1.3 Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences

RENONATION

Super busy week man.. Finally got some time to carry on this blog! Thanks for all the positive feedback.. U readers are my motivation to keep writing! Hahahah.. Ok lobang time.. If you don't mind receiving a lot of calls and quotation from many many different IDs at one time. Click on the link above will take u to this quite interesting website. Don't worry it's very simple and easy to use. You key in your ppty details, your requirements and attach your floor plan.. SUBMIT! The next thing you know, your email, sms and phone will keep on ringing.. Good thing for this service is it is FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! Point to note here is most ID will try to fixed an appointment for you to visit their showflat. This is to brainstorm and understand your requirement better and impress you with whatever they have. So the meeting is probably gonna be like.. you go down.. they ask you what you want.. you tell them.. they hmmm okok.. THAT'S IT!! Then they will arrange the next meeting with u to show u what they design for u! To me.. this initial meeting is redundant UNLESS you seriously don't know what you want. So I will specifically make sure they know roughly what I wanted. If they want to meet myself and my wife they better make sure they get their presentation kit ready (Design sketches, quotation, material sample etc). I either clarify with them through the phone or email prior to the 1st meeting. Refer to my email template if you want in part 1 of the blog. =)

THIRD AVENUE STUDIO   

Aiya anyway hor the service above I also don't know is good or no good la.. Because a lot of kuku ID will contact you loh.. Some you talk to them ah you will faint.. There's one PRC lady called me and speak in her PRC ENG-GE-LI-SI.. Harow are you Mr Ben? Dis is XXX callin form XXX cumbani.. Are u loki 4 ID-si? I'm like WTF am I hearing?! Anyway out of so many correspondences, I only decide to meet up with this Lawrence from Third Avenue Studio. This ID aiseh I tell u is damn hardworking! He meet us on 1st of Jan new year day at his studio lo.. Not only does he work on a PH.. His presentation is I tell you.. farking impressive.. We were seated behind a long table, infront of us were the presentation material neatly place, using his iphone to control his powerpoint slide wirelessly on his don't know how many inch flat screen tv.. We were blown away man! Not just by the technology he engaged but rather the content in his slides! He took the initiative to do research on the design we like and share it with us.. Immediately we were like YES this is what we wanted! What is even more SONG is when he show us not just sketches but almost like color 3D of what he design for our house! Lai Liao Loh! Lai Liao Loh! BEN TEO HIGH ALREADY LO!
Ok the rest of the presentation I'm basically fantasizing again like a fking pervert until I look at the quotation.. U know how much we need to pay for his design fee etc anot?! $5K LEH WTF while most firm give FOC.. Ya la although this dude got provide me Extra SpeciAL service which I like~ but $5k for special too much la..

     

Interior Design Firm Quotation

Fast forward abit cause some of the ID really vomit blood and don't worth mentioning. The moment we've been waiting for... the itemize ID quotation. After contacting more then 10 IDs, meeting about 7 IDs, collecting about 7 quotations... This is by far the most detail quotation we have seen: By Mong Design Studio. 

Item 1.3 Design & Professional Fee. For this item, most firm does not charge one.. But I also realize for those that charge, their service really TIP TOP.. you really pay extra for their expertise and services ba.. Mong $1.2k consideration quite reasonable liao loh.. Remember Third Design Studio charge $5k for this segment and oh ya have we forgotten about $15k I think u r poor as shit Misura?!.. After speaking with some firm that don't charge this.. must really assess the ID carefully lo.. Some stupid dumb dumb ID really hor you tell them you wanna plant coconut tree in the living room they also will say CAN ah..

Item 2 is pretty standard. Item 3 also standard la. Ah Item 4 Painting Work.. This one you can bargain! Most will give you a limit.. like you can select up to 3 or 6 different colors.. Don't be a idiot and bargain for more color hor! Bargain for price la... Really it's either there're such stupid people around or one of the pariah ID firm that I came across really treat me as a idiot.. You know what he tell me?! He said "Unlike other ID, we can let you choose and select up to unlimited colors!" I'm like OEI you Si Xiao or what?! You think my house rainbow ah need so many color for fk?!!??!

Item 5: Joinery work. This is mainly carpentry work la so very subjective. But something to take note here is the internal compartment. Try to bargain for internal color PVC or wood grain finishing.. Tell them you don't want the default white pvc which look really cheapskate and ugly imho. Another thing to note here if you are going for full height carpentry work is to make sure it's indicated into the contract unless you are sure of your ceiling height. eg (2500 x 400 x Full height). Not sure if this is necessary but just be sure ba.

