel bus or via the Narita X-press train. Both cost USD30 and take 90mins. DON’T get a taxi – will cost you 10x the price!

PLACES to visit:

- Shibuya is where all the bright lights are and has crazy zebra crossings
- Shinjuku is quite a trendy area and has great views nearby in the Tokyo Met Govt building and the Park Hyatt (where Lost in Translation was filmed). Also near there is the red light district of Kabukicho
- Omete-sando is nicknamed the Champs Elysee and it’s pretty obvious why from the shops! Also nearby is the Meiji shrine
- Harajuku is where all the cools kids hang out in their crazy costumes. Makes for some funny photographs
- Roppongi is the ex-pat area with some good bars and clubs (Heartlands, Feria, Lex, Motowns). Also has a great shopping centre called Roppongi Hills. Plus Gonpachi – the restaurant that inspired the scene in Kill Bill and has great food and a buzzy atmosphere
- Ginza is a very nice shopping area with some unbelievable shop buildings. It’s also right next to the Imperial Palace which is housed in beautiful gardens
- Asakusa has some very nice shrines and temples. You can also take a boat from there, down the river to Odaiba which is futuristic land grab

TRIPS out of Tokyo

- Nikko is a 2hour train journey North. Beautiful area of lakes, mountains and waterfalls. Stay in a traditional Japanese style inn (Ryokan) and bathe in the hot springs (Onsen)
- Kamakura is 40mins train journey South. The old capital from a few hundred years ago has some more shrines and temples. Stop in Yokohama on the way back to see Japan’s tallest building (Landmark Tower) and eat in Chinatown
- Kyoto (obviously) – supposed to be lovely, but I didn’t have time

OTHER things to do

- Baseball is huge there. It’s as, if not, more boring than cricket, but the locals love it. Try and check out a game at the Tokyo Dome
- Tsukiji fish market – best visited around 4:30am in the morning to see the Maguro (tuna) auctions and then a sushi breakfast at Sushi Dai (be prepared to queue) at 6am
- Try local food. Lots of it!! Half the fun is eating stuff you’re not quite sure what it is!!
- Take the train/subway. Although intimidating, it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it and very cheap. Taxis however, are very expensive. They start at USD8 before you even move!

FLY – I went via Hong Kong as I was working there. But SQ and some of the Japanese airlines all fly direct

Hope that helps. Feel free to give me a shout if you need any more specifics

J

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Tempus Fugit

Hi All,

Well, time really has flown by. It's already been 2 months since I last emailed and my time here in Singapore is quickly running out. Wrote a kind of "bucket list" of things to do before I leave and ticking them off one by one - did the luge and a 450m zip line in Sentosa last weekend and went to the Botanic Gardens this weekend - write both of those down for things to do in Singapore if you ever come through! (along with the Night Safari, Gold Class and Raffles)

And of course, I'm completely disregarding the ozone layer and stamping my own carbon footprint before I go (my rationale is that a "carbon footprint" didn't even exist 3 years ago, so for 25 years I was obviously well behaved!!). Flying to HK this week with work and then to Tokyo on Saturday with Oli for the week to get fully immersed into Japanese culture - I've heard the traditional Onsen (hot springs) in the Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn/B&B) is to enter in nothing but your modesty - lucky I've known Oli for a long long time!! And then I'm off to Sipadan with Dave Brill. Supposedly one of the top 5 dive sites in the world where you see so many turtles, barracuda and hammerhead sharks, it gets a bit boring - I highly doubt it, but am very excited
all the same.

The last couple of months have been, well as Ronan Keating used to sing "Life is a Rollercoaster, you just gotta ride it."

Had a couple of fun parties in advance of my birthday - one of them a "White or Bright" theme - some people took to mean I was not only racist but I also didn't like stupid people!! I felt quite uncomfortable in my tight white jeans and it didn't help matters on my first venture to the toilet when I assumed my fly were buttons rather than a zip and I ended up walking around quite thankful I had bothered to wear underwear! (white ones of course!)

Then came my crazy trip back to Western civilization. Simon's stag do in the Beacons was hilarious - 14 Jews attempting to navigate through waterfalls, rivers and mudbanks. Who'd have thought that the streets of Cardiff were going to be more dangerous hey Ben?! A week in the office gave a bit of respite before the big wedding. Simon and Sherry looked absolutely gorgeous and we all had a cracking weekend. And despite absolutely crapp1ng myself for the speech, the Josh and Jamie duet
seemed to go down pretty well. Then headed off to NYC for a few days to meet the new team and start to immerse myself into my new life. Had a great time and met some lovely new friends including a 12 week old "Shorkie" (cross between a Shitzu and a Yorkie) called Milo who will definitely become my new wing man when I go out!! And quickly back to the 'diff for Rosh Hashonah, to see the family and pile on a few pounds before getting back to the sauna they call Singapore.

If I had thought things were going to calm down, I was way wrong. F1 came to town just after I got back and the weekend got a bit crazy again. Wangled some tickets to the SCB box which entailed copious amounts of champagne, a friend rented a boat for the day which a big crowd of us hung out on. And then I fell in love...twice. First with Fergie from BEP, who, while she has a bit of a scary feline like face, has an unbelievable body. Plus, she likes sunset walks along the beach. Sadly, we had to get a quickie divorce because then I got married to Beyonce. Simply cracking concert, great stage presence and an amazing set of lungs.....

If you're still reading and wanna see some pics, check em out

White and Bright party -
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=116009&id=512991087&l=9c5fa0c53a

F1 Rocks -
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=116007&id=512991087&l=b793267f95

Taylor Made Wedding -
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=116006&id=512991087&l=f8244ee3bb

BBQ and Helipad -
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=116000&id=512991087&l=ee96e37301

Black Tie party -
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=115994&id=512991087&l=2b3e350a2b

And of course, keep me posted with what's going on wherever you are

Lots of Welsh love

J

Friday, August 14, 2009

Colombo selecta'

Haven’t done one of these in a while, but thought it might help influence some holiday decisions…..

