I had a sumptuous Christmas Eve dinner (complete with turkey ham and some other Western and Asian fusion delicacies) with relatives who lived all my life somewhat a figment. Chances of meeting them are worse than the ones I only get to see once a year at Chinese New Year (or the occasional weddings or funerals), which makes this visit (and this Christmas) extra special and meaningful.

The Uncle whom I’d only heard of through my father’s stories and only spoken to and met this Christmas.

The very rare combination of family members taking a photograph together

The multitude of gifts I received this year from just one family

I haven’t really celebrated Christmas the past two years in China, and prior to that, I kept receiving chocolates, towels, or shirts that don’t fit. This year’s gifts overwhelmed me. Thoughts like so Christmas can be like this entered my head, and each member of the family gave me more than one gift each. Whoa. From left to right, top to bottom: UV Security Marking System; 32-in-1 Card Reader; Candies; Ferrero Rocher chocs; Inspirational book; Calligraphy pens; Wireless mouse (Logitech); Belgium Chocs; Digital Photo Album (Keychain size); Digital Photo Album (Card size); Moleskine notebook; coloured pens set. Okay, the digital photo albums are actually for my parents, but I’m free to keep it for myself too muahahahaha.

Alright. It’s 1am. 3 hours of sleep, and then off to the Big Apple.

I probably won’t be able to blog till next year. Have a Happy New Year everyone, and see you next year.

It’s been a while since I looked up Cheap Hotels on the internet, especially after discovering the beauty of staying at hostels or and guesthouses. Hostels and guesthouses are very affordable and conveniently located, suitable for those travelling around the whole day and just need a bed and a pillow.

Nevertheless, sometimes we do want some luxury to go with our trips, and hotels provide the extra fluff on the pillows and beds, and pamper you with the free toothbrushes and provision of towels. If you have more money to spare, then facilities like spa, gym, and pool will really make your stay more like a resort-ish holiday.

However, I still think that having too much comfort in the hotel is redundant if you plan to explore the place, and are not purely reviewing the hotel. To each his own, I suppose.

Hotel Reservations‘ directory of hotels are comprehensive (complete with pictures), informing you of the hotel’s amenities, area attractions, driving directions, policies & disclaimers, information like check-in and check-out time, as well as whether a photo identification is required upon check-in or not (I thought this was standard procedure?).

The portal also offers vacation packages and rentals like bed & breakfast places (that look really cosy, you know like a cottage house kind of place?). Prices are competitive on worldwide destinations, but I’ve found them to be slightly pricier than if you were to book the places directly.

I checked out the hotels listed for Singapore, and found them mostly to be high-end brands like Orchard Hotel, Meritus Mandarin, Goodwood Park, Traders, Marriot, etc. Eyeing for a budget hotel, I spotted a lovely looking place called Harbour Ville, and the price quoted is USD50.68 for a standard room, compared with the hotel’s website stating that rates start from equivalent USD44, same standard room.

So maybe the portal can be used as an information portal, as well as a means for comparison instead.

This is a sponsored post.

Apologies for flooding my blog with more sponsored posts than my own content. Am hard up for money to splurge for my winter (-turn-summer) vacation in Singapore.

I’ve begun uploading some new pictures to my flickr account, and will start writing a bit more here soon. Soon soon soon!

In the meantime, have a splendid Christmas holiday!

And, erm, if I don’t touch this blog until 2008, which is highly likely because I’m packing off to New York without my laptop, Happy New Year!

Missing you all, but will be back before you know it!

By the way, I passed all five classes in my exchange programme. wOOt!

Visited Las Americas Premium Outlets today at San Ysidro. Although it is uplifting to find so many branded goods at possibly the cheapest price you can get (armed with free coupons, downloadable at their website), it is exhausting to walk in and out of stores carrying bags and bags of Christmas and other gifts shopping, with the bulk of arm and back strain caused by my mother’s five Coach bags.

The Christmas gifts due tomorrow are not completely wrapped yet, and it’s 4.15am. What have I been doing?!  Take Travelpod’s Traveler IQ Challenge and you’ll see why I was so unproductive.

Such services are readily available in the states. I’ve seen actual banners at service centres offering the described payday loans.

“We are attempting to aid consumers with a payday loan fee calculator and by giving them multiple quotes on Payday loans.

A payday loan or cash advance is a quick and easy way to bridge your cash needs between pay days without a credit check. It is a small short-term loan that can range from $100 up to $1,500. The money can be electronically deposited and repaid from your checking account on mutually agreed upon dates.”

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Just not today. Haha. Hopefully tomorrow.

Will upload pics first, bit by bit, before I can start sharing with you about it. But yes, I’d really better do it soon

I like how “soon” is so subjective.

I should slap myself for buying a camera with the intention of learning its manual functions only to keep using the automatic function. However, there are many moments when I need to snap away at that precise moment without needing to take time adjusting for the right digits.

I hope to attend photography lessons soon.

Anyway, here’s a post I wrote in June:

I like to hold a camera in my hands and click away for the following reasons:

1) For the fun of it — I seek solace in successfully capturing a good moment

2) For keepsake — Photos with friends, family, strangers, and especial people are endearing

3) To share insights — A picture can depict a way of life, and describe all you want to say with one image

My current Kodak EasyShare Z650 Zoom has been with me for half a year, and I’ve still yet to know it better. Sometimes it takes more than one shot to get shots well captured, but I’d say this camera’s performance surpasses my previous Canon Ixus.

Is there a camera I’d love to own? I went to look at digital cameras intending to get a Nikon, and came home with my Kodak, and I think there’s so much to explore in cameras that I really can’t decide. I think I’ll continue venturing with my Kodak before I lay my hands on another camera. Perhaps I’ll only exchange money for a lovely camera in Canada or the U.S. since they’re cheaper there. For now, this Kodak is honing my eye for photography just fine.

Pictures can depict the way of life viewers may never encounter (pictures taken by yours truly):

And then there are pictures that are just poignant (picture taken by Sam):

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Totally not enough shut-eye the past few days. Could only afford slumber to happen on the way to destinations on buses, or at wherever I had layovers.

So I still won’t be able to talk about my adventure travelling solo to and in Las Vegas, nor can I speak of San Diego explorations until…I get enough sleep.

Tomorrow, Mexico.

Hey all, just in case you’re wondering (although I think no one is wondering), I’m doing fine in San Diego now, but I haven’t got the time and wakefulness to blog nor upload pics.

I’m off to Las Vegas tomorrow (just booked tickets and hotel), and I hope to update this blog as soon as possible after my return.

In the meantime, please remit all your luck to me so that I can have better hands at the tables.

Instead of carrying so many books around that adds bulk, having a whole library of books in your computer would spare you such agony of moving the whole library around. Buy Ebooks.

booksonboard.com believes in offering the broadest selection possible and aggressive pricing. BOB currently carries over 190,000 ebooks from the major publishers and small publishing houses. BOB currently offers books in Adobe pdf, Mobipocket, Microsoft Reader and Palm/ereader format.

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