Item 6: Outdoor flooring work. Don't forget about this hor! Because most of our unit these day come with balcony and I think most of us want to do decking swee swee one tio bo?! Ah this decking thingy is not cheap and could easily come up to $3-4k so make sure you get the ID to include in their quotation. If not they will act blur don't put de..

Item 7: This is the feature wall behind your sofa area. Be it you are doing wallpaper, wood cladding, stone stone or tile them up.. Make sure they include this in too!

*Useful Tips 7*

"Item 6/7 remember to compare price with sources outside! If ID is resourceful got good lobang then let them do.. For all I know this two item outside can find supplier easily."

Item 9: Electrical cost. This is another area most ID will omit from their quotation. I nv reno house before so I really don't know how much this will cost man.. but apparently from all the IDs that I've speak with.. It's ard $3-5k lo.. WTH it's not cheap so better get them to include this into the quotation too if not they will act blur. 

Ok everybody we've once again come to the end of the blog and end of the itemize quotation. Last point to note, while working out your budget.. remember to take into consideration all the other expenses.. very important sia..

Let say your max budget is $30k.
Appliances (TV, Soundbar, Fridge, Washer Dryer etc): $8-10k
Curtains: $3-5k
Lighting: $4-5k
Electrical work: $3-5k
Furniture (Outdoor/indoor sofa, dining table set, bed etc): $$5-6k

So you see all these jia ba lang thingy easily take up $23-30k of your budget.. Which mean you are left with only $7k for ID or go downstair chop tree bring home do your own carpentry work.. Take note guys! The next blog I'll be touching on the Renotalk forum to more tips on how to renovate your house etc.. So till then! =)))))

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 1)

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 2)
Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 4)

1.2 Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences

Linewerkz Pte Ltd

One week later, we met Bing once again this time round at his studio along Guillemard road at geylang there.. not bad you know beside got sell the Tanjong Rhu Bao is very nice but the uncle face always like you own him money.. ANYWAY let's not OT. After seating us down with a drink, he started his presentation with the colored version of his drawing, the itemize quotation and some material. Basically at this stage most ID will just show you a really simple space planning drawing, the material they will be using eg. Laminate sample etc and go through the quotation with you.

Sample of Space Planning

Seriously this stupid space planning drawing is really kuku one loh.. I also don't know for what sia.. If your ID just show you this ah I think you can write him off! This stupid drawing we also can draw la.. Anyway in the first place we are the one that share with the ID where we want our bed, our TV, our carpentry work to be right?!.. Unless you really stupid gong gong till erm "where should my TV be ah? My bed I also don't know put where? Put bed at balcony ok anot ah? Until they need to plan for you la.. And pls loh our house these days not that big la.. How much deviation can it get?! Understand that some ID really will show you just this drawing and try to sell their way through.

*Useful Tips 5*

"Ask for sketches! Don't give in to just space planning drawing. Some ID will throw in even simple 2D or 3D drawing!"

As mentioned earlier Bing already took it a step further by sketching out the design he have in mind for us. After going through the quotation, we really like this guy and his work but I need to be 101% sure that he is the one for us. I felt that there's still quite a bit of research and homework to be done before I commit. Remember I told you before he is quite nice right? You know what he tell me anot... he say he going do volunteer work for one week overseas so can only respond to me once he's back if I decide to engage him.. I'm like zzzzzz why u tell me this?! And hor he is so super nice that suddenly he just stand up and walk away leh.. then you know what happen?! My wife Samsung note ki siao.. malfunction and anyhow take picture leh.. After we got home this is what I found in her phone. I was so shocked that I called Samsung then they say my wife phone ok liao. Aiya stupid phone.

*Useful tips 6*

"Remember to attach your floor plan in the email when sending to ID!"

