Nice and friendly blog

Surprise always comes. Noticed today that there was a hit that coming from http://spaces.msn.com/members/PF2005/ to my own blog. It ends up is the blog of a very pretty and nice girl called Pei Fong. Hardly got any friends who is blogging, so quite happy to know that she is starting a blog. So next year, may be, may be ... can have a partner to go Bloggers.SG by then.

Visit 凤情日记.

Volunteer for World Toilet Organization

Went to volunteer for World Toilet Organization just now. It's a bit of useless as I was allocated the slot of 4.30 pm to 7.30pm, but the event was ending by 5.30 pm. But anyway, it's interesting to know that such a organization exists in order to promote better sanitary and cleaner toilet. And the staffs from the World Toilet Organization are very friendly, really made felt like at home.

For more information on World Toilet Organization, visit their homepage at: http://www.worldtoilet.org.

Met Kind and Warm Heart People Again

Few days ago (or on Sunday August 7), my car tire punctured while I was driving at Sungai Petani, near my hometown in Kedah. I didn't notice it initially, but heard some weird sound from the car. I stopped my car twice to check. At the second checking, I stopped the car in front of a mini market (ops, I forgot the name of the mini market). At this time, the front passenger side tire was obviously punctured.

I was a bit nervous, as I never changed the tire before. At this time, 2 nice gentlemen from the mini market (not sure if they were customers there or owners of the mini market) came to help me. They taught me step by step on how to change the tire. More importantly, they helped me to unscrew the tire, as the screws were very very very tight. I doubt I will be able to unscrew it if I was alone.

So finally the tire had been changed. To the two nice and very kind gentlemen, who I even forgot to ask the name, thanks again.

Cheaper Way to Get to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

The official one-way express rail fare from Kuala Lumpur Central station to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is RM 35.00. It's expensive, but it's possible to as low as RM12.50 to travel from KL Sentral to KLIA. It's all due to the fare structure different between so called KLIA Express and KLIA Transit. Basically, KLIA Express is the direct express rail service to KLIA from KL Sentral, for RM 35.00, while KLIA Transit stops at several station along the way, with cheaper fare because it mainly caters for locals. A closer examination on the ERL fare structure at Express Rail Link will reveal some interesting fact. The fare is listed at KLIA-Transit section.

KL Sentral --> Bdr. Tasik Selatan RM 4.20
KL Sentral --> Putrajaya RM 9.50
KL Sentral --> Salak Tinggi RM 12.50
KL Sentral --> KLIA RM 35.00

But,

Bdr. Tasik Selatan --> Putrajaya RM5.30
Putrajaya --> KLIA RM6.20

So to save money on fares:

1. Either take the ERL to Putrajaya for RM9.50. Get down and buy another ticket from Putrajaya to KLIA for RM6.20. Total cost works out to RM15.70 instead of RM35.00 The inconvenience is having to wait for the next train for about 15 mins(peak) or 20 mins(non-peak). But the substantial saving of RM19.30 per person may be worthwhile.

2. Take the Komuter to Bdr. Tasik Selatan for only RM1.00. From here take the ERL to Putrajaya for RM5.30. Get down and buy another ERL ticket to KLIA for RM6.20. The total costs add up to only RM12.50 instead of RM35.00. This option is cheaper by RM3.20 but the additional hassle may not be worth the additional saving.

ERL is banking on the fact that despite this apparent weakness in the fare structure, nobody will take advantage of it mainly because everybody is in such a hurry nowadays!

Lost, and Found Again

I read a news report about where on earth, when you lose an item, you will have the highest chance that somebody picks it up and returns it to you. In that report, Singapore ranked among the highest. Today, it seemed like it's a bit proven.

I lost my PDA on the bus. I believed the PDA just slipped down my bag, but I didn't notice it. I alighted the bus halfway the bus route, and when I noticed that my PDA was gone, the bus was long left.

I suspected that the PDA was left behind in the bus. But to be certain, I called back to office to check if the PDA was there, as I pretty sure that I took it with me when I left home this morning. It's not in the office. I called SBSTransit hotline, the office was closed. Finally, I called the TransitLink hotline (1800-CALLONE), and was given the phone number for SBSTransit Lost & Found (63837211) and Tampines Interchange Control Centre (67811360).

As the bus was heading to Tampines Interchange, I called them first. The first guy who picked up my phone thought I was his friend or something, kept telling me where is the Tampines Interchange. The second guy took my phone number, and promised me they will call me IF somebody returns the PDA. At this point, I decided to give up any hope of recovering the PDA.

As I was on the bus back home, somebody called me. He picked up my PDA! Victor Aw picked up my PDA on the bus. The PDA does have my number, but it's hidden. So Victor Aw found Aki's phone number. I wrote her phone number, together with her chinese name in the PDA's note when we volunteered for 117th IOC session. Luckily, Aki could recalled that I am the one wrote her name in Chinese.

So, thanks to Victor Aw, the nice guy, with her wife, and Aki indirectly, I got back the PDA. Victor Aw actually waited me at Han's at Century Square. He is such a friendly guy. Too bad I didn't have much thing for him, except some drinks.

Well, guess Singapore rating might go up a bit?

Celebrity at 117th IOC Session - Hillary Clinton

Oh no, I really want to throw away my camera phone. She is HIllary Clinton.


Everytime a famous celebrity walked out of the Esplanade's theatre, sure will caused a human traffic jam. So did Hillary Clinton.


Here's a better one of Hillary Clinton, taken by other on another occasion.

Fellow Volunteers at 117th IOC Session

With Ke Yun. First met her with Aki and Sandy together at the bus stop after the first briefing.


2 pretty volunteers Aki and Sandy


With Charles, IC of Circle 2. The photo took with my low end mobile phone camera.


All volunteers in Circle 1 and 2 of the Esplanade ushers, thanks to camera phone of Raffee.


Another photo of our group at Circle 1


At the end of the opening ceremony, directed guests from Roof Terrace to bus at Raffles Avenue.