Sri Lanka is a lovely country and now the war has “ended”, it’s pretty safe. It’s also only 3.5hrs away by plane, so a lot closer than it seems.

In my view, there are 3 main things to do. Stay in Colombo for a city break, Head to Kandi and the jungle/mountains area in the middle or Head to the beaches in the South – we did the latter

FLEW with Cathay Pacific. Great flight times that leave in the evenings giving you maximum time there. SQ, Emirates and Sri Lankan also fly there. Managed to get a great deal for under SGD300 return.

GET AROUND by a private car. Hire a driver and car for the stay. Much easier and safer and should cost about USD200 for a 3 day trip. Try Red Dot tours. No motorways in Sri Lanka, so places take time to get to and people drive like maniacs!

STAYED at the Amangalla in Galle. Part of the “Aman” chain and simply gorgeous – a 400 year old mansion with great food, spa, pool etc. They have a sister hotel 2 hours further along the coast which I understand is equally as nice. Run by a lady called Olivia – her and her staff couldn’t have been more accommodating. Bit pricey for Sri Lanka, but a bargain for the quality.

DO go for a walking tour of the Galle Fort for a bit of history. Head to a tea plantation to see how tea is made and for a tasting. Go on bike rides, hikes and to the beaches. Get massages!

EAT and DRINK…well, we didn’t eat or drink outside the hotel, so tough to say

TAKE both USD and Sri Lankan rupees. It depends on the type of place as to which you’ll need to pay in

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Start spreading the news...

Hi All,

It’s been waaaaaaayyyyyyyy too long. Some of you are happy and have been able to get on with work…while some of you have been refreshing your emails every other second!!! Well, I’m alive, well and very excited about a few things

Firstly, I’m coming home for a few weeks in September. I land on Friday 4th (also my birthday!!), have Simon’s stag do, wedding and RH in Cardiff over the weekends and will otherwise be in London and can’t wait to catch up with all of you. Start booking spots in my diary now!!

Secondly, Josh is engaged. Cries of “about time” and sobs from certain girls I know, but it is awesome news and I know some of his texts from the top of the mountain in Switzerland didn’t get through, so I thought I’d broadcast it here!!

And thirdly, I have some other big news. I’m not moving home, I’m not engaged and nor have I got a girl pregnant (My Mum, Sister and of course, Dad’s guesses respectively). I am however going to be moving to New York later in the year!!! My big boss sent an email round to the Team Heads asking for someone “who knows the Bank, is responsible, mobile and likes drinking champagne from the bottle” (ok, maybe not the last part) to move to New York for 1-2 years. I had a chat with him, he got oks form the necessary people and subject to timing, logistics and contracts, I’m going to be moving….to New York!! I just can’t believe it. Has always been a dream of mine and trying not to get ahead of myself, but I can’t help it!!

So, that’s the future…and if you’re interested, here’s the past…

My last update was over 2 months ago and sooooooo much has happened since then. Will try and summarise in bite-size pieces!!

Family was over for a few weeks. I joined them on trips to Bali and Borneo and they headed to Oz and Thailand aswell. Was lovely to have them and sad to see them go.
Did some diving in the Philppines on some WW2 ship-wrecks which was pretty cool and spent last weekend in Sri Lanka at an old dutch fort called Galle with Diana. Nice to take it easy and relax
Spending a lot of time in Singapore and really enjoying it. Had a black tie party for absolutely no reason with a load of friends which was great fun. Saw Lady Gaga last night and watching Keane this evening. Big crowd took over a cinema to watch “The Hangover” – hilarious movie!
And I scored my first goal in 6 months last week. A superbly well placed goal from 2 yards out and a stranded goalie!!!

Got some pics on FB if you’re interested

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97270&id=512991087&l=d5bc0941d3

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97269&id=512991087&l=3516a88f04

Keep well and keep in touch

J x

Monday, June 22, 2009

Kuching Kerching

Haven’t done this in a while, so thought it was about time!!

Went to Kuching, Borneo on the weekend with my parents and highly recommend it.

FLY….with Air Asia. Great flight times leaving in the evening on the Thurs or Fri and coming back the Sunday evening. Takes just over an hour with a 45 minute transfer the other end and prices are cheap. Other airlines fly there too.

STAY…..at Village House - http://www.villagehouse.com.my/main.php . Lovely little “homestay” consisting of 12 rooms, a swimming pool and not much else!! Epitome of relaxation! The Rajah Rooms are the nicest. Big with a balcony and flatscreen TV and cost MYR 450 per night (SGD 200). Standard rooms (no tv) are half that price and half the size, but are fine. Cash only

DO….go on the sunset river tour. Village House can arrange this at MYR 150 each. 3 hours out on a rickety boat seeing dolphins, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles and fireflies….and of course a beautiful sunset. Also to go to the Orang Utan sanctuary – a whopping MYR 3 (!) to get in. Make sure you go only for feeding time (otherwise it’s boring). There’s also a cultural village tour (didn’t do as wasn’t too interested) and the beach (didn’t do as heard it’s only ok). There’s also Mount Santubong to climb if you’re feeling energetic.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Tioman Tips

Great place to go diving. Go through a Singapore agent like Sunny Cove. They take all the hassle our of it. For about SGD500, they'll sort out all your pre-lessons and study material (if you're doing a course) - cheaper if you're just diving for fun.

Sunny Cove

Then, you'll meet on a Friday evening and take a minibus on the 4 hour trip to Malaysia. 2 nights accomodation, transport, all food and 5-6 dives all included in the price