Mong Design Studio

Shortly after, we received an email from Mong and fixed our second appointment at their new studio along Upper Paya Lebar. When we arrived, we were greeted by this new guy called Jonathan together with Maena we seated down with the usual item laid right in front of us. Feeling abit puzzled we ask Maena whether she will be the one handling our projects from start till the end like other firm. If so, why are we talking to this guy? We were told the method they engage is different. They handle the project as a team. The head conduct the initial meeting with new prospect, disseminate the information to the rest of the team to brainstorm ID ideas, head or next level lower will try to close the deal, then another project manager will manage the whole project. Reason being if anyone away for whatsoever reason such as medical or resigned, at least the whole project wouldn't die with that person. Ok la also make sense. This Jonathan is the Principle Designer. He did most of the presentation and as promised, they show us some sketches... it's not as detail as what we saw at Linewerkz previously but was good enough to illustrate to us what they will be doing. Throughout the presentation we were truly impressed by them as they continue to GAN me *again* for some of my stupid idea, provide alternative to bring out the FEEL we wanted, another plus point for them is their advice on LIGHTING issues!

Don't play play with lighting ok my friends.. ever wonder why furniture at IKEA showroom always so nice but when u buy home it look like shit.. something to do with lighting one ok! They really differentiate themselves very well in this aspect as they explain to us where are the lighting point and what type of effect they hope to achieve.. We almost want to ONZ them already until we saw the final price on the quotation... *wah snap back to reality*

Mong Design Studio is one of our TOP choice and is highly recommended for many reason. One of them is "They are very professional and never look down on customer". We highlight our budget concern with them and instead of giving us the WTF face.. Immediately they come out with a lot of options that we can explore which will help us to save money! And mind you the overall DESIGN and QUALITY is not compromise in the process of cutting cost. This is Professionalism. This is what they and us the customer value the most! We had a few amendment made so we conclude that meeting and await our revised quotation from them.

Summit Design Studio

We carry on our research online and chance upon this RENOTALK forum, inside you could find tons of renovation information. I will touch in details on this forum in my next blog. Anyway one of the many ID being review inside is this Summit Design Studio (SDS). This thread gather so much positive review that I decided to personally visit their studio one day. Their studio is along Joo Chiat conveniently located just opposite all the happening Vietnam PUB there! Wow I'm thinking if your ID or contractor every night chong there ah.. ur project GG lo... We step into their studio and I asked for this ID by the name Ken Lee.. His name hor make me think of the song "I ken-lee~~ ken-lee without you by Mariah Carey" hahahah.. Anywayyyy by right for weekend he only serve appointment customer but since he got some time on hand till the next appointment he serve us too. Maybe he know he is quite popular in the forum, I must say he is very confident. He never really talk much. Just listen. Take notes. Say things that useful. Not say he quiet and not friendly la.. What I can say is can tell he is quite experience lo. What really stun me next is when he say.. "Your EC TOP around May right?! Ok your quotation 2 weeks." I'm like wah.. other IDs firm all make it a point to fixed the next appointment asap.. This really yaya papaya ah.. Being confident and arrogant is a thin line. For him is more towards confident ba. Anyway it's true la still got a lot of times mah... hahaha we can actually chill a little la.. hehe

Ok. Time to end this long post. Till the next post people! Thanks for reading! 

Ps: If you miss out on Part One can click on the hyperlink below

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 1)

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 3)

**************** Sneak Peak into the next blog post (Part 3) ***************

Interior Design Firm Quotation

The moment we've been waiting for; the itemize ID quotation. After contacting more then 10 IDs, meeting about 7 IDs, collecting about 7 quotations... This is by far the most detail quotation we have seen, by Mong Design Studio. 

Item 1.3 Design & Professional Fee. For this item, most firm does not charge one.. But I also realize for those that charge, their service really TIP TOP.. you really pay extra for their expertise and services ba.. Mong $1.2k consideration quite reasonable like loh.. there's one firm which I will share later that charge $5k for this segment and oh ya after we forgotten about $15k Misura.. tsk tsk.. After speaking with some firm that don't charge this.. must really assess the ID carefully lo.. Some stupid dumb dumb ID really hor you tell them you wanna plant coconut tree in the living room they also will say CAN ah..

Item 2 is pretty standard. Item 3 also standard la. Ah Item 4 Painting Work.. This one you can bargain! Most will give you a limit.. like you can select up to 3 or 6 different colors.. Don't be a idiot and bargain for more color hor! Bargain for price la... Really it's either there're such stupid people around or one of the pariah ID firm that I came across really treat me as a idiot.. You know what he tell me?! He said "Unlike other ID, we can let you choose and select up to unlimited colors!" I'm like OEI you Si Xiao or what?! You think my house rainbow ah need so many color for fk..  

********************************************************************************



 

1.1 Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences

Hello I'm back. This time I'm going to blog about my ID selection process, follow by the remaining renovation processes on the subsequence blogpost. As usual I will try to make this post as informative and fun as possible so everyone can take away something from here.


