Taiwan Day 1 (29 Nov 2024)

Taiwan here we come! 

This is an epic 3-generation family trip. 

Xiaoyu and Yvan head to Taiwan first for some couple time. We (me, darling, yuanze and yuanyi) flew to Taiwan on 29 November at 115 pm. Papa Mama and Huanyang's family flew on the same day in the late afternoon. 

This is our first time flying by EVA Air, and I must say, the flight exceeded my expectations. Food is good, service is good, inflight entertainment also good. I didnt realise there was a movie section during the flight from sg to taiwan, only discovered its existence on the flight back to sg. LOL I am so noob. 

Reached Taiwan, and thank goodness we cleared the customs quite fast. They have many immigration officers on duty, unlike Penang. When we came out of the arrival hall it was already 7 pm, our driver picked us up and off we go to our first accomodation of the trip, Cozzi Blu Taoyuan, that is 20 min drive away from the airport.  

I like Cozzi Blu Taoyuan. I booked the Family room, the room is big (34 square meters), with bathtub, breakfast included, at 375 sgd. Darling was reading the hotel manual, and she saw that can request for extra pillows of different types and sizes. So she requested for a pillow for her to sleep on, and a long pillow that acts like a bolster. 

Cozzi Blu Taoyuan is near the Taoyuan HSR, 5 to 10 min walk. The hotel provides free shuttle bus, that is a plus point for me. We were also very fortunate that there was a temporary night market just beside the hotel, so dinner was settled, and the kids had a good time at the games stalls. 

That's it for Day 1!

Perth Day 4

Our last day in Perth. 

Darling brought Yuanze and Yuanyi to say bye bye to the sheep, while I checked through the cottage to make sure we have cleared everything and did not leave anything behind. 

First we went to Margaret River Chocolate Factory. Is a nice place. Even got a cafe, and the smell of the waffles in the cafe was so good. If we were not rushing for time, I would have bought the waffles to try.

We then drove to huanyang's airbnb to handover papa mama to huanyang. Papa Mama will be in Perth for one more night. 

And then for us is a long drive up to Perth International Airport, to return the rental car, and take the plane back to Singapore. 

Thank you Perth for the memories!

The last time I went to Australia, I was still in primary school (I think), when papa mama brought us to Gold Coast and Sydney. Thankful that I am able to bring papa mama with us to Perth, and spending quality family time together.  

I wonder when will be the time where Yuanze or Yuanyi bring me and darling overseas? Hahahaha. 

Perth Day 3

Why I chose Margaret River Hideaway and Farmstay, although is 30 min drive from xiaoyu's wedding venue, is because it has a animal feeding experience, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, at 830 am. 

And the nice thing is, on the first morning, they provide us a simple breakfast of fresh milk, orange juice, bread, eggs, jam and butter. But if we stay from the second morning onwards, we are on our own. 

We fed alpacas, emus, cows, sheep, ducks and chickens. Yuanze even got a free egg from one of the chickens. 

After the animal feeding, we went to Margaret River Farmers' Market, that happen only on saturday mornings. The farmers' market are for farmers who sell their own local produce. There are food trucks as well, selling hot dog buns, gelato, pancakes and fruit juice. We tried almost everything from the food trucks, and the only local produce we bought is apples. 

Next, we went to Chow's Table for xiaoyu's wedding rehearsal, and after the rehearsal we went to huanyang's airbnb for a short rest. Her airbnb is 15 min drive from Chow's Table. 

And then, is the main reason why we travel to Perth, Xiaoyu and Yvan's wedding!

Honest feedback for Chow's Table: 

- I think is their first time doing a wedding banquet? I think they cannot cope. 

- The rice was a bit too much. 

- My favourite dish was the satay. 

- The way they serve the dessert (hazelnut cake) was pathetic. Only one server holding a large plate of sliced cakes and going from table to table. It was already 930 pm at that time. I got so fed up that I stood up, left my seat, and go straight to the server and take many pieces of cake for my family, and then off we go. 

- By the time we reach the farmstay, yuanze and yuanyi already fell asleep, we just changed their clothes and let them continue to sleep until the next morning.

But anyway, have a blissful marriage both of you~ 白头到老，早生贵子。

Perth Day 2

Checked out of the mandurah airbnb, and off we go to Busselton Jetty, to link up with the rest of my family.

We had lunch at The Goose, food is good!

Yuanze and Yuanyi tried kite flying for the very first time in their lives, and they totally love it. After the kite flying we took the Busselton Train. 

The next destination is Rock Canals Bridge. Thank you to my colleague who recommended this place. Yuanze had a fun time climbing all the rocks. 

Checked in our 3 room cottage at Margaret River Hideaway and Farmstay. And then we drove up to Pepper Cottage, where xiaoyu and yvan are staying at, to have dinner with them, and also to meet yvan's parents. 

The drive from pepper cottage to margaret river hideaway and farmstay was scary, with no street lamps. I am thankful to singapore's well lit roads in the night. 

 

Perth Day 1

Going to Perth to attend xiaoyu's wedding, from 16 Nov to 19 Nov. Xiaoyu's wedding is on 18 Nov. It is a short trip because darling cannot take more than 3 days in a row, excluding weekend. 

So we decided, it will be:

16 Nov (Thur), 17 Nov (Fri), 18 Nov (Sat), 19 Nov (Sun)

We touch down late on 19 Nov, at 1030 pm. So 20 Nov (Mon) will be for darling to recharge, and she can go to work on 21 Nov (Tuesday) feeling fresh. 

Our flight on 16 Nov is at 930 am, so we have to reach the airport at 730 am. I booked the taxi at 645 am. 

Touched down Perth International Airport at 230 pm. Cleared customs, collected our luggages, and walked to the car rental office to collect our rental car. Is a 7 seater Kia Carnival, that is very nice to drive. At first I was apprehensive because it is my first time driving such a big car, but it turned out ok. 

Day 1 nothing much. We drove for 1 hour and 20 minutes to Mandurah, where our airbnb is at. The airbnb that I found is super cool, has is own private jetty. 

The house itself is also very nice, and the two kids like it alot, like it so much that they rather play in the house instead of go to the swimming pool. 

But at night they got bored and want to go out and walk walk, and we found a playground nearby, and they played there very happily. 

That's it for Day 1. 

Presidential Elections 2023

For the memories. 

$280.00 for the duty, $20.00 for meals, and one Off In-Lieu, for the following:

- Many hours of online training

- 2 hours of f2f training with the polling team

- 1 hour of online meeting on 28 August

- 2 hours of preparing the Polling Station on 31 August

- 14 hours of duty from 6 am to 8 pm 

And the funniest thing is... the counting centre is just a minute walk away from our polling station, and yet a bus is catered for us. 

So we walk one minute to the bus stop to board the bus. The bus travelled for 5 minutes, to the bus stop at my house downstairs, that is opposite the school. And from the bus stop we walk to the school. 

#whatajoke

Staff Appreciation High Tea

This year, the high tea is held at window on the park restaurant, holiday inn orchard city centre. 

food is not bad, much better compared to last year. i am glad that my colleagues enjoyed the food. 

and today's photobooth was very well received too! always long queue, so difficult to take a picture. 

Wishing all my colleagues a Happy Staff Appreciation Day~