Alright LETS START OUR ID SELECTION JOURNEY =))


We first embark on our journey by visiting one of the ID EXPO Fair in November last year 2013. WTF right so kiasu don't even know when can collect key to our home go disturb ID already.. Hahaha.. If you've no idea where to start then probably visiting such fair will warm you up just fine because:

1) There're a lot of IDs available.
2) You can get a lot of design IDEAS from different IDs at a single location
3) You can look at and study their recent work

*Useful Tip 1*
"The general rule of thumb here is just take note of the three pointers above and nothing else! Do NOT rush into committing on the spot!"

Image Creative Design

The first and one of the worst ID firm that we met is this guy I forgot what's his name already from Image Creative Design. He sat us down and talk a tons of crap which 80% of the time I don't know wtf he talking.. so the next moment he try to draw something. I look at the paper "WTH is this?!" Then he goes "Oh this are just some simple sketches. We running promo now. All you need to do is put $1k deposit now and we will draft 3D for you already! That will be much clearer.." Of course since this is the first ID that we went, we confirm want to shop somemore la where got so stupid commit to this idiot. What piss me off is after we refuse to place the deposit he kept trying to schedule an appointment with us to his showflat! I asked him for what? He said want to show me some material and some what "line". Who want to waste a weekend go see your what stupid line sia! What a total turnoff! Really feel sad for this company hire such a ID man..

Linewerkz Pte Ltd

After wasting close to 1 hour at our first stop.. we carry on walking and pass by Rest & Relax.. We asked a few question while admiring their showroom there.. They abit yaya papaya so NEXT!~ As we walk down a bit more, we drop by this booth by Linewerkz. Looked at their portfolio, quite like their design so we decided to seat down with this ID by the named BING. He is very friendly, down to earth, sincere and most important of all.. The communication is there.. This guy is able to listen, understand and illustrate out what we wanted. YES. He told us he could use freehand to sketch out the design for our living and master on the spot and it's FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.. Just need to give him about an hour! Wow power leh this guy who don't want sia! We onz him la.. We say nvm u slowly draw we go out eat Burger King later then come back see what you've for us.

Swee la! We happily hopped our way to BK.. Slowly makan our mushroom swiss.. song alr.. then slowly hopped our way back to his booth in anticipation of what he drew for us. Honestly at first I still think cannot be la.. maybe he wanna troll me.. When we reached he was already standing there waiting for us.. Seated once again, he pulled out two drawing to show us while explaining what he intend to do. WAHHH!! JIN SATKI LEH THIS GUY!! Maybe I suaku la but I am super impressed by his drawing and it really make me wet already loh! While he was illustrating to me with his drawing I'm already dreaming about what my living room how swee it will look like bla bla bla! Ok In short, he not only is able to put what we wanted into perspective "demonstrate that he understand what we wanted", he also input some of his idea in "exactly what you need to look out for in an ID if not might as well engage contractor". No matter how impress we are with his ART, it's still too early to commit la.. However he scored another appointment with us because he did another thing right.. HE DID NOT HARD SELL US INTO PLACING THE STUPID DEPOSIT!

*Useful Tip 2*
"Parking at EXPO is fking expensive!! Make sure your cashcard enough money cause you will probably spend half a day there.."

More Research

And so, we went back and carry on our research on ID firm. Found two company quite interesting via Facebook. Visited there webpage to look through their portfolio and emailed them. Here's a sample of my email. Feel free to use and improvise if you want. =)

** Email template **

Hi XX,

My EC will TOP most likely end of Q2 2014. So I am currently looking for a interior design firm that I am comfortable with. I'll like to find out more about your services and offering. However, prior to meeting up, could you prepare some projects or a draft sketch based on my below requirement? As I believe this will very much speed things up a little.

My wish list:
- No need to renovate studio.
- Area that require renovation; Living and two bedrooms
- Theme: XXX
- Color scheme: XXX
- Prefer elements: XXX
- Special feature: XXX
- As much storage as possible
- Budget $XXk *Optional* I will touch on this in detail later

Hear from you soon. Thank you

Regards,

Ben Teo

Mong Design Studio

Shortly after, we fixed an appointment with Mong Design Studio and was greeted by their Art Director Maena. She is truly a veteran in this trade. She know her stuff really well and is very professional. During the discussion, my wife was thoroughly impressed by her. WHY?! Because she dare to GAN me.. She dare to rebuke some of my idea tactfully.. it's like someone telling you "Don't be lame la.. Your idea is impractical and stupid as shit" in such a manner that you hear already still can smile like one gong cb.. After the hour long session, without a doubt we schedule our next appointment to go through the quotation and some drawing that she told us she will exceptionally draw for us which she normally wouldn't.


*Useful Tip 3*
"Look for an ID that dare to oppose your idea and at the same time propose to you something better. That's what we pay them for. Remember a "Yes to all" ID is no different from a contractor."

Su Misura

The next ID firm that I've emailed and want to share is this somewhat ATAS firm call SU Misura. Apparently from what I've gathered from their website. Their Design is machiam those showflat standard. Immediately give you the confidence that your house will confirm be SWEE SWEE in their hand. Trust me unless you are damn rich or want to act ATAS then look for them loh.. Just so that you can have a feel of what I am talking about. This is the last email from them.

"To give you a better idea of our company's practice, we have a design fee of
minimum $15,000.00 or 10% of build contract, on top of the build contract
for the renovation works. You can sign the design fee first, and we will
develop our initial design concept to give you a more accurate quotation for
the renovation works. We will give you a rough estimated sum for the
renovation works before you engage our design services."


I seriously don't know WTF they talking cause my England not very good. But how I read is at such
"Sorry to inform you we think you are abit not rich and so in order not to waste our time, can you pay us $15k first then we talk. This is also to ensure that in the event you couldn't afford to engage us further we could forfeit those money take it as wasting our time compensation... OK NEXT! Any Sentosa Cove customer? Anyone?"


Alright. I will end this blog post here. For the coming blog post, I'll be sharing on what to expect from second appointment, explanation on what to look out for in ID quotation, my experiences and encounter with a few more firms and some more tips and lobang! Till then! =)

*Useful tip 4*
"Click on ID firm name to open up their website. =)"

**** Updated *****

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 2)

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 3)

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 4)

Pre-Renovation Review


Bali EPIC Trip 2013..

"BALI" is like my second home. Whenever however whoever wherever I got the chance.. I assure you Ben Teo will be there.. Bali to me is the ultimate holiday destination.. The food, the beaches, the culture, the architecture.. I love it all. EVEN after this EPIC trip to my favorite destination I STILL LOVE IT! Alright no more bullshit, I shall pen down what make this trip to Bali that EPIC and DIFFERENT from the many times I've being there.

It all started on the day I was leaving for the trip. 

See our lovely princess came to the airport to send us off. Everything still seem good.

 



But once we cleared the custom, a lot of my dear friends residing in my stomach also near my custom already.. I keep running to the toilet to chop passport for them so they can clear custom.. It was like 10 times or so since morning.. and worse of all.. I feel like vomiting.. I tried but nothing come out. We walked to our gate, there was a long queue at our gate so I told my wife.. "FK I really cannot take it already. I want vomit liao you go Q first!" Once I reached the toilet, I dashed into one of the cubicle, tell myself that this "Want to vomit but cannot vomit" feeling is really fk up, maybe after vomit I will feel better and recover? Don't know is heng or what the cubicle that I've entered someone just LS.. I've no choice but to inhale one deep breath and %@^@&! HUAT AH! My breakfast all come out.. Three full shots.. It was so loud that after I exit the cubicle I dared not look at anyone.. SO EMBARRASSING! I thought I was going to be OK but I was so wrong.. I FELT WORSE..

We boarded the plane despite my condition because I couldn't bare to let my wife travel alone. I carry on visiting the toilet on the plane because my custom was always busy I don't know why..I kept asking myself when will this end?! While back at my seat I was so cold that I was constantly shivering.. At some point according to my wife, not only does I shiver.. I also kind of vibrate periodically.. like I tio seizure or something la.. Damn it man I must look really retarded..

Finally after two and a half hour we arrived safety in Bali, thank GOD I survived the flight. Shortly after we disembarked, I was really jelly from all the toilet visits and could barely walk already. We approached an airport staff, explained our situation and requested for a wheelchair. We were told there was a clinic at the airport which we could visit but guess what happen in the end?! After clearing the custom and spend almost half an hour escorting us here and there in the airport. THEY FKING USHER US OUT OF THE AIRPORT TO THE TAXI STAND AND ASK US TO F OFF! Told us there's no clinic in the airport and asked us to arrange with the hotel to take us to clinic! We are like SIMI LJ service is this? Bo pian lo we got on the taxi and told the driver to drove us to the nearest clinic near our hotel in legian and this is the end result..

$2.8millions RP to see doctor. $100sgd for charcoal pill! Wah LAN OEI.. NNB Almost all the RP that we change for this trip use to see this LJ doctor liao lo..  

Initially they still wanted me to do the what shit test.. Use the glove to dig my A hole and shit in the bottle.. Lucky never do sia if not I think $5million also not enough.. After paying the hefty medical bill, well like VIP we were then charter back to our hotel in an ambulance. Hahaha how cool is that?! People at most take limousine to hotel, limbei take ambulance!! The hotel staff see liao also stunned.. I'm like "my luggage at the back of the ambulance" to the staff..

 

  

KNN $100 charcoal pill I must imagine it is some kind of a "仙丹" godly pill.. So keep telling myself I'm FINE already after eating it! Look at my fking smile.. fake one.. I'm still feeling weak..

 

  Check-in to our lovely 5-star Sheraton Hotel. Very new hotel. Less then 2 years old I think. See this dancer.. not easy her job. When guest arrived she have to wayang and dance like very happy. See her smile same like me also abit sian.

 

Can't check in yet cause still early so go walk walk. Sick also want to explore new skim spot!

See wave already feel abit better. Tongue can stick out liao 

I usually can eat a lot one loh.. But this is my lunch.. Just one small bowl of soup and I'm done. Really no appetite

My wife ate this. Say is damn nice. Yummy

Finally Check-In. 4028 huat ah

Ai seh see through bathroom wor.. So my wife can watch me shit

The room is very big and nicely decorated

So called ocean view..

Really sad never get to use this.. Wasted sia

Wah this bedsheet is damn song lor.. It is super silky smooth like my butt and see the monogram machiam Fred Perry loh.. Nice sia this..

 

The best thing about staying in this hotel is THIS!! The spectacular Sunset View! It is by far the best I've seen.

Mai tu liao.. Let's go take a swim and chill by the pool enjoying the sunset like a boss..

This is what happen when u throw a sick pig into a pool and make him watch sunset.. You get a face that look like cock..

Heavenly

Too damn nice and romantic view

Off to eat dinner at Semiyak

Let's go~

Recommended by my wife after doing some research. Cheap Italian food with really nice ambience.

Wife insisted on taking photo that can't see shit..

This type of photo don't know take for what sia.. U can see my kuku face meh?!

Food is normal only la

As usual this kind of stupid place like to give big plate and small food

It was so dark when they serve this.. I didn't notice and dig in on the banana.. knn pui fking banana.. I almost vomit again.. Where got lava choc cake with ice cream put banana one?!

 

Vegetable soup again for the following day.. This time round better.. with rice

Exploring the beach again..

I really very discipline.. First time in Bali for so many days never enter water.. Honestly speaking I cannot tahan erected already especially when I see the awesome wave!

At one of our favorite Haunt in Bali. Madi Warung

Nasi goring special. Don't know why the standard drop so much sia.. Not that great anymore

Wah lan oei... Vegetable soup again.. I hate falling sick on a holiday..

Check-in to our last hotel in Bali. Bali Dynasty Hotel. Not good la.. Very old hotel.. Location not that good too..

This last picture ended this Bali Trip with a EPIC finale. Remember I was wheel chaired into Bali?! Now my wife is wheel chaired out of Bali because she injured herself at her company team building event. The sole reason why I still decide to follow her on this trip because she couldn't missed it. But the drama doesn't end here. The fking KLM airline doesn't allow us to board the plane! We were told we need a doctor letter indicating she is fit to fly. Come on man wtf is this?! Just a sprain ankle dude? We tried contacting the company doctor that attended to her earlier but couldn't locate him.

 

Me: "Then now what?"

KLM: "If you don't mind, we could get the letter from the airport clinic."

Me: "Airport got clinic meh?" recalling the drama on the first day

KLM: "Yes"

Me: "Are you sure?!" My blood start to boil

KLM: "We could bring you there.. Let's go if not you will miss your flight"

 

Anyway what happen in the end is that the KLM staff that escorted us was also sick and don't even know where the F is the clinic.. We went in and out of the custom a couple of time and when we finally arrived at the clinic.. The KLM staff also went in to see the doctor loh..

 

Lesson learnt from this EPIC trip. Always buy a travel insurance. And BALI is still my favorite holiday destination! I'll be back! 

 

 

 

 

Nick Vujicic Inspiration

Just had one of the most meaningful weekend for 2013. Was really stroked to be able to see Nick Vujicic in person and watched him speak. Man must I say I am truly inspired! There's so much we can learn from this guy.. Especially his "Value" in life. Don't think I'm able to share everything that he said but I'll try my best to recall some of the key points mentioned and share it here. Theory without application is useless. So I'll also share on how his pointers inspired me in my life.

The most important thing to him is "FAITH". His religion. Christianity. God.

When asked "How can you have trust in GOD for the ordeal you are going through? Don't you have doubt?!" He replied "If everything is given to you the way it suppose to be, if god show you everything.. There's no need for "Faith"." And he explained further about how God although did not create a miracle by healing him physically but what God does is heal him internally. His heart.

Ai seh.. Not bad leh this guy.. Make sense wor.. If really god let me strike lottery and my life is free of worries then we don't need religion liao mah.. We ownself think we are GOD already just like some rich arrogant free thinker out there.. They think they can have anything and everything they wanted.. They control their own destiny. This I think make alot of sense. To top it off, when talking about his religion unlike other christian advocate that I came across so far, he respect and does not bring down other religion, or brag about how almighty his god is.. But instead shared how his God help him with his life.. 

I'm like "Wah God you smart ah".. arrange me to go for such talk.. In fact during his talk, I had a few spine tingling moments leh, the kind when you recognize that this is not just a talk, it is more like a message, a message brought through a man but coming from God, I don't know how to explain la.. something like through the power of the holy spirit i think. *FYI I spent 11 years in a Christian school, attended a few church sessions (CHC included) and have met people that are super hardcore christian... But none of them managed to convince me or open up my heart.. Maybe it's the approach they used that made me shut my door* Anyway this is for you God.. I know you sent me a few signs before already
but I need to sort out my thoughts leh... like are you really the one for me?! How to settle my r/s with my present one and be with you.. Give me some time ok?! Or give me some more sign la.. Like whenever I go skim, miraculously there will be really good wave! hahaha kidding la God.. Chill..

The second important thing that matter to him most is "FAMILY". 

If it's not for the unconditional love given to him by his parents. He wouldn't be standing here talking to all of us. That's right. Being a parent myself, I really admired his parent courage and love for such a child. From the day we create and brought a life to this world, our love for our children should be unconditional.. No matter what our children become or how much we have to sacrifice and give to our children.. As parent we should not be expecting for anything in return... The only thing that I will expect from them is to grow up healthy and be happy. Similarly, one day when I'm old and weary.. I would wish that my children will be able to love me unconditionally.. wishing that I remain healthy and happy because at that point of time.. I will no longer be able to provide for them..

Therefore Nick truly understand the impact of parental love on a children and is dedicated to his family and prioritize Family below Faith among all other things. Here are some key take away. Something that most of us failed in the competitive environment we are living in.

- Make time for your family no matter how busy you are. Work life balance is very important.
- Your presence is not good enough. You need to spend quality time with your family. Don't talk about work related stuff.. Put all the work, blackberry, iphone, ipad aside... Engage actively in whatever your children are doing.. Watch them learnt.. Watch them grew day by day.
- There is something in life once you missed it, there's no turning back.. No matter how rich or successful you are.. For eg.. Their milestone in life..
- Parent is the best role model for their children. How you treat your children today shall determine how they treat you when you are old. Simple as that.

"You know, my son, I want him to see the love that his dad has for him. But that's not determined by how much money Dad makes to get (him) into the best university. It's about TIME," said Mr Vujicic, who hopes to have three or four children eventually.

The third most important thing for him is none other then his "Mission"

Going into all the world and preaching the good news to everyone through his story. Inspiring others and heal the the broken heart. Well there are many other valuable pointers that he made in the two hours event but I'll like to end the blog post with one of the most meaningful lesson learnt.

FAILURE IS EDUCATION.

He quoted that Albert Einstein failed 9,999 times before he finally succeed in making the light bulb on the 10,000th time. But "NO" Albert Einstein is not a failure for 9,999 times but rather... learnt 9,999 different ways how you cannot make a light bulb. So the lesson learnt here is that we may fail or fall many times in life.. but we must never consider our self as a "failure". In fact we are getting smarter with every failure.